Orthodox Christians and the Real Presence:

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Jon
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The ecumenical discussion has shown that these two positions must no longer be regarded as opposed in a way that leads to separation. The Lutheran tradition agrees with the Catholic tradition that the consecrated elements do not simply remain bread and wine but by the power of the creative Word are bestowed as the body and blood of Christ. In this sense it also could occasionally speak, as does the Greek tradition of a “change”.36 The concept of transsubstantiation for its part is intended as a confession and preservation of the mystery character of the Eucharistic presence; it is not intended as an explanation of how this change occurs37 (see the appendices on “Real Presence” and “Christ’s Presence in the Eucharist”).
The last sentence, by Catholic theologians, does use the term mystery. And it is by this that I was careful not to use the terms “explain” or "define. If the term “express” is also wrong, then I again apologize, but it seemed innocuous, and not unlike “confess”.
Although the commentary is not an official definition of how Transubstantiation is doctrinally defined, it reveals that the character of the mystery is preserved in the Eucharist and never defines how this change occurs. John of Damascus already revealed that it is by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Transubstantiation never touches this divine mystery.

Unless Orthodox and Lutherans can do better to defend the RP in the Eucharist other than what the Catholic Church has defended against all doubters that a change occurs by transubstantiation.
There is no need to protest "transubstantiation
", If one can only hold to “mystery” when the secular world protests the mystery as to “how” or when does this mystery take place. The Catholic Church answered with “transubstantiation”. Orthodox never gives an answer except “mystery”. Lutherans with “under and over” never addresses that a change occurs and for me leaves faith suspended. When trans. removes all doubt that a change occurs to begin “faith” in the mystery of the real presence.

Peace and joy to you this advent season
 
It is borderline heresy because you relate your senses in perceiving bread and wine as being a mystery, (Quote by Jon) “This here speaks of the mystery”,“While our senses perceive bread it is His body”, after you made the false claim that “if Catholics want to use metaphysics to express the real presence, that fine. But to dogmatically define it, it seems unnecessary”.

Transubstantiation does not “express the real presence” but only confirms a changed has occurred. It is the Catholic faith which expresses that what has changed from the substance of bread and wine into the body, blood soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.

Transubstantiation does not express the Catholic faith but only confirms a change has occurred to the substance of bread and wine. Transubstantiation never defines or expresses that the bread and wine have changed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This is where I think you and the Orthodox arguments falls apart.
What? I think you might want to review your Aristotle, and then review what Trent says. It anathematizes any one who:
denieth, that, in the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist, are contained truly, really, and substantially, the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ; but saith that He is only therein as in a sign, or in figure, or virtue" and anyone who "saith, that, in the sacred and holy sacrament of the Eucharist, the substance of the bread and wine remains conjointly with the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and denieth that wonderful and singular conversion of the whole substance of the bread into the Body, and of the whole substance of the wine into the Blood - the species only of the bread and wine remaining - which conversion indeed the Catholic Church most aptly calls Transubstantiation, let him be anathema.
Transubstantiation states exactly that the bread and wine have become the body and blood of Christ, to the exclusion of any other explanations of the mystery of the Eucharist (that the gifts remain in appearance like bread and wine but truly are the blood and body of Christ), an example of myopic scholasticism par excellence for sure.
 
Gabe is pointing out depending one’s conviction of faith on senses…when instead, it is the working of our will with Christ’s grace…

We are always taught never to trust in our feelings…except in peace combined with unity and communion…but detachment and use of our faith in Christ alone.

We receive the Eucharist, we do not feel the Lord many times, but simply affirm in ‘Amen’ that He is truly present in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist.
 
Cavaradossi;8706697]What? I think you might want to review your Aristotle, and then review what Trent says. It anathematizes any one who:
Very well said KathleenGee:)

Jon and I are splitting hairs here in regards to the definition of transubstantiation and the mystical presence of Jesus body, blood, soul and divinity present in the Eucharist.

