Slide 1

Not Common Bread:
The Eucharist in the Early Church

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
They even absent themselves from the
cities or in the country gather together to one
Eucharist
and
I will
dothe
thispublic
if theprayers,
Lord reveals to me
place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or certainly
the
because
will not
admit
that
the by name,
you
arethey
all, man
by man
and
name
writings
of theisprophets
are read,
asthat
long
as time
The Eucharist
not common
bread
or
common
Eucharist
is the self-same body our
attending
permits;
then,
when
reader
hasthe
ceased,
theyour meetings in a state of grace united
drink…we
have
beenthe
taught
that
food which
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
which suffered
for now to
in
faith
Jesus
Christ...and
ready
president
verbally
instructs,
and through
exhorts
Assemble
to
the
oninthe
Lord’s
Day, andare
break
receives the
eucharistic
blessing
hisand
words
our
sins,bishop
and which
the Father
in His
obey
your
and
clergy
with
imitation
theseby
good
Then
bread
we all
and
rise
offer the
Eucharist;
but undivided
first
of prayer, of
which
waythings.
of nourishment
is
goodness
raised
up again. breaking
and
toafterwards
share
the
one common
together
and pray,
and, as
before
make
said,
confession
when
of in
your
faults,
so that
changed into
our blood
andweflesh,
isminds
the
flesh
and
Consequently,
since
they
reject
God’sand the
bread—the
medicine
of immortality,
our
prayer
ended, bread
and wineof
your
and
sacrifice
water may
be a pure
one.
blood
of theisincarnate
Jesus.
good gifts,
they arewhich
doomed in
theirdeath and
sovereign
remedy
escape
are
brought,
the (100-165),
president in
like
Anyone
manner
who
differencewe
with
his
-Saint
Justin and
Martyr
First
Apology
66 has aby
disputatiousness.
They
would
have
live
in is
Jesus
evermore.
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according
fellow
to
notChrist
to takefor
part
with you until
done
better of
to Antioch
learn charity,
if they to the
-Saint
Ignatius
his ability, and the people assent, saying
they have
Amen;
been reconciled,(d.107),
so as to Letter
avoid
were
ever
to
know
resurrection.
Ephesians
20
and there is a distribution to each, and
any aprofanation
of your sacrifice.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d.107),
participation of that over which thanks
-Thehave
Didache (1st/2nd c.), 14
Letter to the Smynaeans 7
been given, and to those who are absent a
portion is sent by the deacons.
-Saint Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology 67

True Body in True Bread:
The Patristic Witness

So what
For
bothyou
he that
can does
see, then,
not take
is bread
it hasand
no alife,
cup;
and
that's
he
that does
what
eventake
your
it eyes
has life,
tell and
you;that
but indeed
as for what
eternal
your
life.
faith
thebeof
bread, which is produced from the
And to
asks
thus
be He
instructed
would have
about,
this
thefood
bread
andisFor
drink
theas
body
to
Therefore
withthe
fullest
assurance
let
partake
earth,
when
it receives the invocation of God, is
understood
Christ,
the
cup
as meaning
the blood
offellowship
Christ.
It took
of
His
nous
own
time
to
asmembers,
of the
Body
and
of
Christ...For
thus
no
common
bread, but the Eucharist,
body
say
that
andindeed,
and
which
that,
perhaps,
isBlood
the holy
may
Church
be longer
enough
in its
for
we
come
tothe
bear
Christ
incalled,
us, because
HisofBody
consisting
saints but
faith;
who
faith
were
Idesires
am
predestined,
instruction...How
food
ofand
the
fully
can
and bread
justified,
betwo realities, earthly and
and
Blood
aregrow
diffused
through
our
members;
heavenly;
so
also our
bodies,
when they
andbody?
his
glorified
And
ingrown;
the
its cup,
saints
orand
what
and
believers.
the
youOur
cup
will
Of
contains,
feed
these,
how
Lord
Jesusthe
Christ
Himself
proclaims
thisreceive
is my
thus
iton
is me.
that,
according
toBody.
blessed
Peter,
wesacred
theBefore
Eucharist,
are nowords
longerofcorruptible,
having
firstitisbe
can
already
his blood?”
effected,
The
And
namely,
reason
you will
these
predestination;
not
things,
brothers
the
the
blessing another
become
partakers
of vocation
the
divine
hope
of
resurrection
to eternity.
second
and
sisters,
and
are
third,
change
called
thatsacraments
me
is, the
into
youis
like
thatand
the
in is
them
onethe
species
named,
after
consecration
the Body is
nature
...Contemplate
therefore
the
Bread
and
-Saint
Irenaeus
Lyons of
(d.202),
Against
justification,
thing
is seen,have
another
foodtaken
your
is to
place,
flesh
be understood.
eats,
are taking
but
you
place,
What
and
can beofspeaks
implied.
He
Himself
His blood.
Before
Wine
not
as
bare what
elements,
forunderstood
they4.18.5
are,
will take
seen
has the
aplace;
bodily
will
but
appearance,
be
thechanged
fourth,
into
namely,
me.
is toHeresies
the
be
glorifying,
consecration,
it
is spoken of as another thing. After
according
to
the
Lord’s
declaration,
the
Body
is at present
provides
spiritual
in-Saint
hope;
fruit.
Augustine
butSoa ifthing
you(354-430),
future
want
toinunderstand
realization.
consecration
it is named blood. And you say Amen,
and
Blood
of Christ;
forapostle
though
sense
suggests
Thebody
the
sacrament
of Christ,
Confessions
of this
listen
thing,
to7.10
the
namely,
of telling
the
of What your mouth expresses let your
that
is,
itunity
is the
true.
this
thee,oflet
faith
the bodyYou,
faithful,
andto
blood
though,
are
Christ,
the stablish
body
is prepared
of thee.
Christ
onJudge
the
and
Lord’s
itsnot
inner
mind
confess—feel
what you say.
the
matter
from
taste,
but
from
faith
be
fully
table in some
members
(1 Corinthians
places daily,
12:27).
in some
So places
if
it's you
at
certain
that are
-Saint
Ambrose
(339-397), On the Mysteries 9.54
without
thou
been
intervals
the
bodyassured
of days,
Christ
and
andfrom
itsmisgiving,
members,
the Lord’sthat
it's
table
the
itmystery
ishast
taken,
the
Body
and Blood
of
Christ.
by some vouchsafed
meaning
to
you
life,
that
byhas
some
been
to destruction:
placed
on thebut
Lord's
the thing
table;
-Saint
Cyril
of Jersulem
(315-386),
Mystagogical
itself, you
what
of which
receive
it is the
sacrament,
mystery that
is means
for every
you.
man
It istoto
Catechesis
4.3,6
life, for
what
you
no
are
man
that
to you
destruction,
reply Amen,
whosoever
and by shall
so replying
have
beenexpress
you
a shareryour
in it.assent. What you hear, you see, is the
-SaintofAugustine
body
Christ, and
(354-430),
you answer,
Tractates
Amen.
onSothe
beGospel
a member
of
of the26.6.42-59
John
body of Christ, in order to make that Amen true.
-Saint Augustine (354-430), Sermon 272

Let faith stablish thee...

I, Berengar, believe in the heart
and confess by mouth, that the
bread and wine, which are placed But because it was fitting for him to penetrate the
heavens
according
to the flesh, in order that those
onThe
the substance
altar, through
the mystery
of bread
does notUnder
change
into
the
I,the
Berengar,...anathematize
veil of
the corporeal
bread
all heresy,
and
the
especially
reborn
in
him
might
more
confidently
seek
him
of sacrament
the holy prayer
theofwords
of theand
body
the Lord...[bread
and theattempts
corporeal
that...which
wine,
spiritual
to
body
restrict
and
the
the
bread
and
there,
he
left
to
us
this
sacrament,
the
visible
of wine]
our Redeemer,
aretrue
converted
are not the
body, norspiritual
the true
blood,
the
blood
wine
which
exists. of
are
Not
placed
as though
on
the
there
altar,
are
to be
figure
and
character
flesh
and
blood,
in
order
substantially
into
the
true
and
but a figure or likeness...
two
things
after consecration,
distinguished
only
among
the
themselves:
sacrament
and not
that
through
faith
to
grasp
the
invisible
and
proper
and vivifying
and Epistola
-Berengar
of Toursflesh
(d.1088),
ad Ascelinum
body
and
the
true
spirit.
body
Rather
and there
bloodperceived
isofone
ourand
Lord
the
Jesus
Christ
spiritual.
What
is eternally
here
is the
blood of Jesus Christ. After the same thing.
which
are
According
sensually
to
touched
one
way,
orbread
broken
andor
torn
figure
or
character,
but
it
is
the
whole
truth
and
consecration they are the true wine;apart
according
by the
toteeth
another
of the
way
faithful.
body
and and
not
its
shadow
that
is
internally
perceived;
body of Christ [esse verum
blood
of Christ.
For
according
to what
they
-Berenagar
of Tours,
of
Rome
through
this is opened
up Council
the very
truth
andof 1059
Christi corpus]. Which was born are
corporeally,
they arevery
creatures;
but
sacrament
of
[Christ’s]
flesh.
It is indeed the
of the Virgin, and which hung onaccording to what they have been made
true flesh of Christ which was crucified and
the cross...and the true blood of spiritually,
they
are
mysteries
of the
body
and
We
receive
in
the
bread
that
buried,
it
is
truly
the
sacrament
of
that
flesh
Christ [verum sanguinem Christi]blood of Christ.
which
the cross.
which, through the priest on the altar, is divinely
whichhung
was on
poured
forth from his -Ratramnus
De Corpore
sanguine
-Paschasius
Radbertus (d.851
consecrated(d.868),
by the Holy
Spirit inetthe
words of
side...
Domini
16
or-Berengar
860), Epistola
ad Council of
Christ. Hence, it is the Lord who cries out This is
of Tours,
Frudegardum
my body.
Rome of 1079
-Paschasius Radbertus (d.851 or 860), De Corpore
et sanguine Domini 4

A Controversy!

Changes in thinking...
Aristotle’s
Theory of Forms
Plato’s Theory
of Ideas

5. Idea (Form)

Form resides in Matter
4. Opinion
3. Image
2. Definition
1. Name

Changes in language...

Corpus mysticum

Corpus verum

meaning the consecrated
bread and wine
meaning the Church

…the term corpus verum ceased, roughly after the mid twelfth century, to be
applied to the Church, and was transferred to the body of Christ in the
...atconsecration
thethe
beginning
they
received
sacrament
After
the
they
are
the truethe
body
of Christ
[ esse
Eucharist.
Inversely,
term corpus
mysticum
migrated
fromofthe
Eucharist
the
Body
of
Christ
[
sacramentum
corporis
Christi
]
verum Christi corpus]...this
andtransformation,
the true blood of
Christ
[verum
to the Church…Accompanying
was
a change
in the
theChristi
true
Body
of Christ
[verum
corpus
sanguinem
] which
was body
poured
from
his side...
relation of
bothinbodies
to the
historical
of forth
Christ.
Earlier,
the sacramental
Christi
]...
-Berengar
Tours,
of Rome
1079
and eccesial
bodies of
stood
nearCouncil
each other,
and of
both
represented the historical
-Saint
(354-430),
God 21.25 bodies began to
body. But in the
newAugustine
scheme, the
historicalCity
andof
sacramental
stand near each other as alien sources of authority over against the Church…
–John Milbank (1952-), Being Reconciled , p. 123

1. Consubstantation

essentia: matter and

proprietates: visible properties

form (invisible)
2. Annihilation
Substance

SubstantiaAccidents

We believe...the earthly substances...are converted
into the essences of the Lord’s3.
body.
Their outward
Transubstantiation
appearances and certain other qualities remain
unchanged, so that those who receive them are not
shocked by the naked flesh and blood, and so that
believers may receive the greater rewards of faith.
-Lafranc of Bec (1010-1089), Decorpore et sanguine
Domini adversus Berengarium turonensem 18

Wrestling the mystery

Settling the question...
I answer that, Some have held that the substance of the bread and wine remains in
this sacrament after the consecration. But this opinion cannot stand: first of all,
answer
, Thethe
presence
Christ's
true body
and blood
this it
because byI such
an that
opinion
truth ofofthis
sacrament
is destroyed,
toin
which
sacrament
cannot
be exists
detected
by sense,
nor understanding,
but by
belongs that
Christ's
true
body
in
this
sacrament;
which
indeed
was
Hisalone,
body which
and blood
are
truly
contained
in theHence,
sacrament
of not there
faith
rests
upon
Divine
authority.
on
Luke
before the consecration...And
consequently
it remains
thatthe
Christ's
body
cannot begin
the
altar
under
the
forms
of
bread
and
wine,
bread
and
is My body
which
shall be
up for
Cyril
to be anew22:19:
inwine
this"This
sacrament
except
by change
of delivered
the substance
of you,"
bread
into itself.
having
been
changed
in
substance,
by
God's
power,
into
says:
"Doubt
not
whether
this
be
true;
but
take
rather
the
But what is changed
into
another
thing,
noorder
longer
remains
after
such change.
Hence
his
body
and
blood,
so
that
in
to
achieve
this
mystery
of
Saviour’s
words
with
faith;
for
since
He is the Truth,
He liethof
not."
the conclusion
is that,
saving
the
truth
ofwhat
this he
sacrament,
the
substance
the bread
unity
we
receive
from
God
received
from
us.
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae, 3.75.1
cannot remain
after
the
consecration.
-Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Canon 1
-Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae 3.75.2

This sacrament has a threefold significance. one with regard to the past, inasmuch as it
lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to
is commemorative
of our Lord'sifPassion,
which
was a true sacrifice, as stated above
It may
a man
did
not
bring
hostsbe
to understood…that
sing mass with, should
on a time
be houseled
(Q[48],
and
in this
respect
it isshould
called
a "Sacrifice." With regard to the present it
toA[3]),
communion
during
epidemics
or on
andgo
communed,
and when
S. Gregory
give to her
has
another
meaning,
namely,
that of
Ecclesiastical
unity, in which men are aggregated
the feast-days
holy
sacrament
saying:
Corpus
domini
nostri, etc.,
thereinmust
be something
wrong
through
this
Sacrament;
and
in this
respect
is called
thatwith
is to him;
say: The
our
Lord
Jesu
Christ
thee "Communion" or {Synaxis}. For
or asbody
a setofof
variations
on
the itkeep
Damascene
(De
Fide
Orth
. iv) that
"it to
is called
Communion because we
intoidea
everlasting
life,
anon
this
woman
began
smile tofore
thatsays
while
you
were
present
at mass
communicate
through
both and
because
we partake of His flesh and
S. Gregory,
anon
he
withdrew
hisit,in
hand,
remised
you did and
notwith
growChrist
older.
Carried
Godhead,
andupon
because
communicate
united to one another through
the procession
sacrament
the we
altar.
Andor
heindemanded
her, are
tofore
at
Corpus
Christi
thewith
face and
it."
With
regard
to the
future
hassaid:
a third
meaning,
inasmuch as this sacrament
the of
people,
why she
smiled,
anditshe
Because
that the
emergent
dangers
of riot
and
fire,
foreshadows
thethe
Divine
fruition,
shallthou
come
to pass in heaven; and according to
bread
that I have
made
with
my proper
hands
namest
received
by
dying,
seen
at which
the elevation
it
theitbody
of our
Lord Jesu Christ.
Anon
S. Gregory
put
this
is called
"Viaticum,"
because
it supplies
in the
mass…the
salutiferous
effects
of the the way of winning thither. And in this
himself
to is
prayer
with the
for to pray
God
that
respect
also
called
thepeople,
"Eucharist,"
that to
is,of
"good
grace," because "the grace of God
Hostitseem
mostly
instances
of the dogma
hereupon
he would(Rom.
show his
grace
to confirm
ourcontains Christ, Who is "full of
is life
everlasting"
6:23);
orbyfor
because
it really
salvation
by
charity,
healing
wholeness.
belief,
and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory
grace."
-John
Bossy,
Christianity
in of
thea piece
West:of1400saw
the
holy
sacrament
in
figure
flesh
as great 3.73.4
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas
(1225-1274),
Summa
Theologiae
1700 , p. 74
as the little finger of an hand, and anon after, by the
prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned
into semblance of bread as it had been tofore, and
therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the
faith.
-The Golden Legend, 3.27 (1260)

But still Dynamic!
But also Superstitious!


Slide 2

Not Common Bread:
The Eucharist in the Early Church

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
They even absent themselves from the
cities or in the country gather together to one
Eucharist
and
I will
dothe
thispublic
if theprayers,
Lord reveals to me
place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or certainly
the
because
will not
admit
that
the by name,
you
arethey
all, man
by man
and
name
writings
of theisprophets
are read,
asthat
long
as time
The Eucharist
not common
bread
or
common
Eucharist
is the self-same body our
attending
permits;
then,
when
reader
hasthe
ceased,
theyour meetings in a state of grace united
drink…we
have
beenthe
taught
that
food which
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
which suffered
for now to
in
faith
Jesus
Christ...and
ready
president
verbally
instructs,
and through
exhorts
Assemble
to
the
oninthe
Lord’s
Day, andare
break
receives the
eucharistic
blessing
hisand
words
our
sins,bishop
and which
the Father
in His
obey
your
and
clergy
with
imitation
theseby
good
Then
bread
we all
and
rise
offer the
Eucharist;
but undivided
first
of prayer, of
which
waythings.
of nourishment
is
goodness
raised
up again. breaking
and
toafterwards
share
the
one common
together
and pray,
and, as
before
make
said,
confession
when
of in
your
faults,
so that
changed into
our blood
andweflesh,
isminds
the
flesh
and
Consequently,
since
they
reject
God’sand the
bread—the
medicine
of immortality,
our
prayer
ended, bread
and wineof
your
and
sacrifice
water may
be a pure
one.
blood
of theisincarnate
Jesus.
good gifts,
they arewhich
doomed in
theirdeath and
sovereign
remedy
escape
are
brought,
the (100-165),
president in
like
Anyone
manner
who
differencewe
with
his
-Saint
Justin and
Martyr
First
Apology
66 has aby
disputatiousness.
They
would
have
live
in is
Jesus
evermore.
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according
fellow
to
notChrist
to takefor
part
with you until
done
better of
to Antioch
learn charity,
if they to the
-Saint
Ignatius
his ability, and the people assent, saying
they have
Amen;
been reconciled,(d.107),
so as to Letter
avoid
were
ever
to
know
resurrection.
Ephesians
20
and there is a distribution to each, and
any aprofanation
of your sacrifice.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d.107),
participation of that over which thanks
-Thehave
Didache (1st/2nd c.), 14
Letter to the Smynaeans 7
been given, and to those who are absent a
portion is sent by the deacons.
-Saint Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology 67

True Body in True Bread:
The Patristic Witness

So what
For
bothyou
he that
can does
see, then,
not take
is bread
it hasand
no alife,
cup;
and
that's
he
that does
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eventake
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it eyes
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but indeed
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let
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understood
Christ,
the
cup
as meaning
the blood
offellowship
Christ.
It took
of
His
nous
own
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asmembers,
of the
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and
of
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thus
no
common
bread, but the Eucharist,
body
say
that
andindeed,
and
which
that,
perhaps,
isBlood
the holy
may
Church
be longer
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for
we
come
tothe
bear
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HisofBody
consisting
saints but
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heavenly;
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andbody?
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iton
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can
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effected,
The
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not
things,
brothers
the
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become
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the
divine
hope
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resurrection
to eternity.
second
and
sisters,
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are
third,
change
called
thatsacraments
me
is, the
into
youis
like
thatand
the
in is
them
onethe
species
named,
after
consecration
the Body is
nature
...Contemplate
therefore
the
Bread
and
-Saint
Irenaeus
Lyons of
(d.202),
Against
justification,
thing
is seen,have
another
foodtaken
your
is to
place,
flesh
be understood.
eats,
are taking
but
you
place,
What
and
can beofspeaks
implied.
He
Himself
His blood.
Before
Wine
not
as
bare what
elements,
forunderstood
they4.18.5
are,
will take
seen
has the
aplace;
bodily
will
but
appearance,
be
thechanged
fourth,
into
namely,
me.
is toHeresies
the
be
glorifying,
consecration,
it
is spoken of as another thing. After
according
to
the
Lord’s
declaration,
the
Body
is at present
provides
spiritual
in-Saint
hope;
fruit.
Augustine
butSoa ifthing
you(354-430),
future
want
toinunderstand
realization.
consecration
it is named blood. And you say Amen,
and
Blood
of Christ;
forapostle
though
sense
suggests
Thebody
the
sacrament
of Christ,
Confessions
of this
listen
thing,
to7.10
the
namely,
of telling
the
of What your mouth expresses let your
that
is,
itunity
is the
true.
this
thee,oflet
faith
the bodyYou,
faithful,
andto
blood
though,
are
Christ,
the stablish
body
is prepared
of thee.
Christ
onJudge
the
and
Lord’s
itsnot
inner
mind
confess—feel
what you say.
the
matter
from
taste,
but
from
faith
be
fully
table in some
members
(1 Corinthians
places daily,
12:27).
in some
So places
if
it's you
at
certain
that are
-Saint
Ambrose
(339-397), On the Mysteries 9.54
without
thou
been
intervals
the
bodyassured
of days,
Christ
and
andfrom
itsmisgiving,
members,
the Lord’sthat
it's
table
the
itmystery
ishast
taken,
the
Body
and Blood
of
Christ.
by some vouchsafed
meaning
to
you
life,
that
byhas
some
been
to destruction:
placed
on thebut
Lord's
the thing
table;
-Saint
Cyril
of Jersulem
(315-386),
Mystagogical
itself, you
what
of which
receive
it is the
sacrament,
mystery that
is means
for every
you.
man
It istoto
Catechesis
4.3,6
life, for
what
you
no
are
man
that
to you
destruction,
reply Amen,
whosoever
and by shall
so replying
have
beenexpress
you
a shareryour
in it.assent. What you hear, you see, is the
-SaintofAugustine
body
Christ, and
(354-430),
you answer,
Tractates
Amen.
onSothe
beGospel
a member
of
of the26.6.42-59
John
body of Christ, in order to make that Amen true.
-Saint Augustine (354-430), Sermon 272

Let faith stablish thee...

