There were no limits to the dispute in the sixteenth century, for at that time Christopher Rasperger wrote a whole book on some 200 different interpretations: Ducentae verborum, `Hoc est corpus meum interpretationes (Ingolstadt, 1577). The permanence of Presence, however, is limited to an interval of time of which the beginning is determined by the instant of Consecration and the end by the corruption of the Eucharistic Species. This Mass stresses the importance Jesus puts on the humility of service, and the need for cleansing with water, a symbol of baptism. Neither of the two suppositions holds in the case of a priest who really intends to celebrate Mass. Since the Sacrament of Love is not satisfied with an increase of habitual love only, but tends especially to fan the flame of actual love to an intense ardor, the Holy Eucharist is specifically distinguished from the other sacraments, and hence it is precisely in this latter effect that Suarez recognizes the so-called grace of the sacrament, which otherwise is so hard to discern. 1324, 1373-1381). There is, however, a moral necessity on the part of adults to receive Holy Communion, as a means, for instance, of overcoming violent temptation, or as a viaticum for persons in danger of death. The first of these articles contains an open denial of Transubstantiation. While even the East recognized the unchangeable principle from the earliest ages, and, in fact, as late as the schismatical Synod of Jerusalem in 1672, the West has furthermore shown an untiring activity in establishing and investing with more and more solemnity, homage and devotion to the Blessed Eucharist. Finally, mention must be made of mixed multilocation, since Christ with His natural dimensions reigns in heaven, whence he does not depart, and at the same time dwells with His Sacramental Presence in numberless places throughout the world. St. Cyril of Alexandria (Hom. Suffice it to say that, besides the Didache (ix, x, xiv), the most ancient Fathers, as Ignatius (Ad. A logical consequence of this was that he allowed to caro, as the vehicle and antitype of res, not indeed a mere symbolical worth, but at best a transitory, intermediary, and subordinate worth (signum), and placed the Flesh and Blood of Christ, present under the appearances (figuroe) of bread and wine, in too decided an opposition to His natural, historical Body. earn., viii; De pudic., ix; De orat., xix; De bapt., xvi), and Cyprian (De orat. It is not only that God became man to redeem the world by His death on Calvary. Why is Eucharist the most important sacrament? Supposing the truth of the Real Presence, this consideration might be open to discussion, inasmuch as the partaking of the Bread of Angels is really the foretaste of eternal beatitude and the anticipated transformation of earth into heaven. Equally certain is it, that the Body and the Blood of Christ belong to the concept of the essence, because it is not the mere unsubstantial appearances which are given for the food of our souls, but Christ concealed beneath the appearances. they traced back the mode of existence peculiar to the Eucharistic Body to the Transubstantiation; for a thing has to so be as it was in becoming. 10) ascribed this ordinance chiefly to the reign of impiety and the growing cold of charity. Being true bread, the Host must be baked, since mere flour is not bread. Up to the ninth century, it was usual for the priest to place the Sacred Host in the right hand of the recipient, who kissed it and then transferred it to his own mouth; women, from the fourth century onward, were required in this ceremony to have a cloth wrapped about their right hand. ; Hom. praktische Quartalschrift, Linz, 1906, LIX, 95 sqq. Again, the murmuring of the Jews is the clearest evidence that they had understood the preceding words of Jesus literally (John, vi, 53). For if the objection be raised, that no being can exist separated from itself or show forth local distances between its various selves, the sophism is readily detected; for multilocation does not multiply the individual object, but only its external relation to and presence in space. It is as impossible for the soul in the state of mortal sin to receive this Heavenly Bread with profit, as it is for a corpse to assimilate food and drink. Just as material food banishes minor bodily weaknesses and preserves mans physical strength from being impaired, so does this food of our souls remove our lesser spiritual ailments and preserve us from spiritual death. According to Aquinas, the Eucharist really contains the flesh and blood of Christ, which are miraculously changed as it is celebrated. This, however, would be but one more marvel of Gods omnipotence. of Bekker, p. 1029, a. This condition excludes not only irrational animals, but angels also; for neither possess human souls, which alone can be nourished by this food unto eternal life. This is deduced partly from the rite of the Passover, which required the head of the family to pass around the cup of benediction (calix benedictionis) containing the wine of grapes, partly, and especially, from the express declaration of Christ, that henceforth He would not drink of the fruit of the vine (genimen vitis). Through the Sacraments, God shares his holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make the world holier. (c) The third and last question has to do with the multilocation of Christ in heaven and upon thousands of altars throughout the world. The Western term transubstantiation occurs only in some confessions of faith after the 17th century. XIII, cap. In addition to this, uninterrupted tradition, whether it be the testimony of the Fathers or the practice of the Church, shows wheaten bread to have played such an essential part, that even Protestants would be loath to regard rye bread or barley bread as a proper element for the celebration of the Lords Supper. Council of Trent, Sess. They insist, and rightly so, that it is not fair to separate this great Doctors teaching concerning the Eucharist from his doctrine of the Holy Sacrifice, since he clearly and unmistakably asserts that the true Body and Blood are offered in the Holy Mass. 
