In the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, Methodist, Anglican and Oriental Orthodox Churches, the fact that Christ is really made manifest in the Eucharist is deemed a Eucharistic miracle; however, this is to be distinguished from other manifestations of God.

The Orthodox believe that by the consecration the bread and wine are truly changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. Communion is given in a spoon containing both the bread and the wine and is received standing. A sermon is usually preached either after the reading of the Gospel or at the end of the service.

In the Greek Orthodox Church, one single utensil is used to administer the Holy Communion to the entire congregation. Churchgoers line up, and one by one, the priest spoon-feeds them wine and bread, which represent the blood and body of Jesus Christ.

The Eucharist is a re-enactment of the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest, and eventual crucifixion. At the meal Jesus ate bread and wine and instructed his disciples to do the same in memory of him.

Pope Innocent III, 1208: “[H]owever honest, religious, holy, and prudent anyone may be, he cannot nor ought he to consecrate the Eucharist nor to perform the sacrifice of the altar unless he be a priest, regularly ordained by a visible and perceptible bishop”.

Only a validly ordained priest can validly consecrate the Eucharist. As stated in Canon Law, “The ordinary minister of holy communion is a bishop, presbyter, or deacon.” and “The extraordinary minister of holy communion is an acolyte or another member of the Christian faithful designated according to the norm of ⇒ can.

Only wheat bread and grape wine can be used. The moment the priest or bishop says the words of consecration — the words of Christ at the Last Supper, “This is My body” and “This is My blood,” (Matthew 26:26–29) — Catholics believe that the bread and wine become the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ.

The priest washes his hands, and he offers a prayer of thanks to God (quietly or aloud, if no song is being sung) for the gifts of bread and wine that presently will be changed into Christ’s body and blood (see transubstantiation). He then invites the people to pray that their sacrifice will be acceptable to God.

To consecrate the bread and wine, the priest speaks the Words of Institution. Behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb).

Thus, the American church’s modern Book of Common Prayer states, when describing the consecration of bread and wine: “At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it, or lay a hand upon it; and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing …

Catholics believe that when they receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist they are receiving the body and blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine. During the consecration of bread and wine, Catholics believe that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ through transubstantiation .

According to the eucharistic doctrine of Roman Catholicism, the elements of the consecrated bread and wine are transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ: their substance is converted into the substance of the body and blood, although the outward appearances of the elements, their “accidents,” remain.