I agree with you that the Eucharist is symbolic of Christ's suffering.
Since I've became a 5-point Reformer (attending a Southern Baptist Church), I'm interested in the history of where all these church beliefs and customs started from. It is my view the church slowly digress from the original teachings until the Reformation corrected the situation. I’m sure Calvin and Luther would agree. :O)
Much of Luther’s and Calvin’s beliefs stemmed from the early church fathers but while I have just started reading Reformed literature, I hesitate to use these works exclusively. From time-to-time I like to post articles (Reformed or not) I find particularly interesting on the history of the church.
Further information about the Eucharist:
Pope Gelasius (400+ AD) recognized the Eucharist both ways. (www.newadvent.org)
The Eucharist was controversial as late at the 9th century as stated in this article.
Transubstantiation became finalized in the Catholic Church at the fourth Lateran Council in 1215. (ref:
http://www.justforcatholics.org/a34.htm) The Council of Trent in 153? banned Ratramnus publications especially his views on the Eucharist from circulation. This was later rescinded in the 1900s. (www.newadvent.org)