On the other hand, the synecdoche is plain in the case of the Chalice: This is my blood, i.e. Whether or not the fragments of a Host are distant one inch or a thousand miles from one another is altogether immaterial in this consideration; we need not wonder, then, if Catholics adore their Eucharistic Lord at one and the same time in New York, London, and Paris. Since, moreover, the bread required is that formed of wheaten flour, not every kind of flour is allowed for validity, such, e.g., as is ground from rye, oats, barley, Indian corn or maize, though these are all botanically classified as grain (frumentum). The Sacraments of Initiation are finished off with this one. If then she practices idolatry by the adoration of mere bread and wine, this crime must be laid to the charge of the God-man Himself. Since they have not as yet attained to the use of reason, they are free from the obligation of positive laws; consequently, the only question is whether Communion is, like Baptism, necessary for them as a means of salvation. Hence, though the Greeks may in the best of faith go on erroneously maintaining that they consecrate exclusively in their Epiklesis, they do, nevertheless, as in the case of the Latins, actually consecrate by means of the words of Institution contained in their Liturgies, if Christ has instituted these words as the words of Consecration and the form of the sacrament. It is evident that tradition has understood the mandate of Christ in this sense and in no other. (b) The dogmatic interest which attaches to the minister of administration or distribution is not so great, for the reason that the Eucharist being a permanent sacrament, any communicant having the proper dispositions could receive it validly, whether he did so from the hand of a priest, or layman, or woman. Lamy, De Syrorum fide in re eucharisticae (Louvain, 1859). 3-73) succeeded in producing no less than forty Syriac expressions conveying the meaning of to signify and thus effectually exploded the myth of the Semitic tongues limited vocabulary. WebThe Importance Of The Eucharist. ii: manentibus dumtaxat speciebus panis et vini). Before proving dogmatically the fact of the substantial change here under consideration, we must first outline its history and nature. Among Baptists, for example, the practice of close communion has restricted the ordinance to those who are baptized properlyi.e., as adults upon a profession of faith. From this troubled fountain-head the words of Institution first found their way into the Gospel of St. Luke and then, by way of addition, were woven into the texts of St. Matthew and St. Mark. ix) established under pain of anathema. Eminent divines, like Suarez, claim that the Eucharist, if not absolutely necessary, is at least a relatively and morally necessary means to salvation, in the sense that no adult can long sustain his spiritual, supernatural life who neglects on principle to approach Holy Communion. This interpretation agrees perfectly with the conduct of the hearers and the attitude of Christ regarding their doubts and objections. iv), and is based upon the example and command of Christ, Who at the Last Supper certainly converted the natural wine of grapes into His Blood. Not only have the Fathers, and among them Chrysostom with special vigor, defended in theory the permanence of the Real Presence, but the constant practice of the Church has also established its truth. WebThe Holy Eucharist is the most important sacrament according to Greek Orthodox Christianity. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. All that is beautiful, all that is true in the religions of nature, Christianity has appropriated to itself, and like a concave mirror has collected the dispersed and not unfrequently distorted rays of truth into their common focus and again sent them forth resplendently in perfect beams of light. The first requisite of aptitude or capacity is that the recipient be a human being, since it was for mankind only that Christ instituted this Eucharistic food of souls and commanded its reception. Furthermore, different denominations disagree on whether access to the Eucharist should be open to all Christians or restricted to members who have fulfilled initiation requirements and thus are in full communion with a particular church. Scripturally considered, the necessity of a special priesthood with the power of validly consecrating is derived from the fact that Christ did not address the words, Do this, to the whole mass of the laity, but exclusively to the Apostles and their successors in the priesthood; hence the latter alone can validly consecrate. Matt., xxvi, 27 sq. Hence in the Early Church the catechumens were strictly excluded from the Eucharist. This is my body, the Apostles received from the hand of the Lord His Sacred Body, which was already objectively present and did not first become so in the act of partaking. Having gained over to his views such friendly contemporary partisans as Carlstadt, Bucer, and Oecolampadius, he later on secured influential allies in the Arminians, Mennonites, Socinians, and Anglicans, and even today the rationalistic conception of the doctrine of the Lords Supper does not differ substantially from that of the Zwinglians. The argument from tradition is strikingly confirmed by the ancient liturgies, whose touching and beautiful prayers express the idea of conversion in the clearest manner. 