I, Berengar, believe in the heart
and confess by mouth, that the
bread and wine, which are placed But because it was fitting for him to penetrate the
heavens
according
to the flesh, in order that those
onThe
the substance
altar, through
the mystery
of bread
does notUnder
change
into
the
I,the
Berengar,...anathematize
veil of
the corporeal
bread
all heresy,
and
the
especially
reborn
in
him
might
more
confidently
seek
him
of sacrament
the holy prayer
theofwords
of theand
body
the Lord...[bread
and theattempts
corporeal
that...which
wine,
spiritual
to
body
restrict
and
the
the
bread
and
there,
he
left
to
us
this
sacrament,
the
visible
of wine]
our Redeemer,
aretrue
converted
are not the
body, norspiritual
the true
blood,
the
blood
wine
which
exists. of
are
Not
placed
as though
on
the
there
altar,
are
to be
figure
and
character
flesh
and
blood,
in
order
substantially
into
the
true
and
but a figure or likeness...
two
things
after consecration,
distinguished
only
among
the
themselves:
sacrament
and not
that
through
faith
to
grasp
the
invisible
and
proper
and vivifying
and Epistola
-Berengar
of Toursflesh
(d.1088),
ad Ascelinum
body
and
the
true
spirit.
body
Rather
and there
bloodperceived
isofone
ourand
Lord
the
Jesus
Christ
spiritual.
What
is eternally
here
is the
blood of Jesus Christ. After the same thing.
which
are
According
sensually
to
touched
one
way,
orbread
broken
andor
torn
figure
or
character,
but
it
is
the
whole
truth
and
consecration they are the true wine;apart
according
by the
toteeth
another
of the
way
faithful.
body
and and
not
its
shadow
that
is
internally
perceived;
body of Christ [esse verum
blood
of Christ.
For
according
to what
they
-Berenagar
of Tours,
of
Rome
through
this is opened
up Council
the very
truth
andof 1059
Christi corpus]. Which was born are
corporeally,
they arevery
creatures;
but
sacrament
of
[Christ’s]
flesh.
It is indeed the
of the Virgin, and which hung onaccording to what they have been made
true flesh of Christ which was crucified and
the cross...and the true blood of spiritually,
they
are
mysteries
of the
body
and
We
receive
in
the
bread
that
buried,
it
is
truly
the
sacrament
of
that
flesh
Christ [verum sanguinem Christi]blood of Christ.
which
the cross.
which, through the priest on the altar, is divinely
whichhung
was on
poured
forth from his -Ratramnus
De Corpore
sanguine
-Paschasius
Radbertus (d.851
consecrated(d.868),
by the Holy
Spirit inetthe
words of
side...
Domini
16
or-Berengar
860), Epistola
ad Council of
Christ. Hence, it is the Lord who cries out This is
of Tours,
Frudegardum
my body.
Rome of 1079
-Paschasius Radbertus (d.851 or 860), De Corpore
et sanguine Domini 4

A Controversy!

Changes in thinking...
Aristotle’s
Theory of Forms
Plato’s Theory
of Ideas

5. Idea (Form)

Form resides in Matter
4. Opinion
3. Image
2. Definition
1. Name

Changes in language...

Corpus mysticum

Corpus verum

meaning the consecrated
bread and wine
meaning the Church

…the term corpus verum ceased, roughly after the mid twelfth century, to be
applied to the Church, and was transferred to the body of Christ in the
...atconsecration
thethe
beginning
they
received
sacrament
After
the
they
are
the truethe
body
of Christ
[ esse
Eucharist.
Inversely,
term corpus
mysticum
migrated
fromofthe
Eucharist
the
Body
of
Christ
[
sacramentum
corporis
Christi
]
verum Christi corpus]...this
andtransformation,
the true blood of
Christ
[verum
to the Church…Accompanying
was
a change
in the
theChristi
true
Body
of Christ
[verum
corpus
sanguinem
] which
was body
poured
from
his side...
relation of
bothinbodies
to the
historical
of forth
Christ.
Earlier,
the sacramental
Christi
]...
-Berengar
Tours,
of Rome
1079
and eccesial
bodies of
stood
nearCouncil
each other,
and of
both
represented the historical
-Saint
(354-430),
God 21.25 bodies began to
body. But in the
newAugustine
scheme, the
historicalCity
andof
sacramental
stand near each other as alien sources of authority over against the Church…
–John Milbank (1952-), Being Reconciled , p. 123

1. Consubstantation

essentia: matter and

proprietates: visible properties

form (invisible)
2. Annihilation
Substance

SubstantiaAccidents

We believe...the earthly substances...are converted
into the essences of the Lord’s3.
body.
Their outward
Transubstantiation
appearances and certain other qualities remain
unchanged, so that those who receive them are not
shocked by the naked flesh and blood, and so that
believers may receive the greater rewards of faith.
-Lafranc of Bec (1010-1089), Decorpore et sanguine
Domini adversus Berengarium turonensem 18

Wrestling the mystery

Settling the question...
I answer that, Some have held that the substance of the bread and wine remains in
this sacrament after the consecration. But this opinion cannot stand: first of all,
answer
, Thethe
presence
Christ's
true body
and blood
this it
because byI such
an that
opinion
truth ofofthis
sacrament
is destroyed,
toin
which
sacrament
cannot
be exists
detected
by sense,
nor understanding,
but by
belongs that
Christ's
true
body
in
this
sacrament;
which
indeed
was
Hisalone,
body which
and blood
are
truly
contained
in theHence,
sacrament
of not there
faith
rests
upon
Divine
authority.
on
Luke
before the consecration...And
consequently
it remains
thatthe
Christ's
body
cannot begin
the
altar
under
the
forms
of
bread
and
wine,
bread
and
is My body
which
shall be
up for
Cyril
to be anew22:19:
inwine
this"This
sacrament
except
by change
of delivered
the substance
of you,"
bread
into itself.
having
been
changed
in
substance,
by
God's
power,
into
says:
"Doubt
not
whether
this
be
true;
but
take
rather
the
But what is changed
into
another
thing,
noorder
longer
remains
after
such change.
Hence
his
body
and
blood,
so
that
in
to
achieve
this
mystery
of
Saviour’s
words
with
faith;
for
since
He is the Truth,
He liethof
not."
the conclusion
is that,
saving
the
truth
ofwhat
this he
sacrament,
the
substance
the bread
unity
we
receive
from
God
received
from
us.
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae, 3.75.1
cannot remain
after
the
consecration.
-Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Canon 1
-Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae 3.75.2

This sacrament has a threefold significance. one with regard to the past, inasmuch as it
lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to
is commemorative
of our Lord'sifPassion,
which
was a true sacrifice, as stated above
It may
a man
did
not
bring
hostsbe
to understood…that
sing mass with, should
on a time
be houseled
(Q[48],
and
in this
respect
it isshould
called
a "Sacrifice." With regard to the present it
toA[3]),
communion
during
epidemics
or on
andgo
communed,
and when
S. Gregory
give to her
has
another
meaning,
namely,
that of
Ecclesiastical
unity, in which men are aggregated
the feast-days
holy
sacrament
saying:
Corpus
domini
nostri, etc.,
thereinmust
be something
wrong
through
this
Sacrament;
and
in this
respect
is called
thatwith
is to him;
say: The
our
Lord
Jesu
Christ
thee "Communion" or {Synaxis}. For
or asbody
a setofof
variations
on
the itkeep
Damascene
(De
Fide
Orth
. iv) that
"it to
is called
Communion because we
intoidea
everlasting
life,
anon
this
woman
began
smile tofore
thatsays
while
you
were
present
at mass
communicate
through
both and
because
we partake of His flesh and
S. Gregory,
anon
he
withdrew
hisit,in
hand,
remised
you did and
notwith
growChrist
older.
Carried
Godhead,
andupon
because
communicate
united to one another through
the procession
sacrament
the we
altar.
Andor
heindemanded
her, are
tofore
at
Corpus
Christi
thewith
face and
it."
With
regard
to the
future
hassaid:
a third
meaning,
inasmuch as this sacrament
the of
people,
why she
smiled,
anditshe
Because
that the
emergent
dangers
of riot
and
fire,
foreshadows
thethe
Divine
fruition,
shallthou
come
to pass in heaven; and according to
bread
that I have
made
with
my proper
hands
namest
received
by
dying,
seen
at which
the elevation
it
theitbody
of our
Lord Jesu Christ.
Anon
S. Gregory
put
this
is called
"Viaticum,"
because
it supplies
in the
mass…the
salutiferous
effects
of the the way of winning thither. And in this
himself
to is
prayer
with the
for to pray
God
that
respect
also
called
thepeople,
"Eucharist,"
that to
is,of
"good
grace," because "the grace of God
Hostitseem
mostly
instances
of the dogma
hereupon
he would(Rom.
show his
grace
to confirm
ourcontains Christ, Who is "full of
is life
everlasting"
6:23);
orbyfor
because
it really
salvation
by
charity,
healing
wholeness.
belief,
and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory
grace."
-John
Bossy,
Christianity
in of
thea piece
West:of1400saw
the
holy
sacrament
in
figure
flesh
as great 3.73.4
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas
(1225-1274),
Summa
Theologiae
1700 , p. 74
as the little finger of an hand, and anon after, by the
prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned
into semblance of bread as it had been tofore, and
therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the
faith.
-The Golden Legend, 3.27 (1260)

But still Dynamic!
But also Superstitious!


Slide 3

Not Common Bread:
The Eucharist in the Early Church

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
They even absent themselves from the
cities or in the country gather together to one
Eucharist
and
I will
dothe
thispublic
if theprayers,
Lord reveals to me
place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or certainly
the
because
will not
admit
that
the by name,
you
arethey
all, man
by man
and
name
writings
of theisprophets
are read,
asthat
long
as time
The Eucharist
not common
bread
or
common
Eucharist
is the self-same body our
attending
permits;
then,
when
reader
hasthe
ceased,
theyour meetings in a state of grace united
drink…we
have
beenthe
taught
that
food which
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
which suffered
for now to
in
faith
Jesus
Christ...and
ready
president
verbally
instructs,
and through
exhorts
Assemble
to
the
oninthe
Lord’s
Day, andare
break
receives the
eucharistic
blessing
hisand
words
our
sins,bishop
and which
the Father
in His
obey
your
and
clergy
with
imitation
theseby
good
Then
bread
we all
and
rise
offer the
Eucharist;
but undivided
first
of prayer, of
which
waythings.
of nourishment
is
goodness
raised
up again. breaking
and
toafterwards
share
the
one common
together
and pray,
and, as
before
make
said,
confession
when
of in
your
faults,
so that
changed into
our blood
andweflesh,
isminds
the
flesh
and
Consequently,
since
they
reject
God’sand the
bread—the
medicine
of immortality,
our
prayer
ended, bread
and wineof
your
and
sacrifice
water may
be a pure
one.
blood
of theisincarnate
Jesus.
good gifts,
they arewhich
doomed in
theirdeath and
sovereign
remedy
escape
are
brought,
the (100-165),
president in
like
Anyone
manner
who
differencewe
with
his
-Saint
Justin and
Martyr
First
Apology
66 has aby
disputatiousness.
They
would
have
live
in is
Jesus
evermore.
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according
fellow
to
notChrist
to takefor
part
with you until
done
better of
to Antioch
learn charity,
if they to the
-Saint
Ignatius
his ability, and the people assent, saying
they have
Amen;
been reconciled,(d.107),
so as to Letter
avoid
were
ever
to
know
resurrection.
Ephesians
20
and there is a distribution to each, and
any aprofanation
of your sacrifice.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d.107),
participation of that over which thanks
-Thehave
Didache (1st/2nd c.), 14
Letter to the Smynaeans 7
been given, and to those who are absent a
portion is sent by the deacons.
-Saint Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology 67

True Body in True Bread:
The Patristic Witness

So what
For
bothyou
he that
can does
see, then,
not take
is bread
it hasand
no alife,
cup;
and
that's
he
that does
what
eventake
your
it eyes
has life,
tell and
you;that
but indeed
as for what
eternal
your
life.
faith
thebeof
bread, which is produced from the
And to
asks
thus
be He
instructed
would have
about,
this
thefood
bread
andisFor
drink
theas
body
to
Therefore
withthe
fullest
assurance
let
partake
earth,
when
it receives the invocation of God, is
understood
Christ,
the
cup
as meaning
the blood
offellowship
Christ.
It took
of
His
nous
own
time
to
asmembers,
of the
Body
and
of
Christ...For
thus
no
common
bread, but the Eucharist,
body
say
that
andindeed,
and
which
that,
perhaps,
isBlood
the holy
may
Church
be longer
enough
in its
for
we
come
tothe
bear
Christ
incalled,
us, because
HisofBody
consisting
saints but
faith;
who
faith
were
Idesires
am
predestined,
instruction...How
food
ofand
the
fully
can
and bread
justified,
betwo realities, earthly and
and
Blood
aregrow
diffused
through
our
members;
heavenly;
so
also our
bodies,
when they
andbody?
his
glorified
And
ingrown;
the
its cup,
saints
orand
what
and
believers.
the
youOur
cup
will
Of
contains,
feed
these,
how
Lord
Jesusthe
Christ
Himself
proclaims
thisreceive
is my
thus
iton
is me.
that,
according
toBody.
blessed
Peter,
wesacred
theBefore
Eucharist,
are nowords
longerofcorruptible,
having
firstitisbe
can
already
his blood?”
effected,
The
And
namely,
reason
you will
these
predestination;
not
things,
brothers
the
the
blessing another
become
partakers
of vocation
the
divine
hope
of
resurrection
to eternity.
second
and
sisters,
and
are
third,
change
called
thatsacraments
me
is, the
into
youis
like
thatand
the
in is
them
onethe
species
named,
after
consecration
the Body is
nature
...Contemplate
therefore
the
Bread
and
-Saint
Irenaeus
Lyons of
(d.202),
Against
justification,
thing
is seen,have
another
foodtaken
your
is to
place,
flesh
be understood.
eats,
are taking
but
you
place,
What
and
can beofspeaks
implied.
He
Himself
His blood.
Before
Wine
not
as
bare what
elements,
forunderstood
they4.18.5
are,
will take
seen
has the
aplace;
bodily
will
but
appearance,
be
thechanged
fourth,
into
namely,
me.
is toHeresies
the
be
glorifying,
consecration,
it
is spoken of as another thing. After
according
to
the
Lord’s
declaration,
the
Body
is at present
provides
spiritual
in-Saint
hope;
fruit.
Augustine
butSoa ifthing
you(354-430),
future
want
toinunderstand
realization.
consecration
it is named blood. And you say Amen,
and
Blood
of Christ;
forapostle
though
sense
suggests
Thebody
the
sacrament
of Christ,
Confessions
of this
listen
thing,
to7.10
the
namely,
of telling
the
of What your mouth expresses let your
that
is,
itunity
is the
true.
this
thee,oflet
faith
the bodyYou,
faithful,
andto
blood
though,
are
Christ,
the stablish
body
is prepared
of thee.
Christ
onJudge
the
and
Lord’s
itsnot
inner
mind
confess—feel
what you say.
the
matter
from
taste,
but
from
faith
be
fully
table in some
members
(1 Corinthians
places daily,
12:27).
in some
So places
if
it's you
at
certain
that are
-Saint
Ambrose
(339-397), On the Mysteries 9.54
without
thou
been
intervals
the
bodyassured
of days,
Christ
and
andfrom
itsmisgiving,
members,
the Lord’sthat
it's
table
the
itmystery
ishast
taken,
the
Body
and Blood
of
Christ.
by some vouchsafed
meaning
to
you
life,
that
byhas
some
been
to destruction:
placed
on thebut
Lord's
the thing
table;
-Saint
Cyril
of Jersulem
(315-386),
Mystagogical
itself, you
what
of which
receive
it is the
sacrament,
mystery that
is means
for every
you.
man
It istoto
Catechesis
4.3,6
life, for
what
you
no
are
man
that
to you
destruction,
reply Amen,
whosoever
and by shall
so replying
have
beenexpress
you
a shareryour
in it.assent. What you hear, you see, is the
-SaintofAugustine
body
Christ, and
(354-430),
you answer,
Tractates
Amen.
onSothe
beGospel
a member
of
of the26.6.42-59
John
body of Christ, in order to make that Amen true.
-Saint Augustine (354-430), Sermon 272

Let faith stablish thee...

I, Berengar, believe in the heart
and confess by mouth, that the
bread and wine, which are placed But because it was fitting for him to penetrate the
heavens
according
to the flesh, in order that those
onThe
the substance
altar, through
the mystery
of bread
does notUnder
change
into
the
I,the
Berengar,...anathematize
veil of
the corporeal
bread
all heresy,
and
the
especially
reborn
in
him
might
more
confidently
seek
him
of sacrament
the holy prayer
theofwords
of theand
body
the Lord...[bread
and theattempts
corporeal
that...which
wine,
spiritual
to
body
restrict
and
the
the
bread
and
there,
he
left
to
us
this
sacrament,
the
visible
of wine]
our Redeemer,
aretrue
converted
are not the
body, norspiritual
the true
blood,
the
blood
wine
which
exists. of
are
Not
placed
as though
on
the
there
altar,
are
to be
figure
and
character
flesh
and
blood,
in
order
substantially
into
the
true
and
but a figure or likeness...
two
things
after consecration,
distinguished
only
among
the
themselves:
sacrament
and not
that
through
faith
to
grasp
the
invisible
and
proper
and vivifying
and Epistola
-Berengar
of Toursflesh
(d.1088),
ad Ascelinum
body
and
the
true
spirit.
body
Rather
and there
bloodperceived
isofone
ourand
Lord
the
Jesus
Christ
spiritual.
What
is eternally
here
is the
blood of Jesus Christ. After the same thing.
which
are
According
sensually
to
touched
one
way,
orbread
broken
andor
torn
figure
or
character,
but
it
is
the
whole
truth
and
consecration they are the true wine;apart
according
by the
toteeth
another
of the
way
faithful.
body
and and
not
its
shadow
that
is
internally
perceived;
body of Christ [esse verum
blood
of Christ.
For
according
to what
they
-Berenagar
of Tours,
of
Rome
through
this is opened
up Council
the very
truth
andof 1059
Christi corpus]. Which was born are
corporeally,
they arevery
creatures;
but
sacrament
of
[Christ’s]
flesh.
It is indeed the
of the Virgin, and which hung onaccording to what they have been made
true flesh of Christ which was crucified and
the cross...and the true blood of spiritually,
they
are
mysteries
of the
body
and
We
receive
in
the
bread
that
buried,
it
is
truly
the
sacrament
of
that
flesh
Christ [verum sanguinem Christi]blood of Christ.
which
the cross.
which, through the priest on the altar, is divinely
whichhung
was on
poured
forth from his -Ratramnus
De Corpore
sanguine
-Paschasius
Radbertus (d.851
consecrated(d.868),
by the Holy
Spirit inetthe
words of
side...
Domini
16
or-Berengar
860), Epistola
ad Council of
Christ. Hence, it is the Lord who cries out This is
of Tours,
Frudegardum
my body.
Rome of 1079
-Paschasius Radbertus (d.851 or 860), De Corpore
et sanguine Domini 4

A Controversy!

