The Transubstantiation

[nfinke]

Maybe this is sort of a childish and ultimately unimportant question, but here I go:

At what specific point in the mass does the Transubstantiation take place? Is there a specific moment, or with some specific action that the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ? Is it even a moment or does the change continually over the course of the mass?

I remember after learning from my parents what the priest was doing on the altar (maybe around 5 years old) I would watch closely and see if I could tell when it changed from plain old bread to the consecrated host. When I didn’t ask as a kid I became embarrassed to ask as a young adult, so I figured now is as good a time to ask as any.

 

[Fauken]

At what specific point in the mass does the Transubstantiation take place? Is there a specific moment, or with some specific action that the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ? Is it even a moment or does the change continually over the course of the mass?

It happens when the priest says “This is my body/blood”.

 

[Lazybones]

At the consecration: the priest holds his hands - palms down - over the bread and wine and speaks the words of blessing. In most Masses, a bell is rung once to signify this important moment.

 

[Fauken]

At the consecration: the priest holds his hands - palms down - over the bread and wine and speaks the words of blessing. In most Masses, a bell is rung once to signify this important moment.

It’s an important moment, but not when the consecration occurs.

 

[nfinke]

I always figured it was one of these two moments. Is there an authority I can check on this? Was it in the Catechism and I just missed it?

 

[Zach]

It happens when the priest says “This is my body/blood”.

Yes. I used to think it was when the priest raised and held up the body/blood. I wondered how the bread that was not raised but still on the altar was consecrated considering only one piece was raised. I later learned the raising up was so we could adore Christ in his presence just after the bread and wine has been consecrated.

 

[Vico]

…

It will depend upon what Anaphora is used.

The Holy See in 2001 determined that the words of institution ad litteram are not necessary for the consecration but that it may be dispersed. Certainly the consecration occurs by the end of the narrative:

Secondly, the Catholic Church recognises the Assyrian Church of the East as a true particular Church, built upon orthodox faith and apostolic succession. The Assyrian Church of the East has also preserved full Eucharistic faith in the presence of our Lord under the species of bread and wine and in the sacrificial character of the Eucharist. In the Assyrian Church of the East, though not in full communion with the Catholic Church, are thus to be found “true sacraments, and above all, by apostolic succession, the priesthood and the Eucharist” (U.R., n. 15).

Finally, the words of Eucharistic Institution are indeed present in the Anaphora of Addai and Mari, not in a coherent narrative way and ad litteram, but rather in a dispersed euchological way, that is, integrated in successive prayers of thanksgiving, praise and intercession.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/p...uni_doc_20011025_chiesa-caldea-assira_en.html

From The Postsanctus of Addai and Mari (3rd c.) 74

1. Do you, 0 my Lord, in your manifold mercies make a good remembrance for all the upright and just fathers, the prophets and apostles and martyrs and confessors,
2. in the commemoration of the Body and Blood of your Christ, which we offer to you on the pure and holy altar, as you have taught us in his life-giving Gospel…
3. And we also, 0 my Lord, your servants who are gathered and stand before you,
4. and have received by tradition the example which is from you, rejoicing and glorifying and exalting
5. and commemorating this mystery of the passion and death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. And let your Holy Spirit come, 0 my Lord, and rest upon
7. this offering of your servants,
8. that it may be to us for the pardon of sins and for the forgiveness of shortcomings, and for the resurrection from the dead, and for new life in the kingdom of heaven.
9. And for your dispensation which is towards us we give you thanks and glorify you
10. in your Church redeemed by the precious Blood of your Christ,
11. with open mouths and unveiled faces offering glory and honor and thanksgiving and adoration to your holy name, now and at all times, and for ever and ever. Amen!

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

It depends on who you ask!

Most of the answers above come from Latin Rite Catholics - there is a pin-pointed moment when the words of institution are said.

Eastern Catholics will be more inclined to say that it happens during the Eucharistic Prayer - the anaphora and words of institution both being equally important — it happens “somewhere in there” and a precise moment doesn’t matter.

I’m not sure we can definitively say one’s right and one’s wrong on this since both are valid and in union with the Pope - the end result is what matters.

 

[Beryllos]

This old thread might be helpful. Father Ruggero explains it well.

Trying to appreciate mass a bit better. Some questions Liturgy and Sacraments

tl;dr 1. At what exact point in the mass does the transubstantiation occur? 2. At what exact point in the mass does the sacrifice occur? (and is it accurate to say that Jesus “dies” at that point?) I’m slowly coming to learn more about the mass and really deepen my appreciation of it, and it makes the whole experience rather wonderful when you have some idea of what is actually going on. (I can imagine children and hardline scientific athiests would find it rather boring, tedious and esoteric…

(Sorry, the list in the original post is no longer correctly formatted due to CAF’s migration to the Discourse forum technology since then.)

The short answer: For the bread, it’s when the priest says “This is my body,” and for the wine, it’s when he says “This is the chalice of my blood.”

 

[HomeschoolDad]

It depends on who you ask!

Most of the answers above come from Latin Rite Catholics - there is a pin-pointed moment when the words of institution are said.

Eastern Catholics will be more inclined to say that it happens during the Eucharistic Prayer - the anaphora and words of institution both being equally important — it happens “somewhere in there” and a precise moment doesn’t matter.

I’m not sure we can definitively say one’s right and one’s wrong on this since both are valid and in union with the Pope - the end result is what matters.

I have always understood that transubstantiation takes place at the moment when the priest finishes saying “This is My Body” and “This is the chalice of My Blood” respectively (Hoc est enim corpus meum and Hic est enim calix sanguinis mei). For instance, if the priest said “This is My…” and dropped dead before saying “…Body”, or if he said “This is the chalice of My…” without saying “Blood”, no consecration would take place.

I am going to be completely hands-off on what happens in the Eastern Rite Divine Liturgies or in the Anaphora of Addai and Mari. They don’t try to answer that question and I’m not going to try to answer it either. Way above my pay grade.

 

[po18guy]

Without doubt, by the time you receive it.

Yeah yeah, I know.