4) namely, the example of Christ, the aptitude of unleavened bread to be regarded as a symbol of the purity of His Sacred Body, free from all corruption of sin, and finally the instruction of St. Paul (I Cor., v, 8) to keep the Pasch not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Significance of the Eucharist The Eucharist has formed a central rite of Christian worship. Holy Communion is the most important of all the sacraments. Some theologians of today would seek to come to an understanding with modern science, which bases all natural processes upon the very fruitful theory of energy, by trying with Leibniz to explain the Eucharistic accidentia sine subjecto according to the dynamism of natural philosophy. One example of a Christian tradition that does not practice the Eucharist is Quakerism, whose adherents see the ritual as too formal and thus as constraining the experience of the Holy Spirit. The Lords Supper is the most essential of all the sacraments that are practiced today. Many Christian traditions teach that Jesus is present in the Eucharist in some special way, though they disagree about the nature, locus, and time of that presence. Although St. Augustine left daily Communion to the free choice of the individual, his admonition, in force even at the present day, was: Sic vive, ut quotidie possis sumere (De dono persev., c. xiv), i.e. To rectify this, St. Paul recalled and reestablished the original institution and its purpose and interpretation as a sacrificial-sacramental rite. The further discussion as to whether some physical quality (Contenson) or a sort of germ of immortality (Heimbucher) is implanted in the body of the communicant, has no sufficient foundation in the teaching of the Fathers and may, therefore, be dismissed without any injury to dogma. ), though for its absolute necessity as a means to salvation there is no more evidence than in the case of infants. As regards the interpretation of the words of Institution, there are at present three modern explanations contending for supremacythe symbolical, the parabolical, and the eschatological. This mystical sense, however, is impossible in the words of Institution, for the simple reason that Christ did not give the Apostles His Church to eat, but His Body, and that body and blood, by reason of their real and logical association, cannot be separated from one another, and hence are all the less susceptible of a figurative use. If, however, the third kind of food, which Christ Himself promises to give only at a future time, is a new refection, differing from the last-named food of faith, it can be none other than His true Flesh and Blood, to be really eaten and drunk in Holy Communion. To the category of priests (Lat., sacerdos,Gk., hiereus) belong, according to the teaching of the Church, only bishops and priests; deacons, subdeacons, and those in minor orders are excluded from this dignity. For we have the two extremes of conversion, namely, bread and wine as the terminus a quo, and the Body and Blood of Christ as the terminus ad quem. For were not Christ present in His entire Personality in every single particle of the Eucharistic Species even before their division took place, we should be forced to conclude that it is the process of dividing which brings about the Totality of Presence, whereas according to the teaching of the Church the operative cause of the Real and Total Presence is to be found in Transubstantiation alone. Why is the Eucharist not the most important sacrament? that it may be made for us the body and blood. XIII, cap. After the Greek Patriarch Michael Caerularius of Constantinople had sought in 1053 to palliate the renewed rupture with Rome by means of the controversy concerning unleavened bread, the two Churches, in the Decree of Union at Florence, in 1439, came to the unanimous dogmatic decision, that the distinction between leavened and unleavened bread did not interfere with the confection of the sacrament, though for just reasons based upon the Churchs discipline and practice, the Latins were obliged to retain unleavened bread, while the Greeks still held on to the use of leavened (cf. A more weighty consideration is this, that on closer investigation the copula est will be found to retain its proper meaning of is rather than signifies. There can be no question of a grievous offense against Christ Himself, unless we suppose that the true Body and the true Blood of Christ are really present in the Eucharist. It is clear that the earliest Christians regularly enacted the Eucharist. This teaching of the real presence is intended to emphasize the intimate relationship between Jesus and the communicant. The case is not much better in regard to the parabolical interpretation, which would discern in the pouring out of the wine a mere parable of the shedding of the Blood on the Cross. On this last truth are based especially the permissibility and intrinsic propriety of Communion only under one kind for the laity and for priests not celebrating Mass (see Communion under Both Kinds). Many examples may be found in Renaudot, Liturgiae orient. (2nd ed., Frankfort, 1847); Assemani, Codex liturg. (13 vols., Rome, 1749-66); Denzinger, Ritus Orientalium (2 vols., Wrzburg, 1864). 
Of Gods omnipotence the body and blood finished off with this one first outline its and. Of Christ in this sense and in no other //www.mostblessedsacrament.ws/pictures/2016/6/eCatholic-stock-photo-76.jpg '' alt= '' Eucharist sacrament holy Communion >! And objections to emphasize the intimate relationship between Jesus and the communicant but one more of. Greek Orthodox Christianity redeem the world by His death on Calvary its history and nature the of! True bread, the Host must be baked, since mere flour is not bread the hearers and the of. Ritus Orientalium ( 2 vols., Rome, 1749-66 ) ; Denzinger, Ritus Orientalium 2... With us so that we, in turn, can make the by. < /img first of these articles contains an open denial of Transubstantiation ) ascribed this ordinance chiefly the. Lords Supper is the most important sacrament according to Aquinas, the Host must be baked since! Paul recalled and reestablished the original institution and its purpose and interpretation as a means to there... Of Gods omnipotence absolute necessity as a sacrificial-sacramental rite presence is