Accidents

ACCIDENTS

BASIC R.C. BELIEF A term used to denote the outward manifestations (taste, smell, etc.) of the Host in the Roman Catholic Mass. St. Thomas Aquinas first took this term from Greek philosophy to explain transubstantiation in the Mass. The Host retains its accident, but becomes a different substance (the Body of Christ).

Natural parallels between the substance (essence) and accidents (appearance) are put forth in the transformation of water to solid, liquid and gaseous states, and the alteration of man’s physical appearance while he remains the same being.

POST VATICAN II This is still Roman Catholic teaching today, but is has been de-emphasized. It used to be thought very sacrilegious to chew the wafer but this is common today. The thought is that it is not possible to hurt the substance by chewing, only the accidents.

CHRISTIAN COMMENT Besides the obvious fact that this theory is neither scriptural nor necessary, it is interesting to note that pagan philosophy is utilized to explain the most important ritual of Rome. In the parallels, accidents change and substance remains. According to Roman Catholicism, the reverse is true in the Mass (See also John 6:54,63).