And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said,
Take, eat; this is my body.
All Commentaries on Matthew 26:26 Go To Matthew 26
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
Ambr. de Sacr., vi, 1 : And that wemight not be shocked by the sight of blood, while it at the same time wrought the price of our redemption.
Ambr. de Sacr., iv, 4: This bread before the sacramentary words, is the breadin common use; after consecration it is made of bread Christ’s flesh. And what are the words, or whose are the phrases of consecration, save those of the Lord Jesus? For if His word had power to make those things begin to be which werenot, how much rather will it not be efficacious to cause them to remain what they are, while they are at the same time changed into somewhat else? For if the heavenly word has been effectual in other matters, is it ineffectual in heavenly sacraments? Therefore of the bread is made the Body of Christ, and the wine is made blood by the consecration of the heavenly word.
de Sacr., iv, 5: Before consecration, it is bread; after Christ’s words, “Thisis my body,” have been pronounced, it is Christ’s Body.
