What is a Miracle of the Eucharist?  |  by Father Roberto Coggi O.

Miracles of the Eucharist are miracu­lous divine interventions that are aimed at confirming faith in the real presence of the body and blood of the Lord in the Eucharist. We are familiar with the Catholic doctrine relating to this real presence; with the Words of Consecration, "this is my body'' and "this is my blood," the substance of the bread becomes the body of Christ and the substance of the wine becomes his blood. This awe-inspiring change is known as transubstan­tiation, in other words, the transition of the substance. Only the appearances, or species, of the bread and wine remain; these are known by the philosophical term "accidents". The dimen­sions, colour, flavour and odour remain, as do the nutrients, but the substance, or rather the true reality, does not remain because it has become the body and blood of Christ. Transub­stantiation can in no way be experienced by the senses; faith alone makes certain of this miracu­lous change.

Miracles of the Eucharist are intended to confirm this faith, which is based on the words of Christ, according to which what seems like bread is no longer bread, and what seems like wine is no longer wine.