My Body & My Blood

The Roman practice had been to meet weekly (on Sunday), and have the elders (eventually the priesthood) administer the "sacraments" to believers. Their teaching was that, upon the blessing of the priest, the substance of the bread and wine would be transformred into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. Scriptural backing for transubstantiation comes from 1Co 11.24-25, where our Lord states, "this is My body" & "cup is the New Testament in My blood", as well as references from John 6.53-55, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoso eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life; and I will reaise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."

No mere empty symbolism, and many were sick and slept, due to misbehavior concerning the blood and body of Christ...