Eucharist Flashcards
What is the process transubstantiation?
reality of bread and wine (their substance) changes into the body and blood of Jesus
miraculous change made possible by the power and intentions of God and the actions of the priest
Origin of transubstantiation
‘a change of substance’ - greek
Aristotle - argued for a distinction between appearance and what is behind the appearance
In Eucharist theology, developed by Aquinas and other Catholic thinkers
What is the process of transignification and who is the thinker associated with it
Who argues for it
Edward Schillebeeckx
Bread and wine change significance, but not its reality or identity
Zwilingi
Origin of transignification
roots in structuralism and semiotics
Real Presence is not to do with change of substance, but change of meaning
Rejects Aristotle’s idea of substance and avoids conflict with contemporary physics
Modern Catholic
Consubstantiation
Martin Luther
Spiritually the bread and wine are the flesh and blood of Jesus, but are still just bread and wine
simultaneous presence of bread and body of Christ
Protestant thinkers
What is Real Presence?
Christ is present in a real, spiritual sense at the Eucharist through the Holy Spirit
What is God’s grace?
free gift from God given regardless of worthiness of recipient
helps Cs to live better lives to resemble Jesus’
Sacraments are a vehicle for receiving God’s grace
Protestant theology emphasises God’s grace is necessary of all salvation provided each individual accepts Christ as their redeemer
What is the most powerful example of God’s grace?
God’s willingness to sacrifice son to save humankind from sin: gift was the freedom of the punishment of death and restoration of hope and purpose in believers lives
Pureness of victim and unworthiness of recipients is a contrast which emphasises that God chooses to give even when not merited
What is sacramental theology? + what does Paul teach and bible quote
Belief in sacramental nature of reality
Everything was created by God, so everything has the potential to relate to him in a divine way, especially humans being the pinnacle of his creation
Paul teaches the death of Jesus redeemed the whole of creation as well as humans
Both can be vessels of God’s grace - Corinthians 1:20
What are sacraments?
sacramentum - latin, ‘outward signs conveying inner peace’
signs of God’s grace and presence
focuses the mind of the worshipper on God and reminds them of the saving death of Christ and the salvation it brings
What are the 7 sacraments in the Catholic and Orthodox Church and what is the overall purpose
purpose: some mark key moments in a persons life, God grants special gifts that help Christians fulfil the commitments involved
Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation/Penance, Healing, Marriage, Holy Orders
Summary of Christian initiation sacraments
Baptism - we die and rise with Christ in and out water, unite themselves with Jesus and become Christian
Jesus was baptised from John - Matthew 3:13-17
Confirmation - with the anointing of the Holy Spirit symbolised and effectively administered through the oil in the anointing of the priest or bishop
Eucharist - receiving the body and blood of Christ, the Lord’s supper
Summary of healing sacraments
Reconciliation/penance - for serious sin, go to Lord who continues his work through the church when we confess our sins we are set free and we are forgiven and forgotten and we are made new, the wound of sin is healed
Healing - the church prays for the sick, through the priest, JC the high priest continues to heal the sick
Summary of vocation sacraments
Marriage - God’s plan and in Jesus Christ it’s a sacrament, means of holiness as they learn to live in Jesus and become a sign of Jesus’ love in the church
Holy orders - being ordained into priesthood
Reformation and sacraments, Luther’s say
Luther: sacraments are promises with signs attatched, more emphasis on the visible physical sign
Reformation shifted views on sacraments, 2 they thought were emphasised in Bible, baptism and Eucharist, protestant churches - both believed to help Christians become closer to Christ
Quaker’s view on sacraments
reject the need for sacramental signs
they detract from the belief that the whole of life is sacramental and don’t want to suggest that one form of Christian observance is better than another
recent thinking on sacraments and who
more focus on celebration aspects
Odo Casel - ‘the mystery of Christian worship’ - should be seen as celebrations which enable the Christian community to understand the mystery of Christ and to experience his saving presence
prompted Vatican II to declare they should be understood as a living relationship with Christ and the church should be celebrated communally with all believers - founder pope John XXIII
2 Bible quotes about the Eucharist
Matthew 26:20-30, “take and eat; this is my body… this is my blood”