Transubstantiation never defines the mystical presence of Jesus body and blood. Transubstantiation only confirms that a change has occurred.

transubstantiation - an act that changes the form or character or substance of something

The definition alone of transubstantiation never reveals or defines the mystical presence of Jesus body, blood soul and divinity, “only that a change has occurred”. Jon and some Orthodox posters falsely make the claim that transubstantiation is revealing, defining, expressing the presence of the mystical body of Christ in the Eucharist.

Our Catholic faith is what defines, expresses and reveals to us that the consecrated substance of bread and wine have transubstantiated (changed) into the body, blood, soul an divinity of Jesus Christ. Transubstantiation never expresses our Catholic faith only reveals that a change has occurred to the substance of bread and wine.

I am sorry that it takes splitting hairs during these discussions so that our separated brethren can see more clearly our Catholic faith.
Transubstantiation states exactly that the bread and wine have become the body and blood of Christ, to the exclusion of any other explanations of the mystery of the Eucharist (that the gifts remain in appearance like bread and wine but truly are the blood and body of Christ), an example of myopic scholasticism par excellence for sure.
It is our Catholic faith that defines what the bread and wine have transubstantiated into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Again Transubstantiation only confirms that a change has taken place.

Iam arguing that transubstantiation never attempts to define the mystery of God’s presence in the Eucharist, to those posters who make the false claim that transubstantiation attempts to reveal the mystical presence. Our Catholic faith far surpasses transubstantiation. Where Transubstantiation begins our Catholic faith is lifted into the mystery of the mystical true presence of Jesus body, blood, soul and divinity in His Eucharist.

Peace be with you
 
=Gabriel of 12;8706318]It is borderline heresy because you relate your senses in perceiving bread and wine as being a mystery, (Quote by Jon) “This here speaks of the mystery”,“While our senses perceive bread it is His body”, after you made the false claim that “if Catholics want to use metaphysics to express the real presence, that fine. But to dogmatically define it, it seems unnecessary”.
Transubstantiation does not “express the real presence” but only confirms a changed has occurred. It is the Catholic faith which expresses that what has changed from the substance of bread and wine into the body, blood soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.

No, no, Gabe. I am relating as a mystery that it is the body and blood of Christ, irrespective of what our senses perceive. Our senses have nothing to do with the mystery.

Transubstantiation does not express the Catholic faith but only confirms a change has occurred to the substance of bread and wine. Transubstantiation never defines or expresses that the bread and wine have changed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This is where I think you and the Orthodox arguments falls apart.

Ok, confesses, then.
As far as when the Catholic church defines (explains) an apostolic doctrine, is mostly due to confirm our apostolic faith against attacks from heretics and heresies. To use your logic as not needing to define or explain, then there would never have been a need to define, defend the doctrine of the blessed Trinity.
I understand that.
I believe it is becomes a deceptive argument when one tries to use the Catholic Church’s ECF’s teachings to contradict with transubstantiation, because the ECF’s never dispute or deny transubstantiation, (if anything the ECF’s support transubstantiation by confirming a change has occurred), Mainly due because they never had to defend against the True presence in the Eucharist, because it was already an apostolic faith.
But I didn’t say it contradicts it. I just said it doesn’t state it in those terms. This is why I said a Lutheran can agree with the words of St. Cyril, and why Melanchthon references him in the Apology.

Jon
 
=Gabriel of 12;8706365]Although the commentary is not an official definition of how Transubstantiation is doctrinally defined, it reveals that the character of the mystery is preserved in the Eucharist and never defines how this change occurs. John of Damascus already revealed that it is by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Transubstantiation never touches this divine mystery.
Ok.
Unless Orthodox and Lutherans can do better to defend the RP in the Eucharist other than what the Catholic Church has defended against all doubters that a change occurs by transubstantiation.
I think we all do well - Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans - when we proclaim the words of Christ Himself in His testament- “This is my body”. So, let me rephrase, if Catholics wish to defend the RP in the Eucharist by using Transubstantiation, that’s fine.
There is no need to protest "transubstantiation
", If one can only hold to “mystery” when the secular world protests the mystery as to “how” or when does this mystery take place.

