Sample Header Ad - 728x90

Does a Roman Catholic need to believe in transubstantiation in order to effectively receive the Eucharistic sacrament?

4 votes
3 answers
759 views
This answer to the question "Is it still prevalent among Roman Catholics to believe that Christ's physical body is present in the Eucharist?" indicates that, according to a 2019 Pew Research survey, as many as 2/3 of self-described Roman Catholics in the U.S. believe that the bread and wine of the Eucharist are merely symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. > majorities in every age group (including 61% of those age 60 and over) believe that the bread and wine are symbols, not the actual body and blood of Christ. In other words, only 1/3 of those in the U.S. who claimed Roman Catholicism in 2019 believed in transubstantiation (that the bread and wine are transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ). It is assumed in this question that the current numbers somewhat similar. > a new Pew Research Center survey finds that most self-described Catholics don’t believe this core teaching (bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ). In fact, nearly seven-in-ten Catholics (69%) say they personally believe that during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine used in Communion “are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.” Just one-third of U.S. Catholics (31%) say they believe that “during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus.” Do self-professed Roman Catholics who disbelieve transubstantiation actually receive the Eucharist when they participate in communion? What I mean is, does the faith of the individual play any role in the proper reception of the Eucharist or is the actual body and blood of Christ consumed regardless of the individual's personal belief? Another way of asking this question (for clarity) is: When a Roman Catholic who disbelieves transubstantiation receives the Eucharist is it mere bread and wine that is consumed? Is there any benefit or detriment to receiving the Eucharist in disbelief?
Asked by Mike Borden (24105 rep)
Apr 11, 2024, 12:36 PM
Last activity: Apr 14, 2024, 03:05 PM