The Transubstantiation

Many people claim that Catholics have an incorrect understanding of the words that inspire the doctrine of the Transubstantiation and that we invented this doctrine. However, scriptures and history show that Catholics are right. In this essay, I will break the doctrine of The Divine Eucharist in two parts:

• Part One: The origins of the Bread and the Wine in the Old Testament
• Part Two: The Transubstantiation

Part One: The Bread and the Wine origins

Genesis 14:17-20
"When Abram returned from his defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to greet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High. He blessed Abram with these words ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
This verse is actually very important when comes to understanding the importance of Bread and Wine in the Eucharist. It shows that even in the first book of the Old Testament, the High Priest Melchizedek recognizes the importance of the “Bread” and the “Wine”. They are more than a method of celebration, but they show the importance of using them after winning a battle for the freedom of the chosen people. As John 6:49-53 and Matthew 26:26-28 refer to the “Bread” and “Wine” as the Eucharist, which also shows the way to celebrate Salvation and the way the King (Jesus) celebrates a feast (Note: Matthew 26 occurs during the Passover which is the most important feast in the Judeo religion and culture which represents freedom).
Many people argue that drinking wine is a sin, however, the Bible teaches otherwise:
Ecclesiastes 9:7
“So, eat your bread in joy, drink your wine with a glad heart, since God has already approved your actions.”

Part Two: Is it actually the Blood and Body of Jesus Christ?

John: 6:49-53
“Your fathers ate manna in the desert and they are dead, but this is the bread which comes down from heaven so that a person may eat it and not die. I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.' Then the Jews started arguing among themselves, 'How can this man give us his flesh to eat?' Jesus replied to them: In all truth I tell you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”
This verse is talking about how Jesus clearly says this bread is special because it represents his body. ‘I am the bread because I am the path and the food that will lead you to heaven and fill your soul with love and grace’. It is important that Jesus emphasizes the story of the manna, and how even after eating the Jews still died, however when he eat his Bread, we live forever. Here Jesus talks about the manna (actual food), and continues to talk about his Bread which he says "is my flesh".
If we continue reading John's Gospel we will be able to see that Jesus Clearly refers to eating his flesh and blood:
John 6:53-58
"Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”"
Jesus Christ clearly talks about how you must eat his flesh, or you aren't alive. Those who ate the manna died, however, those who eat his flesh and drink his blood will live forever. Many of those with him after listening to this considered Jesus to be crazy, or a liar (Rf. John 6:66). It sounded so crazy that many left him, but the twelve remained with him. Even in today's world, many think Catholics are liars for believing in this doctrine, however, we will stay with Jesus like the Twelve Apostles did back then.
Matthew 26:26-28
“Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the disciples 'Take it and eat,' he said, 'this is my body.' Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he handed it to them saying, 'Drink from this, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
In this verses Jesus in emphasizes the idea that bread and wine will become his blood and flesh. For those who consume this Sacred, Food will remember that he died for us, and the blood of the Almighty is the blood that erases our sins. This does not mean that every time we drink his blood our sins will be erased, but in order for us to drink the blood and eat his flesh, we must be free of sin also call “in a state of Grace.”

Several historical and theological documents exist, one of them that is dating back to 80 AD.

The Didache, Chapter 9.
On the Lord's Day of the Lord come together, break bread and hold Eucharist, after confessing your transgressions that your offering may be pure; but let none who has a quarrel with his fellow join in your meeting until they are reconciled, that your sacrifice is not defiled. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord, "In every place and time offer me a pure sacrifice, for I am a great king," saith the Lord, "and my name is wonderful among the heathen."
In 80 AD, the word Eucharist is already used to show that Christians believed in the Transubstantiation, furthermore it is seen with how extreme reverence Christians talked in the first Century about the Eucharist. Some claim that the Roman Emperor introduced the doctrines of Blood and Flesh around the late 4th Century to cover a pagan tradition, however, we can see this is wrong by just reading St. Ignatius of Antioch (a disciple of St. John the Apostle) text written in 110 AD (around 320 years prior the Birth of Emperor Constantine).
"Letter to the Smyrnaeans", by Saint Ignatius of Antioch paragraph 6. circa 80-110 A.D
"Consider how contrary to the mind of God are heterodox in regard to the grace of God which has come to us. They have no regard for charity, none for the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, none for the man in prison, the hungry or the thirsty. They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not admit that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, the flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in His graciousness, raised from the dead."
Another of St. Ignatius of Antioch writings, "Letter to the Ephesians", paragraph 20, c. 80-110 A.D
"Come together in common, one and all without exception in charity, in one faith and in one Jesus Christ, who is of the race of David according to the flesh, the son of man, and the Son of God, so that with undivided mind you may obey the bishop and the priests, and break one Bread which is the medicine of immortality and the antidote against death, enabling us to live forever in Jesus Christ."
St. Ignatius of Antioch' writings clearly reflect the idea that Early Christians believed in the Transubstantiation, which completely debunks the false sayings that state that the Roman Emperor Constantine introduced the doctrine of Transubstantiation.