Chapter 67 — Solution of the objections in regard to breaking of the Host

The fifth objection now remains to be considered. From what has been said, it is clear that as subject of the breaking we can postulate the dimensions that subsist of themselves. Nor does the breaking of these dimensions involve the breaking of the substance of Christ’s body, because Christ’s body remains entire in each portion.

This may seem difficult, yet it may be explained in accordance with what has been already said. (Ch. 64.) It has been stated that in this sacrament Christ’s body is present in its substance by virtue of the sacrament, and that the dimensions of Christ’s body are present by natural concomitance with his substance, in a manner contrary to that in which a body is in a place naturally. For a body is in a place naturally through its dimensions, whereby it is commensurate with the place.

For the relation of a substantial thing to its container differs from that of a quantitative thing to that in which it is. A quantitative whole is contained by a whole in such a way that it is not wholly in any single part, but each part is in itself, and the whole in the whole. Hence a natural body is wholly in the whole place, and yet is not wholly in each part of the place, but each part of the body fits into its own part of the place, because a body is in a place through its dimensions. On the other hand, if a substantial totality is wholly in the whole of something, it is also wholly in each part of that thing. Thus the whole nature and species of water is in each part of the water, and the whole soul is in each part of the body.

Since Christ’s body is in the sacrament by reason of its substance, into which the substance of the bread has been changed, while the bread’s dimensions remain, then just as the whole species of bread was present in each part of the dimensions, so the whole body of Christ is present in each part of those same dimensions. Consequently, the subject of this breaking or dividing is not Christ’s body, but the dimensions of bread and wine: which dimensions remain and, as already stated, are the subject of the other accidents that remain after the consecration.