Consecration

[Kaizmom]

I have a friend in RCIA, and someone asked me, “at what point during the mass does the bread become the body and the wine, the blood?” Could you please tell me what elements are REQUIRED during the mass for the consecration to take place. I remember hearing one time that it wasn’t “one” thing, but a combination of things that must happen. What are those things? Thanks!

Samantha

 

[michaeldaniels]

Proper matter and form…proper matter being the wine and the unleavened host…proper form being the words of consecration…for instance, “This is my body, which is given up for you”

I have a friend in RCIA, and someone asked me, “at what point during the mass does the bread become the body and the wine, the blood?” Could you please tell me what elements are REQUIRED during the mass for the consecration to take place. I remember hearing one time that it wasn’t “one” thing, but a combination of things that must happen. What are those things? Thanks!

Samantha

 

[Ghosty]

Proper matter and form…proper matter being the wine and the unleavened host…proper form being the words of consecration…for instance, “This is my body, which is given up for you”

Those words aren’t actually required for Consecration to take place. In the Liturgy of Addai and Mari the words of Consecration are not present, but it is an accepted Catholic Liturgy (Chaldean/Assyrian).

I think the best answer is that the Consecration takes place with the Eucharistic prayer, and leave it at that. We know that when the prayer is completed, the Eucharist is present. Going beyond that causes too many problems, since the Eucharistic prayer is so varied among the Catholic traditions.

Peace and God bless!

 

[piltdown_man]

Here is a quote from an article titled The Eucharistic Prayer from the USCCB website:

“The Church tells us that liturgy (and the Mass is the highpoint and heart of liturgy) is the action of Christ the priest and His Body, the Church. In the celebration of Mass, during the Eucharistic Prayer, not only does Christ become present, body and blood, soul and divinity, under the forms of bread and wine, but Christ’s saving action, His passion, death and resurrection are once again enacted and offered to the Father by Christ Himself in the person of the priest, and by all present.”

I hope this helps. The full article is linked below.

usccb.org/liturgy/girm/bul6.shtml

Peace and God Bless.