What is Transubstantiation?
'''Transubstantiation''' is a teaching, and [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[doctrine]] which says that, after a [[priest]] consecrates them, the [[Eucharist|bread and wine]] at a Catholic [[Eucharist|Mass]] become the [[body]] and [[blood]] of [[Jesus]]. [[Christian|Christians]] believe Jesus is the [[son]] of [[God]]. According to this teaching the appearance, smell, and taste of bread and wine do not change. However, the substances of bread and wine have actually changed into the body and blood of Jesus. Transubstantiation is also taught by some other [[Christian]] [[church]]es. == Beliefs about transubstantiation == Christians who believe in transubstantiation believe that the bread they eat at Mass is the body of Jesus. They know that the bread still [[taste]]s like bread, [[Sight|looks]] like bread and [[Odor|smells]] like bread. It is just like bread, but it becomes the body of Jesus. The priest says [[Prayer in Christianity|prayers]] at Mass so that the bread and wine become the [[flesh]] and [[blood]] of Jesus. This started when Jesus ate a meal called the [[Last Supper]] the night before he died. He said that the food his friends were eating was his body and blood. In the [[Gospel of Matthew]] 26:26-27, Jesus says to his [[Twelve Apostles|Apostles]]:<blockquote>''Take this [bread] all of you and eat it. This is my body which will be given up for you. [...] Take this [cup] all of you and drink from it. This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting [[covenant]]. [...] My [[Crucifixion of Jesus|blood will be shed for you]] and for all so that sins [[Absolution|may be forgiven]]. [...] Do this in memory of me.''</blockquote>According to the idea of transubstantiation, this means: * Jesus's blood would make a promise forever between God and his people * Jesus would die for everyone so their sins (the things they do wrong) could be forgiven * Jesus commanded people to continue taking Holy Communion Many people did continue to take Communion after [[Crucifixion of Jesus|Jesus was kil