Question

1. how/why is the eucharist truly the body, blood, soul, and divinity of jesus christ?

Explanation:

This is rooted in Catholic theological doctrine, specifically the concept of transubstantiation. According to Catholic teaching, during the Eucharistic consecration (the words of institution spoken by a validly ordained priest), the substance of the bread and wine is completely changed into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, while the outward appearances (accidents) of bread and wine remain. This is affirmed by scriptural passages like the Last Supper accounts (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20) and Jesus' discourse in John 6, where He states those who eat His flesh and drink His blood will have eternal life. It is also a defined dogma of the Catholic Church, upheld by ecumenical councils such as the Fourth Lateran Council and the Council of Trent.

Answer:

The Eucharist is considered the true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ primarily based on Catholic theological doctrine and scriptural foundations:

1. Transubstantiation: Catholic teaching holds that during the Eucharistic consecration, the substance of bread and wine is fully transformed into Christ's entire being, while their physical properties remain.
2. Scriptural Basis: Passages including the Last Supper narratives (where Jesus identifies bread as His body and wine as His blood) and Jesus' discourse in John 6 (stating the necessity of eating His flesh and drinking His blood for eternal life) are cited as support.
3. Ecclesiastical Definition: This is a formal dogma of the Catholic Church, defined by councils like the Fourth Lateran Council and the Council of Trent.