What are Aristotelian categories of substance and accidents? (Boy, do I feel "iggernut.")
Thank you. I can occasionally put to words well the essential conflict inherent in many of our faith's mysteries.
Who are "the faithful"?
In the context we were talking about, of the Pope acting in concert with the bishops and the faithful, "the faithful" refers to all serious and committed Catholics.
Are you speaking of Titus 2:15, which says, "Say these things. Exhort and correct with all authority. Let no one look down on you"?
That's the one. If this is not Paul handing on his authority to Titus, then I don't know what it is.
What are Aristotelian categories of substance and accidents?
It is a philosophical construct, a way of thinking about things that was appropriated by Catholic thinkers to describe the change brought about to the bread and wine at a Catholic Mass, changing into truly the Body and Blood of Christ.
In brief, the substance (or essence) is the answer to the question "what is it?" The accidents (or appearance) is the answer to the question "what form does it take?" or "how does it appear?"
Like, for example, water is water. The substance of water does not change, though it may appaear in forms of ice or steam or liquid. The essential "waterness" of the water remains unchanged.
In the Eucharist, the accidents, or outward appearances remain unchanged. The substance of what is on the altar, the "what is it?" changes. What looks like ordinary bread and wine have become (in esssence, or substance) the Glorified Body and Blood of Christ.
This miraculous change in substance is called "transubstantiation."
SD