Appearance and substance in the Eucharist
Dear Editor,
As the First Holy Communion season approaches, priests and parents face the challenge of explaining how a wafer and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus.
St. Thomas Aquinas provided help by identifying the separation of appearance and substance. One can change while the other remains the same.
Although our appearance changes as we age, our DNA remains the same.
Children are familiar with the Pinocchio story where his appearance remains the same, but he changes from a wooden toy to a living boy.
When a bell announces the Consecration, a wafer and wine will retain their appearance, but their substance will change into the Body and Blood of Jesus, just as they are in the tabernacle.
LuAnne Feik
Madison