Eucharistic difference between Anglican/Catholic

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They are Articles of Religion. They were to the bishops of the time treated very much as a Confession of Faith. Their preface treats them as such. They were approved by convocation. They were not binding on the faithful, but since subscription was required of the clergy, and the clergy were the only ministers who were vested with teaching authority in the Church of England, they can be fairly said to summarize the doctrine of the Church of England and the Church of England’s definitive position on various Reformation controversies.

There was a C of E between 1530 and 1830, as some like to forget.
The last half of your last sentence is partially correct. It was the erastian CoE’s position on a number of Reformation issues and represented how Elizabeth’s polity was structured to handle those controversies.

Do recall the words of +Bull and +Bramhall, above.

I never forget history. It’s my hobby. And there was a CoE after 1830, and after 1840, similarly.

And there is Anglicanism beyond the CoE, similarly.

GKC
 
Anglicans have generally believed in a local Real Presence and the Prayer Books (barring 1552) affirm this. The fact that the word “spiritual” is used when talking about Christ’s body and blood seems to lead some to think that we take a memorialist view, however, a spiritual body is no less of a body than a material body. Even the Articles affirm that the Eucharist is a true sacrament. If we then look to the classic Anglican liturgies, we see that the true and Real Presence of Christ in the bread and wine. Richard Hooker was content that how this happens can remain a mystery and Hooker seemed to take issue with all modes of explanation when it comes to this mystery. He simply affirmed that the believer receives the body and blood of Christ. Lancelot Andrewes was of a similar mindset when he says that the Lord says this is my body and this is my blood, the Lord didn’t say this is my body with these qualifications and explanation. Lancelot Andrewes further went on to exclaim, in communication with a Catholic Cardinal, that the only difference between us is that the Catholics use an explanation that is beyond Scripture. As Anglicans, we don’t want to be guilty of the same.

Anglicans certainly hold to different explanations, some transubstantiation, some Reformed, some Lutheran, and some memorialist. However, upholding any of these doctrines is a departure from classical Anglicanism. Anglicans have always held that Christ is truly present in the sacrament. We receive Christ’s body and blood and we leave it at that.

These two links helped me understand the Anglican position:

conciliaranglican.com/2012/03/10/on-the-eucharist-spiritual-food-is-real-food/

conciliaranglican.com/2011/07/22/ask-an-anglican-eucharistic-adoration/
 
Would you care to correct me then?

You say ‘Purgatory is not where we “settle accounts” for our sins.’
The Catholic encyclopedia (Article: Purgatory) states:
God requires satisfaction, and will punish sin, and this doctrine involves as its necessary consequence a belief that the sinner failing to do penance in this life may be punished in another world, and so not be cast off eternally from God.
The word “satisfaction” carries with it precisely the meaning of the settling of an account - the view that our debt due to God for our sins requires that we be sufficiently punished to “satisfy” God’s justice.
No, that’s not what it means at all. The eternal punishment due to our sins was completed by Christ on the cross. What purgatory does is satisfy the temporal punishment. There is a huge difference that you’re missing.
You also say that purgatory is “not a subjective process”.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
The place where this purification happens is purgatory. Since each sinner requires a different level of purgation, it is obviously subjective (i.e. on a case-by-case basis).
No mention in the CCC of purgatory involving “temporal punishment” interestingly, but that is still official Roman Catholic dogma (per the Council of Trent) and thus must be dogmatically held by all the (RC) faithful.
Again no. God is not being “subjective” as in we cannot have assurance that each of us will be judged according to our own sins/merits and not matched against others sins/merits.

Nowhere do these documents state what you stated. You are interpreting them according to what you want them to say. Catholic documents cannot be taken out of context by anyone, Catholic or non-Catholic and presented how we see them. This is a dangerous thing to do. I strongly warn all against doing it.

But this discussion has taken the thread off topic. So, I’ll not discuss it further in this thread.
 
Anglicans have generally believed in a local Real Presence and the Prayer Books (barring 1552) affirm this. The fact that the word “spiritual” is used when talking about Christ’s body and blood seems to lead some to think that we take a memorialist view, however, a spiritual body is no less of a body than a material body. Even the Articles affirm that the Eucharist is a true sacrament. If we then look to the classic Anglican liturgies, we see that the true and Real Presence of Christ in the bread and wine. Richard Hooker was content that how this happens can remain a mystery and Hooker seemed to take issue with all modes of explanation when it comes to this mystery. He simply affirmed that the believer receives the body and blood of Christ. Lancelot Andrewes was of a similar mindset when he says that the Lord says this is my body and this is my blood, the Lord didn’t say this is my body with these qualifications and explanation. Lancelot Andrewes further went on to exclaim, in communication with a Catholic Cardinal, that the only difference between us is that the Catholics use an explanation that is beyond Scripture. As Anglicans, we don’t want to be guilty of the same.

