What doctrine did John Wycliffe oppose regarding the Eucharist?

• A. Transubstantiation
• B. Infant Baptism
• C. Filioque clause
• D. Clerical celibacy

Answer: (A)

John Wycliffe opposed the doctrine of transubstantiation, which is the belief that during the celebration of the Eucharist, the bread and wine used become the actual body and blood of Christ. Wycliffe challenged this idea, advocating for a more symbolic interpretation of the Eucharist. He believed that the elements were reminders of Christ's sacrifice rather than undergoing a literal transformation.

His views were significant in the context of the late medieval Church, as they contributed to the emerging calls for reform and laid intellectual groundwork for later Protestant movements that further rejected the notion of transubstantiation. Wycliffe's teachings emphasized the authority of Scripture over Church tradition, which also influenced his stance against this central Catholic doctrine.