1 Corinthians 11:23-26, “whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the lord’s death until he comes”
3 essential elements in understanding sacramental theology
creation - uses aspect of physical world (bread and wine) to convey religious meaning and spiritual power (God’s creation)
redemption - recalls Christ’s redeeming death, makes it effective in Christian lives
transformation - participation helps transform believer’s lives
Explanation of Eucharist
Sacrament, instituted by Jesus to celebrate it, he commanded it
recalls last supper and Jesus’ death
actions of priest/minister and element of bread and wine act as outward signs of God’s grace
Christians are strengthened in their determination to live in accordance with Gospel
general agreement amongst Cs that central effect of celebration is that Christians are united with God and with each other, can strengthen faith and renew commitment to living life in accordance to Jesus’ teachings
Transubstantiation - catholic views ( and real presence)
Doctrine of transubstantiation in 1215 formally defined by Fourth Lateran Council, ‘by the bread being changed in substance to the body and wine to the blood through the divine power’
the Catechism of the Catholic Church of Trent in 1551 confirmed it, became definitive catholic position
Aquinas agrees
Real Presence, the ‘blessed’ sacrament, not just recalling events but makes son truly present
2 Bible quotes for transubstantiation
John 6:44, ‘for flesh is real food and my blood is real drink’
Matthew 26:26, ‘take and eat, this is my body’
What happens after mass in Catholicism
remaining hosts (communion wafters or bread) are kept in a tabernacle and are used for the sick and dying
Strengths (2) and weaknesses (1) of the catholic celebration of the Eucharist
S: doesn’t just recall events, makes son truly present, more than j an act of remembrance
S: view is older and has been held for longer than Protestantism
W: outdated, failing to modernise or take in new ideas
Last century developments to Eucharist
theologians have attempted to reexamine doctrine of transubstantiation
Schillebeeckx - sacraments could be signs or symbolic acts, and although body and blood is not physically present, they are so objectively
During consecration, takes on real significance of Christ’s body and blood
Banned by Pope Paul VI in 1965
Protestant reformation and Luther’s views
Break from transubstantiation, was rejected
Luther: an attempt to rationalise a belief that did not need rationalising, agreed with consubstantiation
Anglican teachings about the eucharist
Laid out in the 39 articles of 1571, consecrated elements were not commanded by Christ
focused on the Real Presence - rejected by some protestants and Anglicans - argue for a memorial understanding to remember what was done
Zwilingi views on Eucharist
protestant reformer
remembrance
‘this is my body’, not to be taken literally, eliminates any idea of real presence
argued for transignification
Strengths (2) and weaknesses (1) of the protestant celebration of the Eucharist
S: more current view that is willing to adapt with new findings and ideas in theology
S: allows more variety of belief, e.g. some believe in transubstantiation, some reject it
W: too many views, hard to know which is ‘true’ and could weaken the original point
What is remembrance/memorial?
‘a memorial for the suffering of Christ and not a sacrifice’ - Huldrych Zwilingi
all Christians understand that Eucharist is in memory of last supper and Jesus’ death, memorial act: in memory of Jesus
term used to distinguish between those who think it’s a memorial meal or action, and those who think it’s something more, like Catholic or Orthodox (fails to show full significance)
Regularity of celebrations
Celebrate Eucharist regularly on Sunday
Some protestants think not every week is necessary
Some Catholics who are members of religious communities will try to celebrate on a daily basis in the belief that every occasion provides access to God’s grace
Catholic and orthodox form of celebration
can use elaborate rituals involving vestments, processions, music and intense to reflect belief in the real presence of Jesus every Sunday for regular worshippers daily for religious community reflects real presence in Jesus have to have ordained official
traditional catholic form of celebration
mass should reflect mysterious and miraculous nature of God
Latin as a sacred language
some rituals are hidden from congregation to show special roles of priest and miracle of transubstantiation
protestant form of celebration
simpler
ceremonial rituals, emphasises simplicity of the theological belief
often led by minister
Intercommunion
usually means an agreement between churches by which all members of each church,
e.g. clergy with clergy, laity with laity, respectively
may participate in the other’s Eucharistic celebrations or may hold joint celebrations
