How does the bread and the wine become the body and blood of Christ in the celebration of the Eucharist?
The Greek term Eucharist[ia] was used in Rome. The earliest reference we have allegedly attributed to Clement (ca 101) is said to use the verbal form generally by way of giving thanks but a reading of the reference given for Clement (CE article Mass, Vol IX, p. 791) is speaking only of the necessity to provide for the wants of the poor in humility. He speaks only of bishops and deacons also as was the NT practice. The earliest real reference claimed for the Mass is Justin Martyr and he is held to speak of the Mass in the sense of giving thanks and also in the liturgy but we have seen directly above that there was no Liturgy of the Mass at all proceedings being according to the direction and ability of the president. References are made to First Apology lxv, 3, 5; lxvi, s1; lxvii, 5. In these texts Justin gives the description of the Eucharist however it is clearly in this text not a weekly service but the service following baptism of the adult. He rejects the entire false doctrine of t
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