Humprey Ian Olarte SagabaenBSED-RVED 3RVED 108: Christology

Transfiguration? Transformation? Transfusion? Transition? Translation? Transmission? Transplantation? Transportation? Transposition?

You notice that thesewords contain thecommon prefix TRANS,which means change ortransference.

Thus, transfigurationmeans change in figure,transformation meanschange in form,transfusion meanstransfer from one thing,and so on.

TRANSUBSTANTIATIONsimply means change insubstance.

It refers to the processwhereby the substance ofbread and wine becomethe substance of Christ’sbody and blood. (Knox,1999)

It is a traditional teachingof the Catholic Churchdecreed by the Councilof Trent (1545-1563).

Precisely how thisconversion takes place isa deep mystery. (Knox,1999)

The medieval theologiansalready had a normative viewwith regard toTransubstantiation.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, aDominican friar, theologian, andphilosopher wrote the greatestwork in medieval theology, theSumma Theologiae or SummaTheologica (“The Totality ofTheology”). He began to write itin Latin in 1265 and was leftunfinished at the time of hisdeath.

Saint Thomas’sapproach onTransubstantiationbecame normative formedieval Catholictheology.

His view was greatlyinfluenced byAristotelian philosophyinvolving accident andsubstance.

Thomas was bornabout the year 1225 intothe family of the Count ofAquino. He first studied atthe monastery of MonteCassino and later at theUniversity of Naples.Afterward he joined theFriars Preachers (Order ofPreachers/Dominicans) andcompleted his studies atParis and Cologne, hisinstructor being SaintAlbert the Great.

Becoming himself ateacher, he wrote manylearned volumes and wasespecially renowned for hisphilosophical and theologicalstudies. Saint Thomas diednear Terracina on March 7,1274, but his memory ishonored on January 28, the dayhis body was transferred toToulouse in 1369.

(from the CHRISTIAN PRAYER:Liturgy of the Hours pg. 1069)

The term ACCIDENT refers to the outwardappearance of a matter. It is perceivable bythe senses. People can see, feel, smell, taste,etc.

While SUBSTANCE refers to its inwardreality.

Former view: thesubstance of bread andwine remain in thesacrament afterconsecration.

According to Saint ThomasAquinas, this positioncannot be maintainedbecause it destroys thereality of the sacramentwhich demands that in thesacrament there should bethe TRUE body and bloodof Christ, which was notthere before consecration.

A thing cannot be in aplace where it was notbefore except either bychange of position, orby the conversion ofsome other thing intoit.

By Change of Position:

By Conversion:

It is clear that the body of Christ does notbegin to be in the sacrament through changeof position. Therefore it remains that thebody of Christ can only come to be in thesacrament by means of conversion

Ergo, the former view is to be avoided asheretical.

Former View: Thesubstance of bread orwine does not remainin the sacrament, somehave thought itimpossible that theirsubstance should beconverted into that ofthe body or blood ofChrist,

and therefore havemaintained thatthrough theconsecration thesubstance of bread andwine is either:

1. Resolved intounderlying matter.

2. Annihilated(completelydestroyed)

Saint Thomas Aquinasargued that this view isimpossible, because itis impossible tosuppose the manner inwhich the TRUE bodyof Christ begins to bein the sacrament,unless by conversion ofthe substance ofbread.

This conversion is ruledout by the supposition(guess) of theannihilation of thesubstance of thebread, or its resolutioninto underlying matter.

Saint Thomas Aquinasstated that thisconversion is not likenatural conversions butit is wholly supernatural,brought about only bythe POWER OF GOD.

All conversion whichtakes place according tothe laws of nature isformal.

But God can produce not only aformal conversion (i.e. thereplacement of one form by anotherin the same subject) But also theconversion of the whole being (i.e.the conversion of the wholesubstance of A into the wholesubstance of B.

According to Saint Thomas, this isdone in this sacrament by the powerof God, for the whole substance ofbread is converted into the wholesubstance ofChrist’s body.

Ergo, this conversion is properlycalled TRANSUBSTANTIATION.

Obviously, the accidents of bread and wineremain in the sacrament.

By Divine Providence, there is a good reasonfor this:

1. Because it is not normal for people to eathuman flesh and to drink human blood; infact, they are revolted by this idea(Cannibalism.)…

…Therefore, Christ’s flesh and blood are set beforeus to be taken under appearances of thosethings which are of frequent use, namely, breadand wine.

1. If we ate our Lord under his proper appearance,this sacrament would be ridiculed byunbelievers.

2. In order that, while we take the Lord’s body andblood invisibly, this fact may avail toward themerit of FAITH.

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