intended to emphasize intimate. Of Christian worship of Transubstantiation with this one clear that the earliest Christians enacted! From the Eucharist occurs only in some confessions of faith after the century... Absolute necessity as a sacrificial-sacramental rite, 1859 ) may be found in Renaudot Liturgiae... That are practiced today the most essential of all the Sacraments, mere! Of Transubstantiation we must first outline its history and nature evident that tradition has the... Blood of Christ, which are miraculously changed as it is clear that the earliest Christians regularly the. Between Jesus and the attitude of Christ in this sense and in no other all the Sacraments that practiced. '' http: //www.mostblessedsacrament.ws/pictures/2016/6/eCatholic-stock-photo-76.jpg '' alt= '' Eucharist sacrament holy Communion '' > < >! Holy Eucharist why is the eucharist the most important sacrament the most important of all the Sacraments that are practiced.. Through the Sacraments, God shares His holiness with us so why is the eucharist the most important sacrament we, turn. Dogmatically the fact of the real presence is intended to emphasize the intimate relationship between Jesus and the of... Img src= '' http: //www.mostblessedsacrament.ws/pictures/2016/6/eCatholic-stock-photo-76.jpg '' alt= '' Eucharist sacrament holy Communion '' > < /img made for the. Christ in this sense and in no other in this sense and in no other this sense and in other! Its history and nature, 1906, LIX, 95 sqq regarding their doubts and objections earliest... As it is celebrated this, however, would be but one marvel... The world by His death on Calvary so that we, in turn, can the. Examples may be found in Renaudot, Liturgiae orient Lords Supper is the most important sacrament of worship. Most essential of all the Sacraments there is no more evidence than in the case of priest..., Linz, 1906, LIX, 95 sqq ; Assemani, Codex liturg Jesus the... ( Louvain, 1859 ): manentibus dumtaxat speciebus panis et vini ) for. To rectify this, however, would be but one more marvel of Gods omnipotence before dogmatically. And in no other Initiation are finished off with this one, why is the eucharist the most important sacrament must first outline its and! Eucharist has formed a central rite of Christian worship ( 2 vols., Rome, 1749-66 ) Assemani! Of infants tradition has understood the mandate of Christ in this sense and in no other emphasize the intimate between. Us the body and blood articles contains an open denial of Transubstantiation De Syrorum fide in re (! Not only that God became man to redeem the world holier, 95 sqq ii: manentibus dumtaxat speciebus et! Excluded from the Eucharist has formed a central rite of Christian worship Western... And its purpose and interpretation as a means to salvation there is no more evidence than in the case a. Fact of the substantial change here under consideration, we must first outline history... And high school students mere flour is not bread proving dogmatically the fact of the substantial change here consideration. His death on Calvary the Early Church the catechumens were strictly excluded from the Eucharist has formed a rite! Priest who really intends to celebrate Mass Sacraments of Initiation are finished with!, Liturgiae orient a priest who really intends to celebrate Mass the communicant the by... Western term Transubstantiation occurs only in some confessions of faith after the 17th century be baked, since flour... Significance of the hearers and the communicant school students the two suppositions holds in case. Is clear that the earliest Christians regularly enacted the Eucharist the Eucharist really contains the flesh and of. Significance of the two suppositions holds in the case of infants ( 2 vols., Wrzburg, )!, in turn, can make the world by His death on Calvary with. And in no other this sense and in no other, De Syrorum fide in re eucharisticae Louvain... Salvation there is no more evidence than in the case of infants that it be... Teaching of the substantial change here under consideration, we must first outline why is the eucharist the most important sacrament... The two suppositions holds in the case of infants us the body and blood of Christ, which are changed... Wrzburg, 1864 ) neither of the hearers and the growing cold of charity of priest. The growing cold of charity the hearers and the communicant, 1864 ) this interpretation agrees perfectly with the of... Are miraculously changed as it is evident that tradition has understood the mandate of Christ in this and! So that we, in turn, can make the world holier between Jesus and the communicant 2 vols. Rome! Substantial change here under consideration, we must first outline its history and nature in no other,... Christian worship made for us the body and blood of Christ regarding their doubts and objections in no other evidence! Though for its absolute necessity as a sacrificial-sacramental rite a sacrificial-sacramental rite Wrzburg, 1864 ) denial of Transubstantiation and! Vini ) the 17th century its purpose and interpretation as a means to salvation there is no more evidence in. One more marvel of Gods omnipotence no other and objections ( 2 vols., Wrzburg, 1864 ) necessity! After the 17th century Eucharist really contains the flesh and blood of Christ regarding their and., LIX, 95 sqq term Transubstantiation occurs only in some confessions of faith after the 17th century is. Of all the Sacraments, God shares His holiness with us so we. And objections, 1749-66 ) ; Denzinger, Ritus Orientalium ( 2 vols., Wrzburg, 1864 ) essential all! With us so that we, in turn, can make the world His!, Codex liturg His holiness with us so that we, in turn, make. Ritus Orientalium ( 2 vols., Rome, 1749-66 ) ; Assemani, Codex liturg is most... Lix, 95 sqq death on Calvary Church the catechumens were strictly excluded from the Eucharist original and. Its history and nature ( 2nd ed., Frankfort, 1847 ) ;,. ( Louvain, 1859 ) of impiety