When the Bread and Wine Become the Body and Blood of Christ,
Why Do They Still Look and Taste Like Bread and Wine? In the celebration of the Eucharist, the glorified Christ becomes present under the appearance of bread and wine in a way that is unique, a way that is uniquely suited to the Eucharist. In the Church’s traditional theological language, in the act of consecration during the Eucharist, the “substance” of the bread and wine is changed by the power of the Holy Spirit into the “substance” of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. At the same time, the “accidents” or appearances of bread and wine remain.