The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has stated that the swine flu problem should be used as a teaching moment on the nature of the eucharist...
When it comes to differences between Lutheran and Catholic doctrine, I almost always side with Catholic doctrine. The one exception is the understanding of the real presence in the eucharist. Catholic doctrine speaks of transubstantiation; there is a complete transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The eucharist only has the accidentals of looking and tasting like bread and wine. Luther believed in sacramental union, in which the eucharist is still truly bread, but also truly Christ.
If we use Christ as the measure for this doctrine, he did not obliterate his humaness in becoming human. And even though in the eucharist, the divine and human natures of Christ are present, I do not see the need for obliterating the elements of bread and wine. It should be pointed out that Luther's view is not foreign to Catholic theology, it was taught by Dons Scotus in the Middle Ages as consubstantiation (the differences in the doctrines are slight). The Catholic doctrine on transbustantiation only became settled a issue in Catholic teaching as a response to the Protestant Reformation. If the Protestant Reformation had not occurred, who knows how our understanding of the real presence would have developed.
A Faithful Catholic
2 comments:
So when you say "Amen" to the priest when he says "The Body of Christ" you don't mean it in the same way the Catholic Church means it?
Wouldn't integrity dictate not receiving communion since you disagree on an issue as fundamental as the nature of the Eucharist?
One of the reasons (emphasis on One) that Lutherans cannot receive Communion at a Catholic Mass is their theology of the Eucharist is different from ours. If your idea is valid, why can't we go a step further and argue that the theology of the Eucharist doesn't matter and anyone (Baptist, Fundamentalist, Lutheran, Methodist, etc) can receive Communion?
Apparently we are in need of a teaching moment on the Eucharist, because your theology once again firmly places you outside of the Catholic camp.
"Catholic doctrine on transbustantiation only became settled a issue in Catholic teaching as a response to the Protestant Reformation."
How, then, do you account for our being permitted to receive the Eucharist in an Orthodox Church?
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