Changes in thinking...
Aristotle’s
Theory of Forms
Plato’s Theory
of Ideas

5. Idea (Form)

Form resides in Matter
4. Opinion
3. Image
2. Definition
1. Name

Changes in language...

Corpus mysticum

Corpus verum

meaning the consecrated
bread and wine
meaning the Church

…the term corpus verum ceased, roughly after the mid twelfth century, to be
applied to the Church, and was transferred to the body of Christ in the
...atconsecration
thethe
beginning
they
received
sacrament
After
the
they
are
the truethe
body
of Christ
[ esse
Eucharist.
Inversely,
term corpus
mysticum
migrated
fromofthe
Eucharist
the
Body
of
Christ
[
sacramentum
corporis
Christi
]
verum Christi corpus]...this
andtransformation,
the true blood of
Christ
[verum
to the Church…Accompanying
was
a change
in the
theChristi
true
Body
of Christ
[verum
corpus
sanguinem
] which
was body
poured
from
his side...
relation of
bothinbodies
to the
historical
of forth
Christ.
Earlier,
the sacramental
Christi
]...
-Berengar
Tours,
of Rome
1079
and eccesial
bodies of
stood
nearCouncil
each other,
and of
both
represented the historical
-Saint
(354-430),
God 21.25 bodies began to
body. But in the
newAugustine
scheme, the
historicalCity
andof
sacramental
stand near each other as alien sources of authority over against the Church…
–John Milbank (1952-), Being Reconciled , p. 123

1. Consubstantation

essentia: matter and

proprietates: visible properties

form (invisible)
2. Annihilation
Substance

SubstantiaAccidents

We believe...the earthly substances...are converted
into the essences of the Lord’s3.
body.
Their outward
Transubstantiation
appearances and certain other qualities remain
unchanged, so that those who receive them are not
shocked by the naked flesh and blood, and so that
believers may receive the greater rewards of faith.
-Lafranc of Bec (1010-1089), Decorpore et sanguine
Domini adversus Berengarium turonensem 18

Wrestling the mystery

Settling the question...
I answer that, Some have held that the substance of the bread and wine remains in
this sacrament after the consecration. But this opinion cannot stand: first of all,
answer
, Thethe
presence
Christ's
true body
and blood
this it
because byI such
an that
opinion
truth ofofthis
sacrament
is destroyed,
toin
which
sacrament
cannot
be exists
detected
by sense,
nor understanding,
but by
belongs that
Christ's
true
body
in
this
sacrament;
which
indeed
was
Hisalone,
body which
and blood
are
truly
contained
in theHence,
sacrament
of not there
faith
rests
upon
Divine
authority.
on
Luke
before the consecration...And
consequently
it remains
thatthe
Christ's
body
cannot begin
the
altar
under
the
forms
of
bread
and
wine,
bread
and
is My body
which
shall be
up for
Cyril
to be anew22:19:
inwine
this"This
sacrament
except
by change
of delivered
the substance
of you,"
bread
into itself.
having
been
changed
in
substance,
by
God's
power,
into
says:
"Doubt
not
whether
this
be
true;
but
take
rather
the
But what is changed
into
another
thing,
noorder
longer
remains
after
such change.
Hence
his
body
and
blood,
so
that
in
to
achieve
this
mystery
of
Saviour’s
words
with
faith;
for
since
He is the Truth,
He liethof
not."
the conclusion
is that,
saving
the
truth
ofwhat
this he
sacrament,
the
substance
the bread
unity
we
receive
from
God
received
from
us.
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae, 3.75.1
cannot remain
after
the
consecration.
-Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Canon 1
-Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae 3.75.2

This sacrament has a threefold significance. one with regard to the past, inasmuch as it
lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to
is commemorative
of our Lord'sifPassion,
which
was a true sacrifice, as stated above
It may
a man
did
not
bring
hostsbe
to understood…that
sing mass with, should
on a time
be houseled
(Q[48],
and
in this
respect
it isshould
called
a "Sacrifice." With regard to the present it
toA[3]),
communion
during
epidemics
or on
andgo
communed,
and when
S. Gregory
give to her
has
another
meaning,
namely,
that of
Ecclesiastical
unity, in which men are aggregated
the feast-days
holy
sacrament
saying:
Corpus
domini
nostri, etc.,
thereinmust
be something
wrong
through
this
Sacrament;
and
in this
respect
is called
thatwith
is to him;
say: The
our
Lord
Jesu
Christ
thee "Communion" or {Synaxis}. For
or asbody
a setofof
variations
on
the itkeep
Damascene
(De
Fide
Orth
. iv) that
"it to
is called
Communion because we
intoidea
everlasting
life,
anon
this
woman
began
smile tofore
thatsays
while
you
were
present
at mass
communicate
through
both and
because
we partake of His flesh and
S. Gregory,
anon
he
withdrew
hisit,in
hand,
remised
you did and
notwith
growChrist
older.
Carried
Godhead,
andupon
because
communicate
united to one another through
the procession
sacrament
the we
altar.
Andor
heindemanded
her, are
tofore
at
Corpus
Christi
thewith
face and
it."
With
regard
to the
future
hassaid:
a third
meaning,
inasmuch as this sacrament
the of
people,
why she
smiled,
anditshe
Because
that the
emergent
dangers
of riot
and
fire,
foreshadows
thethe
Divine
fruition,
shallthou
come
to pass in heaven; and according to
bread
that I have
made
with
my proper
hands
namest
received
by
dying,
seen
at which
the elevation
it
theitbody
of our
Lord Jesu Christ.
Anon
S. Gregory
put
this
is called
"Viaticum,"
because
it supplies
in the
mass…the
salutiferous
effects
of the the way of winning thither. And in this
himself
to is
prayer
with the
for to pray
God
that
respect
also
called
thepeople,
"Eucharist,"
that to
is,of
"good
grace," because "the grace of God
Hostitseem
mostly
instances
of the dogma
hereupon
he would(Rom.
show his
grace
to confirm
ourcontains Christ, Who is "full of
is life
everlasting"
6:23);
orbyfor
because
it really
salvation
by
charity,
healing
wholeness.
belief,
and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory
grace."
-John
Bossy,
Christianity
in of
thea piece
West:of1400saw
the
holy
sacrament
in
figure
flesh
as great 3.73.4
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas
(1225-1274),
Summa
Theologiae
1700 , p. 74
as the little finger of an hand, and anon after, by the
prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned
into semblance of bread as it had been tofore, and
therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the
faith.
-The Golden Legend, 3.27 (1260)

But still Dynamic!
But also Superstitious!


Slide 4

Not Common Bread:
The Eucharist in the Early Church

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
They even absent themselves from the
cities or in the country gather together to one
Eucharist
and
I will
dothe
thispublic
if theprayers,
Lord reveals to me
place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or certainly
the
because
will not
admit
that
the by name,
you
arethey
all, man
by man
and
name
writings
of theisprophets
are read,
asthat
long
as time
The Eucharist
not common
bread
or
common
Eucharist
is the self-same body our
attending
permits;
then,
when
reader
hasthe
ceased,
theyour meetings in a state of grace united
drink…we
have
beenthe
taught
that
food which
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
which suffered
for now to
in
faith
Jesus
Christ...and
ready
president
verbally
instructs,
and through
exhorts
Assemble
to
the
oninthe
Lord’s
Day, andare
break
receives the
eucharistic
blessing
hisand
words
our
sins,bishop
and which
the Father
in His
obey
your
and
clergy
with
imitation
theseby
good
Then
bread
we all
and
rise
offer the
Eucharist;
but undivided
first
of prayer, of
which
waythings.
of nourishment
is
goodness
raised
up again. breaking
and
toafterwards
share
the
one common
together
and pray,
and, as
before
make
said,
confession
when
of in
your
faults,
so that
changed into
our blood
andweflesh,
isminds
the
flesh
and
Consequently,
since
they
reject
God’sand the
bread—the
medicine
of immortality,
our
prayer
ended, bread
and wineof
your
and
sacrifice
water may
be a pure
one.
blood
of theisincarnate
Jesus.
good gifts,
they arewhich
doomed in
theirdeath and
sovereign
remedy
escape
are
brought,
the (100-165),
president in
like
Anyone
manner
who
differencewe
with
his
-Saint
Justin and
Martyr
First
Apology
66 has aby
disputatiousness.
They
would
have
live
in is
Jesus
evermore.
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according
fellow
to
notChrist
to takefor
part
with you until
done
better of
to Antioch
learn charity,
if they to the
-Saint
Ignatius
his ability, and the people assent, saying
they have
Amen;
been reconciled,(d.107),
so as to Letter
avoid
were
ever
to
know
resurrection.
Ephesians
20
and there is a distribution to each, and
any aprofanation
of your sacrifice.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d.107),
participation of that over which thanks
-Thehave
Didache (1st/2nd c.), 14
Letter to the Smynaeans 7
been given, and to those who are absent a
portion is sent by the deacons.
-Saint Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology 67

True Body in True Bread:
The Patristic Witness

So what
For
bothyou
he that
can does
see, then,
not take
is bread
it hasand
no alife,
cup;
and
that's
he
that does
what
eventake
your
it eyes
has life,
tell and
you;that
but indeed
as for what
eternal
your
life.
faith
thebeof
bread, which is produced from the
And to
asks
thus
be He
instructed
would have
about,
this
thefood
bread
andisFor
drink
theas
body
to
Therefore
withthe
fullest
assurance
let
partake
earth,
when
it receives the invocation of God, is
understood
Christ,
the
cup
as meaning
the blood
offellowship
Christ.
It took
of
His
nous
own
time
to
asmembers,
of the
Body
and
of
Christ...For
thus
no
common
bread, but the Eucharist,
body
say
that
andindeed,
and
which
that,
perhaps,
isBlood
the holy
may
Church
be longer
enough
in its
for
we
come
tothe
bear
Christ
incalled,
us, because
HisofBody
consisting
saints but
faith;
who
faith
were
Idesires
am
predestined,
instruction...How
food
ofand
the
fully
can
and bread
justified,
betwo realities, earthly and
and
Blood
aregrow
diffused
through
our
members;
heavenly;
so
also our
bodies,
when they
andbody?
his
glorified
And
ingrown;
the
its cup,
saints
orand
what
and
believers.
the
youOur
cup
will
Of
contains,
feed
these,
how
Lord
Jesusthe
Christ
Himself
proclaims
thisreceive
is my
thus
iton
is me.
that,
according
toBody.
blessed
Peter,
wesacred
theBefore
Eucharist,
are nowords
longerofcorruptible,
having
firstitisbe
can
already
his blood?”
effected,
The
And
namely,
reason
you will
these
predestination;
not
things,
brothers
the
the
blessing another
become
partakers
of vocation
the
divine
hope
of
resurrection
to eternity.
second
and
sisters,
and
are
third,
change
called
thatsacraments
me
is, the
into
youis
like
thatand
the
in is
them
onethe
species
named,
after
consecration
the Body is
nature
...Contemplate
therefore
the
Bread
and
-Saint
Irenaeus
Lyons of
(d.202),
Against
justification,
thing
is seen,have
another
foodtaken
your
is to
place,
flesh
be understood.
eats,
are taking
but
you
place,
What
and
can beofspeaks
implied.
He
Himself
His blood.
Before
Wine
not
as
bare what
elements,
forunderstood
they4.18.5
are,
will take
seen
has the
aplace;
bodily
will
but
appearance,
be
thechanged
fourth,
into
namely,
me.
is toHeresies
the
be
glorifying,
consecration,
it
is spoken of as another thing. After
according
to
the
Lord’s
declaration,
the
Body
is at present
provides
spiritual
in-Saint
hope;
fruit.
Augustine
butSoa ifthing
you(354-430),
future
want
toinunderstand
realization.
consecration
it is named blood. And you say Amen,
and
Blood
of Christ;
forapostle
though
sense
suggests
Thebody
the
sacrament
of Christ,
Confessions
of this
listen
thing,
to7.10
the
namely,
of telling
the
of What your mouth expresses let your
that
is,
itunity
is the
true.
this
thee,oflet
faith
the bodyYou,
faithful,
andto
blood
though,
are
Christ,
the stablish
body
is prepared
of thee.
Christ
onJudge
the
and
Lord’s
itsnot
inner
mind
confess—feel
what you say.
the
matter
from
taste,
but
from
faith
be
fully
table in some
members
(1 Corinthians
places daily,
12:27).
in some
So places
if
it's you
at
certain
that are
-Saint
Ambrose
(339-397), On the Mysteries 9.54
without
thou
been
intervals
the
bodyassured
of days,
Christ
and
andfrom
itsmisgiving,
members,
the Lord’sthat
it's
table
the
itmystery
ishast
taken,
the
Body
and Blood
of
Christ.
by some vouchsafed
meaning
to
you
life,
that
byhas
some
been
to destruction:
placed
on thebut
Lord's
the thing
table;
-Saint
Cyril
of Jersulem
(315-386),
Mystagogical
itself, you
what
of which
receive
it is the
sacrament,
mystery that
is means
for every
you.
man
It istoto
Catechesis
4.3,6
life, for
what
you
no
are
man
that
to you
destruction,
reply Amen,
whosoever
and by shall
so replying
have
beenexpress
you
a shareryour
in it.assent. What you hear, you see, is the
-SaintofAugustine
body
Christ, and
(354-430),
you answer,
Tractates
Amen.
onSothe
beGospel
a member
of
of the26.6.42-59
John
body of Christ, in order to make that Amen true.
-Saint Augustine (354-430), Sermon 272

Let faith stablish thee...

I, Berengar, believe in the heart
and confess by mouth, that the
bread and wine, which are placed But because it was fitting for him to penetrate the
heavens
according
to the flesh, in order that those
onThe
the substance
altar, through
the mystery
of bread
does notUnder
change
into
the
I,the
Berengar,...anathematize
veil of
the corporeal
bread
all heresy,
and
the
especially
reborn
in
him
might
more
confidently
seek
him
of sacrament
the holy prayer
theofwords
of theand
body
the Lord...[bread
and theattempts
corporeal
that...which
wine,
spiritual
to
body
restrict
and
the
the
bread
and
there,
he
left
to
us
this
sacrament,
the
visible
of wine]
our Redeemer,
aretrue
converted
are not the
body, norspiritual
the true
blood,
the
blood
wine
which
exists. of
are
Not
placed
as though
on
the
there
altar,
are
to be
figure
and
character
flesh
and
blood,
in
order
substantially
into
the
true
and
but a figure or likeness...
two
things
after consecration,
distinguished
only
among
the
themselves:
sacrament
and not
that
through
faith
to
grasp
the
invisible
and
proper
and vivifying
and Epistola
-Berengar
of Toursflesh
(d.1088),
ad Ascelinum
body
and
the
true
spirit.
body
Rather
and there
bloodperceived
isofone
ourand
Lord
the
Jesus
Christ
spiritual.
What
is eternally
here
is the
blood of Jesus Christ. After the same thing.
which
are
According
sensually
to
touched
one
way,
orbread
broken
andor
torn
figure
or
character,
but
it
is
the
whole
truth
and
consecration they are the true wine;apart
according
by the
toteeth
another
of the
way
faithful.
body
and and
not
its
shadow
that
is
internally
perceived;
body of Christ [esse verum
blood
of Christ.
For
according
to what
they
-Berenagar
of Tours,
of
Rome
through
this is opened
up Council
the very
truth
andof 1059
Christi corpus]. Which was born are
corporeally,
they arevery
creatures;
but
sacrament
of
[Christ’s]
flesh.
It is indeed the
of the Virgin, and which hung onaccording to what they have been made
true flesh of Christ which was crucified and
the cross...and the true blood of spiritually,
they
are
mysteries
of the
body
and
We
receive
in
the
bread
that
buried,
it
is
truly
the
sacrament
of
that
flesh
Christ [verum sanguinem Christi]blood of Christ.
which
the cross.
which, through the priest on the altar, is divinely
whichhung
was on
poured
forth from his -Ratramnus
De Corpore
sanguine
-Paschasius
Radbertus (d.851
consecrated(d.868),
by the Holy
Spirit inetthe
words of
side...
Domini
16
or-Berengar
860), Epistola
ad Council of
Christ. Hence, it is the Lord who cries out This is
of Tours,
Frudegardum
my body.
Rome of 1079
-Paschasius Radbertus (d.851 or 860), De Corpore
et sanguine Domini 4

A Controversy!

Changes in thinking...
Aristotle’s
Theory of Forms
Plato’s Theory
of Ideas

5. Idea (Form)

Form resides in Matter
4. Opinion
3. Image
2. Definition
1. Name

Changes in language...

