In or As this Bread or WIne

[FraStefano]

Quick question. At Mass we often sing a well known hymn at the offertory called Gifts of Bread and Wine. It contains the lines:

Christ our Saviour, living presence here
as he promised while on earth:
“I am with you for all the time,
I am with you in this bread and wine.”

Is this good Catholic theology? or should we sing AS this Bread and Wine. In my head “in the form of” does not mean “in” but more “as”. For example, he appeared in the form of a lion means he appeared as a lion not in a lion. Opinions?

 

[Vico]

Quick question. At Mass we often sing a well known hymn at the offertory called Gifts of Bread and Wine. It contains the lines:

Christ our Saviour, living presence here
as he promised while on earth:
“I am with you for all the time,
I am with you in this bread and wine.”

Is this good Catholic theology? or should we sing AS this Bread and Wine. In my head “in the form of” does not mean “in” but more “as”. For example, he appeared in the form of a lion means he appeared as a lion not in a lion. Opinions?

Oxford dictionary:
in, preposition : expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else

 

[Gorgias]

Is this good Catholic theology?

Hymns are hymns – poetry set to music – and not theological essays. I think we might consider giving them latitude for the differences between strict definitions of “as” and “in”.

 

[Mrchatsworth]

I do think we get lazy with theology in hymns. Bending them to music and structure at the sacrifice of theology and meaning.