Anglicans certainly hold to different explanations, some transubstantiation, some Reformed, some Lutheran, and some memorialist. However, upholding any of these doctrines is a departure from classical Anglicanism. We receive Christ’s body and blood and we leave it at that.

These two links helped me understand the Anglican position:

conciliaranglican.com/2012/03/10/on-the-eucharist-spiritual-food-is-real-food/

conciliaranglican.com/2011/07/22/ask-an-anglican-eucharistic-adoration/
It would be a deviation from most Anglican history, to attempt to make any given theory de fide. But accepting that it is the Blood and Body, one may still speculate in what manner this comes about. But it is speculation.

As Lewis put into the mouth of a character in LETTERS TO MALCOLM, the command was “Take, eat”, not “Take, understand”. Which is fortunate for all of us.

GKC
 
It would be a deviation from most Anglican history, to attempt to make any given theory de fide. But accepting that itis the Blood and Body, one may still speculate in what manner this comes about. But it is speculation.

As Lewis put into the mouth of a character in LETTERS TO MALCOLM, the command was “Take, eat”, not “Take, understand”. Which is fortunate for all of us.

GKC
Indeed and that is the position of Richard Hooker as well. IMO, as Anglicans, we get in trouble when we try to explain everything about it (which is a natural thing that humans do), Christ is truly present in the sacrament and we truly receive Christ’s body and blood. Anything else is speculation that goes beyond what Christ said in Scripture.
 
The term “Anglican” as we understand it now is a very recent coinage. The religion of Henry VIII was essentially a version of Roman Catholicism, with the power of the pope instead vested in the secular ruler, King Henry VIII. It’s clear the Reformation was still underway in the church of England, and had not reached stability until the Elizabethan settlement. Remarkably, the 1662 revision was more or less a word-for-word restatement of Elizabeth, over-against different levels of innovation.
But that only reinforces the point: what’s “pure” Anglicanism? Why should it be Elizabeth’s over Henry’s over Katherine Schori’s? It just means one cannot point to a “pure” Anglicanism. Saying it’s the Thirty-Nine Articles version is arbitrary, as is saying it’s the Six Articles version. Heck, even saying it’s the 1979 Episcopal BCP version is arbitrary. Your insistence that the Thirty Nine are somehow defines “pure” Anglicanism is not held by Anglicans themselves.

And even if we were to concede that the Thirty Nine are binding on the Church of England, there are more other Anglicans than just the CoE.

As GKC says: Anglicans are a motley bunch.
 
Della - I know perfectly well that Rome teaches that Christ died to take away the eternal punishment for sins, and “Purgatory” can only bring atonement for the venial sins (that is what the Roman church teaches - the Christ I believe in died and was fully punished for all the sins of the elect).

As for the other bit, you are confused. You make an assertion but fail to back it up. I just quoted from the Roman Catholic catechism. The amount of time a person spends in purgatory is “subjective” in that it is different from another person, and based on the individual’s performance. (Again, this is according to the RCC - the Christ I believe in was punished for my sins so I don’t have to be.)
 
But that only reinforces the point: what’s “pure” Anglicanism? Why should it be Elizabeth’s over Henry’s over Katherine Schori’s? It just means one cannot point to a “pure” Anglicanism. Saying it’s the Thirty-Nine Articles version is arbitrary, as is saying it’s the Six Articles version. Heck, even saying it’s the 1979 Episcopal BCP version is arbitrary. Your insistence that the Thirty Nine are somehow defines “pure” Anglicanism is not held by Anglicans themselves.

And even if we were to concede that the Thirty Nine are binding on the Church of England, there are more other Anglicans than just the CoE.

As GKC says: Anglicans are a motley bunch.
That they are. I like my shade of motley-dom the best. But I cannot, thereby, deny the name of Anglican to others who have other shades in mind.

And the Articles are (technically) binding (and not so enforced) on the clergy of the CoE, not the laity. And if it were actually binding on the clergy of the CoE, one would never have found an Anglo-Catholic priest therein.

GKC
 
That they are. I like my shade of motley-dom the best. But I cannot, thereby, deny the name of Anglican to others who have other shades in mind.

And the Articles are (technically) binding (and not so enforced) on the clergy of the CoE, not the laity. And if it were actually binding on the clergy of the CoE, one would never have found an Anglo-Catholic priest therein.

GKC
They have been laxly enforced. Doesn’t mean the canons are not there. I know quite a few clergy who call themselves Anglo-Catholic who subscribe to the Articles. I read a blog called the “Anglican Continuum” whose main contributors are American ACs who affirm the Articles.
 