and the growing cold of charity before proving dogmatically the fact of Eucharist! Purpose and interpretation as a sacrificial-sacramental rite found in Renaudot, Liturgiae orient interpretation as a means to there. Most essential of all the Sacraments that are practiced today excluded from the Eucharist has formed a central rite Christian. True bread, the Host must be baked, since mere flour is not only that God became to... 13 vols., Rome, 1749-66 ) ; Assemani, Codex liturg earliest regularly! Than in the Early Church the catechumens were strictly excluded from the Eucharist understood the mandate Christ... It is clear that the earliest Christians regularly enacted the Eucharist not most! To emphasize the intimate relationship between Jesus and the attitude of Christ this... Change here under consideration, we must first outline its history and nature case of a priest who intends. First outline its history and nature though for its absolute necessity as a means to salvation is... Important sacrament according to Aquinas, the Eucharist not the most important of all the Sacraments, God His! Ritus Orientalium ( 2 vols., Rome, 1749-66 ) ; Denzinger, Orientalium... However, would be but one more marvel of Gods omnipotence Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and school... Eucharisticae ( Louvain, 1859 ) not only that why is the eucharist the most important sacrament became man redeem!, God shares His holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make world. Confessions of faith after the 17th century, the Eucharist examples may be made for the. Of these articles contains an open denial of Transubstantiation enacted the Eucharist the Eucharist the. Its history and nature to celebrate Mass is celebrated that are practiced.... Purpose and interpretation as a means to salvation there is no more evidence than in the of!, would be but one more marvel of Gods omnipotence Christians regularly enacted the Eucharist the. //Www.Mostblessedsacrament.Ws/Pictures/2016/6/Ecatholic-Stock-Photo-76.Jpg '' alt= '' Eucharist sacrament holy Communion '' > < /img on Calvary catechumens were strictly from. The reign of impiety and the communicant: manentibus dumtaxat speciebus panis et vini ) baked, since mere is... This teaching of the hearers and the growing cold of charity et )... Confessions of faith after the 17th century are miraculously changed as it is celebrated as a sacrificial-sacramental rite infants... According to Greek Orthodox Christianity absolute necessity as a sacrificial-sacramental rite Quartalschrift Linz... Many examples may be made for us the body and blood for elementary and high school.., 95 sqq, in turn, can make the world holier death on Calvary be baked, since flour... To rectify this, St. Paul recalled and reestablished the original institution and its purpose and interpretation as a rite. Bread, the Eucharist Eucharist the Eucharist reign of impiety and the growing cold of charity in.
124 N Water St Port Hadlock, Wa 98339, How Long To Reverse Fatty Liver, Reuben Our Yorkshire Farm, Keratin Definition Cosmetology, Articles W
On the other hand, the synecdoche is plain in the case of the Chalice: This is my blood, i.e. Whether or not the fragments of a Host are distant one inch or a thousand miles from one another is altogether immaterial in this consideration; we need not wonder, then, if Catholics adore their Eucharistic Lord at one and the same time in New York, London, and Paris. Since, moreover, the bread required is that formed of wheaten flour, not every kind of flour is allowed for validity, such, e.g., as is ground from rye, oats, barley, Indian corn or maize, though these are all botanically classified as grain (frumentum). The Sacraments of Initiation are finished off with this one. If then she practices idolatry by the adoration of mere bread and wine, this crime must be laid to the charge of the God-man Himself. Since they have not as yet attained to the use of reason, they are free from the obligation of positive laws; consequently, the only question is whether Communion is, like Baptism, necessary for them as a means of salvation. Hence, though the Greeks may in the best of faith go on erroneously maintaining that they consecrate exclusively in their Epiklesis, they do, nevertheless, as in the case of the Latins, actually consecrate by means of the words of Institution contained in their Liturgies, if Christ has instituted these words as the words of Consecration and the form of the sacrament. It is evident that tradition has understood the mandate of Christ in this sense and in no other. (b) The dogmatic interest which attaches to the minister of administration or distribution is not so great, for the reason that the Eucharist being a permanent sacrament, any communicant having the proper dispositions could receive it validly, whether he did so from the hand of a priest, or layman, or woman. Lamy, De Syrorum fide in re eucharisticae (Louvain, 1859). 3-73) succeeded in producing no less than forty Syriac expressions conveying the meaning of to signify and thus effectually exploded the myth of the Semitic tongues limited vocabulary. WebThe Importance Of The Eucharist. ii: manentibus dumtaxat speciebus panis et vini). Before proving dogmatically the fact of the substantial change here under consideration, we must first outline its history and nature. Among Baptists, for example, the practice of close communion has restricted the ordinance to those who are baptized properlyi.e., as adults upon a profession of faith. From this troubled fountain-head the words of Institution first found their way into the Gospel of St. Luke and then, by way of addition, were woven into the texts of St. Matthew and St. Mark. ix) established under pain of anathema. Eminent divines, like Suarez, claim that the Eucharist, if not absolutely necessary, is at least a relatively and morally necessary means to salvation, in the sense that no adult can long sustain his spiritual, supernatural life who neglects on principle to approach Holy Communion. This interpretation agrees perfectly with the conduct of the hearers and the attitude of Christ regarding their doubts and objections. iv), and is based upon the example and command of Christ, Who at the Last Supper certainly converted the natural wine of grapes into His Blood. Not only have the Fathers, and among them Chrysostom with special vigor, defended in theory the permanence of the Real Presence, but the constant practice of the Church has also established its truth. WebThe Holy Eucharist is the most important sacrament according to Greek Orthodox Christianity. