Tag Archives: Eucharist

Transubstantiation: Where Does the Bread Go?

On 13 October 1551, the Council of Trent published its Decree on the Holy Eucharist. Chapter IV defines the dogma of transubstantiation: And because that Christ, our Redeemer, declared that which He offered under the species of bread to be … Continue reading

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Piercing the Veil: Ascension, Heaven, Eucharist

“Two affirmations,” writes Paul J. Griffiths, “are required of Christians about Jesus’ ascended flesh” (Christian Flesh, p. 49): The ascended flesh is now located at the right hand of the Father. The ascended flesh is truly present in the Holy … Continue reading

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God is Eucharistic Love: Bulgakov’s Transvaluation of Sacrifice

by Mark Roosien, Ph.D. There is no love without sacrifice. Though cliché, this statement is undoubtedly true. Love, if it is genuine, will require a gift of self unto the end. In this vale of tears, we should not expect … Continue reading

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Preaching Good Good Very Good News: Proclamation, Liturgy, Kingdom

Preach the gospel in the performative mode of uncondi­tional promise—let’s call this the proclamatory rule of the gospel. It comes into play when the gospel-speaker is declaring the good news of Jesus Christ to one or more individuals, with the … Continue reading

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The Eucharistic Dogma as Sacramental Identification

It is remarkable that for hundreds of years the Church did not find it necessary to formally dogmatize a particular definition of the Holy Eucharist. Despite real differences of expres­sion, significant conflict between theologians and churches did not arise. The … Continue reading

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Transubstantiation: Maybe Dositheos Got It Right

by the Very Rev. Christiaan Kappes, S.L.D., Ph.L., Ph.D. Just out of curiosity, I tried my search engine on googlebooks with the word “transubstan­tiation.” Number two in my search was a howler: The History of Popish Transubstantia­tion (1840). Again, number … Continue reading

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Transmutation or Transubstantiation: Sergius Bulgakov and Herbert McCabe on the Holy Eucharist

That the Holy Orthodox Church confesses the Holy Gifts to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ no one can doubt. But satisfactory interpretations of the eucharistic mystery are difficult to find. Somewhat surprisingly, Eastern theologians have tended to … Continue reading

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Clinging to Externals: Weak Faith and the Power of the Sacraments

by Phillip S. Cary, Ph.D. Behind the debates about the objectivity of Christ’s presence in the Reformed view of the supper are crucial pastoral questions about the nature of faith, and I think it will bring clarity to the debate … Continue reading

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