Here you’ve stated my position. I’m not “protesting” Transub. For me as a Lutheran, I’m simply saying I don’t need it.
The Catholic Church answered with “transubstantiation”. Orthodox never gives an answer except “mystery”. Lutherans with “under and over” never addresses that a change occurs and** for me leaves faith suspended**. When trans. removes all doubt that a change occurs to begin “faith” in the mystery of the real presence.
Well, its “in, with and under”, but if our confession of it is not enough and leaves your faith suspended, then by all means Transubstantiation. Regardless, we stand together in defending His real presence in the Eucharist.
Peace and joy to you this advent season
And also with you.

Jon
 
Gabe is pointing out depending one’s conviction of faith on senses…when instead, it is the working of our will with Christ’s grace…

We are always taught never to trust in our feelings…except in peace combined with unity and communion…but detachment and use of our faith in Christ alone.

We receive the Eucharist, we do not feel the Lord many times, but simply affirm in ‘Amen’ that He is truly present in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist.
Amen,

Jon
 
=Gabriel of 12;8708318]
Jon and I are splitting hairs here in regards to the definition of transubstantiation and the mystical presence of Jesus body, blood, soul and divinity present in the Eucharist.
Transubstantiation never defines the mystical presence of Jesus body and blood. Transubstantiation only confirms that a change has occurred.
I am glad you see this as “splitting hairs”, and not me perpetuating a lie.
The definition alone of transubstantiation never reveals or defines the mystical presence of Jesus body, blood soul and divinity, “only that a change has occurred”. Jon and some Orthodox posters falsely make the claim that transubstantiation is revealing, defining, expressing the presence of the mystical body of Christ in the Eucharist.
If my “falsehood” is the use of the term “express” (I never said define or reveal), and this is the wrong term in Catholic thought, then mea culpa, but not out of some intent, I promise.

And, I understand your sensitivity to this, since we too are often accused falsely of confessing consubstantiation.

Jon
 
Transubstantiation states exactly that the bread and wine have become the body and blood of Christ, to the exclusion of any other explanations of the mystery of the Eucharist (that the gifts remain in appearance like bread and wine but truly are the blood and body of Christ), an example of myopic scholasticism par excellence for sure.
This is the patristic teaching. If it happens to agree with “myopic” scholasticism…great.

I have no idea what you think you are talking about here…truly.
 
This is the patristic teaching. If it happens to agree with “myopic” scholasticism…great.

I have no idea what you think you are talking about here…truly.
Do you believe in a world of substances and accidents? Does the substance of God truly have some sort of ontological primacy over the person of God the Father, as the Catholic Encyclopedia so proudly claims was the genius of Thomas Aquinas? There is a real problem with allowing Christian thought to be cast in the image of Aristotle rather than recasting Aristotle in the image of Christian thought. Trent excludes any non-Aristotelian explanation of the Eucharist, hence why I find the pronouncement to be myopic: it might have achieved the goal of defining the Catholic position on the Eucharist against the Protestants, but it has also had unintended consequences when it comes to dealing with traditions that have no background in scholasticism.
 
Do you believe in a world of substances and accidents? Does the substance of God truly have some sort of ontological primacy over the person of God the Father, as the Catholic Encyclopedia so proudly claims was the genius of Thomas Aquinas? There is a real problem with allowing Christian thought to be cast in the image of Aristotle rather than recasting Aristotle in the image of Christian thought. Trent excludes any non-Aristotelian explanation of the Eucharist, hence why I find the pronouncement to be myopic: it might have achieved the goal of defining the Catholic position on the Eucharist against the Protestants, but it has also had unintended consequences when it comes to dealing with traditions that have no background in scholasticism.
I don’t mean to be rude but this is silly. Aristotle brought the concept and term “ousia” to the discussion of the Incarnation. Should we dump that too?

