Transubstantiation is perhaps one of the most confusing and misunderstood of all Catholic beliefs. What Exactly is Transubstantiation? According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the word transubstantiate means “to change into another substance.” As Catholics, we believe that the Eucharist, which is made of bread and wine, literally turns into the body and blood of Jesus Christ during Mass. When explaining transubstantiation, Catholic theologians speak of the difference between “accident,” and “substance.” Accident and substance are philosophical ideas that come from the Greek philosopher Aristotle which describe the essential and non-essential properties of any given object. A droplet of water, for example, is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. These qualities are essential to the…