Corpus mysticum

Corpus verum

meaning the consecrated
bread and wine
meaning the Church

…the term corpus verum ceased, roughly after the mid twelfth century, to be
applied to the Church, and was transferred to the body of Christ in the
...atconsecration
thethe
beginning
they
received
sacrament
After
the
they
are
the truethe
body
of Christ
[ esse
Eucharist.
Inversely,
term corpus
mysticum
migrated
fromofthe
Eucharist
the
Body
of
Christ
[
sacramentum
corporis
Christi
]
verum Christi corpus]...this
andtransformation,
the true blood of
Christ
[verum
to the Church…Accompanying
was
a change
in the
theChristi
true
Body
of Christ
[verum
corpus
sanguinem
] which
was body
poured
from
his side...
relation of
bothinbodies
to the
historical
of forth
Christ.
Earlier,
the sacramental
Christi
]...
-Berengar
Tours,
of Rome
1079
and eccesial
bodies of
stood
nearCouncil
each other,
and of
both
represented the historical
-Saint
(354-430),
God 21.25 bodies began to
body. But in the
newAugustine
scheme, the
historicalCity
andof
sacramental
stand near each other as alien sources of authority over against the Church…
–John Milbank (1952-), Being Reconciled , p. 123

1. Consubstantation

essentia: matter and

proprietates: visible properties

form (invisible)
2. Annihilation
Substance

SubstantiaAccidents

We believe...the earthly substances...are converted
into the essences of the Lord’s3.
body.
Their outward
Transubstantiation
appearances and certain other qualities remain
unchanged, so that those who receive them are not
shocked by the naked flesh and blood, and so that
believers may receive the greater rewards of faith.
-Lafranc of Bec (1010-1089), Decorpore et sanguine
Domini adversus Berengarium turonensem 18

Wrestling the mystery

Settling the question...
I answer that, Some have held that the substance of the bread and wine remains in
this sacrament after the consecration. But this opinion cannot stand: first of all,
answer
, Thethe
presence
Christ's
true body
and blood
this it
because byI such
an that
opinion
truth ofofthis
sacrament
is destroyed,
toin
which
sacrament
cannot
be exists
detected
by sense,
nor understanding,
but by
belongs that
Christ's
true
body
in
this
sacrament;
which
indeed
was
Hisalone,
body which
and blood
are
truly
contained
in theHence,
sacrament
of not there
faith
rests
upon
Divine
authority.
on
Luke
before the consecration...And
consequently
it remains
thatthe
Christ's
body
cannot begin
the
altar
under
the
forms
of
bread
and
wine,
bread
and
is My body
which
shall be
up for
Cyril
to be anew22:19:
inwine
this"This
sacrament
except
by change
of delivered
the substance
of you,"
bread
into itself.
having
been
changed
in
substance,
by
God's
power,
into
says:
"Doubt
not
whether
this
be
true;
but
take
rather
the
But what is changed
into
another
thing,
noorder
longer
remains
after
such change.
Hence
his
body
and
blood,
so
that
in
to
achieve
this
mystery
of
Saviour’s
words
with
faith;
for
since
He is the Truth,
He liethof
not."
the conclusion
is that,
saving
the
truth
ofwhat
this he
sacrament,
the
substance
the bread
unity
we
receive
from
God
received
from
us.
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae, 3.75.1
cannot remain
after
the
consecration.
-Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Canon 1
-Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae 3.75.2

This sacrament has a threefold significance. one with regard to the past, inasmuch as it
lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to
is commemorative
of our Lord'sifPassion,
which
was a true sacrifice, as stated above
It may
a man
did
not
bring
hostsbe
to understood…that
sing mass with, should
on a time
be houseled
(Q[48],
and
in this
respect
it isshould
called
a "Sacrifice." With regard to the present it
toA[3]),
communion
during
epidemics
or on
andgo
communed,
and when
S. Gregory
give to her
has
another
meaning,
namely,
that of
Ecclesiastical
unity, in which men are aggregated
the feast-days
holy
sacrament
saying:
Corpus
domini
nostri, etc.,
thereinmust
be something
wrong
through
this
Sacrament;
and
in this
respect
is called
thatwith
is to him;
say: The
our
Lord
Jesu
Christ
thee "Communion" or {Synaxis}. For
or asbody
a setofof
variations
on
the itkeep
Damascene
(De
Fide
Orth
. iv) that
"it to
is called
Communion because we
intoidea
everlasting
life,
anon
this
woman
began
smile tofore
thatsays
while
you
were
present
at mass
communicate
through
both and
because
we partake of His flesh and
S. Gregory,
anon
he
withdrew
hisit,in
hand,
remised
you did and
notwith
growChrist
older.
Carried
Godhead,
andupon
because
communicate
united to one another through
the procession
sacrament
the we
altar.
Andor
heindemanded
her, are
tofore
at
Corpus
Christi
thewith
face and
it."
With
regard
to the
future
hassaid:
a third
meaning,
inasmuch as this sacrament
the of
people,
why she
smiled,
anditshe
Because
that the
emergent
dangers
of riot
and
fire,
foreshadows
thethe
Divine
fruition,
shallthou
come
to pass in heaven; and according to
bread
that I have
made
with
my proper
hands
namest
received
by
dying,
seen
at which
the elevation
it
theitbody
of our
Lord Jesu Christ.
Anon
S. Gregory
put
this
is called
"Viaticum,"
because
it supplies
in the
mass…the
salutiferous
effects
of the the way of winning thither. And in this
himself
to is
prayer
with the
for to pray
God
that
respect
also
called
thepeople,
"Eucharist,"
that to
is,of
"good
grace," because "the grace of God
Hostitseem
mostly
instances
of the dogma
hereupon
he would(Rom.
show his
grace
to confirm
ourcontains Christ, Who is "full of
is life
everlasting"
6:23);
orbyfor
because
it really
salvation
by
charity,
healing
wholeness.
belief,
and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory
grace."
-John
Bossy,
Christianity
in of
thea piece
West:of1400saw
the
holy
sacrament
in
figure
flesh
as great 3.73.4
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas
(1225-1274),
Summa
Theologiae
1700 , p. 74
as the little finger of an hand, and anon after, by the
prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned
into semblance of bread as it had been tofore, and
therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the
faith.
-The Golden Legend, 3.27 (1260)

But still Dynamic!
But also Superstitious!


Slide 5

Not Common Bread:
The Eucharist in the Early Church

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
They even absent themselves from the
cities or in the country gather together to one
Eucharist
and
I will
dothe
thispublic
if theprayers,
Lord reveals to me
place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or certainly
the
because
will not
admit
that
the by name,
you
arethey
all, man
by man
and
name
writings
of theisprophets
are read,
asthat
long
as time
The Eucharist
not common
bread
or
common
Eucharist
is the self-same body our
attending
permits;
then,
when
reader
hasthe
ceased,
theyour meetings in a state of grace united
drink…we
have
beenthe
taught
that
food which
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
which suffered
for now to
in
faith
Jesus
Christ...and
ready
president
verbally
instructs,
and through
exhorts
Assemble
to
the
oninthe
Lord’s
Day, andare
break
receives the
eucharistic
blessing
hisand
words
our
sins,bishop
and which
the Father
in His
obey
your
and
clergy
with
imitation
theseby
good
Then
bread
we all
and
rise
offer the
Eucharist;
but undivided
first
of prayer, of
which
waythings.
of nourishment
is
goodness
raised
up again. breaking
and
toafterwards
share
the
one common
together
and pray,
and, as
before
make
said,
confession
when
of in
your
faults,
so that
changed into
our blood
andweflesh,
isminds
the
flesh
and
Consequently,
since
they
reject
God’sand the
bread—the
medicine
of immortality,
our
prayer
ended, bread
and wineof
your
and
sacrifice
water may
be a pure
one.
blood
of theisincarnate
Jesus.
good gifts,
they arewhich
doomed in
theirdeath and
sovereign
remedy
escape
are
brought,
the (100-165),
president in
like
Anyone
manner
who
differencewe
with
his
-Saint
Justin and
Martyr
First
Apology
66 has aby
disputatiousness.
They
would
have
live
in is
Jesus
evermore.
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according
fellow
to
notChrist
to takefor
part
with you until
done
better of
to Antioch
learn charity,
if they to the
-Saint
Ignatius
his ability, and the people assent, saying
they have
Amen;
been reconciled,(d.107),
so as to Letter
avoid
were
ever
to
know
resurrection.
Ephesians
20
and there is a distribution to each, and
any aprofanation
of your sacrifice.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d.107),
participation of that over which thanks
-Thehave
Didache (1st/2nd c.), 14
Letter to the Smynaeans 7
been given, and to those who are absent a
portion is sent by the deacons.
-Saint Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology 67

True Body in True Bread:
The Patristic Witness

So what
For
bothyou
he that
can does
see, then,
not take
is bread
it hasand
no alife,
cup;
and
that's
he
that does
what
eventake
your
it eyes
has life,
tell and
you;that
but indeed
as for what
eternal
your
life.
faith
thebeof
bread, which is produced from the
And to
asks
thus
be He
instructed
would have
about,
this
thefood
bread
andisFor
drink
theas
body
to
Therefore
withthe
fullest
assurance
let
partake
earth,
when
it receives the invocation of God, is
understood
Christ,
the
cup
as meaning
the blood
offellowship
Christ.
It took
of
His
nous
own
time
to
asmembers,
of the
Body
and
of
Christ...For
thus
no
common
bread, but the Eucharist,
body
say
that
andindeed,
and
which
that,
perhaps,
isBlood
the holy
may
Church
be longer
enough
in its
for
we
come
tothe
bear
Christ
incalled,
us, because
HisofBody
consisting
saints but
faith;
who
faith
were
Idesires
am
predestined,
instruction...How
food
ofand
the
fully
can
and bread
justified,
betwo realities, earthly and
and
Blood
aregrow
diffused
through
our
members;
heavenly;
so
also our
bodies,
when they
andbody?
his
glorified
And
ingrown;
the
its cup,
saints
orand
what
and
believers.
the
youOur
cup
will
Of
contains,
feed
these,
how
Lord
Jesusthe
Christ
Himself
proclaims
thisreceive
is my
thus
iton
is me.
that,
according
toBody.
blessed
Peter,
wesacred
theBefore
Eucharist,
are nowords
longerofcorruptible,
having
firstitisbe
can
already
his blood?”
effected,
The
And
namely,
reason
you will
these
predestination;
not
things,
brothers
the
the
blessing another
become
partakers
of vocation
the
divine
hope
of
resurrection
to eternity.
second
and
sisters,
and
are
third,
change
called
thatsacraments
me
is, the
into
youis
like
thatand
the
in is
them
onethe
species
named,
after
consecration
the Body is
nature
...Contemplate
therefore
the
Bread
and
-Saint
Irenaeus
Lyons of
(d.202),
Against
justification,
thing
is seen,have
another
foodtaken
your
is to
place,
flesh
be understood.
eats,
are taking
but
you
place,
What
and
can beofspeaks
implied.
He
Himself
His blood.
Before
Wine
not
as
bare what
elements,
forunderstood
they4.18.5
are,
will take
seen
has the
aplace;
bodily
will
but
appearance,
be
thechanged
fourth,
into
namely,
me.
is toHeresies
the
be
glorifying,
consecration,
it
is spoken of as another thing. After
according
to
the
Lord’s
declaration,
the
Body
is at present
provides
spiritual
in-Saint
hope;
fruit.
Augustine
butSoa ifthing
you(354-430),
future
want
toinunderstand
realization.
consecration
it is named blood. And you say Amen,
and
Blood
of Christ;
forapostle
though
sense
suggests
Thebody
the
sacrament
of Christ,
Confessions
of this
listen
thing,
to7.10
the
namely,
of telling
the
of What your mouth expresses let your
that
is,
itunity
is the
true.
this
thee,oflet
faith
the bodyYou,
faithful,
andto
blood
though,
are
Christ,
the stablish
body
is prepared
of thee.
Christ
onJudge
the
and
Lord’s
itsnot
inner
mind
confess—feel
what you say.
the
matter
from
taste,
but
from
faith
be
fully
table in some
members
(1 Corinthians
places daily,
12:27).
in some
So places
if
it's you
at
certain
that are
-Saint
Ambrose
(339-397), On the Mysteries 9.54
without
thou
been
intervals
the
bodyassured
of days,
Christ
and
andfrom
itsmisgiving,
members,
the Lord’sthat
it's
table
the
itmystery
ishast
taken,
the
Body
and Blood
of
Christ.
by some vouchsafed
meaning
to
you
life,
that
byhas
some
been
to destruction:
placed
on thebut
Lord's
the thing
table;
-Saint
Cyril
of Jersulem
(315-386),
Mystagogical
itself, you
what
of which
receive
it is the
sacrament,
mystery that
is means
for every
you.
man
It istoto
Catechesis
4.3,6
life, for
what
you
no
are
man
that
to you
destruction,
reply Amen,
whosoever
and by shall
so replying
have
beenexpress
you
a shareryour
in it.assent. What you hear, you see, is the
-SaintofAugustine
body
Christ, and
(354-430),
you answer,
Tractates
Amen.
onSothe
beGospel
a member
of
of the26.6.42-59
John
body of Christ, in order to make that Amen true.
-Saint Augustine (354-430), Sermon 272

Let faith stablish thee...

I, Berengar, believe in the heart
and confess by mouth, that the
bread and wine, which are placed But because it was fitting for him to penetrate the
heavens
according
to the flesh, in order that those
onThe
the substance
altar, through
the mystery
of bread
does notUnder
change
into
the
I,the
Berengar,...anathematize
veil of
the corporeal
bread
all heresy,
and
the
especially
reborn
in
him
might
more
confidently
seek
him
of sacrament
the holy prayer
theofwords
of theand
body
the Lord...[bread
and theattempts
corporeal
that...which
wine,
spiritual
to
body
restrict
and
the
the
bread
and
there,
he
left
to
us
this
sacrament,
the
visible
of wine]
our Redeemer,
aretrue
converted
are not the
body, norspiritual
the true
blood,
the
blood
wine
which
exists. of
are
Not
placed
as though
on
the
there
altar,
are
to be
figure
and
character
flesh
and
blood,
in
order
substantially
into
the
true
and
but a figure or likeness...
two
things
after consecration,
distinguished
only
among
the
themselves:
sacrament
and not
that
through
faith
to
grasp
the
invisible
and
proper
and vivifying
and Epistola
-Berengar
of Toursflesh
(d.1088),
ad Ascelinum
body
and
the
true
spirit.
body
Rather
and there
bloodperceived
isofone
ourand
Lord
the
Jesus
Christ
spiritual.
What
is eternally
here
is the
blood of Jesus Christ. After the same thing.
which
are
According
sensually
to
touched
one
way,
orbread
broken
andor
torn
figure
or
character,
but
it
is
the
whole
truth
and
consecration they are the true wine;apart
according
by the
toteeth
another
of the
way
faithful.
body
and and
not
its
shadow
that
is
internally
perceived;
body of Christ [esse verum
blood
of Christ.
For
according
to what
they
-Berenagar
of Tours,
of
Rome
through
this is opened
up Council
the very
truth
andof 1059
Christi corpus]. Which was born are
corporeally,
they arevery
creatures;
but
sacrament
of
[Christ’s]
flesh.
It is indeed the
of the Virgin, and which hung onaccording to what they have been made
true flesh of Christ which was crucified and
the cross...and the true blood of spiritually,
they
are
mysteries
of the
body
and
We
receive
in
the
bread
that
buried,
it
is
truly
the
sacrament
of
that
flesh
Christ [verum sanguinem Christi]blood of Christ.
which
the cross.
which, through the priest on the altar, is divinely
whichhung
was on
poured
forth from his -Ratramnus
De Corpore
sanguine
-Paschasius
Radbertus (d.851
consecrated(d.868),
by the Holy
Spirit inetthe
words of
side...
Domini
16
or-Berengar
860), Epistola
ad Council of
Christ. Hence, it is the Lord who cries out This is
of Tours,
Frudegardum
my body.
Rome of 1079
-Paschasius Radbertus (d.851 or 860), De Corpore
et sanguine Domini 4

A Controversy!

Changes in thinking...
Aristotle’s
Theory of Forms
Plato’s Theory
of Ideas

5. Idea (Form)

Form resides in Matter
4. Opinion
3. Image
2. Definition
1. Name

Changes in language...

Corpus mysticum

Corpus verum

meaning the consecrated
bread and wine
meaning the Church

…the term corpus verum ceased, roughly after the mid twelfth century, to be
applied to the Church, and was transferred to the body of Christ in the
...atconsecration
thethe
beginning
they
received
sacrament
After
the
they
are
the truethe
body
of Christ
[ esse
Eucharist.
Inversely,
term corpus
mysticum
migrated
fromofthe
Eucharist
the
Body
of
Christ
[
sacramentum
corporis
Christi
]
verum Christi corpus]...this
andtransformation,
the true blood of
Christ
[verum
to the Church…Accompanying
was
a change
in the
theChristi
true
Body
of Christ
[verum
corpus
sanguinem
] which
was body
poured
from
his side...
relation of
bothinbodies
to the
historical
of forth
Christ.
Earlier,
the sacramental
Christi
]...
-Berengar
Tours,
of Rome
1079
and eccesial
bodies of
stood
nearCouncil
each other,
and of
both
represented the historical
-Saint
(354-430),
God 21.25 bodies began to
body. But in the
newAugustine
scheme, the
historicalCity
andof
sacramental
stand near each other as alien sources of authority over against the Church…
–John Milbank (1952-), Being Reconciled , p. 123

1. Consubstantation

essentia: matter and

proprietates: visible properties

form (invisible)
2. Annihilation
Substance

SubstantiaAccidents

We believe...the earthly substances...are converted
into the essences of the Lord’s3.
body.
Their outward
Transubstantiation
appearances and certain other qualities remain
unchanged, so that those who receive them are not
shocked by the naked flesh and blood, and so that
believers may receive the greater rewards of faith.
-Lafranc of Bec (1010-1089), Decorpore et sanguine
Domini adversus Berengarium turonensem 18

Wrestling the mystery

Settling the question...
I answer that, Some have held that the substance of the bread and wine remains in
this sacrament after the consecration. But this opinion cannot stand: first of all,
answer
, Thethe
presence
Christ's
true body
and blood
this it
because byI such
an that
opinion
truth ofofthis
sacrament
is destroyed,
toin
which
sacrament
cannot
be exists
detected
by sense,
nor understanding,
but by
belongs that
Christ's
true
body
in
this
sacrament;
which
indeed
was
Hisalone,
body which
and blood
are
truly
contained
in theHence,
sacrament
of not there
faith
rests
upon
Divine
authority.
on
Luke
before the consecration...And
consequently
it remains
thatthe
Christ's
body
cannot begin
the
altar
under
the
forms
of
bread
and
wine,
bread
and
is My body
which
shall be
up for
Cyril
to be anew22:19:
inwine
this"This
sacrament
except
by change
of delivered
the substance
of you,"
bread
into itself.
having
been
changed
in
substance,
by
God's
power,
into
says:
"Doubt
not
whether
this
be
true;
but
take
rather
the
But what is changed
into
another
thing,
noorder
longer
remains
after
such change.
Hence
his
body
and
blood,
so
that
in
to
achieve
this
mystery
of
Saviour’s
words
with
faith;
for
since
He is the Truth,
He liethof
not."
the conclusion
is that,
saving
the
truth
ofwhat
this he
sacrament,
the
substance
the bread
unity
we
receive
from
God
received
from
us.
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae, 3.75.1
cannot remain
after
the
consecration.
-Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Canon 1
-Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae 3.75.2

This sacrament has a threefold significance. one with regard to the past, inasmuch as it
lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to
is commemorative
of our Lord'sifPassion,
which
was a true sacrifice, as stated above
It may
a man
did
not
bring
hostsbe
to understood…that
sing mass with, should
on a time
be houseled
(Q[48],
and
in this
respect
it isshould
called
a "Sacrifice." With regard to the present it
toA[3]),
communion
during
epidemics
or on
andgo
communed,
and when
S. Gregory
give to her
has
another
meaning,
namely,
that of
Ecclesiastical
unity, in which men are aggregated
the feast-days
holy
sacrament
saying:
Corpus
domini
nostri, etc.,
thereinmust
be something
wrong
through
this
Sacrament;
and
in this
respect
is called
thatwith
is to him;
say: The
our
Lord
Jesu
Christ
thee "Communion" or {Synaxis}. For
or asbody
a setofof
variations
on
the itkeep
Damascene
(De
Fide
Orth
. iv) that
"it to
is called
Communion because we
intoidea
everlasting
life,
anon
this
woman
began
smile tofore
thatsays
while
you
were
present
at mass
communicate
through
both and
because
we partake of His flesh and
S. Gregory,
anon
he
withdrew
hisit,in
hand,
remised
you did and
notwith
growChrist
older.
Carried
Godhead,
andupon
because
communicate
united to one another through
the procession
sacrament
the we
altar.
Andor
heindemanded
her, are
tofore
at
Corpus
Christi
thewith
face and
it."
With
regard
to the
future
hassaid:
a third
meaning,
inasmuch as this sacrament
the of
people,
why she
smiled,
anditshe
Because
that the
emergent
dangers
of riot
and
fire,
foreshadows
thethe
Divine
fruition,
shallthou
come
to pass in heaven; and according to
bread
that I have
made
with
my proper
hands
namest
received
by
dying,
seen
at which
the elevation
it
theitbody
of our
Lord Jesu Christ.
Anon
S. Gregory
put
this
is called
"Viaticum,"
because
it supplies
in the
mass…the
salutiferous
effects
of the the way of winning thither. And in this
himself
to is
prayer
with the
for to pray
God
that
respect
also
called
thepeople,
"Eucharist,"
that to
is,of
"good
grace," because "the grace of God
Hostitseem
mostly
instances
of the dogma
hereupon
he would(Rom.
show his
grace
to confirm
ourcontains Christ, Who is "full of
is life
everlasting"
6:23);
orbyfor
because
it really
salvation
by
charity,
healing
wholeness.
belief,
and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory
grace."
-John
Bossy,
Christianity
in of
thea piece
West:of1400saw
the
holy
sacrament
in
figure
flesh
as great 3.73.4
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas
(1225-1274),
Summa
Theologiae
1700 , p. 74
as the little finger of an hand, and anon after, by the
prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned
into semblance of bread as it had been tofore, and
therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the
faith.
-The Golden Legend, 3.27 (1260)

But still Dynamic!
But also Superstitious!


