Does hocus pocus refer to the Eucharist?

The popular Halloween phrase “hocus pocus” is strange in the English language and generally thought to be a nonsensical set of words. ... read more

The honest answer is that no-one knows. One of the theories about the origin of the phrase is that it’s a parody of the words used by the priest in the Mass in Latin:"hoc est corpus enim meus" ("for this is my body" - cf Luke 22:19). read more

In all probability those common juggling words of hocus pocus are nothing else but a corruption of hoc est corpus, by way of ridiculous imitation of the priests of the Church of Rome in their trick of Transubstantiation. read more