Answer: The Catholic teaching on the Eucharist is not easy to grasp, even for lifelong Catholics. In fact, this difficulty is nothing new. After Jesus gave his Bread of Life Discourse (cf. John 6:22–59), many of his disciples said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Some even walked away and no longer followed Him. Yet the Twelve remained, and Peter voiced their faith: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (cf. John 6:60-69)

The Eucharistic presence of Christ is a mystery. Even though it is reasonable, the mystery cannot be fully grasped by reason alone, yet it is the heart of our faith. The best place to begin is with Scripture and the Church’s teaching. Jesus entrusted to his Church a share in the one Sacrifice, by which he conquered sin and death. In Holy Communion, we receive the grace of his redeeming love poured out upon the Cross. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, particularly paragraphs 1333–1344, describe beautifully how Christ gave us the Eucharist for our salvation and how the consecrated bread and wine are the memorial of his saving gift.

Another way to explain this mystery is by drawing a parallel with the Incarnation. Just as the eternal Son of God truly became man while remaining God, so in the Eucharist Christ is truly present in the form of bread and wine. The Church uses the word “transubstantiation” to describe that while the appearance of bread and wine remains, their inner reality—their substance—becomes the Body and Blood of Christ.

Ultimately, belief in the Eucharist is an act of faith in Christ Himself, who gave us this Most August Sacrament for the forgiveness of sins and the nourishment of our souls. As St. Thomas Aquinas observed, “For those with faith, no evidence is necessary; for those without it, no evidence will suffice.”

We must also remember that our reverence for the Eucharist often speaks more loudly than our explanations. When we approach the altar with devotion, when we acknowledge the graces and heavenly blessings that flow from the Eucharist, we testify to Christ’s real presence in a way words cannot. Our lived witness—faithful, humble, and joyful—becomes the most persuasive answer to those who question how bread and wine can become the Body and Blood of the Lord.

I invite you to pray to the Holy Spirit for the most effective way to courageously witness to your faith in our Eucharistic Lord.