B
Ben_G
Guest
Click here to read what the Catholic Encyclopedia has to say about this topic.
Note especially:
“By virtue of the words of consecration, or ex vi verborum, that only is made present which is expressed by the words of Institution, namely the Body and the Blood of Christ. But by reason of a natural concomitance (per concomitantiam), there becomes simultaneously present all that which is physically inseparable from the parts just named, and which must, from a natural connection with them, always be their accompaniment. Now, the glorified Christ, Who “dieth now no more” (Rom, vi, 9) has an animate Body through whose veins courses His life’s Blood under the vivifying influence of soul. Consequently, together with His Body and Blood and Soul, His whole Humanity also, and, by virtue of the hypostatic union, His Divinity, i.e. Christ whole and entire, must be present. Hence Christ is present in the sacrament with His Flesh and Blood, Body and Soul, Humanity and Divinity.”
This seems to help clairfy why the Church teaches what it does. Basically, where it says, “that only is made present which is expressed by the words of Institution,” we believe that at the words of Institution the bread becomes the Body of Christ and the wine becomes the Blood of Christ. However, and this is where things get complicated, “the glorified Christ, Who “dieth now no more” (Rom, vi, 9) has an animate Body through whose veins courses His life’s Blood under the vivifying influence of soul.” Therefore, the Body or the Blood of Christ cannot exist independently without having everything, Body, Blood, Soul, Humanity and Divinity – thus remaining alive.
Note especially:
“By virtue of the words of consecration, or ex vi verborum, that only is made present which is expressed by the words of Institution, namely the Body and the Blood of Christ. But by reason of a natural concomitance (per concomitantiam), there becomes simultaneously present all that which is physically inseparable from the parts just named, and which must, from a natural connection with them, always be their accompaniment. Now, the glorified Christ, Who “dieth now no more” (Rom, vi, 9) has an animate Body through whose veins courses His life’s Blood under the vivifying influence of soul. Consequently, together with His Body and Blood and Soul, His whole Humanity also, and, by virtue of the hypostatic union, His Divinity, i.e. Christ whole and entire, must be present. Hence Christ is present in the sacrament with His Flesh and Blood, Body and Soul, Humanity and Divinity.”
This seems to help clairfy why the Church teaches what it does. Basically, where it says, “that only is made present which is expressed by the words of Institution,” we believe that at the words of Institution the bread becomes the Body of Christ and the wine becomes the Blood of Christ. However, and this is where things get complicated, “the glorified Christ, Who “dieth now no more” (Rom, vi, 9) has an animate Body through whose veins courses His life’s Blood under the vivifying influence of soul.” Therefore, the Body or the Blood of Christ cannot exist independently without having everything, Body, Blood, Soul, Humanity and Divinity – thus remaining alive.
Elizabeth,
) ? Yes, it does! Jesus specificly mentioned both seperately! This is not a matter of whether one contains the other or a matter of practice, but a matter of what we were instructed to do by Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We were instructed to partake of both seperately, and that is what has been established through Holy Tradition.
CM