What is words of institution?

Words of institution, also known as the words of consecration or consecratory formula, are the crucial words spoken by a priest during the celebration of the Eucharist that transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. These words are considered essential for the sacrament of the Eucharist to occur and are based on the actions and words of Jesus at the Last Supper.

The words of institution are derived from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, where Jesus is recorded as saying, "Take, eat; this is my body" and "This cup is the new covenant in my blood." These are the words that the priest repeats during the consecration of the bread and wine.

The Catholic Church considers the words of institution to be a necessary part of the Eucharistic celebration, as they are believed to bring about the real presence of Christ in the sacrament. The Orthodox and Protestant traditions also place importance on the words of institution during the celebration of the Eucharist.

In summary, the words of institution are the essential words spoken by the priest during the Eucharistic celebration, which transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. These words are based on the actions and words of Jesus at the Last Supper and are considered crucial for the sacrament of the Eucharist to be valid.