Aquinas speaks analogously. The meaning is the same as the plainly worded meaning. The body and blood are there: the appearances of bread and wine are there. One is the substance: the latter is the appearance [accident].

You’re blithering in your objections…makes no plain sense.

Take out ousia and we’ll take out transubstantiation.

Deal?
 
Aquinas speaks analogously. The meaning is the same as the plainly worded meaning. The body and blood are there: the appearances of bread and wine are there. One is the substance: the latter is the appearance [accident].
👍
 
Defining Christ through human reason alone is pretty much impossible without faith…

The Church had to create a word ‘consubstantiate’ meaning that Christ is of the same substance of the Father…

I would tend to agree with Gabe…that it is the Church and not Aristotle…but take it further…the full communion of the Church that provides the adequate and lawful definition of Christ in the Eucharist…

But others’ comments here also reflect the forthcoming restoration of our mutual communion with each other as well…

Is it a mere veil of language that divides us…or in simply accepting the primacy of the Church…?..

I also note how the Church begins as a seed in understanding Christ, and how many contribute through time our understanding of Him…how much did the apostles themselves understand Christ after His death and resurrection compared to the faith of the Church in later times? I am referring here to St. John Damascus and later, St. Cyril’s expansion of the sacrament of the Eucharist…
 
I don’t mean to be rude but this is silly. Aristotle brought the concept and term “ousia” to the discussion of the Incarnation. Should we dump that too?

Aquinas speaks analogously. The meaning is the same as the plainly worded meaning. The body and blood are there: the appearances of bread and wine are there. One is the substance: the latter is the appearance [accident].

You’re blithering in your objections…makes no plain sense.

Take out ousia and we’ll take out transubstantiation.

Deal?
I would be perfectly willing to take out ousia, as it means nothing to English speakers, and replace it with a more appropriate term (of one divinity might be even preferable to saying ‘of one essence’ or ‘consubstantial’ in English: what in the world does essence or consubstantial even mean to your average English speaker?).

I am not blithering, I am making the same point the article you linked a while back makes.

orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/orth_plato.aspx
Now the so-called “monarchia of the Father” in eastern Trinitarian theology means person trumps impersonal thing. Even the divine ousia exists because the Father is the PERSONAL source of the communion of divine hypostases that is the ousia. The west tends to take it the other way around, beginning with ousia, and thus, from an eastern perspective, betrays the very essence of the meaning of the Trinity as interpersonality as ultimate reality. With the influx of insufficiently re-constructed philosophical concepts in the west, you get the re-paganization of Christian theology in the west as instanced by debates over God’s foreknowledge of future contingents, whether it is matter or form of an ousia/substantial thing that individuates (and individuates both things and persons), and so on. The west was captured by an ousiological metaphysics.
I would say that transubstantiation falls into this very same re-paganization of Christian theology that the primacy of the ousia of God over the hypostasis of the Father falls into.

If the reference to Aristotle is purely analogous, then it should be easy enough for the Catholic Church to allow for people to confess that the gifts are the body and blood of Christ, but remain tasting like wine and bread without having to delve into substances and accidents, no? Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear at all to be what Trent is saying.
 
If the reference to Aristotle is purely analogous, then it should be easy enough for the Catholic Church to allow for people to confess that the gifts are the body and blood of Christ, but remain tasting like wine and bread without having to delve into substances and accidents, no? Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear at all to be what Trent is saying.
I am having difficulty understanding your misunderstandings. Since when are the gifts ever confessed that they are the body and blood of Christ?

The gifts that are taken up to the altar are signs and symbols, before they become the True body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.

If you confuse the gifts with the body and blood of Christ? How is anything else you discusss can be taken at face value?