Slide 6

Not Common Bread:
The Eucharist in the Early Church

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
They even absent themselves from the
cities or in the country gather together to one
Eucharist
and
I will
dothe
thispublic
if theprayers,
Lord reveals to me
place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or certainly
the
because
will not
admit
that
the by name,
you
arethey
all, man
by man
and
name
writings
of theisprophets
are read,
asthat
long
as time
The Eucharist
not common
bread
or
common
Eucharist
is the self-same body our
attending
permits;
then,
when
reader
hasthe
ceased,
theyour meetings in a state of grace united
drink…we
have
beenthe
taught
that
food which
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
which suffered
for now to
in
faith
Jesus
Christ...and
ready
president
verbally
instructs,
and through
exhorts
Assemble
to
the
oninthe
Lord’s
Day, andare
break
receives the
eucharistic
blessing
hisand
words
our
sins,bishop
and which
the Father
in His
obey
your
and
clergy
with
imitation
theseby
good
Then
bread
we all
and
rise
offer the
Eucharist;
but undivided
first
of prayer, of
which
waythings.
of nourishment
is
goodness
raised
up again. breaking
and
toafterwards
share
the
one common
together
and pray,
and, as
before
make
said,
confession
when
of in
your
faults,
so that
changed into
our blood
andweflesh,
isminds
the
flesh
and
Consequently,
since
they
reject
God’sand the
bread—the
medicine
of immortality,
our
prayer
ended, bread
and wineof
your
and
sacrifice
water may
be a pure
one.
blood
of theisincarnate
Jesus.
good gifts,
they arewhich
doomed in
theirdeath and
sovereign
remedy
escape
are
brought,
the (100-165),
president in
like
Anyone
manner
who
differencewe
with
his
-Saint
Justin and
Martyr
First
Apology
66 has aby
disputatiousness.
They
would
have
live
in is
Jesus
evermore.
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according
fellow
to
notChrist
to takefor
part
with you until
done
better of
to Antioch
learn charity,
if they to the
-Saint
Ignatius
his ability, and the people assent, saying
they have
Amen;
been reconciled,(d.107),
so as to Letter
avoid
were
ever
to
know
resurrection.
Ephesians
20
and there is a distribution to each, and
any aprofanation
of your sacrifice.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d.107),
participation of that over which thanks
-Thehave
Didache (1st/2nd c.), 14
Letter to the Smynaeans 7
been given, and to those who are absent a
portion is sent by the deacons.
-Saint Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology 67

True Body in True Bread:
The Patristic Witness

So what
For
bothyou
he that
can does
see, then,
not take
is bread
it hasand
no alife,
cup;
and
that's
he
that does
what
eventake
your
it eyes
has life,
tell and
you;that
but indeed
as for what
eternal
your
life.
faith
thebeof
bread, which is produced from the
And to
asks
thus
be He
instructed
would have
about,
this
thefood
bread
andisFor
drink
theas
body
to
Therefore
withthe
fullest
assurance
let
partake
earth,
when
it receives the invocation of God, is
understood
Christ,
the
cup
as meaning
the blood
offellowship
Christ.
It took
of
His
nous
own
time
to
asmembers,
of the
Body
and
of
Christ...For
thus
no
common
bread, but the Eucharist,
body
say
that
andindeed,
and
which
that,
perhaps,
isBlood
the holy
may
Church
be longer
enough
in its
for
we
come
tothe
bear
Christ
incalled,
us, because
HisofBody
consisting
saints but
faith;
who
faith
were
Idesires
am
predestined,
instruction...How
food
ofand
the
fully
can
and bread
justified,
betwo realities, earthly and
and
Blood
aregrow
diffused
through
our
members;
heavenly;
so
also our
bodies,
when they
andbody?
his
glorified
And
ingrown;
the
its cup,
saints
orand
what
and
believers.
the
youOur
cup
will
Of
contains,
feed
these,
how
Lord
Jesusthe
Christ
Himself
proclaims
thisreceive
is my
thus
iton
is me.
that,
according
toBody.
blessed
Peter,
wesacred
theBefore
Eucharist,
are nowords
longerofcorruptible,
having
firstitisbe
can
already
his blood?”
effected,
The
And
namely,
reason
you will
these
predestination;
not
things,
brothers
the
the
blessing another
become
partakers
of vocation
the
divine
hope
of
resurrection
to eternity.
second
and
sisters,
and
are
third,
change
called
thatsacraments
me
is, the
into
youis
like
thatand
the
in is
them
onethe
species
named,
after
consecration
the Body is
nature
...Contemplate
therefore
the
Bread
and
-Saint
Irenaeus
Lyons of
(d.202),
Against
justification,
thing
is seen,have
another
foodtaken
your
is to
place,
flesh
be understood.
eats,
are taking
but
you
place,
What
and
can beofspeaks
implied.
He
Himself
His blood.
Before
Wine
not
as
bare what
elements,
forunderstood
they4.18.5
are,
will take
seen
has the
aplace;
bodily
will
but
appearance,
be
thechanged
fourth,
into
namely,
me.
is toHeresies
the
be
glorifying,
consecration,
it
is spoken of as another thing. After
according
to
the
Lord’s
declaration,
the
Body
is at present
provides
spiritual
in-Saint
hope;
fruit.
Augustine
butSoa ifthing
you(354-430),
future
want
toinunderstand
realization.
consecration
it is named blood. And you say Amen,
and
Blood
of Christ;
forapostle
though
sense
suggests
Thebody
the
sacrament
of Christ,
Confessions
of this
listen
thing,
to7.10
the
namely,
of telling
the
of What your mouth expresses let your
that
is,
itunity
is the
true.
this
thee,oflet
faith
the bodyYou,
faithful,
andto
blood
though,
are
Christ,
the stablish
body
is prepared
of thee.
Christ
onJudge
the
and
Lord’s
itsnot
inner
mind
confess—feel
what you say.
the
matter
from
taste,
but
from
faith
be
fully
table in some
members
(1 Corinthians
places daily,
12:27).
in some
So places
if
it's you
at
certain
that are
-Saint
Ambrose
(339-397), On the Mysteries 9.54
without
thou
been
intervals
the
bodyassured
of days,
Christ
and
andfrom
itsmisgiving,
members,
the Lord’sthat
it's
table
the
itmystery
ishast
taken,
the
Body
and Blood
of
Christ.
by some vouchsafed
meaning
to
you
life,
that
byhas
some
been
to destruction:
placed
on thebut
Lord's
the thing
table;
-Saint
Cyril
of Jersulem
(315-386),
Mystagogical
itself, you
what
of which
receive
it is the
sacrament,
mystery that
is means
for every
you.
man
It istoto
Catechesis
4.3,6
life, for
what
you
no
are
man
that
to you
destruction,
reply Amen,
whosoever
and by shall
so replying
have
beenexpress
you
a shareryour
in it.assent. What you hear, you see, is the
-SaintofAugustine
body
Christ, and
(354-430),
you answer,
Tractates
Amen.
onSothe
beGospel
a member
of
of the26.6.42-59
John
body of Christ, in order to make that Amen true.
-Saint Augustine (354-430), Sermon 272

Let faith stablish thee...

I, Berengar, believe in the heart
and confess by mouth, that the
bread and wine, which are placed But because it was fitting for him to penetrate the
heavens
according
to the flesh, in order that those
onThe
the substance
altar, through
the mystery
of bread
does notUnder
change
into
the
I,the
Berengar,...anathematize
veil of
the corporeal
bread
all heresy,
and
the
especially
reborn
in
him
might
more
confidently
seek
him
of sacrament
the holy prayer
theofwords
of theand
body
the Lord...[bread
and theattempts
corporeal
that...which
wine,
spiritual
to
body
restrict
and
the
the
bread
and
there,
he
left
to
us
this
sacrament,
the
visible
of wine]
our Redeemer,
aretrue
converted
are not the
body, norspiritual
the true
blood,
the
blood
wine
which
exists. of
are
Not
placed
as though
on
the
there
altar,
are
to be
figure
and
character
flesh
and
blood,
in
order
substantially
into
the
true
and
but a figure or likeness...
two
things
after consecration,
distinguished
only
among
the
themselves:
sacrament
and not
that
through
faith
to
grasp
the
invisible
and
proper
and vivifying
and Epistola
-Berengar
of Toursflesh
(d.1088),
ad Ascelinum
body
and
the
true
spirit.
body
Rather
and there
bloodperceived
isofone
ourand
Lord
the
Jesus
Christ
spiritual.
What
is eternally
here
is the
blood of Jesus Christ. After the same thing.
which
are
According
sensually
to
touched
one
way,
orbread
broken
andor
torn
figure
or
character,
but
it
is
the
whole
truth
and
consecration they are the true wine;apart
according
by the
toteeth
another
of the
way
faithful.
body
and and
not
its
shadow
that
is
internally
perceived;
body of Christ [esse verum
blood
of Christ.
For
according
to what
they
-Berenagar
of Tours,
of
Rome
through
this is opened
up Council
the very
truth
andof 1059
Christi corpus]. Which was born are
corporeally,
they arevery
creatures;
but
sacrament
of
[Christ’s]
flesh.
It is indeed the
of the Virgin, and which hung onaccording to what they have been made
true flesh of Christ which was crucified and
the cross...and the true blood of spiritually,
they
are
mysteries
of the
body
and
We
receive
in
the
bread
that
buried,
it
is
truly
the
sacrament
of
that
flesh
Christ [verum sanguinem Christi]blood of Christ.
which
the cross.
which, through the priest on the altar, is divinely
whichhung
was on
poured
forth from his -Ratramnus
De Corpore
sanguine
-Paschasius
Radbertus (d.851
consecrated(d.868),
by the Holy
Spirit inetthe
words of
side...
Domini
16
or-Berengar
860), Epistola
ad Council of
Christ. Hence, it is the Lord who cries out This is
of Tours,
Frudegardum
my body.
Rome of 1079
-Paschasius Radbertus (d.851 or 860), De Corpore
et sanguine Domini 4

A Controversy!

Changes in thinking...
Aristotle’s
Theory of Forms
Plato’s Theory
of Ideas

5. Idea (Form)

Form resides in Matter
4. Opinion
3. Image
2. Definition
1. Name

Changes in language...

Corpus mysticum

Corpus verum

meaning the consecrated
bread and wine
meaning the Church

…the term corpus verum ceased, roughly after the mid twelfth century, to be
applied to the Church, and was transferred to the body of Christ in the
...atconsecration
thethe
beginning
they
received
sacrament
After
the
they
are
the truethe
body
of Christ
[ esse
Eucharist.
Inversely,
term corpus
mysticum
migrated
fromofthe
Eucharist
the
Body
of
Christ
[
sacramentum
corporis
Christi
]
verum Christi corpus]...this
andtransformation,
the true blood of
Christ
[verum
to the Church…Accompanying
was
a change
in the
theChristi
true
Body
of Christ
[verum
corpus
sanguinem
] which
was body
poured
from
his side...
relation of
bothinbodies
to the
historical
of forth
Christ.
Earlier,
the sacramental
Christi
]...
-Berengar
Tours,
of Rome
1079
and eccesial
bodies of
stood
nearCouncil
each other,
and of
both
represented the historical
-Saint
(354-430),
God 21.25 bodies began to
body. But in the
newAugustine
scheme, the
historicalCity
andof
sacramental
stand near each other as alien sources of authority over against the Church…
–John Milbank (1952-), Being Reconciled , p. 123

1. Consubstantation

essentia: matter and

proprietates: visible properties

form (invisible)
2. Annihilation
Substance

SubstantiaAccidents

We believe...the earthly substances...are converted
into the essences of the Lord’s3.
body.
Their outward
Transubstantiation
appearances and certain other qualities remain
unchanged, so that those who receive them are not
shocked by the naked flesh and blood, and so that
believers may receive the greater rewards of faith.
-Lafranc of Bec (1010-1089), Decorpore et sanguine
Domini adversus Berengarium turonensem 18

Wrestling the mystery

Settling the question...
I answer that, Some have held that the substance of the bread and wine remains in
this sacrament after the consecration. But this opinion cannot stand: first of all,
answer
, Thethe
presence
Christ's
true body
and blood
this it
because byI such
an that
opinion
truth ofofthis
sacrament
is destroyed,
toin
which
sacrament
cannot
be exists
detected
by sense,
nor understanding,
but by
belongs that
Christ's
true
body
in
this
sacrament;
which
indeed
was
Hisalone,
body which
and blood
are
truly
contained
in theHence,
sacrament
of not there
faith
rests
upon
Divine
authority.
on
Luke
before the consecration...And
consequently
it remains
thatthe
Christ's
body
cannot begin
the
altar
under
the
forms
of
bread
and
wine,
bread
and
is My body
which
shall be
up for
Cyril
to be anew22:19:
inwine
this"This
sacrament
except
by change
of delivered
the substance
of you,"
bread
into itself.
having
been
changed
in
substance,
by
God's
power,
into
says:
"Doubt
not
whether
this
be
true;
but
take
rather
the
But what is changed
into
another
thing,
noorder
longer
remains
after
such change.
Hence
his
body
and
blood,
so
that
in
to
achieve
this
mystery
of
Saviour’s
words
with
faith;
for
since
He is the Truth,
He liethof
not."
the conclusion
is that,
saving
the
truth
ofwhat
this he
sacrament,
the
substance
the bread
unity
we
receive
from
God
received
from
us.
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae, 3.75.1
cannot remain
after
the
consecration.
-Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Canon 1
-Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae 3.75.2

This sacrament has a threefold significance. one with regard to the past, inasmuch as it
lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to
is commemorative
of our Lord'sifPassion,
which
was a true sacrifice, as stated above
It may
a man
did
not
bring
hostsbe
to understood…that
sing mass with, should
on a time
be houseled
(Q[48],
and
in this
respect
it isshould
called
a "Sacrifice." With regard to the present it
toA[3]),
communion
during
epidemics
or on
andgo
communed,
and when
S. Gregory
give to her
has
another
meaning,
namely,
that of
Ecclesiastical
unity, in which men are aggregated
the feast-days
holy
sacrament
saying:
Corpus
domini
nostri, etc.,
thereinmust
be something
wrong
through
this
Sacrament;
and
in this
respect
is called
thatwith
is to him;
say: The
our
Lord
Jesu
Christ
thee "Communion" or {Synaxis}. For
or asbody
a setofof
variations
on
the itkeep
Damascene
(De
Fide
Orth
. iv) that
"it to
is called
Communion because we
intoidea
everlasting
life,
anon
this
woman
began
smile tofore
thatsays
while
you
were
present
at mass
communicate
through
both and
because
we partake of His flesh and
S. Gregory,
anon
he
withdrew
hisit,in
hand,
remised
you did and
notwith
growChrist
older.
Carried
Godhead,
andupon
because
communicate
united to one another through
the procession
sacrament
the we
altar.
Andor
heindemanded
her, are
tofore
at
Corpus
Christi
thewith
face and
it."
With
regard
to the
future
hassaid:
a third
meaning,
inasmuch as this sacrament
the of
people,
why she
smiled,
anditshe
Because
that the
emergent
dangers
of riot
and
fire,
foreshadows
thethe
Divine
fruition,
shallthou
come
to pass in heaven; and according to
bread
that I have
made
with
my proper
hands
namest
received
by
dying,
seen
at which
the elevation
it
theitbody
of our
Lord Jesu Christ.
Anon
S. Gregory
put
this
is called
"Viaticum,"
because
it supplies
in the
mass…the
salutiferous
effects
of the the way of winning thither. And in this
himself
to is
prayer
with the
for to pray
God
that
respect
also
called
thepeople,
"Eucharist,"
that to
is,of
"good
grace," because "the grace of God
Hostitseem
mostly
instances
of the dogma
hereupon
he would(Rom.
show his
grace
to confirm
ourcontains Christ, Who is "full of
is life
everlasting"
6:23);
orbyfor
because
it really
salvation
by
charity,
healing
wholeness.
belief,
and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory
grace."
-John
Bossy,
Christianity
in of
thea piece
West:of1400saw
the
holy
sacrament
in
figure
flesh
as great 3.73.4
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas
(1225-1274),
Summa
Theologiae
1700 , p. 74
as the little finger of an hand, and anon after, by the
prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned
into semblance of bread as it had been tofore, and
therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the
faith.
-The Golden Legend, 3.27 (1260)

But still Dynamic!
But also Superstitious!


Slide 7

Not Common Bread:
The Eucharist in the Early Church

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
They even absent themselves from the
cities or in the country gather together to one
Eucharist
and
I will
dothe
thispublic
if theprayers,
Lord reveals to me
place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or certainly
the
because
will not
admit
that
the by name,
you
arethey
all, man
by man
and
name
writings
of theisprophets
are read,
asthat
long
as time
The Eucharist
not common
bread
or
common
Eucharist
is the self-same body our
attending
permits;
then,
when
reader
hasthe
ceased,
theyour meetings in a state of grace united
drink…we
have
beenthe
taught
that
food which
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
which suffered
for now to
in
faith
Jesus
Christ...and
ready
president
verbally
instructs,
and through
exhorts
Assemble
to
the
oninthe
Lord’s
Day, andare
break
receives the
eucharistic
blessing
hisand
words
our
sins,bishop
and which
the Father
in His
obey
your
and
clergy
with
imitation
theseby
good
Then
bread
we all
and
rise
offer the
Eucharist;
but undivided
first
of prayer, of
which
waythings.
of nourishment
is
goodness
raised
up again. breaking
and
toafterwards
share
the
one common
together
and pray,
and, as
before
make
said,
confession
when
of in
your
faults,
so that
changed into
our blood
andweflesh,
isminds
the
flesh
and
Consequently,
since
they
reject
God’sand the
bread—the
medicine
of immortality,
our
prayer
ended, bread
and wineof
your
and
sacrifice
water may
be a pure
one.
blood
of theisincarnate
Jesus.
good gifts,
they arewhich
doomed in
theirdeath and
sovereign
remedy
escape
are
brought,
the (100-165),
president in
like
Anyone
manner
who
differencewe
with
his
-Saint
Justin and
Martyr
First
Apology
66 has aby
disputatiousness.
They
would
have
live
in is
Jesus
evermore.
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according
fellow
to
notChrist
to takefor
part
with you until
done
better of
to Antioch
learn charity,
if they to the
-Saint
Ignatius
his ability, and the people assent, saying
they have
Amen;
been reconciled,(d.107),
so as to Letter
avoid
were
ever
to
know
resurrection.
Ephesians
20
and there is a distribution to each, and
any aprofanation
of your sacrifice.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d.107),
participation of that over which thanks
-Thehave
Didache (1st/2nd c.), 14
Letter to the Smynaeans 7
been given, and to those who are absent a
portion is sent by the deacons.
-Saint Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology 67

True Body in True Bread:
The Patristic Witness

So what
For
bothyou
he that
can does
see, then,
not take
is bread
it hasand
no alife,
cup;
and
that's
he
that does
what
eventake
your
it eyes
has life,
tell and
you;that
but indeed
as for what
eternal
your
life.
faith
thebeof
bread, which is produced from the
And to
asks
thus
be He
instructed
would have
about,
this
thefood
bread
andisFor
drink
theas
body
to
Therefore
withthe
fullest
assurance
let
partake
earth,
when
it receives the invocation of God, is
understood
Christ,
the
cup
as meaning
the blood
offellowship
Christ.
It took
of
His
nous
own
time
to
asmembers,
of the
Body
and
of
Christ...For
thus
no
common
bread, but the Eucharist,
body
say
that
andindeed,
and
which
that,
perhaps,
isBlood
the holy
may
Church
be longer
enough
in its
for
we
come
tothe
bear
Christ
incalled,
us, because
HisofBody
consisting
saints but
faith;
who
faith
were
Idesires
am
predestined,
instruction...How
food
ofand
the
fully
can
and bread
justified,
betwo realities, earthly and
and
Blood
aregrow
diffused
through
our
members;
heavenly;
so
also our
bodies,
when they
andbody?
his
glorified
And
ingrown;
the
its cup,
saints
orand
what
and
believers.
the
youOur
cup
will
Of
contains,
feed
these,
how
Lord
Jesusthe
Christ
Himself
proclaims
thisreceive
is my
thus
iton
is me.
that,
according
toBody.
blessed
Peter,
wesacred
theBefore
Eucharist,
are nowords
longerofcorruptible,
having
firstitisbe
can
already
his blood?”
effected,
The
And
namely,
reason
you will
these
predestination;
not
things,
brothers
the
the
blessing another
become
partakers
of vocation
the
divine
hope
of
resurrection
to eternity.
second
and
sisters,
and
are
third,
change
called
thatsacraments
me
is, the
into
youis
like
thatand
the
in is
them
onethe
species
named,
after
consecration
the Body is
nature
...Contemplate
therefore
the
Bread
and
-Saint
Irenaeus
Lyons of
(d.202),
Against
justification,
thing
is seen,have
another
foodtaken
your
is to
place,
flesh
be understood.
eats,
are taking
but
you
place,
What
and
can beofspeaks
implied.
He
Himself
His blood.
Before
Wine
not
as
bare what
elements,
forunderstood
they4.18.5
are,
will take
seen
has the
aplace;
bodily
will
but
appearance,
be
thechanged
fourth,
into
namely,
me.
is toHeresies
the
be
glorifying,
consecration,
it
is spoken of as another thing. After
according
to
the
Lord’s
declaration,
the
Body
is at present
provides
spiritual
in-Saint
hope;
fruit.
Augustine
butSoa ifthing
you(354-430),
future
want
toinunderstand
realization.
consecration
it is named blood. And you say Amen,
and
Blood
of Christ;
forapostle
though
sense
suggests
Thebody
the
sacrament
of Christ,
Confessions
of this
listen
thing,
to7.10
the
namely,
of telling
the
of What your mouth expresses let your
that
is,
itunity
is the
true.
this
thee,oflet
faith
the bodyYou,
faithful,
andto
blood
though,
are
Christ,
the stablish
body
is prepared
of thee.
Christ
onJudge
the
and
Lord’s
itsnot
inner
mind
confess—feel
what you say.
the
matter
from
taste,
but
from
faith
be
fully
table in some
members
(1 Corinthians
places daily,
12:27).
in some
So places
if
it's you
at
certain
that are
-Saint
Ambrose
(339-397), On the Mysteries 9.54
without
thou
been
intervals
the
bodyassured
of days,
Christ
and
andfrom
itsmisgiving,
members,
the Lord’sthat
it's
table
the
itmystery
ishast
taken,
the
Body
and Blood
of
Christ.
by some vouchsafed
meaning
to
you
life,
that
byhas
some
been
to destruction:
placed
on thebut
Lord's
the thing
table;
-Saint
Cyril
of Jersulem
(315-386),
Mystagogical
itself, you
what
of which
receive
it is the
sacrament,
mystery that
is means
for every
you.
man
It istoto
Catechesis
4.3,6
life, for
what
you
no
are
man
that
to you
destruction,
reply Amen,
whosoever
and by shall
so replying
have
beenexpress
you
a shareryour
in it.assent. What you hear, you see, is the
-SaintofAugustine
body
Christ, and
(354-430),
you answer,
Tractates
Amen.
onSothe
beGospel
a member
of
of the26.6.42-59
John
body of Christ, in order to make that Amen true.
-Saint Augustine (354-430), Sermon 272

Let faith stablish thee...

