During the eucharistic prayer, when the priest bends over the altar and says:
THIS IS MY BODY
and
THIS IS MY BLOOD
then the bread and wine CEASE to exist (only their appearance remains). The entire substance of the bread becomes the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ; likewise the entire substance of the wine ceases to exist and becomes entirely the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. This is a great mystery which none of us understands, but what now still looks like a ordinary wafer is actually God lying there on the altar. He is every bit as much present as if you were standing in a hot dusty Jerusalem street in the first century and you saw this bleeding, dying man come around a corner with a large wooden cross over His shoulder. By the way - this is why you are kneeling, and if there are no kneelers present, then kneel on the floor - GOD has just arrived.
It is appropriate to kneel during a Catholic Mass at specific times, such as during the consecration of the Eucharist, the Our Father prayer, and the Lamb of God prayer.
The response to the consecration during a Catholic Mass is called the "Acclamation." Typically, this response includes phrases such as "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." It serves as a proclamation of faith in the mystery of the Eucharist and the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ.
The moment during mass when transubstantiation occurs is called the consecration.
A Catholic must be present for the following in a single Mass: Offertory Consecration Communion
Catholics use unleavened bread. This becomes the Body of Christ after the consecration.
Before the consecration in the Catholic Mass, the bread and wine are just regular food and drink. They are not yet considered the Body and Blood of Christ. It is through the words of consecration spoken by the priest that Catholic belief holds that a transformation occurs, and the bread and wine become the Real Presence of Christ.
Striking one's breast three times during the Consecration in a Catholic Mass is a gesture of penance and humility, symbolizing sorrow for sin and a plea for mercy. This action is part of the "Agnus Dei" or "Lamb of God" prayer, reflecting the congregation's recognition of their unworthiness and need for God's grace. It serves as a reminder of the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist and the importance of repentance in the faith.
Roman Catholic AnswerStarting back when the consecration was held at a remote altar and the canon (the Eucharistic prayer) was said in a low voice with the priest bending over the altar, a bell was run at the point where the consecration actually took place. This has been done for hundreds of years, and is still recommended even though the people can plainly heard the priest now.
It is called, Eucharist.Roman Catholic AnswerTransubstantiation is the complete change of the substance of bread and wine into the substance of Christ' Body and Blood by a validly ordained priest during the consecration at Mass.
In Mass, the altar is where the miracle of Jesus turning bread into His Body and the wine into His Blood as in the Last Supper Jesus had with His apostles is re-presented.Catholic AnswerA Catholic Altar is for the same purpose that all altars are erected-for sacrifice. The sacrifice of Our Blessed Lord on the Cross is re-presented on the altar.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist includes the presentation of the bread and wine, the prayer or the anaphora containing the words of consecration, and communion.
Intercessory prayers occur after the Creed and before the Offertory.