When did Christians start believing in the Real Presence?

[milimac]

I read a booklet that seemed to imply that the doctrine of Christ being truly present in the Eucharist was not necessarily the belief of the earliest Christians. Did that doctrine develop, or was it part of the faith from the beginning? If it did develop, when did it become part of the deposit of faith?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Recommended reading:

• [Christ in the Eucharist (http://www.catholic.com/library/Christ_in_the_Eucharist.asp)
• [The Real Presence (http://www.catholic.com/library/Real_Presence.asp)