Consubstantiation

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kɔn.sʌbs.tn̩.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/

Definitions

1. The theological doctrine that the body and blood of Christ coexist with bread and wine during the Eucharist, rather than replacing them entirely
2. A Christian theological concept asserting that Christ's physical body and blood exist alongside bread and wine in the Eucharist rather than completely transforming into them
3. A sacramental theory holding that Christ's body and blood are present together with the bread and wine elements during communion rather than transforming into them

Etymology: The word is built from Latin "con-" meaning "together" and "substantia," meaning "substance" or "essence," so it literally names a joining of substances. It was coined as a theological term in the Western church, and it describes the belief that the substance of Christ's body and blood exists alongside the substance of the bread and wine, rather than replacing it. That belief is often set against transubstantiation, the Catholic doctrine that the bread and wine are wholly changed into Christ's body and blood while their appearance remains. Consubstantiation is most closely associated with Martin Luther and the Lutheran tradition, which held that Christ is truly present "in, with and under" the elements. Many Lutherans rejected the label itself, and the word was largely used by opponents to describe a view they considered a distortion of Luther's position.

Synonyms: coexistence, union, integration

Antonyms: separation, divorce