Della - I know perfectly well that Rome teaches that Christ died to take away the eternal punishment for sins, and “Purgatory” can only bring atonement for the venial sins (that is what the Roman church teaches - the Christ I believe in died and was fully punished for all the sins of the elect).
Only venial sins one has not confessed. Unconfessed venial sins are purged in purgatory, but still we are not to presume that, but “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” Otherwise I agree.
As for the other bit, you are confused. You make an assertion but fail to back it up. I just quoted from the Roman Catholic catechism. The amount of time a person spends in purgatory is “subjective” in that it is different from another person, and based on the individual’s performance. (Again, this is according to the RCC - the Christ I believe in was punished for my sins so I don’t have to be.)
Of course each person is treated individually–how else? And I think “performance” is a poor description, as if ones stay in purgatory depended on how many merits one has gained. Christ indeed took all our sins upon himself. Who is denying that?

Purgatory is God’s way of showing us mercy for the venial sins we have not confessed–sins which Jesus’ death would atone for IF we had confessed them in life. If venial sins are not confessed (in private or to ones confessor) then they remain. We must cooperate with God’s grace, not presume upon it. My sins are also totally atoned for by Christ, but I should confess them. Purgatory is God’s act of mercy so that Christ’s atonement can take care of unconfessed venial sins.

Purgatory is also a mercy in that our temporal punishment is satisfied–things we should have done to heal the damage our sins did. Even this God has made simple for prayer and acts of charity are enough to satify for this. And purgatory cleanses us of all unlawful earthly attachments, especially to sinning in ways we didn’t want to let go of while on earth–holding grudges and that sort of thing.

Jesus doesn’t make us instantly perfect simply because we say one prayer and that’s it–the Anglican liturgy/teaching do not support that idea. We are creatures who live within time. We have ample opporturnities to grow in holiness as we have ample opportunities to remain or grow worse in our sins. That’s our part of cooperating with God’s grace–the choices we make. Purgatory reveals the choices we made and purges us of all the dross, as St. Paul called it.
 
Only venial sins one has not confessed. Unconfessed venial sins are purged in purgatory, but still we are not to presume that, but “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” Otherwise I agree.

Of course each person is treated individually–how else? And I think “performance” is a poor description, as if ones stay in purgatory depended on how many merits one has gained. Christ indeed took all our sins upon himself. Who is denying that?

Purgatory is God’s way of showing us mercy for the venial sins we have not confessed–sins which Jesus’ death would atone for IF we had confessed them in life. If venial sins are not confessed (in private or to ones confessor) then they remain. We must cooperate with God’s grace, not presume upon it. My sins are also totally atoned for by Christ, but I should confess them. Purgatory is God’s act of mercy so that Christ’s atonement can take care of unconfessed venial sins.

Purgatory is also a mercy in that our temporal punishment is satisfied–things we should have done to heal the damage our sins did. Even this God has made simple for prayer and acts of charity are enough to satify for this. And purgatory cleanses us of all unlawful earthly attachments, especially to sinning in ways we didn’t want to let go of while on earth–holding grudges and that sort of thing.

Jesus doesn’t make us instantly perfect simply because we say one prayer and that’s it–the Anglican liturgy/teaching do not support that idea. We are creatures who live within time. We have ample opporturnities to grow in holiness as we have ample opportunities to remain or grow worse in our sins. That’s our part of cooperating with God’s grace–the choices we make. Purgatory reveals the choices we made and purges us of all the dross, as St. Paul called it.
It seems to me that your saviour is impotent. He needs your help to save you, and even then his cross and death isn’t the whole of the punishment due to you for your sins. You still have to be punished. And Rome teaches that even confessed sins are punished in purgatory, unless an indulgence is obtained or necessary works of satisfaction are done.
 
They have been laxly enforced. Doesn’t mean the canons are not there. I know quite a few clergy who call themselves Anglo-Catholic who subscribe to the Articles. I read a blog called the “Anglican Continuum” whose main contributors are American ACs who affirm the Articles.
Yes, I know those folk. Have met at least 2 of them, IIRC.

Sure a lot of different types in Anglicanism. Need a word for that.

GKC
 
It seems to me that your saviour is impotent. He needs your help to save you, and even then his cross and death isn’t the whole of the punishment due to you for your sins. You still have to be punished. And Rome teaches that even confessed sins are punished in purgatory, unless an indulgence is obtained or necessary works of satisfaction are done.
Please don’t resort to such tactics. You know perfectly well that Catholics believe Christ’s death satisfies for sin. Those in purgatory ARE SAVED–by Christ’s redemptive act.

And if you don’t believe you need to confess your sins nor need purgation for your lack of cooperation with God’s grace, well that’s up to you–it’s no skin off my nose. 🤷

OSAS is not Anglican teaching–it’s Reformed. Perhaps you should reevaluate which faith community you really belong to? :hmmm:
 
Please don’t resort to such tactics. You know perfectly well that Catholics believe Christ’s death satisfies for sin. Those in purgatory ARE SAVED–by Christ’s redemptive act.

