Fr. Jeffery Fasching on the Eucharist: An Interview (Part 1 of 2)

1. Fr. Jeffery Fasching on the Eucharist: An Interview (Part 1 of 2)
We recently had the chance to speak with Fr. Jeffery Fasching, an ordained Catholic priest and celebrant
of the Traditional Latin Mass, about the Eucharist, its history, and its basis in scripture. The first part of
our interview follows below:
Q: Let me start out by asking you a little about the history of the Eucharist. How long has the Eucharist
been a point of contention among Christians?
A: For a long time, and particularly since the Protestant Reformation. The Council of Trent included a
specific decree on the Eucharist, and some of the earliest Protestant reformers held that the presence of
Christ in the Eucharist should be considered metaphorical, not literal.
Q: And has their view persisted?
A: For many Protestants, yes. And there is some scriptural support for it. But Roman Catholics,
Lutherans, High Anglicans, and Eastern Orthodox Christians retain the belief that Christ is literally
present in the bread and wine of the Eucharist.