[Mad Dawg]

His literal body to be literally consumed.

IN all seriousness, can you point me to a Catholic theological text which describes the consecrated 'host' as the 'literal' body of Jesus?

This is, I think, more important that many realize. The meaning of "REAL" in "real presence" is not necessarily "literal".

And since, if FR is any guide, the average person contesting the doctrine does not seem to have an idea of what "substance" and "accidents" mean OR that the body and blood in question are NOW the RISEN body and blood, a lot of the conversation seems to be based on misunderstanding.

[small voice in the wilderness]

What does this mean, then, Mad Dawg?:

..in the sacrament of the Eucharist Christ is present, in a manner altogether unique, God and man, whole and entire, substantially and continuously. - Second Vatican Council

[daniel1212]

By literal i meant the opposite of symbolic, and this requires some defining, but as for your question, a quick search show New Advent, if that qualifies as a theological source, in its polemic for the literal interpretation of Jn. 6, states,

"Consequently, eating and drinking are to be understood of the actual partaking of Christ in person, hence literally. " http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05573a.htm

Catholc.com defines the Real Presence, stating,

"The doctrine of the Real Presence asserts that in the Holy Eucharist, Jesus is literally and wholly present—body and blood, soul and divinity—under the appearances of bread and wine." http://www.catholic.com/library/Real_Presence.asp

In "The Blessed Virgin Mary in England: A Mary-Catechism" by Brother Anthony Josemaria Fti - 2008, it states (p. 266)

"we do literally drink Christ's Precious Blood in its Eucharistic mode of being, in Holy Communion."

Less authoritatively, arguing likewise, "Scripture Catholic states that "Jesus will literally give us His flesh and blood to eat." http://www.scripturecatholic.com/the_eucharist.html

Of course, for Rome, "literal" does not mean literal as in the case of Him looking, tasting as His body, and thus the use of the philosophical term "accidents," though in His miracles, such as Jn. 2, i am sure the wine did not taste like water.

To late for this. My typos tell me my fingers are having to many literal "accidents."