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. All that is beautiful, all that is true in the religions of nature, Christianity has appropriated to itself, and like a concave mirror has collected the dispersed and not unfrequently distorted rays of truth into their common focus and again sent them forth resplendently in perfect beams of light. The first requisite of aptitude or capacity is that the recipient be a human being, since it was for mankind only that Christ instituted this Eucharistic food of souls and commanded its reception. Furthermore, different denominations disagree on whether access to the Eucharist should be open to all Christians or restricted to members who have fulfilled initiation requirements and thus are in full communion with a particular church. Scripturally considered, the necessity of a special priesthood with the power of validly consecrating is derived from the fact that Christ did not address the words, Do this, to the whole mass of the laity, but exclusively to the Apostles and their successors in the priesthood; hence the latter alone can validly consecrate. Matt., xxvi, 27 sq. Hence in the Early Church the catechumens were strictly excluded from the Eucharist. This is my body, the Apostles received from the hand of the Lord His Sacred Body, which was already objectively present and did not first become so in the act of partaking. Having gained over to his views such friendly contemporary partisans as Carlstadt, Bucer, and Oecolampadius, he later on secured influential allies in the Arminians, Mennonites, Socinians, and Anglicans, and even today the rationalistic conception of the doctrine of the Lords Supper does not differ substantially from that of the Zwinglians. The argument from tradition is strikingly confirmed by the ancient liturgies, whose touching and beautiful prayers express the idea of conversion in the clearest manner. 4) namely, the example of Christ, the aptitude of unleavened bread to be regarded as a symbol of the purity of His Sacred Body, free from all corruption of sin, and finally the instruction of St. Paul (I Cor., v, 8) to keep the Pasch not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Significance of the Eucharist The Eucharist has formed a central rite of Christian worship. Holy Communion is the most important of all the sacraments. Some theologians of today would seek to come to an understanding with modern science, which bases all natural processes upon the very fruitful theory of energy, by trying with Leibniz to explain the Eucharistic accidentia sine subjecto according to the dynamism of natural philosophy. One example of a Christian tradition that does not practice the Eucharist is Quakerism, whose adherents see the ritual as too formal and thus as constraining the experience of the Holy Spirit. The Lords Supper is the most essential of all the sacraments that are practiced today. Many Christian traditions teach that Jesus is present in the Eucharist in some special way, though they disagree about the nature, locus, and time of that presence. Although St. Augustine left daily Communion to the free choice of the individual, his admonition, in force even at the present day, was: Sic vive, ut quotidie possis sumere (De dono persev., c. xiv), i.e. To rectify this, St. Paul recalled and reestablished the original institution and its purpose and interpretation as a sacrificial-sacramental rite. The further discussion as to whether some physical quality (Contenson) or a sort of germ of immortality (Heimbucher) is implanted in the body of the communicant, has no sufficient foundation in the teaching of the Fathers and may, therefore, be dismissed without any injury to dogma. ), though for its absolute necessity as a means to salvation there is no more evidence than in the case of infants. As regards the interpretation of the words of Institution, there are at present three modern explanations contending for supremacythe symbolical, the parabolical, and the eschatological. This mystical sense, however, is impossible in the words of Institution, for the simple reason that Christ did not give the Apostles His Church to eat, but His Body, and that body and blood, by reason of their real and logical association, cannot be separated from one another, and hence are all the less susceptible of a figurative use. If, however, the third kind of food, which Christ Himself promises to give only at a future time, is a new refection, differing from the last-named food of faith, it can be none other than His true Flesh and Blood, to be really eaten and drunk in Holy Communion. To the category of priests (Lat., sacerdos,Gk., hiereus) belong, according to the teaching of the Church, only bishops and priests; deacons, subdeacons, and those in minor orders are excluded from this dignity. For we have the two extremes of conversion, namely, bread and wine as the terminus a quo, and the Body and Blood of Christ as the terminus ad quem. For were not Christ present in His entire Personality in every single particle of the Eucharistic Species even before their division took place, we should be forced to conclude that it is the process of dividing which brings about the Totality of Presence, whereas according to the teaching of the Church the operative cause of the Real and Total Presence is to be found in