The Big Enchilada of Roman Catholicism: the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

The big enchilada of Roman Catholicism, the main event, the big show, the heart of the matter, without which nothing else matters -- is the doctrine of transubstantiation.

Transubstantiation is the doctrine that by saying the words that Christ said at the Last Supper, a Roman Catholic priest has the power to change bread and wine into the literal Body and Blood of Christ.

And when I say literal, I mean literal. The bread and wine only maintain the appearance of bread and wine. In all other ways they have been transubstantiated.

And I would go so far as to say that if you believe in transubstantiation, you are a Roman Catholic. If you don't believe in transubstantiation, then you're not. Upon this one belief, all else depends.

And I have been slow to realize this.

But once you realize this, you also realize that you should never miss Mass, because in doing so, you are missing out on the food and drink that nourishes the soul and keeps it alive.