22 APRIL 1995, Page 30

Thoughts for the day

Sir: Mr A. N. Wilson claims, in his article `Origins of the empty tomb' (15 April), that St Paul introduced the idea of drinking the blood of Christ, but surely this was instigated by Jesus himself at the Last Supper, an event recorded in three of the four gospels, in which Jesus described the cup as 'my blood of the new covenant'. The old covenant was written in the blood of the Messiah.

Transubstantiation, as proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church, is not biblical. Neither Jesus, or St Paul ever suggested that the description of the wine as blood was anything more than symbolic.

Katie Mallet

15b Meynell Avenue, Canvey Island, Essex