BIG and Important Word

We are in preparation for Gabriela’s 1st Communion, God willing it will be on Holy Thursday. During the preparation, among other things, she has to know the meaning of transubstantiation [tran-suh-b-stan-shee-ey-shuhn] Even I had a difficult time pronouncing this word, but I think I got it now!

According to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Transubstantiation means the change of the whole substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Christ and of the whole substance of wine into the substance of his Blood. This change is brought about in the eucharistic prayer through the efficacy of the word of Christ and by the action of the Holy Spirit. However, the outward characteristics of bread and wine, that is the “eucharistic species”, remain unaltered.

Let’s keep Gabriela in your prayers during her 1st Communion preparation that the Holy Spirit will guide her during these days and to continue opening her heart and mind to love the Eucharist and to understand fully what this sacrament is all about.