[Dr. Eckleburg]

The interesting thing about the RCs' ridicule of the Lord's Supper is that they prove the assertion that they believe the priest performs a kind of hocus-pocus on the bread and wine.

It would make more sense to think the bread and wine in all Christian churches is the same element, regardless of what we each conceive that element to be.

But if the Protestants merely "snack" while the RCs literally chew and swallow Christ's actual body and blood, then the only difference is the incantations of a priest who believes the bread and wine are magically changed in atomic substance at a certain, specific point in their elevation and who alone can transmogrify them.

A full-meal alchemy not found in Protestant churches.

[1000 silverlings]

that they prove the assertion that they believe the priest performs a kind of hocus-pocus on the bread and wine.

It's true. A priest once told my pastor that the "only difference" between them was that "he had a magic finger"!

[alamo boy]

You write real purdy, Dr Eckelburg. :-)

[annalex]

But if the Protestants merely "snack" while the RCs literally chew and swallow Christ's actual body and blood, then the only difference is the incantations of a priest who believes the bread and wine are magically changed in atomic substance at a certain, specific point in their elevation and who alone can transmogrify them.

Strike "atomic". That is an accident, it remains bread or wine. The substance changes; there is no laboratory test to detect the change in substance since the physical science deals with accidents and not substances. Other than that, your statement is correct, the office of a validly ordained priest is the entire difference.

[AlbionGirl]

Remember the wicked witch of the west's words? "What a world, what a world...." Where's Glenda the good witch, when you need her?

Dr. E., I'm sure you know by know and through our discussions that my thoughts on the Eucharist are pretty much as they were when I was Catholic.

I have no idea whether it's conditioning or what I know to be true. At this point it falls under the rubric of working out my salvation.

I believe that Calvin believed it was the Body and Blood of Christ in much the same way Catholics did, except that he didn't commit the kind of theology so beyond man's scope to feel confident in speculations about accidents and substances. He knew Our Lord's command, and he took it seriously.

Harley commented in another post about men with too much time on their hands, and I'm in full agreement with him on that. Every red hat that's bestowed upon a Cardinal should be accompanied by a spade and hoe, with instructions to 'dig baby, dig, anytime you're moved to commit theology beyond your scope, and then feel the turgor to bind millions upon millions upon milliions of souls to your singular speculations.'

The Church says it owns the loaf, it consecrates the loaf, it confects the loaf, it dispenses the loaf to those 'in communion.'

The problem is that St. Paul and St. Peter would never recognize what is called being in communion today, they would have never had the temerity required for such persumption. Never!!!!! Let it own the loaf, it's perfectly in line with the love of power that is in its bones.

/rant