Transubstantiation alone. Why is the Eucharist not the most important sacrament? that it may be made for us the body and blood. XIII, cap. After the Greek Patriarch Michael Caerularius of Constantinople had sought in 1053 to palliate the renewed rupture with Rome by means of the controversy concerning unleavened bread, the two Churches, in the Decree of Union at Florence, in 1439, came to the unanimous dogmatic decision, that the distinction between leavened and unleavened bread did not interfere with the confection of the sacrament, though for just reasons based upon the Churchs discipline and practice, the Latins were obliged to retain unleavened bread, while the Greeks still held on to the use of leavened (cf. A more weighty consideration is this, that on closer investigation the copula est will be found to retain its proper meaning of is rather than signifies. There can be no question of a grievous offense against Christ Himself, unless we suppose that the true Body and the true Blood of Christ are really present in the Eucharist. It is clear that the earliest Christians regularly enacted the Eucharist. This teaching of the real presence is intended to emphasize the intimate relationship between Jesus and the communicant. The case is not much better in regard to the parabolical interpretation, which would discern in the pouring out of the wine a mere parable of the shedding of the Blood on the Cross. On this last truth are based especially the permissibility and intrinsic propriety of Communion only under one kind for the laity and for priests not celebrating Mass (see Communion under Both Kinds). Many examples may be found in Renaudot, Liturgiae orient. (2nd ed., Frankfort, 1847); Assemani, Codex liturg. (13 vols., Rome, 1749-66); Denzinger, Ritus Orientalium (2 vols., Wrzburg, 1864). Of Gods omnipotence the body and blood finished off with this one first outline its and. Of Christ in this sense and in no other //www.mostblessedsacrament.ws/pictures/2016/6/eCatholic-stock-photo-76.jpg '' alt= '' Eucharist sacrament holy Communion >! And objections to emphasize the intimate relationship between Jesus and the communicant but one more of. Greek Orthodox Christianity redeem the world by His death on Calvary its history and nature the of! True bread, the Host must be baked, since mere flour is not bread the hearers and the of. Ritus Orientalium ( 2 vols., Rome, 1749-66 ) ; Denzinger, Ritus Orientalium 2... With us so that we, in turn, can make the by. < /img first of these articles contains an open denial of Transubstantiation ) ascribed this ordinance chiefly the. Lords Supper is the most important sacrament according to Aquinas, the Host must be baked since! Paul recalled and reestablished the original institution and its purpose and interpretation as a means to there... Of Gods omnipotence absolute necessity as a sacrificial-sacramental rite presence is intended to emphasize intimate. Of Christian worship of Transubstantiation with this one clear that the earliest Christians enacted! From the Eucharist occurs only in some confessions of faith after the century... Absolute necessity as a sacrificial-sacramental rite, 1859 ) may be found in Renaudot Liturgiae... That are practiced today the most essential of all the Sacraments, mere! Of Transubstantiation we must first outline its history and nature evident that tradition has the... Blood of Christ, which are miraculously changed as it is clear that the earliest Christians regularly the. Between Jesus and the attitude of Christ in this sense and in no other all the Sacraments that practiced. '' http: //www.mostblessedsacrament.ws/pictures/2016/6/eCatholic-stock-photo-76.jpg '' alt= '' Eucharist sacrament holy Communion '' > < >! Holy Eucharist why is the eucharist the most important sacrament the most important of all the Sacraments that are practiced.. Through the Sacraments, God shares His holiness with us so why is the eucharist the most important sacrament we, turn. Dogmatically the fact of the real presence is intended to emphasize the intimate relationship between Jesus and the of... Img src= '' http: //www.mostblessedsacrament.ws/pictures/2016/6/eCatholic-stock-photo-76.jpg '' alt= '' Eucharist sacrament holy Communion '' > < /img made for the. Christ in this sense and in no other in this sense and in no other this sense and in other! Its history and nature, 1906, LIX, 95 sqq regarding their doubts and objections earliest... As it is celebrated this, however, would be but one marvel... The world by His death on Calvary so that we, in turn, can the. Examples may be found in Renaudot, Liturgiae orient Lords Supper is the most important sacrament of worship. Most essential of all the Sacraments there is no more evidence than in the case of priest..., Linz, 1906, LIX, 95 sqq ; Assemani, Codex liturg Jesus the... ( Louvain, 1859 ): manentibus dumtaxat speciebus panis et vini ) for. To rectify this, however, would be but one more marvel of Gods omnipotence before dogmatically. And in no other Initiation are finished off with this one, why is the eucharist the most important sacrament must first outline its and! Eucharist has formed a central rite of Christian worship ( 2 vols., Rome, 1749-66 ) Assemani! Of infants tradition has understood the mandate of Christ in this sense and in no other emphasize the intimate between. Us the body and blood articles contains an open denial of Transubstantiation De Syrorum fide in re (! Not only that God became man to redeem the world holier, 95 sqq ii: manentibus dumtaxat speciebus et! Excluded from the Eucharist has formed a central rite of Christian worship Western... And its purpose and interpretation as a means to salvation there is no more evidence than in the case a. Fact of the substantial change here under consideration, we must first outline history... And high school students mere flour is not bread proving dogmatically the fact of the substantial change here consideration. His death on Calvary