Question:
hello and God bless,
Does the bread and wine only undergo Transubstantiation when the Priest says the accepted words of consecration in the format of the Mass? I was told that it can be consecrated without a Mass so long as a validly ordained Priest says the words.
Additionally, I was told that intent and the words are needed, however, I recall being taught that intent does not matter - that if a Priest doubts or doesn't believe in Transubstantiation (lost the belief but no one else knows) and celebrates the Mass that the bread/wine still undergo Transubstantiation since it is not the Priest who changes this, but God.
Just like the miracle of Lanciano, the Priest celebrating Mass had doubted Transubstantiation, yet the bread became the actual flesh and blood (testing showed it to be heart cells!)
Would that still be considered Transubstantiation since it no longer looked like bread, but actual flesh? I was told that this was not considered transubtantiation since the substance and appearance changed; that it would have only the substance change but the accidents of appearance NOT change.
Thank you, and God bless
|
Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Liz,
Theologically speaking it is possible to validly consecrate bread and wine outside of the context of the celebration of the Mass, however the Church absolutely prohibits it. (can. 927)
A priest can still have doubts, but as long as he intends to do what the
church does, the consecration is valid. If he has recurring doubts and is
seriously struggling with his faith, he needs to consider asking for a leave
of absence. That being said though I would imagine that few priests are
100% solid in the faith at all times at least internally.
About miracle you described: the bread changing to actual physical flesh... YES transubstantiation
has occurred, BUT, there is more to it than that. Not only have the
substances changed (transubstantiation) but the ACCIDENTS have also changed
as well, resulting in a "double" miracle, a complete transformation of both
substance and accidents.
Whoever told you that "it would have only the substance change but the
accidents of appearance NOT change" is wrong, because obviously the
appearance has changed from that of bread to that of heart cells.
Hope this helps and if I can further clarify anything let me know,
Mr. Slavek
Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.
(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.
(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.
|