I, Berengar, believe in the heart
and confess by mouth, that the
bread and wine, which are placed But because it was fitting for him to penetrate the
heavens
according
to the flesh, in order that those
onThe
the substance
altar, through
the mystery
of bread
does notUnder
change
into
the
I,the
Berengar,...anathematize
veil of
the corporeal
bread
all heresy,
and
the
especially
reborn
in
him
might
more
confidently
seek
him
of sacrament
the holy prayer
theofwords
of theand
body
the Lord...[bread
and theattempts
corporeal
that...which
wine,
spiritual
to
body
restrict
and
the
the
bread
and
there,
he
left
to
us
this
sacrament,
the
visible
of wine]
our Redeemer,
aretrue
converted
are not the
body, norspiritual
the true
blood,
the
blood
wine
which
exists. of
are
Not
placed
as though
on
the
there
altar,
are
to be
figure
and
character
flesh
and
blood,
in
order
substantially
into
the
true
and
but a figure or likeness...
two
things
after consecration,
distinguished
only
among
the
themselves:
sacrament
and not
that
through
faith
to
grasp
the
invisible
and
proper
and vivifying
and Epistola
-Berengar
of Toursflesh
(d.1088),
ad Ascelinum
body
and
the
true
spirit.
body
Rather
and there
bloodperceived
isofone
ourand
Lord
the
Jesus
Christ
spiritual.
What
is eternally
here
is the
blood of Jesus Christ. After the same thing.
which
are
According
sensually
to
touched
one
way,
orbread
broken
andor
torn
figure
or
character,
but
it
is
the
whole
truth
and
consecration they are the true wine;apart
according
by the
toteeth
another
of the
way
faithful.
body
and and
not
its
shadow
that
is
internally
perceived;
body of Christ [esse verum
blood
of Christ.
For
according
to what
they
-Berenagar
of Tours,
of
Rome
through
this is opened
up Council
the very
truth
andof 1059
Christi corpus]. Which was born are
corporeally,
they arevery
creatures;
but
sacrament
of
[Christ’s]
flesh.
It is indeed the
of the Virgin, and which hung onaccording to what they have been made
true flesh of Christ which was crucified and
the cross...and the true blood of spiritually,
they
are
mysteries
of the
body
and
We
receive
in
the
bread
that
buried,
it
is
truly
the
sacrament
of
that
flesh
Christ [verum sanguinem Christi]blood of Christ.
which
the cross.
which, through the priest on the altar, is divinely
whichhung
was on
poured
forth from his -Ratramnus
De Corpore
sanguine
-Paschasius
Radbertus (d.851
consecrated(d.868),
by the Holy
Spirit inetthe
words of
side...
Domini
16
or-Berengar
860), Epistola
ad Council of
Christ. Hence, it is the Lord who cries out This is
of Tours,
Frudegardum
my body.
Rome of 1079
-Paschasius Radbertus (d.851 or 860), De Corpore
et sanguine Domini 4

A Controversy!

Changes in thinking...
Aristotle’s
Theory of Forms
Plato’s Theory
of Ideas

5. Idea (Form)

Form resides in Matter
4. Opinion
3. Image
2. Definition
1. Name

Changes in language...

Corpus mysticum

Corpus verum

meaning the consecrated
bread and wine
meaning the Church

…the term corpus verum ceased, roughly after the mid twelfth century, to be
applied to the Church, and was transferred to the body of Christ in the
...atconsecration
thethe
beginning
they
received
sacrament
After
the
they
are
the truethe
body
of Christ
[ esse
Eucharist.
Inversely,
term corpus
mysticum
migrated
fromofthe
Eucharist
the
Body
of
Christ
[
sacramentum
corporis
Christi
]
verum Christi corpus]...this
andtransformation,
the true blood of
Christ
[verum
to the Church…Accompanying
was
a change
in the
theChristi
true
Body
of Christ
[verum
corpus
sanguinem
] which
was body
poured
from
his side...
relation of
bothinbodies
to the
historical
of forth
Christ.
Earlier,
the sacramental
Christi
]...
-Berengar
Tours,
of Rome
1079
and eccesial
bodies of
stood
nearCouncil
each other,
and of
both
represented the historical
-Saint
(354-430),
God 21.25 bodies began to
body. But in the
newAugustine
scheme, the
historicalCity
andof
sacramental
stand near each other as alien sources of authority over against the Church…
–John Milbank (1952-), Being Reconciled , p. 123

1. Consubstantation

essentia: matter and

proprietates: visible properties

form (invisible)
2. Annihilation
Substance

SubstantiaAccidents

We believe...the earthly substances...are converted
into the essences of the Lord’s3.
body.
Their outward
Transubstantiation
appearances and certain other qualities remain
unchanged, so that those who receive them are not
shocked by the naked flesh and blood, and so that
believers may receive the greater rewards of faith.
-Lafranc of Bec (1010-1089), Decorpore et sanguine
Domini adversus Berengarium turonensem 18

Wrestling the mystery

Settling the question...
I answer that, Some have held that the substance of the bread and wine remains in
this sacrament after the consecration. But this opinion cannot stand: first of all,
answer
, Thethe
presence
Christ's
true body
and blood
this it
because byI such
an that
opinion
truth ofofthis
sacrament
is destroyed,
toin
which
sacrament
cannot
be exists
detected
by sense,
nor understanding,
but by
belongs that
Christ's
true
body
in
this
sacrament;
which
indeed
was
Hisalone,
body which
and blood
are
truly
contained
in theHence,
sacrament
of not there
faith
rests
upon
Divine
authority.
on
Luke
before the consecration...And
consequently
it remains
thatthe
Christ's
body
cannot begin
the
altar
under
the
forms
of
bread
and
wine,
bread
and
is My body
which
shall be
up for
Cyril
to be anew22:19:
inwine
this"This
sacrament
except
by change
of delivered
the substance
of you,"
bread
into itself.
having
been
changed
in
substance,
by
God's
power,
into
says:
"Doubt
not
whether
this
be
true;
but
take
rather
the
But what is changed
into
another
thing,
noorder
longer
remains
after
such change.
Hence
his
body
and
blood,
so
that
in
to
achieve
this
mystery
of
Saviour’s
words
with
faith;
for
since
He is the Truth,
He liethof
not."
the conclusion
is that,
saving
the
truth
ofwhat
this he
sacrament,
the
substance
the bread
unity
we
receive
from
God
received
from
us.
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae, 3.75.1
cannot remain
after
the
consecration.
-Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Canon 1
-Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae 3.75.2

This sacrament has a threefold significance. one with regard to the past, inasmuch as it
lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to
is commemorative
of our Lord'sifPassion,
which
was a true sacrifice, as stated above
It may
a man
did
not
bring
hostsbe
to understood…that
sing mass with, should
on a time
be houseled
(Q[48],
and
in this
respect
it isshould
called
a "Sacrifice." With regard to the present it
toA[3]),
communion
during
epidemics
or on
andgo
communed,
and when
S. Gregory
give to her
has
another
meaning,
namely,
that of
Ecclesiastical
unity, in which men are aggregated
the feast-days
holy
sacrament
saying:
Corpus
domini
nostri, etc.,
thereinmust
be something
wrong
through
this
Sacrament;
and
in this
respect
is called
thatwith
is to him;
say: The
our
Lord
Jesu
Christ
thee "Communion" or {Synaxis}. For
or asbody
a setofof
variations
on
the itkeep
Damascene
(De
Fide
Orth
. iv) that
"it to
is called
Communion because we
intoidea
everlasting
life,
anon
this
woman
began
smile tofore
thatsays
while
you
were
present
at mass
communicate
through
both and
because
we partake of His flesh and
S. Gregory,
anon
he
withdrew
hisit,in
hand,
remised
you did and
notwith
growChrist
older.
Carried
Godhead,
andupon
because
communicate
united to one another through
the procession
sacrament
the we
altar.
Andor
heindemanded
her, are
tofore
at
Corpus
Christi
thewith
face and
it."
With
regard
to the
future
hassaid:
a third
meaning,
inasmuch as this sacrament
the of
people,
why she
smiled,
anditshe
Because
that the
emergent
dangers
of riot
and
fire,
foreshadows
thethe
Divine
fruition,
shallthou
come
to pass in heaven; and according to
bread
that I have
made
with
my proper
hands
namest
received
by
dying,
seen
at which
the elevation
it
theitbody
of our
Lord Jesu Christ.
Anon
S. Gregory
put
this
is called
"Viaticum,"
because
it supplies
in the
mass…the
salutiferous
effects
of the the way of winning thither. And in this
himself
to is
prayer
with the
for to pray
God
that
respect
also
called
thepeople,
"Eucharist,"
that to
is,of
"good
grace," because "the grace of God
Hostitseem
mostly
instances
of the dogma
hereupon
he would(Rom.
show his
grace
to confirm
ourcontains Christ, Who is "full of
is life
everlasting"
6:23);
orbyfor
because
it really
salvation
by
charity,
healing
wholeness.
belief,
and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory
grace."
-John
Bossy,
Christianity
in of
thea piece
West:of1400saw
the
holy
sacrament
in
figure
flesh
as great 3.73.4
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas
(1225-1274),
Summa
Theologiae
1700 , p. 74
as the little finger of an hand, and anon after, by the
prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned
into semblance of bread as it had been tofore, and
therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the
faith.
-The Golden Legend, 3.27 (1260)

But still Dynamic!
But also Superstitious!


Slide 8

Not Common Bread:
The Eucharist in the Early Church

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
They even absent themselves from the
cities or in the country gather together to one
Eucharist
and
I will
dothe
thispublic
if theprayers,
Lord reveals to me
place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or certainly
the
because
will not
admit
that
the by name,
you
arethey
all, man
by man
and
name
writings
of theisprophets
are read,
asthat
long
as time
The Eucharist
not common
bread
or
common
Eucharist
is the self-same body our
attending
permits;
then,
when
reader
hasthe
ceased,
theyour meetings in a state of grace united
drink…we
have
beenthe
taught
that
food which
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
which suffered
for now to
in
faith
Jesus
Christ...and
ready
president
verbally
instructs,
and through
exhorts
Assemble
to
the
oninthe
Lord’s
Day, andare
break
receives the
eucharistic
blessing
hisand
words
our
sins,bishop
and which
the Father
in His
obey
your
and
clergy
with
imitation
theseby
good
Then
bread
we all
and
rise
offer the
Eucharist;
but undivided
first
of prayer, of
which
waythings.
of nourishment
is
goodness
raised
up again. breaking
and
toafterwards
share
the
one common
together
and pray,
and, as
before
make
said,
confession
when
of in
your
faults,
so that
changed into
our blood
andweflesh,
isminds
the
flesh
and
Consequently,
since
they
reject
God’sand the
bread—the
medicine
of immortality,
our
prayer
ended, bread
and wineof
your
and
sacrifice
water may
be a pure
one.
blood
of theisincarnate
Jesus.
good gifts,
they arewhich
doomed in
theirdeath and
sovereign
remedy
escape
are
brought,
the (100-165),
president in
like
Anyone
manner
who
differencewe
with
his
-Saint
Justin and
Martyr
First
Apology
66 has aby
disputatiousness.
They
would
have
live
in is
Jesus
evermore.
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according
fellow
to
notChrist
to takefor
part
with you until
done
better of
to Antioch
learn charity,
if they to the
-Saint
Ignatius
his ability, and the people assent, saying
they have
Amen;
been reconciled,(d.107),
so as to Letter
avoid
were
ever
to
know
resurrection.
Ephesians
20
and there is a distribution to each, and
any aprofanation
of your sacrifice.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d.107),
participation of that over which thanks
-Thehave
Didache (1st/2nd c.), 14
Letter to the Smynaeans 7
been given, and to those who are absent a
portion is sent by the deacons.
-Saint Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology 67

True Body in True Bread:
The Patristic Witness

So what
For
bothyou
he that
can does
see, then,
not take
is bread
it hasand
no alife,
cup;
and
that's
he
that does
what
eventake
your
it eyes
has life,
tell and
you;that
but indeed
as for what
eternal
your
life.
faith
thebeof
bread, which is produced from the
And to
asks
thus
be He
instructed
would have
about,
this
thefood
bread
andisFor
drink
theas
body
to
Therefore
withthe
fullest
assurance
let
partake
earth,
when
it receives the invocation of God, is
understood
Christ,
the
cup
as meaning
the blood
offellowship
Christ.
It took
of
His
nous
own
time
to
asmembers,
of the
Body
and
of
Christ...For
thus
no
common
bread, but the Eucharist,
body
say
that
andindeed,
and
which
that,
perhaps,
isBlood
the holy
may
Church
be longer
enough
in its
for
we
come
tothe
bear
Christ
incalled,
us, because
HisofBody
consisting
saints but
faith;
who
faith
were
Idesires
am
predestined,
instruction...How
food
ofand
the
fully
can
and bread
justified,
betwo realities, earthly and
and
Blood
aregrow
diffused
through
our
members;
heavenly;
so
also our
bodies,
when they
andbody?
his
glorified
And
ingrown;
the
its cup,
saints
orand
what
and
believers.
the
youOur
cup
will
Of
contains,
feed
these,
how
Lord
Jesusthe
Christ
Himself
proclaims
thisreceive
is my
thus
iton
is me.
that,
according
toBody.
blessed
Peter,
wesacred
theBefore
Eucharist,
are nowords
longerofcorruptible,
having
firstitisbe
can
already
his blood?”
effected,
The
And
namely,
reason
you will
these
predestination;
not
things,
brothers
the
the
blessing another
become
partakers
of vocation
the
divine
hope
of
resurrection
to eternity.
second
and
sisters,
and
are
third,
change
called
thatsacraments
me
is, the
into
youis
like
thatand
the
in is
them
onethe
species
named,
after
consecration
the Body is
nature
...Contemplate
therefore
the
Bread
and
-Saint
Irenaeus
Lyons of
(d.202),
Against
justification,
thing
is seen,have
another
foodtaken
your
is to
place,
flesh
be understood.
eats,
are taking
but
you
place,
What
and
can beofspeaks
implied.
He
Himself
His blood.
Before
Wine
not
as
bare what
elements,
forunderstood
they4.18.5
are,
will take
seen
has the
aplace;
bodily
will
but
appearance,
be
thechanged
fourth,
into
namely,
me.
is toHeresies
the
be
glorifying,
consecration,
it
is spoken of as another thing. After
according
to
the
Lord’s
declaration,
the
Body
is at present
provides
spiritual
in-Saint
hope;
fruit.
Augustine
butSoa ifthing
you(354-430),
future
want
toinunderstand
realization.
consecration
it is named blood. And you say Amen,
and
Blood
of Christ;
forapostle
though
sense
suggests
Thebody
the
sacrament
of Christ,
Confessions
of this
listen
thing,
to7.10
the
namely,
of telling
the
of What your mouth expresses let your
that
is,
itunity
is the
true.
this
thee,oflet
faith
the bodyYou,
faithful,
andto
blood
though,
are
Christ,
the stablish
body
is prepared
of thee.
Christ
onJudge
the
and
Lord’s
itsnot
inner
mind
confess—feel
what you say.
the
matter
from
taste,
but
from
faith
be
fully
table in some
members
(1 Corinthians
places daily,
12:27).
in some
So places
if
it's you
at
certain
that are
-Saint
Ambrose
(339-397), On the Mysteries 9.54
without
thou
been
intervals
the
bodyassured
of days,
Christ
and
andfrom
itsmisgiving,
members,
the Lord’sthat
it's
table
the
itmystery
ishast
taken,
the
Body
and Blood
of
Christ.
by some vouchsafed
meaning
to
you
life,
that
byhas
some
been
to destruction:
placed
on thebut
Lord's
the thing
table;
-Saint
Cyril
of Jersulem
(315-386),
Mystagogical
itself, you
what
of which
receive
it is the
sacrament,
mystery that
is means
for every
you.
man
It istoto
Catechesis
4.3,6
life, for
what
you
no
are
man
that
to you
destruction,
reply Amen,
whosoever
and by shall
so replying
have
beenexpress
you
a shareryour
in it.assent. What you hear, you see, is the
-SaintofAugustine
body
Christ, and
(354-430),
you answer,
Tractates
Amen.
onSothe
beGospel
a member
of
of the26.6.42-59
John
body of Christ, in order to make that Amen true.
-Saint Augustine (354-430), Sermon 272

Let faith stablish thee...

I, Berengar, believe in the heart
and confess by mouth, that the
bread and wine, which are placed But because it was fitting for him to penetrate the
heavens
according
to the flesh, in order that those
onThe
the substance
altar, through
the mystery
of bread
does notUnder
change
into
the
I,the
Berengar,...anathematize
veil of
the corporeal
bread
all heresy,
and
the
especially
reborn
in
him
might
more
confidently
seek
him
of sacrament
the holy prayer
theofwords
of theand
body
the Lord...[bread
and theattempts
corporeal
that...which
wine,
spiritual
to
body
restrict
and
the
the
bread
and
there,
he
left
to
us
this
sacrament,
the
visible
of wine]
our Redeemer,
aretrue
converted
are not the
body, norspiritual
the true
blood,
the
blood
wine
which
exists. of
are
Not
placed
as though
on
the
there
altar,
are
to be
figure
and
character
flesh
and
blood,
in
order
substantially
into
the
true
and
but a figure or likeness...
two
things
after consecration,
distinguished
only
among
the
themselves:
sacrament
and not
that
through
faith
to
grasp
the
invisible
and
proper
and vivifying
and Epistola
-Berengar
of Toursflesh
(d.1088),
ad Ascelinum
body
and
the
true
spirit.
body
Rather
and there
bloodperceived
isofone
ourand
Lord
the
Jesus
Christ
spiritual.
What
is eternally
here
is the
blood of Jesus Christ. After the same thing.
which
are
According
sensually
to
touched
one
way,
orbread
broken
andor
torn
figure
or
character,
but
it
is
the
whole
truth
and
consecration they are the true wine;apart
according
by the
toteeth
another
of the
way
faithful.
body
and and
not
its
shadow
that
is
internally
perceived;
body of Christ [esse verum
blood
of Christ.
For
according
to what
they
-Berenagar
of Tours,
of
Rome
through
this is opened
up Council
the very
truth
andof 1059
Christi corpus]. Which was born are
corporeally,
they arevery
creatures;
but
sacrament
of
[Christ’s]
flesh.
It is indeed the
of the Virgin, and which hung onaccording to what they have been made
true flesh of Christ which was crucified and
the cross...and the true blood of spiritually,
they
are
mysteries
of the
body
and
We
receive
in
the
bread
that
buried,
it
is
truly
the
sacrament
of
that
flesh
Christ [verum sanguinem Christi]blood of Christ.
which
the cross.
which, through the priest on the altar, is divinely
whichhung
was on
poured
forth from his -Ratramnus
De Corpore
sanguine
-Paschasius
Radbertus (d.851
consecrated(d.868),
by the Holy
Spirit inetthe
words of
side...
Domini
16
or-Berengar
860), Epistola
ad Council of
Christ. Hence, it is the Lord who cries out This is
of Tours,
Frudegardum
my body.
Rome of 1079
-Paschasius Radbertus (d.851 or 860), De Corpore
et sanguine Domini 4

A Controversy!

