The Belief In The Eucharist As The — страница 2

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variations in interpretation regarding the substance of the Eucharist, Christian beliefs have remained consistent. The 1500s witnessed the initiation of the Protestant reformation where ?consubstantiation? took precedence over transubstantiation in many reformed believers perception of the Eucharist. Consubstantiation refers to an understanding of Jesus as ?in? the Eucharist, as opposed to Christ as the entire flesh, blood and divinity of the Eucharist, – in its literal sense it is a ?sharing of substances?. Under the initiative of primarily Martin Luther, the Catholic Church formed a basis for three offspring divisions – Lutheran, Calvinist and Anglican, the first two of whom expressed a dissatisfaction with Catholic doctrine. Thus, new forms of worship were devised which

resulted in a separation in the Catholic Liturgy. This Protestant Reformation preceded the formation of an Ecumenical council in Trent whose primary intention was to define Catholic doctrine, reinforcing beliefs and teachings in an attempt to resolve problematic occurrences within the church. Of the twenty-five meetings which were scheduled, much time was allocated to discussion regarding the liturgy and the Eucharist. The council succeeded in reaffirming a historically profound Catholic belief in Real Presence and Transubstantiation – Eucharistic meaning was defined, declaring assuredly that ?the Body and Blood, together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore the whole Christ, is truly, really and substantially contained in the Sacrament of the Holy

Eucharist?. The Council also came to the conclusion that ?He (Christ) gave the command to offer the Sacrifice as the Church has understood and taught?. Regarding the professions of the Ecumenical Council, at the moment of consecration the whole substance of bread and wine becomes that of Jesus Christ – whole and entire. ?Jesus is really now on Earth in the Eucharist? – it is this statement that has led the Catholic Church to reaffirm belief in transubstantiation and profess the reality of Real Presence so passionately. ?Do this in memory of me? – a primary article of Catholic belief spoken by Christ himself, is thus literally embraced and alive in the Eucharistic sacrament, and confirms the belief in Real Presence in the Eucharist. ?At the Last Supper, on the night He was

handed over, Our Lord instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of his Body and Blood to perpetuate the sacrifice on the Cross throughout the ages until He should come, and thus entrust to the church, His beloved Spouse, the memorial of his death and resurrection: A sacrament of devotion, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is received, the soul is filled with Grace and there is given to us the pledge of future glory.?(Vatican Council II). This statement was put forth by Vatican II, another excerpt from Catholic documentation attesting to a belief in the Eucharist as Real Presence. Vatican II initiated on October 11 1962, was a conglomeration of Catholic Church hierarchical members, constructed upon the same lines to that of the Council of Trent.

During this period, the church was confronted with a collective change in consciousness, a mass breaking away from conformitism and dogma. The people demanded freedom, freedom in belief and expression, they fought for ?love not war?. Unlike the period surrounding the reformation, the ?rebels? of this particular era did not migrate towards beliefs in similar religious ideas, but strived to completely separate themselves from all dictatorship and authoritarianism. Due to the pressure exhibited by this new generation, the Catholic Church felt pressured to revise and update its current practices, ?to let some fresh air come into the church? (Pope John XXIII). The Council focused initially on Liturgy, in which participation became the primary element, a drastic transgression from the

previously conducted mass which basically excluded the parishioner from partaking in the proceedings. The council came to the conclusion that the liturgy is ?an action of Christ the Priest and of His Body which is the Church?. Vatican II re-enforcement of Eucharistic Real Presence is the same belief beheld by the Ecumenical Council of Trent, and that of Ignatius of Antioch, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine who all attributed to scriptured writings of the Early Church. A belief held relentlessly throughout the history of Catholicism – the first millennium, the reformation and post-1500s. The belief in the Eucharist as the Real Presence of Christ is perhaps the most important article of Catholic doctrine, it is a binding belief which witnesses a unity in diversity. ?Really sharing