I yield for your clarification of understanding the difference between the liturgical gifts and the body, blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

Peace be with you
 
I am having difficulty understanding your misunderstandings. Since when are the gifts ever confessed that they are the body and blood of Christ?

The gifts that are taken up to the altar are signs and symbols, before they become the True body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.

If you confuse the gifts with the body and blood of Christ? How is anything else you discusss can be taken at face value?

I yield for your clarification of understanding the difference between the liturgical gifts and the body, blood of Christ in the Eucharist.

Peace be with you
Indeed, you seem quite confused. Properly speaking the Eucharist, from Greek meaning thanksgiving, refers to the action or rite by which bread and wine are consecrated. The bread and wine, both before and after the consecration may be called the holy gifts. Sometimes the term Eucharist is used to refer to the consecrated elements, but they may also be called, the consecrated elements, the offerings, etc… You seem to be grasping at straws here, as it should be rather obvious that I meant the consecrated gifts, not the gifts before consecration.
 
JonNC;8708413]I am glad you see this as “splitting hairs”, and not me perpetuating a lie.
Forgive me, I hope not to intend as you being the perpetrator of a lie. I hope to express the argument raised by those who reject transubsubstantiation as expressing, defining, revealing or entering paganology terminology, to define the mystical body of Christ is what I would label “the lie” against the definition of transubstantiation.
If my “falsehood” is the use of the term “express” (I never said define or reveal), and this is the wrong term in Catholic thought, then mea culpa, but not out of some intent, I promise.
And, I understand your sensitivity to this, since we too are often accused falsely of confessing consubstantiation.
I think it is safe to say that **transubstantiation **answers the question “what has occurred” (happened) during the confecting of the bread and wine that **a change “only” has occured to the substance of bread and wine. **

**Our Catholic faith answers the question “what has the bread and wine transubstantiated into”? **Answer? Into the (“mystical = sacramental”) True presence of Jesus body, blood, soul and divinity which becomes our Eucharist = thanksgiving in worshipping God in Spirit and Truth.

Your Lutheran theology of late may have to rewrite some history because many historians I have read hold Lutherans to “consubstantiation”. Yet it is my late understanding that there are different Lutherans holding to different Lutheran doctrines such as some holding to “consubstantiation” and other Lutherans not holding to “consubstantiation”, which can cause some confusion. But you have set the record straight with me on your position as to not holding to “consubstantiation”.

Please accept my apologies if I came across unintentionally as placing you as “lying” and find it to forgive me, for using that word to refute the argument that transubstantiation tries to define, express or reveal a mystery of God. When trans. only defines a change.

Thanks for clarifying your position:thumbsup:I believe we have made some progress here from our positions; Don’t you think Jon?🙂
 
Indeed, you seem quite confused. Properly speaking the Eucharist, from Greek meaning thanksgiving, refers to the action or rite by which bread and wine are consecrated. The bread and wine, both before and after the consecration may be called the holy gifts. Sometimes the term Eucharist is used to refer to the consecrated elements, but they may also be called, the consecrated elements, the offerings, etc… You seem to be grasping at straws here, as it should be rather obvious that I meant the consecrated gifts, not the gifts before consecration.
Thanks for your clarification. From your comments it would appear that I find some contradiction of terms from when and how they are expressed in the Latin rites or Greek rites or another Orthodox rite.

If not properly stated it is easy to take ones comments out of context, as I found myself doing in reading your posts.

Had you applied “holy gifts” from your original post, I don’t think I would of drawn a confused consclusion from your post when you used “gifts” to define the body, blood of Jesus Christ.

I have found that much misunderstanding comes from definition of terms between our different rites, which both begin from two different means of thought expressed, yet both arrive at the same revelation.

Thus; you believe the Eucharist is not ordinary bread and wine, you do well. I profess the same thing. **My understanding **raises my Catholic faith much deeper and higher into the mystery of the Eucharist because transubstantiation defines to me that the substance of bread and wine are no more ordinary bread and wine.

