What does “We Eat God” mean?

“We Eat God” sounds weird. I know.

But for Catholics, those three words get right to the heart of the faith.

A priest elevating the Eucharist over a chalice with the words Becomes Jesus

We Eat God explained

At every Mass

At every Mass, we believe the bread and wine on the altar truly become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us plainly in John 6:55: “My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.”

The Last Supper

Then, at the Last Supper during Passover, Jesus reveals that he is the new Passover Lamb. He takes bread and says, “Take and eat; this is my body.” He takes the chalice and calls it “my blood of the covenant” in Matthew 26:26-28.

What happens?

During the Eucharistic Prayer, when the priest speaks Jesus’ words, “This is my body,” something real happens.

The Church calls it transubstantiation. It’s a mouthful, but the idea isn’t as complicated as it sounds.

What changes?

The Host still looks like bread. It tastes like bread. It smells like bread. But what it is has changed. It is now Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, present sacramentally. When we receive the Host, it is no longer bread but Christ himself.

That’s what we mean when we say “We Eat God.”

Want to understand how transubstantiation works?

Scroll down.

Substance & Accidents

  1. Start with something ordinary.

    Accidents
    Green · firm · whole — 0 changes
    Substance
    Apple — 0 changes

  2. Although the physical characteristics change, the substance remains.

    Accidents
    Red · skinless — 1 change
    Substance
    Apple — 0 changes

  3. Cut it in two. You have not made it into something else.

    Accidents
    Halved · core open — 2 changes
    Substance
    Apple — 0 changes

  4. Leave it on the counter. Still the same fruit.

    Accidents
    Bruised · browning · soft — 3 changes
    Substance
    Apple — 0 changes

  5. Cook it down with sugar. Still the same fruit.

    Accidents
    Sweet · spreadable · sealed — 4 changes
    Substance
    Apple — 0 changes

  6. Bake it into a pie. Still the same fruit.

    Accidents
    Baked · golden · sliced — 5 changes
    Substance
    Apple — 0 changes

  7. Every property you can see has changed. What it is has not.

    Accidents
    Changed beyond recognition — 6 changes
    Substance
    Apple — 0 changes

  8. At the altar, this runs exactly backwards.

    Accidents
    Bread — wholly unchanged — 0 changes
    Substance
    Bread — 0 changes

  9. The words are said. Nothing you can see has changed.

    Accidents
    Bread — wholly unchanged — 0 changes
    Substance
    Bread — 0 changes

  10. This is my body…

    Accidents
    Bread — wholly unchanged — 0 changes
    Substance
    Bread — 0 changes

  11. Nothing you can see has changed.

    Jesus

    Accidents
    Bread — wholly unchanged — 0 changes
    Substance
    Jesus Christ — 1 change

  12. The host looks like bread, but is now Jesus' flesh

    Accidents
    Bread — wholly unchanged — 0 changes
    Substance
    Jesus Christ — 1 change

Congratulations, you understand transubstantiation!

Now Wear it and explain it!

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