Eucharistic theology 2719853 218643836 2008-06-11T15:23:23Z Pastordavid 2867243 /* External links */ rem redundant cat [[Image:Altar2.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Altar]] set for the celebration of the [[Eucharist]].]] '''Eucharistic theology''' is a branch of Christian [[theology]] which treats of [[doctrine]]s concerning the Holy [[Eucharist]]. It exists exclusively in [[Christianity]] and related religions, as others generally do not contain a Eucharistic ceremony. ==Biblical foundation== Those Christians who believe in the [[Real Presence]] of Christ in the Eucharist ([[Eastern Orthodox]], [[Roman Catholic]]s and [[Eastern Catholic]]s, as well as some [[Anglicans]] and [[Lutherans]]) see the foundation for their belief in the [[Bible]]. The Eucharist is believed to be prefigured by the miraculous rain of [[manna]] from Heaven ({{bibleverse||Exodus|16:13-36|HE}}) and by the event of the [[Passover]] (in Exodus), where the Lord commanded the Israelites to [[paschal lamb|sacrifice a lamb]] so the [[Angel of Death]] would "pass over" their homes (and spare their firstborn sons). The Eucharist has also been held to be prefigured in the [[showbread]] (lit. "bread of the presence") and in the offerings of bread and wine made by [[Melchizedek]], who is himself a [[typology|type]] of Christ. In the [[Gospel]] accounts of Jesus' earthly ministry, a crowd of listeners challenges him regarding the rain of manna before he delivers the famous [[Bread of Life Discourse]] ({{bibleverse||John|6:31|KJV}}), and he describes himself as the "True Bread from [[Heaven]]" ({{bibleverse||John|6:32|KJV}}). The aforementioned Bread of Life Discourse occurs in the [[Gospel of John]], {{Bibleverse-nb||John|6:30-59|KJV}}. Therein, Jesus promises to give His Flesh and Blood, which will give eternal life to all who receive It. In John 6:53, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." And continues, (v. 54-55) "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink." Every year, the nation of Israel celebrated the Passover Meal, remembering and celebrating their liberation from captivity in Eygpt. It was at the Passover, that Jesus Christ celebrated the Last Supper with his Apostles. Christ is believed to have instituted the [[sacrament]] of the Eucharist at the [[Last Supper]] on the night before He [[death and resurrection of Jesus|died on the cross]]. This is recorded by [[Saint Paul]] in his [[First Letter to the Corinthians]] (cf. {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|11:23-26|KJV}}) and in the [[Synoptic Gospels]] of [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] ({{bibleverse-nb||Matthew|26:26-28|KJV}}), [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] ({{bibleverse-nb||Mark|14:22-24|KJV}}), and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] ({{bibleverse-nb||Luke|22:19-20|KJV}}). St. John is believed to have omitted the institution because he wrote his Gospel to supplement what the other [[evangelist]]s had already written. The Eucharist was instituted in this way: "Jesus took some bread and when He had said the blessing He broke it and gave it to the disciples. 'Take it and eat,' He said, 'this is my body.' Then He took a cup and when He had returned thanks He gave it to them. 'Drink all of you from this,' He said, 'for this is my blood'" (Matthew 26:26-28). Other places in Scripture which are believed to support the Real Presence in the Eucharist include John 6, Ephesians 5, 1 Corinthians 11, and Luke 24. ==Eastern Orthodox Church== [[Image:Icon last supper.jpg|thumb|left|[[Russian icons|Russian]] [[icon]] of the [[Last Supper]] ([[1497]]).]] In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], the Eucharistic celebration is known as the [[Divine Liturgy]] and is believed to impart the actual [[Body of Christ|Body]] and [[Blood of Christ]] to the faithful. In the act of communion, the entire Church—past, present, and even future—is united in eternity. In Orthodox Eucharistic theology, although many separate Divine Liturgies may be celebrated, there is only one Bread and one Cup throughout all the world and throughout all time. The most perfect expression of the Eucharistic unity of the church is found in the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy (i.e., a