Catholic Apologetics: The Eucharist

Are we to eat the literal Body of Christ and drink His Blood?  Yes, Jesus Christ meant for us to literally eat His Flesh and drink His Blood as He Himself repeated and emphasized the literality of this teaching by using the words "verily, verily" and "indeed" in describing it.  If He did not mean this teaching literally, He surely would not have allowed disciples to stop following Him over this (John 6:51-71).   In addition, why would St. Paul state that anyone who accepted the Eucharist unworthily is guilty of the blood of Christ if it were only symbolic? (1 Corinthians 11:23-29)