Changes in thinking...
Aristotle’s
Theory of Forms
Plato’s Theory
of Ideas

5. Idea (Form)

Form resides in Matter
4. Opinion
3. Image
2. Definition
1. Name

Changes in language...

Corpus mysticum

Corpus verum

meaning the consecrated
bread and wine
meaning the Church

…the term corpus verum ceased, roughly after the mid twelfth century, to be
applied to the Church, and was transferred to the body of Christ in the
...atconsecration
thethe
beginning
they
received
sacrament
After
the
they
are
the truethe
body
of Christ
[ esse
Eucharist.
Inversely,
term corpus
mysticum
migrated
fromofthe
Eucharist
the
Body
of
Christ
[
sacramentum
corporis
Christi
]
verum Christi corpus]...this
andtransformation,
the true blood of
Christ
[verum
to the Church…Accompanying
was
a change
in the
theChristi
true
Body
of Christ
[verum
corpus
sanguinem
] which
was body
poured
from
his side...
relation of
bothinbodies
to the
historical
of forth
Christ.
Earlier,
the sacramental
Christi
]...
-Berengar
Tours,
of Rome
1079
and eccesial
bodies of
stood
nearCouncil
each other,
and of
both
represented the historical
-Saint
(354-430),
God 21.25 bodies began to
body. But in the
newAugustine
scheme, the
historicalCity
andof
sacramental
stand near each other as alien sources of authority over against the Church…
–John Milbank (1952-), Being Reconciled , p. 123

1. Consubstantation

essentia: matter and

proprietates: visible properties

form (invisible)
2. Annihilation
Substance

SubstantiaAccidents

We believe...the earthly substances...are converted
into the essences of the Lord’s3.
body.
Their outward
Transubstantiation
appearances and certain other qualities remain
unchanged, so that those who receive them are not
shocked by the naked flesh and blood, and so that
believers may receive the greater rewards of faith.
-Lafranc of Bec (1010-1089), Decorpore et sanguine
Domini adversus Berengarium turonensem 18

Wrestling the mystery

Settling the question...
I answer that, Some have held that the substance of the bread and wine remains in
this sacrament after the consecration. But this opinion cannot stand: first of all,
answer
, Thethe
presence
Christ's
true body
and blood
this it
because byI such
an that
opinion
truth ofofthis
sacrament
is destroyed,
toin
which
sacrament
cannot
be exists
detected
by sense,
nor understanding,
but by
belongs that
Christ's
true
body
in
this
sacrament;
which
indeed
was
Hisalone,
body which
and blood
are
truly
contained
in theHence,
sacrament
of not there
faith
rests
upon
Divine
authority.
on
Luke
before the consecration...And
consequently
it remains
thatthe
Christ's
body
cannot begin
the
altar
under
the
forms
of
bread
and
wine,
bread
and
is My body
which
shall be
up for
Cyril
to be anew22:19:
inwine
this"This
sacrament
except
by change
of delivered
the substance
of you,"
bread
into itself.
having
been
changed
in
substance,
by
God's
power,
into
says:
"Doubt
not
whether
this
be
true;
but
take
rather
the
But what is changed
into
another
thing,
noorder
longer
remains
after
such change.
Hence
his
body
and
blood,
so
that
in
to
achieve
this
mystery
of
Saviour’s
words
with
faith;
for
since
He is the Truth,
He liethof
not."
the conclusion
is that,
saving
the
truth
ofwhat
this he
sacrament,
the
substance
the bread
unity
we
receive
from
God
received
from
us.
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae, 3.75.1
cannot remain
after
the
consecration.
-Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Canon 1
-Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae 3.75.2

This sacrament has a threefold significance. one with regard to the past, inasmuch as it
lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to
is commemorative
of our Lord'sifPassion,
which
was a true sacrifice, as stated above
It may
a man
did
not
bring
hostsbe
to understood…that
sing mass with, should
on a time
be houseled
(Q[48],
and
in this
respect
it isshould
called
a "Sacrifice." With regard to the present it
toA[3]),
communion
during
epidemics
or on
andgo
communed,
and when
S. Gregory
give to her
has
another
meaning,
namely,
that of
Ecclesiastical
unity, in which men are aggregated
the feast-days
holy
sacrament
saying:
Corpus
domini
nostri, etc.,
thereinmust
be something
wrong
through
this
Sacrament;
and
in this
respect
is called
thatwith
is to him;
say: The
our
Lord
Jesu
Christ
thee "Communion" or {Synaxis}. For
or asbody
a setofof
variations
on
the itkeep
Damascene
(De
Fide
Orth
. iv) that
"it to
is called
Communion because we
intoidea
everlasting
life,
anon
this
woman
began
smile tofore
thatsays
while
you
were
present
at mass
communicate
through
both and
because
we partake of His flesh and
S. Gregory,
anon
he
withdrew
hisit,in
hand,
remised
you did and
notwith
growChrist
older.
Carried
Godhead,
andupon
because
communicate
united to one another through
the procession
sacrament
the we
altar.
Andor
heindemanded
her, are
tofore
at
Corpus
Christi
thewith
face and
it."
With
regard
to the
future
hassaid:
a third
meaning,
inasmuch as this sacrament
the of
people,
why she
smiled,
anditshe
Because
that the
emergent
dangers
of riot
and
fire,
foreshadows
thethe
Divine
fruition,
shallthou
come
to pass in heaven; and according to
bread
that I have
made
with
my proper
hands
namest
received
by
dying,
seen
at which
the elevation
it
theitbody
of our
Lord Jesu Christ.
Anon
S. Gregory
put
this
is called
"Viaticum,"
because
it supplies
in the
mass…the
salutiferous
effects
of the the way of winning thither. And in this
himself
to is
prayer
with the
for to pray
God
that
respect
also
called
thepeople,
"Eucharist,"
that to
is,of
"good
grace," because "the grace of God
Hostitseem
mostly
instances
of the dogma
hereupon
he would(Rom.
show his
grace
to confirm
ourcontains Christ, Who is "full of
is life
everlasting"
6:23);
orbyfor
because
it really
salvation
by
charity,
healing
wholeness.
belief,
and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory
grace."
-John
Bossy,
Christianity
in of
thea piece
West:of1400saw
the
holy
sacrament
in
figure
flesh
as great 3.73.4
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas
(1225-1274),
Summa
Theologiae
1700 , p. 74
as the little finger of an hand, and anon after, by the
prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned
into semblance of bread as it had been tofore, and
therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the
faith.
-The Golden Legend, 3.27 (1260)

But still Dynamic!
But also Superstitious!


Slide 9

Not Common Bread:
The Eucharist in the Early Church

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
They even absent themselves from the
cities or in the country gather together to one
Eucharist
and
I will
dothe
thispublic
if theprayers,
Lord reveals to me
place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or certainly
the
because
will not
admit
that
the by name,
you
arethey
all, man
by man
and
name
writings
of theisprophets
are read,
asthat
long
as time
The Eucharist
not common
bread
or
common
Eucharist
is the self-same body our
attending
permits;
then,
when
reader
hasthe
ceased,
theyour meetings in a state of grace united
drink…we
have
beenthe
taught
that
food which
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
which suffered
for now to
in
faith
Jesus
Christ...and
ready
president
verbally
instructs,
and through
exhorts
Assemble
to
the
oninthe
Lord’s
Day, andare
break
receives the
eucharistic
blessing
hisand
words
our
sins,bishop
and which
the Father
in His
obey
your
and
clergy
with
imitation
theseby
good
Then
bread
we all
and
rise
offer the
Eucharist;
but undivided
first
of prayer, of
which
waythings.
of nourishment
is
goodness
raised
up again. breaking
and
toafterwards
share
the
one common
together
and pray,
and, as
before
make
said,
confession
when
of in
your
faults,
so that
changed into
our blood
andweflesh,
isminds
the
flesh
and
Consequently,
since
they
reject
God’sand the
bread—the
medicine
of immortality,
our
prayer
ended, bread
and wineof
your
and
sacrifice
water may
be a pure
one.
blood
of theisincarnate
Jesus.
good gifts,
they arewhich
doomed in
theirdeath and
sovereign
remedy
escape
are
brought,
the (100-165),
president in
like
Anyone
manner
who
differencewe
with
his
-Saint
Justin and
Martyr
First
Apology
66 has aby
disputatiousness.
They
would
have
live
in is
Jesus
evermore.
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according
fellow
to
notChrist
to takefor
part
with you until
done
better of
to Antioch
learn charity,
if they to the
-Saint
Ignatius
his ability, and the people assent, saying
they have
Amen;
been reconciled,(d.107),
so as to Letter
avoid
were
ever
to
know
resurrection.
Ephesians
20
and there is a distribution to each, and
any aprofanation
of your sacrifice.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d.107),
participation of that over which thanks
-Thehave
Didache (1st/2nd c.), 14
Letter to the Smynaeans 7
been given, and to those who are absent a
portion is sent by the deacons.
-Saint Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology 67

True Body in True Bread:
The Patristic Witness

So what
For
bothyou
he that
can does
see, then,
not take
is bread
it hasand
no alife,
cup;
and
that's
he
that does
what
eventake
your
it eyes
has life,
tell and
you;that
but indeed
as for what
eternal
your
life.
faith
thebeof
bread, which is produced from the
And to
asks
thus
be He
instructed
would have
about,
this
thefood
bread
andisFor
drink
theas
body
to
Therefore
withthe
fullest
assurance
let
partake
earth,
when
it receives the invocation of God, is
understood
Christ,
the
cup
as meaning
the blood
offellowship
Christ.
It took
of
His
nous
own
time
to
asmembers,
of the
Body
and
of
Christ...For
thus
no
common
bread, but the Eucharist,
body
say
that
andindeed,
and
which
that,
perhaps,
isBlood
the holy
may
Church
be longer
enough
in its
for
we
come
tothe
bear
Christ
incalled,
us, because
HisofBody
consisting
saints but
faith;
who
faith
were
Idesires
am
predestined,
instruction...How
food
ofand
the
fully
can
and bread
justified,
betwo realities, earthly and
and
Blood
aregrow
diffused
through
our
members;
heavenly;
so
also our
bodies,
when they
andbody?
his
glorified
And
ingrown;
the
its cup,
saints
orand
what
and
believers.
the
youOur
cup
will
Of
contains,
feed
these,
how
Lord
Jesusthe
Christ
Himself
proclaims
thisreceive
is my
thus
iton
is me.
that,
according
toBody.
blessed
Peter,
wesacred
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Eucharist,
are nowords
longerofcorruptible,
having
firstitisbe
can
already
his blood?”
effected,
The
And
namely,
reason
you will
these
predestination;
not
things,
brothers
the
the
blessing another
become
partakers
of vocation
the
divine
hope
of
resurrection
to eternity.
second
and
sisters,
and
are
third,
change
called
thatsacraments
me
is, the
into
youis
like
thatand
the
in is
them
onethe
species
named,
after
consecration
the Body is
nature
...Contemplate
therefore
the
Bread
and
-Saint
Irenaeus
Lyons of
(d.202),
Against
justification,
thing
is seen,have
another
foodtaken
your
is to
place,
flesh
be understood.
eats,
are taking
but
you
place,
What
and
can beofspeaks
implied.
He
Himself
His blood.
Before
Wine
not
as
bare what
elements,
forunderstood
they4.18.5
are,
will take
seen
has the
aplace;
bodily
will
but
appearance,
be
thechanged
fourth,
into
namely,
me.
is toHeresies
the
be
glorifying,
consecration,
it
is spoken of as another thing. After
according
to
the
Lord’s
declaration,
the
Body
is at present
provides
spiritual
in-Saint
hope;
fruit.
Augustine
butSoa ifthing
you(354-430),
future
want
toinunderstand
realization.
consecration
it is named blood. And you say Amen,
and
Blood
of Christ;
forapostle
though
sense
suggests
Thebody
the
sacrament
of Christ,
Confessions
of this
listen
thing,
to7.10
the
namely,
of telling
the
of What your mouth expresses let your
that
is,
itunity
is the
true.
this
thee,oflet
faith
the bodyYou,
faithful,
andto
blood
though,
are
Christ,
the stablish
body
is prepared
of thee.
Christ
onJudge
the
and
Lord’s
itsnot
inner
mind
confess—feel
what you say.
the
matter
from
taste,
but
from
faith
be
fully
table in some
members
(1 Corinthians
places daily,
12:27).
in some
So places
if
it's you
at
certain
that are
-Saint
Ambrose
(339-397), On the Mysteries 9.54
without
thou
been
intervals
the
bodyassured
of days,
Christ
and
andfrom
itsmisgiving,
members,
the Lord’sthat
it's
table
the
itmystery
ishast
taken,
the
Body
and Blood
of
Christ.
by some vouchsafed
meaning
to
you
life,
that
byhas
some
been
to destruction:
placed
on thebut
Lord's
the thing
table;
-Saint
Cyril
of Jersulem
(315-386),
Mystagogical
itself, you
what
of which
receive
it is the
sacrament,
mystery that
is means
for every
you.
man
It istoto
Catechesis
4.3,6
life, for
what
you
no
are
man
that
to you
destruction,
reply Amen,
whosoever
and by shall
so replying
have
beenexpress
you
a shareryour
in it.assent. What you hear, you see, is the
-SaintofAugustine
body
Christ, and
(354-430),
you answer,
Tractates
Amen.
onSothe
beGospel
a member
of
of the26.6.42-59
John
body of Christ, in order to make that Amen true.
-Saint Augustine (354-430), Sermon 272

Let faith stablish thee...

I, Berengar, believe in the heart
and confess by mouth, that the
bread and wine, which are placed But because it was fitting for him to penetrate the
heavens
according
to the flesh, in order that those
onThe
the substance
altar, through
the mystery
of bread
does notUnder
change
into
the
I,the
Berengar,...anathematize
veil of
the corporeal
bread
all heresy,
and
the
especially
reborn
in
him
might
more
confidently
seek
him
of sacrament
the holy prayer
theofwords
of theand
body
the Lord...[bread
and theattempts
corporeal
that...which
wine,
spiritual
to
body
restrict
and
the
the
bread
and
there,
he
left
to
us
this
sacrament,
the
visible
of wine]
our Redeemer,
aretrue
converted
are not the
body, norspiritual
the true
blood,
the
blood
wine
which
exists. of
are
Not
placed
as though
on
the
there
altar,
are
to be
figure
and
character
flesh
and
blood,
in
order
substantially
into
the
true
and
but a figure or likeness...
two
things
after consecration,
distinguished
only
among
the
themselves:
sacrament
and not
that
through
faith
to
grasp
the
invisible
and
proper
and vivifying
and Epistola
-Berengar
of Toursflesh
(d.1088),
ad Ascelinum
body
and
the
true
spirit.
body
Rather
and there
bloodperceived
isofone
ourand
Lord
the
Jesus
Christ
spiritual.
What
is eternally
here
is the
blood of Jesus Christ. After the same thing.
which
are
According
sensually
to
touched
one
way,
orbread
broken
andor
torn
figure
or
character,
but
it
is
the
whole
truth
and
consecration they are the true wine;apart
according
by the
toteeth
another
of the
way
faithful.
body
and and
not
its
shadow
that
is
internally
perceived;
body of Christ [esse verum
blood
of Christ.
For
according
to what
they
-Berenagar
of Tours,
of
Rome
through
this is opened
up Council
the very
truth
andof 1059
Christi corpus]. Which was born are
corporeally,
they arevery
creatures;
but
sacrament
of
[Christ’s]
flesh.
It is indeed the
of the Virgin, and which hung onaccording to what they have been made
true flesh of Christ which was crucified and
the cross...and the true blood of spiritually,
they
are
mysteries
of the
body
and
We
receive
in
the
bread
that
buried,
it
is
truly
the
sacrament
of
that
flesh
Christ [verum sanguinem Christi]blood of Christ.
which
the cross.
which, through the priest on the altar, is divinely
whichhung
was on
poured
forth from his -Ratramnus
De Corpore
sanguine
-Paschasius
Radbertus (d.851
consecrated(d.868),
by the Holy
Spirit inetthe
words of
side...
Domini
16
or-Berengar
860), Epistola
ad Council of
Christ. Hence, it is the Lord who cries out This is
of Tours,
Frudegardum
my body.
Rome of 1079
-Paschasius Radbertus (d.851 or 860), De Corpore
et sanguine Domini 4

A Controversy!

Changes in thinking...
Aristotle’s
Theory of Forms
Plato’s Theory
of Ideas

5. Idea (Form)

Form resides in Matter
4. Opinion
3. Image
2. Definition
1. Name

Changes in language...

