THE EUCHARIST HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CHRISTIAN COM- MUNITY. BOTH HOLY SCRIPTURE AND THE CHURCH TEACHING FROM THE EARLY DAYS THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES ASSERT THE MYSTICAL PRESENCE OF JESUS' BODY IN THE ELEMENTS OF BREAD AND WINE. THUS. THE HOLY EUCHARIST IS NOT MERELY SYMBOLIC BUT THE TRUE BODYAND BLOOD OF CHRIST. HISTORICALLY. TRANSUBSTANTIATION IS THE THEOLOCICAL CONCEPT USED TO DE- SCRIBE HOW BREAD AND WINE CAN ACTU ALLY BECOME THE TRUE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.