According to the Roman Catholic Church , the Eucharist is the true presence of Jesus Christ , the Son of God . During a Mass , through the act of transubstantiation , the bread and wine offered change , and are no longer bread and wine . The Catholic Church teaches that when the bread and wine are consecrated in the Eucharist , they cease to be bread and wine , and become , respectively , the body and blood of Christ , each of which is accompanied by the other and by Christ 's soul and divinity .