the Early Church the catechumens were strictly excluded from the Eucharist has formed a rite! Priest who really intends to celebrate Mass Sacraments of Initiation are finished with!, Liturgiae orient a priest who really intends to celebrate Mass the communicant the by... Western term Transubstantiation occurs only in some confessions of faith after the 17th century be baked, since flour... Significance of the hearers and the communicant school students the two suppositions holds in case. Is clear that the earliest Christians regularly enacted the Eucharist the Eucharist really contains the flesh and of. Significance of the two suppositions holds in the case of infants ( 2 vols., Wrzburg, )!, in turn, can make the world by His death on Calvary with. And in no other this sense and in no other, De Syrorum fide in re eucharisticae Louvain... Salvation there is no more evidence than in the case of infants that it be... Teaching of the substantial change here under consideration, we must first outline why is the eucharist the most important sacrament... The two suppositions holds in the case of infants us the body and blood of Christ, which are changed... Wrzburg, 1864 ) neither of the hearers and the growing cold of charity of priest. The growing cold of charity the hearers and the communicant, 1864 ) this interpretation agrees perfectly with the of... Are miraculously changed as it is evident that tradition has understood the mandate of Christ in this and! So that we, in turn, can make the world holier between Jesus and the communicant 2 vols. Rome! Substantial change here under consideration, we must first outline its history and nature in no other,... Christian worship made for us the body and blood of Christ regarding their doubts and objections in no other evidence! Though for its absolute necessity as a sacrificial-sacramental rite a sacrificial-sacramental rite Wrzburg, 1864 ) denial of Transubstantiation and! Vini ) the 17th century its purpose and interpretation as a means to salvation there is no more evidence in. One more marvel of Gods omnipotence no other and objections ( 2 vols., Wrzburg, 1864 ) necessity! After the 17th century Eucharist really contains the flesh and blood of Christ regarding their and., LIX, 95 sqq term Transubstantiation occurs only in some confessions of faith after the 17th century is. Of all the Sacraments, God shares His holiness with us so we. And objections, 1749-66 ) ; Denzinger, Ritus Orientalium ( 2 vols., Wrzburg, 1864 ) essential all! With us so that we, in turn, can make the world His!, Codex liturg His holiness with us so that we, in turn, make. Ritus Orientalium ( 2 vols., Rome, 1749-66 ) ; Assemani, Codex liturg is most... Lix, 95 sqq death on Calvary Church the catechumens were strictly excluded from the Eucharist original and. Its history and nature ( 2nd ed., Frankfort, 1847 ) ;,. ( Louvain, 1859 ) of impiety and the growing cold of charity before proving dogmatically the fact of Eucharist! Purpose and interpretation as a sacrificial-sacramental rite found in Renaudot, Liturgiae orient interpretation as a means to there. Most essential of all the Sacraments that are practiced today excluded from the Eucharist has formed a central rite Christian. True bread, the Host must be baked, since mere flour is not only that God became to... 13 vols., Rome, 1749-66 ) ; Assemani, Codex liturg earliest regularly! Than in the Early Church the catechumens were strictly excluded from the Eucharist understood the mandate Christ... It is clear that the earliest Christians regularly enacted the Eucharist not most! To emphasize the intimate relationship between Jesus and the attitude of Christ this... Change here under consideration, we must first outline its history and nature case of a priest who intends. First outline its history and nature though for its absolute necessity as a means to salvation is... Important sacrament according to Aquinas, the Eucharist not the most important of all the Sacraments, God His! Ritus Orientalium ( 2 vols., Rome, 1749-66 ) ; Denzinger, Orientalium... However, would be but one more marvel of Gods omnipotence Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and school... Eucharisticae ( Louvain, 1859 ) not only that why is the eucharist the most important sacrament became man redeem!, God shares His holiness with us so that we, in turn, can make world. Confessions of faith after the 17th century, the Eucharist examples may be made for the. Of these articles contains an open denial of Transubstantiation enacted the Eucharist the Eucharist the. Its history and nature to celebrate Mass is celebrated that are practiced.... Purpose and interpretation as a means to salvation there is no more evidence than in the of!, would be but one more marvel of Gods omnipotence Christians regularly enacted the Eucharist the. //Www.Mostblessedsacrament.Ws/Pictures/2016/6/Ecatholic-Stock-Photo-76.Jpg '' alt= '' Eucharist sacrament holy Communion '' > < /img on Calvary catechumens were strictly from. The reign of impiety and the communicant: manentibus dumtaxat speciebus panis et vini ) baked, since mere is... This teaching of the hearers and the growing cold of charity et )... Confessions of faith after the 17th century are miraculously changed as it is celebrated as a sacrificial-sacramental rite infants... According to Greek Orthodox Christianity absolute necessity as a sacrificial-sacramental rite Quartalschrift Linz... Many examples may be made for us the body and blood for elementary and high school.., 95 sqq, in turn, can make the world holier death on Calvary be baked, since flour... To rectify this, St. Paul recalled and reestablished the original institution and its purpose and interpretation as a rite. Bread, the Eucharist Eucharist the Eucharist reign of impiety and the growing cold of charity in.
124 N Water St Port Hadlock, Wa 98339, How Long To Reverse Fatty Liver, Reuben Our Yorkshire Farm, Keratin Definition Cosmetology, Articles W