You see before the common man could read and write and believed the world was flat. My Catholic faith professed the RP in the Eucharist without the need of “transubstantiation”. Because our ECF’s already believed a “change”, “transformation” has occurred to the confected bread and wine.

But when man grew in knowledge and understanding, the world begged the question? how do you believe the bread and wine have changed into the body and blood of Christ? The Church answered these little ones appetite from their carnal knowledge “transubstantiation” of course. The question was never; what did the bread and wine change into? because this was already revealed and believed in from our Catholic faith always.

I find your argument against the definition of transubstantiation as being paganology to be false (scientifically) at best and very misunderstood. Because the church confirms a change has occured to the bread and wine by transubstantiation. You relate this to a form of paganology? When you believe the same thiing that a change has occured without trans.?

You are relating a proven scientific term such as transubstantiation to be paganology? This is a strawmans argument.

Aristotle, transubstantiation never ever said that the bread and wine changes into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. You appear to be making this false profession of faith all by yourself here?

The Catholic Church never makes this declaration of faith as you appear to be making, by attaching poor Aristotle and transubstantiation to define a mystery of the Eucharist of the true presence.

Can you reveal when and how Aristotle or Transubstantiation reveal that the bread and wine by themselves change into the RP of Jesus body, blood? When and where did you ever come across this new teaching? Because your understanding of Aristotle and transubstantiation is never a Catholic understanding of faith.
 
=Gabriel of 12;8713010]Forgive me, I hope not to intend as you being the perpetrator of a lie. I hope to express the argument raised by those who reject transubsubstantiation as expressing, defining, revealing or entering paganology terminology, to define the mystical body of Christ is what I would label “the lie” against the definition of transubstantiation.
Accepted.
I think it is safe to say that **transubstantiation **answers the question “what has occurred” (happened) during the confecting of the bread and wine that **a change “only” has occured to the substance of bread and wine. **
**Our Catholic faith answers the question “what has the bread and wine transubstantiated into”? **Answer? Into the (“mystical = sacramental”) True presence of Jesus body, blood, soul and divinity which becomes our Eucharist = thanksgiving in worshipping God in Spirit and Truth.
Understood.
Your Lutheran theology of late may have to rewrite some history because many historians I have read hold Lutherans to “consubstantiation”. Yet it is my late understanding that there are different Lutherans holding to different Lutheran doctrines such as some holding to “consubstantiation” and other Lutherans not holding to “consubstantiation”, which can cause some confusion. But you have set the record straight with me on your position as to not holding to “consubstantiation”.
I would contend that not a one of those historians would be Lutheran. But you are right that some Lutherans, whom I would think poorly catechized, do. It would be, at best, inconsistent had the Lutheran reformers used the term or construct of consubstantiation, while at the same time rejecting Transubstantiation, on the grounds of metaphysics.
Please accept my apologies if I came across unintentionally as placing you as “lying” and find it to forgive me, for using that word to refute the argument that transubstantiation tries to define, express or reveal a mystery of God. When trans. only defines a change.
Gabe, I find you one of the best, most sincere Catholic apologists here. Your explanation is more than sufficient.
Thanks for clarifying your position:thumbsup:I believe we have made some progress here from our positions; Don’t you think Jon?🙂
Clearly so, and I thank you for your “catechizing” me on Catholic thought. Understanding each other is the first step to unity, ISTM.

Jon
 
JonNC;8713293]Clearly so, and I thank you for your “catechizing” me on Catholic thought. Understanding each other is the first step to unity, ISTM
.

Thanks Jon, I think I speak for most Catholics here, that it is a joy and honor having you on these boards and what you post is respected and accepted in sincerety and loving charity, especially when we are sharing one another’s Christian faith.

I agree with you in that Understanding is the first step to “Our” unity.

God bless you Jon

Gabe
 
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