Liturgy at which a [[bishop]] is the chief celebrant), for as St. [[Ignatius of Antioch]] stated, where the bishop is, surrounded by his clergy and faithful, there is the church in all of her fullness. The [[Anaphora (liturgy)|Anaphora]] (Eucharistic prayer) contains an [[anamnesis]] (lit. "making present") which not only recounts the historical facts of Jesus' death and resurrection, but actually makes them present, forming an undivided link to the one unique event on [[Calvary]]. The Anaphora ends with an [[Epiclesis]] ("calling down from on high") during which the [[priest]] invokes the [[Holy Spirit]] to come and "change" the Gifts (elements of bread and wine) into the actual [[Body of Christ|Body]] and [[Blood of Christ]]. Orthodox theology does not make use of the term "transubstantiation" to systematically describe ''how'' the Gifts become the Body and Blood of Christ; rather, they state that it is a [[Sacred Mystery]], and prefer to use only the word "change". The Orthodox do not link the moment of transformation of the Gifts to the [[Words of Institution]], or indeed to any one particular moment. They merely affirm that the change is ''completed'' at the Epiclesis. ==Roman Catholic Church== [[Image:BentoXVI-51-11052007 (frag).jpg|thumb|[[Pope Benedict XVI]] celebrating [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] at [[São Paulo]], [[Brasil]].]] In the [[Roman Catholic Church]], reverence for the Eucharist is quite fervent and the doctrines of the Church thereof are immutable, despite common dissent from them. In the Catholic Church, the Holy Eucharist is taught to be the "Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ" (this doctrine is referred to as [[transubstantiation]]). The actual transformation of bread and wine occurs at the priest's recitation of the [[Words of Institution]]: "This is My Body…" and "This is My Blood…." At that point, the accidents of bread and wine remain, i.e., it would appear to all senses that these continue to exist, while the substance has been entirely altered, a position succinctly summarised by St. [[Thomas Aquinas]]' hymn, ''[[Adoro Te Devote]]'' (see [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] article [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01154b.htm ''Adoro Te Devote'']). Consequently, for fear of [[desecration]], the Eucharist may not be received by any in a state of [[mortal sin]], nor (generally) by non-Catholics. However, it is permitted on extremely rare occasions that a Protestant or schismatic acknowledging the teachings of the Church on Communion may receive It. Additionally, the Eucharist enables perpetuation of Christ's [[Sacrifice]] on [[Golgotha]], which is the intent of the Mass. Despite anti-Catholic claims to the contrary, this perpetuation does not imply that the Saviour dies again; transubstantiation posits an "unbloody sacrifice", in that the sacrifice of Christ was accomplished "once for all". The consecrated [[Host (Holy Communion)|Host]] is quite frequently kept in a [[monstrance]] outside of Mass to encourage [[Eucharistic adoration]].<ref>Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was especially imperative in the [[Year of the Eucharist]], declared by [[Pope John Paul II]] from October 2004 to October 2005.</ref> The Eucharist is believed to constitute both the foundation and the center of all Catholic devotion. It is one of the [[Seven Sacraments]], referred to as ''the'' [[Blessed Sacrament]], and is taught to bestow grace upon the recipient and remove [[venial sin]]. When received following [[Confession]] and preceding an act to which an indulgence is attached, It contributes to a [[plenary indulgence]]. ==See also== *[[Eucharistic theologies contrasted]] *[[Anglican Eucharistic theology]] *''[[Confession Concerning Christ's Supper]]'' by Martin Luther *[[Consubstantiation]] *[[Eucharistic discipline]] *[[Historical roots of Catholic Eucharistic theology]] == References == <references/> ==External links== *[http://www.bigpedia.com/encyclopedia/Eucharist Eucharistic theology] *[http://www.schmemann.org/byhim/theologyandeucharist.html Theology and Eucharist] by [[Protopresbyter]] [[Alexander Schmemann]] ([[Eastern Orthodox]] perspective) {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} [[Category:Eucharist| ]]