Majority of Filipino Catholics believes the Holy Eucharist is the real body and blood of Christ, and not just symbolical.
This was the result of the Veritas Truth Survey conducted by Church-run Radio Veritas.
When asked, "Do you believe that the Holy Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Christ?" Veritas said majority of the respondents or 97 percent said "they do believe that the Holy Eucharist is indeed the real body and blood of Christ and not just symbolical."
"The remaining 2 percent said that they do not believe that the Holy Eucharist is real body and blood of Christ implying that it is merely depictive of the real body and blood of Christ," it said.
"While the remaining 1 percent said that they were undecided on what to reply to this question," added Veritas.
Father Anton Pascual, Radio Veritas president, said the survey result "embodies the deep spirituality we have towards the Holy Eucharist."
"Compared to a survey stating that one-third of U.S. Catholics (31 percent) say they believe that during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus. A 97 percent majority of Filipinos, believe in this core Catholic belief that Holy Eucharist is the actual Body and Blood of Christ; and that Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian Life," he said in a statement released Wednesday, June 2.
VTS head Bro. Clifford Sorita said the survey is indicative of "our deep belief towards Transubstantiation the idea that during Mass, the bread and wine used for Communion become the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which is central to the Catholic faith."
"In a time when most Catholics in other parts of the world see the Bread and Wine as mere symbols of the Body and Blood of Christ, it is noteworthy to stress that we Filipinos believe in the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. The resurrected Christ is present to his Church in many ways, but most especially through the sacrament of his Body and Blood," he said.
Conducted from April 25 to May 25, the survey used a stratified sample of 1,200 respondents nationwide.
The survey, which has a +/- 3% margin of error, was gathered through a text-based and online data gathering process.