And if you don’t believe you need to confess your sins nor need purgation for your lack of cooperation with God’s grace, well that’s up to you–it’s no skin off my nose. 🤷

OSAS is not Anglican teaching–it’s Reformed. Perhaps you should reevaluate which faith community you really belong to? :hmmm:
Well, that’s just the other prong of the same fork we’ve been using on Indifferently. “Depends which Anglican you ask.” There are indeed Anglicans who hold on to Reformed doctrine and are just as Anglican who are Catholic in every way except for visible communion with the Pope. And there are Anglicans who can be barely called Christian but are still Anglican nonetheless. Indifferently is just as Anglican as GKC, despite their differing perspectives. That’s also why Indifferently can’t just claim he holds on to “pure” Anglicanism. What he holds on to is a strain of Anglicanism, but he is Anglican.

Motely, as GKC would say.
 
It seems to me that your saviour is impotent. He needs your help to save you, and even then his cross and death isn’t the whole of the punishment due to you for your sins. You still have to be punished. And Rome teaches that even confessed sins are punished in purgatory, unless an indulgence is obtained or necessary works of satisfaction are done.
Interesting lack of imagination. You appear to be unable to tell the difference between God being UNABLE to overpower our human wills versus a God who out of love seeks to give us the Grace to transform and perfect our human wills, but only does so when we choose to allow him. That’s a serious deficiency in perception.

I’m confused how reformed protestants are able to imagine a heaven populated by sinners that God has “gotten off” the consequences of their sins without fundamentally changing them. Such an approach almost has to result in a heaven just as flawed as this earth or a heaven populated by divinely operated marionettes. Only the catholic understanding makes any sense in light of the free will God gave us, the perfection of His character (and therefore heaven) and our eternal destiny.

I’m guessing you aren’t a parent yet, eh? Any parent understands the difference between punitive justice for a wayward child and instructive justice that forms the character of that child. Purgatory is about the latter. It’s not punitive, it’s sanctifying.
 
… Indifferently is just as Anglican as GKC, despite their differing perspectives. That’s also why Indifferently can’t just claim he holds on to “pure” Anglicanism. What he holds on to is a strain of Anglicanism, but he is Anglican.
I do feel for indifferently. He’s being told that his claimed religious label is virtually vacant of any real definable meaning besides a historical patrimony of English-ness. Ouch.

I mean, if you can’t say that Bishop Spong was a bad Anglican, who CAN you say it about??
 
Please don’t resort to such tactics. You know perfectly well that Catholics believe Christ’s death satisfies for sin. Those in purgatory ARE SAVED–by Christ’s redemptive act.

And if you don’t believe you need to confess your sins nor need purgation for your lack of cooperation with God’s grace, well that’s up to you–it’s no skin off my nose. 🤷

OSAS is not Anglican teaching–it’s Reformed. Perhaps you should reevaluate which faith community you really belong to? :hmmm:
“OSAS”? You do realize modern evangelicalism and Reformed theology are not the same thing? The doctrine that “OSAS” is a parody of is the doctrine of the preservation (or perseverance) of the saints. The three part Homily on the Salvation of Mankind’s (Book of Homilies) is quite clear that man cannot lose his justification.
 
Well, that’s just the other prong of the same fork we’ve been using on Indifferently. “Depends which Anglican you ask.” There are indeed Anglicans who hold on to Reformed doctrine and are just as Anglican who are Catholic in every way except for visible communion with the Pope. And there are Anglicans who can be barely called Christian but are still Anglican nonetheless. Indifferently is just as Anglican as GKC, despite their differing perspectives. That’s also why Indifferently can’t just claim he holds on to “pure” Anglicanism. What he holds on to is a strain of Anglicanism, but he is Anglican.

Motely, as GKC would say.
In fact, GKC has said much the same thing, in much the same words that you have, here. On more than one occasion. It’s not approbation, it’s description.

GKC, in every way, etc, etc.
 
Motley is great word to describe Anglicans. That being the case, I think it is important to point out that those on the extreme ends of the spectrum (Calvinist to Anglo-Papist) are not a very good representation of the whole of Anglicanism. I would think that a majority of Anglicans tend to fall in the “via media” camp when it comes to protestant and catholic and they tend to avoid the extremes. Many may lean a bit to the protestant side or lean a bit to the catholic side, but they would still fall within the via media.
 
Motley is great word to describe Anglicans. That being the case, I think it is important to point out that those on the extreme ends of the spectrum (Calvinist to Anglo-Papist) are not a very good representation of the whole of Anglicanism. I would think that a majority of Anglicans tend to fall in the “via media” camp when it comes to protestant and catholic and they tend to avoid the extremes. Many may lean a bit to the protestant side or lean a bit to the catholic side, but they would still fall within the via media.
I would agree.

GKC
 
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