Replies

***Actually, Steve, that's hyperbole. The doctrine of the Real Presence doesn't include that sort of detail.***

(to Patrick) That's what I thought.

We Protestants are pretty good at detecting figurative language in reference to the Lord Supper whether hyberbole and metaphor.

(to Patty) Did you intend hyperbole in your statement?

***the Real Presence of Christ in a given host ceases when there no longer remains the physical characteristics of bread.***

(to Patrick) This makes no sense. Transubstantiation teaches that the bread looses it's physical characteristics at consecration, does it not? Your explanation sounds almost Lutheran (consubstantiation).

Maybe your link will clarify.

"(to Patrick) This makes no sense. Transubstantiation teaches that the bread looses it's physical characteristics at consecration, does it not? Your explanation sounds almost Lutheran (consubstantiation)."

No. Actually the Catholic doctrine holds that the physical characteristics (i.e. the "accidents") of bread and wine remain after the Consecration, but the substance changes into (hence "transubstantiation") the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Resurrected, glorified Christ. The Lutheran view of consubstantiation holds that the substance of bread (along with the physical characteristics) remains alongside the newly present substance of Christ's presence.

If I may, let me recommend an excellent book that deals with the biblical and patristic issues surrounding the Eucharist. It also considers the various Reformation-era views of the Eucharist as they contrasted with the Catholic teaching. The book is The Hidden Manna, by Fr. James T. O'Connor. I personally found it very helpful.

(to Patty) Did you intend hyperbole in your statement?

When we eat physical food every cell of our bodies is nurished. When we receive Christ in the Eucharist we are also nurished and made partakers of the Divine nature. We then carry that nature into the world and become the sacrament of Christ to others. Our union with Christ in the Euchaist is more intimate than any human union. Closer than husband and wife, closer than mother and child. If you want to argue if the cells of my finger nails receive Christ or not, I'll leave you to the Thomas Aquinases of our day (hit it Patrick) but I know that we become "God bearers" to the world and that our union with Him transcends anything we know with other humans. That is what I meant.