Corpus mysticum

Corpus verum

meaning the consecrated
bread and wine
meaning the Church

…the term corpus verum ceased, roughly after the mid twelfth century, to be
applied to the Church, and was transferred to the body of Christ in the
...atconsecration
thethe
beginning
they
received
sacrament
After
the
they
are
the truethe
body
of Christ
[ esse
Eucharist.
Inversely,
term corpus
mysticum
migrated
fromofthe
Eucharist
the
Body
of
Christ
[
sacramentum
corporis
Christi
]
verum Christi corpus]...this
andtransformation,
the true blood of
Christ
[verum
to the Church…Accompanying
was
a change
in the
theChristi
true
Body
of Christ
[verum
corpus
sanguinem
] which
was body
poured
from
his side...
relation of
bothinbodies
to the
historical
of forth
Christ.
Earlier,
the sacramental
Christi
]...
-Berengar
Tours,
of Rome
1079
and eccesial
bodies of
stood
nearCouncil
each other,
and of
both
represented the historical
-Saint
(354-430),
God 21.25 bodies began to
body. But in the
newAugustine
scheme, the
historicalCity
andof
sacramental
stand near each other as alien sources of authority over against the Church…
–John Milbank (1952-), Being Reconciled , p. 123

1. Consubstantation

essentia: matter and

proprietates: visible properties

form (invisible)
2. Annihilation
Substance

SubstantiaAccidents

We believe...the earthly substances...are converted
into the essences of the Lord’s3.
body.
Their outward
Transubstantiation
appearances and certain other qualities remain
unchanged, so that those who receive them are not
shocked by the naked flesh and blood, and so that
believers may receive the greater rewards of faith.
-Lafranc of Bec (1010-1089), Decorpore et sanguine
Domini adversus Berengarium turonensem 18

Wrestling the mystery

Settling the question...
I answer that, Some have held that the substance of the bread and wine remains in
this sacrament after the consecration. But this opinion cannot stand: first of all,
answer
, Thethe
presence
Christ's
true body
and blood
this it
because byI such
an that
opinion
truth ofofthis
sacrament
is destroyed,
toin
which
sacrament
cannot
be exists
detected
by sense,
nor understanding,
but by
belongs that
Christ's
true
body
in
this
sacrament;
which
indeed
was
Hisalone,
body which
and blood
are
truly
contained
in theHence,
sacrament
of not there
faith
rests
upon
Divine
authority.
on
Luke
before the consecration...And
consequently
it remains
thatthe
Christ's
body
cannot begin
the
altar
under
the
forms
of
bread
and
wine,
bread
and
is My body
which
shall be
up for
Cyril
to be anew22:19:
inwine
this"This
sacrament
except
by change
of delivered
the substance
of you,"
bread
into itself.
having
been
changed
in
substance,
by
God's
power,
into
says:
"Doubt
not
whether
this
be
true;
but
take
rather
the
But what is changed
into
another
thing,
noorder
longer
remains
after
such change.
Hence
his
body
and
blood,
so
that
in
to
achieve
this
mystery
of
Saviour’s
words
with
faith;
for
since
He is the Truth,
He liethof
not."
the conclusion
is that,
saving
the
truth
ofwhat
this he
sacrament,
the
substance
the bread
unity
we
receive
from
God
received
from
us.
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae, 3.75.1
cannot remain
after
the
consecration.
-Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Canon 1
-Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae 3.75.2

This sacrament has a threefold significance. one with regard to the past, inasmuch as it
lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to
is commemorative
of our Lord'sifPassion,
which
was a true sacrifice, as stated above
It may
a man
did
not
bring
hostsbe
to understood…that
sing mass with, should
on a time
be houseled
(Q[48],
and
in this
respect
it isshould
called
a "Sacrifice." With regard to the present it
toA[3]),
communion
during
epidemics
or on
andgo
communed,
and when
S. Gregory
give to her
has
another
meaning,
namely,
that of
Ecclesiastical
unity, in which men are aggregated
the feast-days
holy
sacrament
saying:
Corpus
domini
nostri, etc.,
thereinmust
be something
wrong
through
this
Sacrament;
and
in this
respect
is called
thatwith
is to him;
say: The
our
Lord
Jesu
Christ
thee "Communion" or {Synaxis}. For
or asbody
a setofof
variations
on
the itkeep
Damascene
(De
Fide
Orth
. iv) that
"it to
is called
Communion because we
intoidea
everlasting
life,
anon
this
woman
began
smile tofore
thatsays
while
you
were
present
at mass
communicate
through
both and
because
we partake of His flesh and
S. Gregory,
anon
he
withdrew
hisit,in
hand,
remised
you did and
notwith
growChrist
older.
Carried
Godhead,
andupon
because
communicate
united to one another through
the procession
sacrament
the we
altar.
Andor
heindemanded
her, are
tofore
at
Corpus
Christi
thewith
face and
it."
With
regard
to the
future
hassaid:
a third
meaning,
inasmuch as this sacrament
the of
people,
why she
smiled,
anditshe
Because
that the
emergent
dangers
of riot
and
fire,
foreshadows
thethe
Divine
fruition,
shallthou
come
to pass in heaven; and according to
bread
that I have
made
with
my proper
hands
namest
received
by
dying,
seen
at which
the elevation
it
theitbody
of our
Lord Jesu Christ.
Anon
S. Gregory
put
this
is called
"Viaticum,"
because
it supplies
in the
mass…the
salutiferous
effects
of the the way of winning thither. And in this
himself
to is
prayer
with the
for to pray
God
that
respect
also
called
thepeople,
"Eucharist,"
that to
is,of
"good
grace," because "the grace of God
Hostitseem
mostly
instances
of the dogma
hereupon
he would(Rom.
show his
grace
to confirm
ourcontains Christ, Who is "full of
is life
everlasting"
6:23);
orbyfor
because
it really
salvation
by
charity,
healing
wholeness.
belief,
and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory
grace."
-John
Bossy,
Christianity
in of
thea piece
West:of1400saw
the
holy
sacrament
in
figure
flesh
as great 3.73.4
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas
(1225-1274),
Summa
Theologiae
1700 , p. 74
as the little finger of an hand, and anon after, by the
prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned
into semblance of bread as it had been tofore, and
therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the
faith.
-The Golden Legend, 3.27 (1260)

But still Dynamic!
But also Superstitious!


Slide 10

Not Common Bread:
The Eucharist in the Early Church

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in
They even absent themselves from the
cities or in the country gather together to one
Eucharist
and
I will
dothe
thispublic
if theprayers,
Lord reveals to me
place, and the memoirs of the apostles
or certainly
the
because
will not
admit
that
the by name,
you
arethey
all, man
by man
and
name
writings
of theisprophets
are read,
asthat
long
as time
The Eucharist
not common
bread
or
common
Eucharist
is the self-same body our
attending
permits;
then,
when
reader
hasthe
ceased,
theyour meetings in a state of grace united
drink…we
have
beenthe
taught
that
food which
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
which suffered
for now to
in
faith
Jesus
Christ...and
ready
president
verbally
instructs,
and through
exhorts
Assemble
to
the
oninthe
Lord’s
Day, andare
break
receives the
eucharistic
blessing
hisand
words
our
sins,bishop
and which
the Father
in His
obey
your
and
clergy
with
imitation
theseby
good
Then
bread
we all
and
rise
offer the
Eucharist;
but undivided
first
of prayer, of
which
waythings.
of nourishment
is
goodness
raised
up again. breaking
and
toafterwards
share
the
one common
together
and pray,
and, as
before
make
said,
confession
when
of in
your
faults,
so that
changed into
our blood
andweflesh,
isminds
the
flesh
and
Consequently,
since
they
reject
God’sand the
bread—the
medicine
of immortality,
our
prayer
ended, bread
and wineof
your
and
sacrifice
water may
be a pure
one.
blood
of theisincarnate
Jesus.
good gifts,
they arewhich
doomed in
theirdeath and
sovereign
remedy
escape
are
brought,
the (100-165),
president in
like
Anyone
manner
who
differencewe
with
his
-Saint
Justin and
Martyr
First
Apology
66 has aby
disputatiousness.
They
would
have
live
in is
Jesus
evermore.
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according
fellow
to
notChrist
to takefor
part
with you until
done
better of
to Antioch
learn charity,
if they to the
-Saint
Ignatius
his ability, and the people assent, saying
they have
Amen;
been reconciled,(d.107),
so as to Letter
avoid
were
ever
to
know
resurrection.
Ephesians
20
and there is a distribution to each, and
any aprofanation
of your sacrifice.
-Saint Ignatius of Antioch (d.107),
participation of that over which thanks
-Thehave
Didache (1st/2nd c.), 14
Letter to the Smynaeans 7
been given, and to those who are absent a
portion is sent by the deacons.
-Saint Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology 67

True Body in True Bread:
The Patristic Witness

So what
For
bothyou
he that
can does
see, then,
not take
is bread
it hasand
no alife,
cup;
and
that's
he
that does
what
eventake
your
it eyes
has life,
tell and
you;that
but indeed
as for what
eternal
your
life.
faith
thebeof
bread, which is produced from the
And to
asks
thus
be He
instructed
would have
about,
this
thefood
bread
andisFor
drink
theas
body
to
Therefore
withthe
fullest
assurance
let
partake
earth,
when
it receives the invocation of God, is
understood
Christ,
the
cup
as meaning
the blood
offellowship
Christ.
It took
of
His
nous
own
time
to
asmembers,
of the
Body
and
of
Christ...For
thus
no
common
bread, but the Eucharist,
body
say
that
andindeed,
and
which
that,
perhaps,
isBlood
the holy
may
Church
be longer
enough
in its
for
we
come
tothe
bear
Christ
incalled,
us, because
HisofBody
consisting
saints but
faith;
who
faith
were
Idesires
am
predestined,
instruction...How
food
ofand
the
fully
can
and bread
justified,
betwo realities, earthly and
and
Blood
aregrow
diffused
through
our
members;
heavenly;
so
also our
bodies,
when they
andbody?
his
glorified
And
ingrown;
the
its cup,
saints
orand
what
and
believers.
the
youOur
cup
will
Of
contains,
feed
these,
how
Lord
Jesusthe
Christ
Himself
proclaims
thisreceive
is my
thus
iton
is me.
that,
according
toBody.
blessed
Peter,
wesacred
theBefore
Eucharist,
are nowords
longerofcorruptible,
having
firstitisbe
can
already
his blood?”
effected,
The
And
namely,
reason
you will
these
predestination;
not
things,
brothers
the
the
blessing another
become
partakers
of vocation
the
divine
hope
of
resurrection
to eternity.
second
and
sisters,
and
are
third,
change
called
thatsacraments
me
is, the
into
youis
like
thatand
the
in is
them
onethe
species
named,
after
consecration
the Body is
nature
...Contemplate
therefore
the
Bread
and
-Saint
Irenaeus
Lyons of
(d.202),
Against
justification,
thing
is seen,have
another
foodtaken
your
is to
place,
flesh
be understood.
eats,
are taking
but
you
place,
What
and
can beofspeaks
implied.
He
Himself
His blood.
Before
Wine
not
as
bare what
elements,
forunderstood
they4.18.5
are,
will take
seen
has the
aplace;
bodily
will
but
appearance,
be
thechanged
fourth,
into
namely,
me.
is toHeresies
the
be
glorifying,
consecration,
it
is spoken of as another thing. After
according
to
the
Lord’s
declaration,
the
Body
is at present
provides
spiritual
in-Saint
hope;
fruit.
Augustine
butSoa ifthing
you(354-430),
future
want
toinunderstand
realization.
consecration
it is named blood. And you say Amen,
and
Blood
of Christ;
forapostle
though
sense
suggests
Thebody
the
sacrament
of Christ,
Confessions
of this
listen
thing,
to7.10
the
namely,
of telling
the
of What your mouth expresses let your
that
is,
itunity
is the
true.
this
thee,oflet
faith
the bodyYou,
faithful,
andto
blood
though,
are
Christ,
the stablish
body
is prepared
of thee.
Christ
onJudge
the
and
Lord’s
itsnot
inner
mind
confess—feel
what you say.
the
matter
from
taste,
but
from
faith
be
fully
table in some
members
(1 Corinthians
places daily,
12:27).
in some
So places
if
it's you
at
certain
that are
-Saint
Ambrose
(339-397), On the Mysteries 9.54
without
thou
been
intervals
the
bodyassured
of days,
Christ
and
andfrom
itsmisgiving,
members,
the Lord’sthat
it's
table
the
itmystery
ishast
taken,
the
Body
and Blood
of
Christ.
by some vouchsafed
meaning
to
you
life,
that
byhas
some
been
to destruction:
placed
on thebut
Lord's
the thing
table;
-Saint
Cyril
of Jersulem
(315-386),
Mystagogical
itself, you
what
of which
receive
it is the
sacrament,
mystery that
is means
for every
you.
man
It istoto
Catechesis
4.3,6
life, for
what
you
no
are
man
that
to you
destruction,
reply Amen,
whosoever
and by shall
so replying
have
beenexpress
you
a shareryour
in it.assent. What you hear, you see, is the
-SaintofAugustine
body
Christ, and
(354-430),
you answer,
Tractates
Amen.
onSothe
beGospel
a member
of
of the26.6.42-59
John
body of Christ, in order to make that Amen true.
-Saint Augustine (354-430), Sermon 272

Let faith stablish thee...

I, Berengar, believe in the heart
and confess by mouth, that the
bread and wine, which are placed But because it was fitting for him to penetrate the
heavens
according
to the flesh, in order that those
onThe
the substance
altar, through
the mystery
of bread
does notUnder
change
into
the
I,the
Berengar,...anathematize
veil of
the corporeal
bread
all heresy,
and
the
especially
reborn
in
him
might
more
confidently
seek
him
of sacrament
the holy prayer
theofwords
of theand
body
the Lord...[bread
and theattempts
corporeal
that...which
wine,
spiritual
to
body
restrict
and
the
the
bread
and
there,
he
left
to
us
this
sacrament,
the
visible
of wine]
our Redeemer,
aretrue
converted
are not the
body, norspiritual
the true
blood,
the
blood
wine
which
exists. of
are
Not
placed
as though
on
the
there
altar,
are
to be
figure
and
character
flesh
and
blood,
in
order
substantially
into
the
true
and
but a figure or likeness...
two
things
after consecration,
distinguished
only
among
the
themselves:
sacrament
and not
that
through
faith
to
grasp
the
invisible
and
proper
and vivifying
and Epistola
-Berengar
of Toursflesh
(d.1088),
ad Ascelinum
body
and
the
true
spirit.
body
Rather
and there
bloodperceived
isofone
ourand
Lord
the
Jesus
Christ
spiritual.
What
is eternally
here
is the
blood of Jesus Christ. After the same thing.
which
are
According
sensually
to
touched
one
way,
orbread
broken
andor
torn
figure
or
character,
but
it
is
the
whole
truth
and
consecration they are the true wine;apart
according
by the
toteeth
another
of the
way
faithful.
body
and and
not
its
shadow
that
is
internally
perceived;
body of Christ [esse verum
blood
of Christ.
For
according
to what
they
-Berenagar
of Tours,
of
Rome
through
this is opened
up Council
the very
truth
andof 1059
Christi corpus]. Which was born are
corporeally,
they arevery
creatures;
but
sacrament
of
[Christ’s]
flesh.
It is indeed the
of the Virgin, and which hung onaccording to what they have been made
true flesh of Christ which was crucified and
the cross...and the true blood of spiritually,
they
are
mysteries
of the
body
and
We
receive
in
the
bread
that
buried,
it
is
truly
the
sacrament
of
that
flesh
Christ [verum sanguinem Christi]blood of Christ.
which
the cross.
which, through the priest on the altar, is divinely
whichhung
was on
poured
forth from his -Ratramnus
De Corpore
sanguine
-Paschasius
Radbertus (d.851
consecrated(d.868),
by the Holy
Spirit inetthe
words of
side...
Domini
16
or-Berengar
860), Epistola
ad Council of
Christ. Hence, it is the Lord who cries out This is
of Tours,
Frudegardum
my body.
Rome of 1079
-Paschasius Radbertus (d.851 or 860), De Corpore
et sanguine Domini 4

A Controversy!

Changes in thinking...
Aristotle’s
Theory of Forms
Plato’s Theory
of Ideas

5. Idea (Form)

Form resides in Matter
4. Opinion
3. Image
2. Definition
1. Name

Changes in language...

Corpus mysticum

Corpus verum

meaning the consecrated
bread and wine
meaning the Church

…the term corpus verum ceased, roughly after the mid twelfth century, to be
applied to the Church, and was transferred to the body of Christ in the
...atconsecration
thethe
beginning
they
received
sacrament
After
the
they
are
the truethe
body
of Christ
[ esse
Eucharist.
Inversely,
term corpus
mysticum
migrated
fromofthe
Eucharist
the
Body
of
Christ
[
sacramentum
corporis
Christi
]
verum Christi corpus]...this
andtransformation,
the true blood of
Christ
[verum
to the Church…Accompanying
was
a change
in the
theChristi
true
Body
of Christ
[verum
corpus
sanguinem
] which
was body
poured
from
his side...
relation of
bothinbodies
to the
historical
of forth
Christ.
Earlier,
the sacramental
Christi
]...
-Berengar
Tours,
of Rome
1079
and eccesial
bodies of
stood
nearCouncil
each other,
and of
both
represented the historical
-Saint
(354-430),
God 21.25 bodies began to
body. But in the
newAugustine
scheme, the
historicalCity
andof
sacramental
stand near each other as alien sources of authority over against the Church…
–John Milbank (1952-), Being Reconciled , p. 123

1. Consubstantation

essentia: matter and

proprietates: visible properties

form (invisible)
2. Annihilation
Substance

SubstantiaAccidents

We believe...the earthly substances...are converted
into the essences of the Lord’s3.
body.
Their outward
Transubstantiation
appearances and certain other qualities remain
unchanged, so that those who receive them are not
shocked by the naked flesh and blood, and so that
believers may receive the greater rewards of faith.
-Lafranc of Bec (1010-1089), Decorpore et sanguine
Domini adversus Berengarium turonensem 18

Wrestling the mystery

Settling the question...
I answer that, Some have held that the substance of the bread and wine remains in
this sacrament after the consecration. But this opinion cannot stand: first of all,
answer
, Thethe
presence
Christ's
true body
and blood
this it
because byI such
an that
opinion
truth ofofthis
sacrament
is destroyed,
toin
which
sacrament
cannot
be exists
detected
by sense,
nor understanding,
but by
belongs that
Christ's
true
body
in
this
sacrament;
which
indeed
was
Hisalone,
body which
and blood
are
truly
contained
in theHence,
sacrament
of not there
faith
rests
upon
Divine
authority.
on
Luke
before the consecration...And
consequently
it remains
thatthe
Christ's
body
cannot begin
the
altar
under
the
forms
of
bread
and
wine,
bread
and
is My body
which
shall be
up for
Cyril
to be anew22:19:
inwine
this"This
sacrament
except
by change
of delivered
the substance
of you,"
bread
into itself.
having
been
changed
in
substance,
by
God's
power,
into
says:
"Doubt
not
whether
this
be
true;
but
take
rather
the
But what is changed
into
another
thing,
noorder
longer
remains
after
such change.
Hence
his
body
and
blood,
so
that
in
to
achieve
this
mystery
of
Saviour’s
words
with
faith;
for
since
He is the Truth,
He liethof
not."
the conclusion
is that,
saving
the
truth
ofwhat
this he
sacrament,
the
substance
the bread
unity
we
receive
from
God
received
from
us.
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae, 3.75.1
cannot remain
after
the
consecration.
-Fourth Lateran Council (1215), Canon 1
-Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Summa Theologiae 3.75.2

This sacrament has a threefold significance. one with regard to the past, inasmuch as it
lt happed that a widow that was wont every Sunday to
is commemorative
of our Lord'sifPassion,
which
was a true sacrifice, as stated above
It may
a man
did
not
bring
hostsbe
to understood…that
sing mass with, should
on a time
be houseled
(Q[48],
and
in this
respect
it isshould
called
a "Sacrifice." With regard to the present it
toA[3]),
communion
during
epidemics
or on
andgo
communed,
and when
S. Gregory
give to her
has
another
meaning,
namely,
that of
Ecclesiastical
unity, in which men are aggregated
the feast-days
holy
sacrament
saying:
Corpus
domini
nostri, etc.,
thereinmust
be something
wrong
through
this
Sacrament;
and
in this
respect
is called
thatwith
is to him;
say: The
our
Lord
Jesu
Christ
thee "Communion" or {Synaxis}. For
or asbody
a setofof
variations
on
the itkeep
Damascene
(De
Fide
Orth
. iv) that
"it to
is called
Communion because we
intoidea
everlasting
life,
anon
this
woman
began
smile tofore
thatsays
while
you
were
present
at mass
communicate
through
both and
because
we partake of His flesh and
S. Gregory,
anon
he
withdrew
hisit,in
hand,
remised
you did and
notwith
growChrist
older.
Carried
Godhead,
andupon
because
communicate
united to one another through
the procession
sacrament
the we
altar.
Andor
heindemanded
her, are
tofore
at
Corpus
Christi
thewith
face and
it."
With
regard
to the
future
hassaid:
a third
meaning,
inasmuch as this sacrament
the of
people,
why she
smiled,
anditshe
Because
that the
emergent
dangers
of riot
and
fire,
foreshadows
thethe
Divine
fruition,
shallthou
come
to pass in heaven; and according to
bread
that I have
made
with
my proper
hands
namest
received
by
dying,
seen
at which
the elevation
it
theitbody
of our
Lord Jesu Christ.
Anon
S. Gregory
put
this
is called
"Viaticum,"
because
it supplies
in the
mass…the
salutiferous
effects
of the the way of winning thither. And in this
himself
to is
prayer
with the
for to pray
God
that
respect
also
called
thepeople,
"Eucharist,"
that to
is,of
"good
grace," because "the grace of God
Hostitseem
mostly
instances
of the dogma
hereupon
he would(Rom.
show his
grace
to confirm
ourcontains Christ, Who is "full of
is life
everlasting"
6:23);
orbyfor
because
it really
salvation
by
charity,
healing
wholeness.
belief,
and when they were risen from prayer, S. Gregory
grace."
-John
Bossy,
Christianity
in of
thea piece
West:of1400saw
the
holy
sacrament
in
figure
flesh
as great 3.73.4
-Saint
Thomas
Aquinas
(1225-1274),
Summa
Theologiae
1700 , p. 74
as the little finger of an hand, and anon after, by the
prayers of S. Gregory, the flesh of the sacrament turned
into semblance of bread as it had been tofore, and
therewith he communed and houseled the woman, which
after was more religious, and the people more firm in the
faith.
-The Golden Legend, 3.27 (1260)

But still Dynamic!
But also Superstitious!