Eucharist- Catholics vs. Lutherans

[SWTHRT]

I was always taught growing up that us Catholics are the ONLY religion that believe the we receive the BODY and BLOOD of Christ at Communion. I was taught that all other religions just think of it as a symbol of Christ’s body and blood. My Lutheran husband disagrees with my teachings and says that the Lutheran church also believes it IS the body and blood of Christ (not just a symbol). Does anyone know the correct teaching of the Lutheran church?

Thanks,
Karen

 

[maendem]

SWTHRT:

I was always taught growing up that us Catholics are the ONLY religion that believe the we receive the BODY and BLOOD of Christ at Communion. I was taught that all other religions just think of it as a symbol of Christ’s body and blood. My Lutheran husband disagrees with my teachings and says that the Lutheran church also believes it IS the body and blood of Christ (not just a symbol). Does anyone know the correct teaching of the Lutheran church?

Thanks,
Karen

From what I understand, Lutherans believe in consubstantiation - the true body and blood of Christ are present along with (con) the actual bread and the wine. Catholics believe that after the consecration, the bread and wine completely become the body and blood of Christ; the substances of bread and wine do not remain (only the accidents or appearances of bread and wine). This is called transubstantiation.

 

[Regi]

maendem:

From what I understand, Lutherans believe in consubstantiation - the true body and blood of Christ are present along with (con) the actual bread and the wine. Catholics believe that after the consecration, the bread and wine completely become the body and blood of Christ; the substances of bread and wine do not remain (only the accidents or appearances of bread and wine). This is called transubstantiation.

This is true - I am Catholic, married to a Lutheran. Their teaching is that they receive Christ’s body “through, with and in” the bread and wine. It is this teaching. plus the lack of Apostolic succession that makes Lutheran communion different from reciving the true body and true blood of Christ as we do in the Catholic Church.

 

[Contarini]

But the fact remains that Lutheran teaching insists on the real presence of Christ’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Indeed, if you compare classical Lutheran teaching to that of Aquinas, the Lutherans are more literal if anything. The big difference is that they don’t believe the Eucharist is a sacrifice. There’s also a widespread opinion that the Presence ends once the liturgy is over.

You can find many Lutherans and ex-Lutherans (some of them on this board) who were not taught orthodox Lutheran doctrine in this respect. But the same is true of Catholics . . . .

While official Anglican doctrine is vaguer than that of the Lutherans, a sizeable number of Anglicans do not believe anything essentially different from what Catholics believe, and many more would believe in the Real Presence but decline to be very specific about it.

Most importantly, the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox do believe basically what the Catholic Church believes, though sometimes they don’t like to define it quite the same way. So what you (and many other Catholics) were taught growing up is flatly false.

Edwin

 

[Ignatius]

SWTHRT:

I was always taught growing up that us Catholics are the ONLY religion that believe the we receive the BODY and BLOOD of Christ at Communion. I was taught that all other religions just think of it as a symbol of Christ’s body and blood. My Lutheran husband disagrees with my teachings and says that the Lutheran church also believes it IS the body and blood of Christ (not just a symbol). Does anyone know the correct teaching of the Lutheran church?

Thanks,
Karen

Your husband is correct. Also, the Anglican, Coptic, Byzantine, Slavic and all of the ancient churches of the east; in fact, all christian churches, with the exception of some of the protestants, believe that the Body and Blood of Christ is present.

 

[joe370]

Hey Karen, how are ya doing…

I was always taught growing up that us Catholics are the ONLY religion that believe the we receive the BODY and BLOOD of Christ at Communion. I was taught that all other religions just think of it as a symbol of Christ’s body and blood. My Lutheran husband disagrees with my teachings and says that the Lutheran church also believes it IS the body and blood of Christ (not just a symbol). Does anyone know the correct teaching of the Lutheran church?

Thanks,
Karen

Perhaps ML himself can settle the matter for us. ML believed in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. What bothered ML was the fact that every “milkmaid and farmhand” thought they could interpret scripture correctly:

*"Before I drink mere wine with the Swiss **I shall drink blood with the pope"***

"Who, but the devil, has granted such license of wresting the words of the holy Scripture? Who ever read in the Scriptures, that my body is the same as the sign of my body? or, that is is the same as it signifies? What language in the world ever spoke so? It is only then the devil, that imposes upon us by these fanatical men. Not one of the Fathers of the Church, though so numerous, ever spoke as the Sacramentarians: not one of them ever said, It is only bread and wine; or, the body and blood of Christ is not there present.

Surely, it is not credible, nor possible, since they often speak, and repeat their sentiments, that they should never (if they thought so) not so much as once, say, or let slip these words: It is bread only; or the body of Christ is not there, especially it being of great importance, that men should not be deceived. Certainly, in so many Fathers, and in so many writings, the negative might at least be found in one of them, had they thought the body and blood of Christ were not really present: but they are all of them unanimous.”

Then of course there is the Lutheran Confessions:

*…we confess that we believe, that in the Lord’s Supper the body and blood of Christ are truly and substantially present, and are truly tendered, with those things which are seen, bread and wine, to those who receive the Sacrament. This belief we constantly defend, as the subject has been carefully examined and considered. For since Paul says, 1 Cor. 10:16, that the bread is the communion of the Lord’s body, etc., it would follow, if the Lord’s body were not truly present, that the bread is not a communion of the body, but only of the spirit of Christ. 55] And we have ascertained that not only the Roman Church affirms the bodily presence of Christ, but the Greek Church also both now believes, and formerly believed, the same. For the canon of the Mass among them testifies to this, in which the priest clearly prays that the bread may be changed and become the very body of Christ. And Vulgarius, who seems to us to be not a silly writer, says distinctly that bread is not a mere figure, but 56] is truly changed into flesh.
*

Hope that helps Karen…

 

[1ke]

I was always taught growing up that us Catholics are the ONLY religion that believe the we receive the BODY and BLOOD of Christ at Communion. I was taught that all other religions just think of it as a symbol of Christ’s body and blood.

You were taught incorrectly, although it was probably an honest mistake on the part of the teacher. Either they were truly ignorant OR they were generalizing about “protestants.”

It is very hard to make any sort of generalization regarding Protestant beliefs, because there are many nuanced theologies and teachings out there among the different ecclesial communities.

And, of course, this also ignored true Churches such as the Orthodox who also believe in the Real Presence and by virtue of their Apostolic Succesion have a valid Eucharist.

My Lutheran husband disagrees with my teachings and says that the Lutheran church also believes it IS the body and blood of Christ (not just a symbol). Does anyone know the correct teaching of the Lutheran church?

Yes, the Lutherans do believe this (they have various Synods, but I am unaware of any who deviate from the traditional Lutheran understanding of the Eucharist).

You should also be aware, however, that just because Lutherans believe this doesn’t make it so. From the *Catholic Church’s perspective *Lutherans and other protestant groups lack valid Apostolic Succesison and Holy Orders, and therefore do not have a valid Mass or valid Eucharist. So, while they may sincerely believe it is *more *than a symbol, the Catholic position theologically and doctrinally is that it isn’t.

 

[Erich]

There’s also a widespread opinion that the Presence ends once the liturgy is over.

Which explains why there is no tradition of Eucharistic Adoration among Lutherans.

That said, I know several (and, by extension, I assume most) Lutheran congregations have folks whose responsibility it is to bring the communion elements to their homebound members… which makes me wonder, “what do *they *believe they’re receiving, if they also believe the Presence ends once the liturgy is over?” Perhaps some of the Lutherans on this board can answer this?