Don't hold your breath - there is no scriptural basis for much of this mythology. The early years of Christianity was marked by a battle with paganism and the early Church theologians understood that what they were fighting was not standing armies, but the spiritual hosts of darkness, paganism. The early Church understood the nature of the Lord's supper as shown below. As pagan custom crept into the Roman Church, beginning during the Constantine era, the ritual of transubstantiation crept in.
Justin Martyr (110-165 AD)
"Now it is evident, that in this prophecy allusion is made to the bread which our Christ gave us to eat, in remembrance of His being made flesh for the sake of His believers, for whom also He suffered; and to the cup which He gave us to drink, in remembrance of His own blood, with giving of thanks." Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, cap. lxx
Tatian (110-172 AD)
"...It is not we who eat human flesh - they among you who assert such a thing have been suborned as false witnesses; it is among you that Pelops is made a supper for the gods, although beloved by Poseidon, and Kronos devours his children, and Zeus swallows Metis." Tatian, Address to the Greeks, cap. xxv
Theophilus of Antioch (115-181 AD)
"Nor indeed was there any necessity for my refuting these, except that I see you still in dubiety about the word of the truth. For though yourself prudent, you endure fools gladly. Otherwise you would not have been moved by senseless men to yield yourself to empty words, and to give credit to the prevalent rumor wherewith godless lips falsely accuse us, who are worshippers of God, and are called Christians, alleging that the wives of us all are held in common and made promiscuous use of; and that we even commit incest with our own sisters, and, what is most impious and barbarous of all, that we eat human flesh." Theophilus, To Autolycus, Lib. III, cap. iv
Eusebius (260-341 AD)
"And there was one energy of the Divine Spirit pervading all the members, and one soul in all, and the same eagerness of faith, and one hymn from all in praise of the Deity. Yea, and perfect services were conducted by the prelates, the sacred rites being solemnized, and the majestic institutions of the Church observed, here with the singing of psalms and with the reading of the words committed to us by God, and there with the performance of divine and mystic services; and the mysterious symbols of the Saviour's passion were dispensed. At the same time people of every age, both male and female, with all the power of the mind gave honor unto God, the author of their benefits, in prayers and thanksgiving, with a joyful mind and soul. And every one of the bishops present, each to the best of his ability, delivered panegyric orations, adding luster to the assembly." Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Lib. X, cap. iii-iv
"I would love to see your SCRIPTURAL basis for these positions the Roman Church takes.
Don't hold your breath - there is no scriptural basis for much of this mythology."
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It can be very frustrating. It seems that a lot of the posters are erudite individuals who are well versed in their church's doctrine, but will refuse to the death to recognize error.
Sure there is. Go to John 6 and read from verse 45-60. Seems pretty clear what Jesus is saying, despite what you claim.
As pagan custom crept into the Roman Church, beginning during the Constantine era, the ritual of transubstantiation crept in.
What a crock. Show me the difference between the "true" Church, as you claim, vs. the Church of Constantine. This is a figment of your imagination. It is clear that the Church has ALWAYS considered that the Eucharist was the Body and Blood of Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. Perhaps you should read the Church Fathers more and find out what they believed...
Your quotes of the Church Fathers are terrible and show that you don't have a clue what they wrote. You take one sentence out of context, but it is clear what they believed.
Justin Martyr (110-165 AD)
"Now it is evident, that in this prophecy allusion is made to the bread which our Christ gave us to eat, in remembrance of His being made flesh for the sake of His believers, for whom also He suffered; and to the cup which He gave us to drink, in remembrance of His own blood, with giving of thanks." Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, cap. lxx
Big deal. Of course we REMEMBER that the Eucharist is a commemoration of Christ's death. We don't deny that! We consider that the Eucharist is Christ's flesh in the appearance of bread - and we remember what He did for us. This proves nothing. Justin DOES write some clear thoughts about the subject here...
And this food is called among us the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. JUSTIN MARTYR: THE FIRST APOLOGY OF JUSTIN, Chapter 66.
Tatian (110-172 AD)
"...It is not we who eat human flesh - they among you who assert such a thing have been suborned as false witnesses; it is among you that Pelops is made a supper for the gods, although beloved by Poseidon, and Kronos devours his children, and Zeus swallows Metis." Tatian, Address to the Greeks, cap. xxv
We don't eat Christ's human flesh! We eat His glorified Body, in a sacramental form. It is under the appearance of bread and wine. This is precisely what Tatian is saying. We don't gnaw on Jesus' corporal flesh, but His sacramental flesh. If you read the context of both Tatian and Theophilus, you will see that they are defending the Christian practice of the Eucharist by saying that we don't eat the flesh of infants and cook up literal human flesh - obviously a misunderstanding of the Eucharist.
And finally, Eusebius. Of course, the Eucharist is a symbol. But that is not all it is. The Eucharis is a symbol AND a reality of the risen Christ in the form of bread and wine. It symbolizes Christ's total giving of Himself for our sake. And we take Him into ourselves as a gift; He abides in us.
It is clear from the Christians of the first few centuries (before Constantine) that they believed that somehow, Christ was actually present in the Eucharist. This cannot be denyed by the overwhelming and unanimous writings of men who were taught by the very same Apostles who wrote Scriptures.
"I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the Bread of God, which is the Flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for drink, I desire His Blood, which is Love incorruptible. St Ignatius to the Philadelphians, 7, 3
"Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Chrsit which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God...They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, Flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in His goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes." St Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, 6,2.
"But what consistency is there in those who hold that the bread over which thanks have been given is the Body of their Lord, and the cup His Blood, if they do not acknowledge that He is the Son of the Creator of the world, that is, His Word...How can they say that the flesh which has been nourished by the Body of the Lord and by His Blood gives way to corruption and does not partake in Life? Let them either change their opinion, or else stop offering these things mentioned...For we offer to Him those things which are His, declaring in a fit manner the gift and the acceptance of flesh and spirit. For as the bread from the earth, receiving the invocation of God, is no longer common bread, but the Eucharist, considting of two elements, earthly and heavenly, so also our bodies, when they receive the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, but have the hope of resurrection into eternity. St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 4, 18, 4
And so forth. There is NO Church Father who DENIES the real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist. It is unanimous. All that is necessary for you is to read the Church Fathers, rather than little clippets taken out of context, not understanding how we view the Eucharist. Of course it is not dripping, bloody flesh! It is Christ under the appearance of bread, just as God came to Moses under the appearance of a burning bush. Do you deny that God can come to man as bread to be his spiritual food?
Regards