TIMELINE: Major Developments in Understanding The Eucharist

[Righteousone]

30-33 A.D
PUBLIC MINISTRY OF JESUS:
Meals are important—the wedding feast at Cana, feeding of the 5,000, dining with sinners and tax collectors
JESUS INSTITUTES THE EUCHARIST:
At the Last Supper, He commands His disciples to “Do this in memory of me”. (1 Cor.11:23-25, Mt. 26:26-29, Mk. 14:22-25)
POST RESURRECTION MEALS:
The disciples walk with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, but recognize Him in Breaking of the Bread (Luke 24:13-35). Christ prepares breakfast on the seashore.

                NEW TESTAMENT

 EUCHARIST AS PART OF AN AGAPE MEAL:

Paul scolds Corinth about its Eucharistic practices (1 Cor. 11:17-22, 26-34), and reminds them that “every time we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim the death of Our Lord” (11:26)
2nd-8th CENTURIES:
Ignatius of Antioch–Letter to the Philadelphians:
Three things are norm:
1.) gathered assembly
2.) the presidency of bishop
3.) the action of praise and thanksgiving with bread and wine.
JUSTIN MARTYR (150)
1.) Early christians gathered on a Sunday
2.) presiders gave thanks
3.) Eucharist taken to absent members
4.) Eucharist part of initiation rite
5.) infants receive precious Blood
TERTULLIAN (160-255) --on prayer:
1.) Communion on sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
2.) Penitential fasting and Eucharistic feasting are incompatible.
9-10 CENTURIES:
1.) Latin is being used at Mass
2.) private prayers of the priest added to the liturgy
3.) Shift in understanding—priest praying while people doing other things
4.) Priests begin to give Communion in mouth
5.) Communion is distributed after Mass
6.) Gradual removal of cup from laity

 

[Righteousone]

9th CENTURY CONTROVERSY:
Radbertus teaches that Christ’s presence is real and literal—God multiplies Body of Christ, hosts will bleed;
but Radbertus teaches that the presence of Christ is real and sacramental—bread and wine are true signs of Christ.
11th-12th CENTURIES:
1.) great attitude change
2.) Eucharist not something to eat and drink, but an object to be reverenced
3.) decline in reception of Communion–people don’t consider themselves worthy
4.) prolonged elevation of hosts. People have “ocular Communion”
5.) genuflection added at consecration
13th-15th CENTURIES:
1.) 1215 Lateran Council mandates minumum of communion once a year “Easter Duty”
2.) Pope Leo IV established the feast of Corpus Christi in 1264
3.) Thomas Aquinas and others use philosophical arguements “substance”= Body and blood of christ;
“accidents”= bread and wine
16th-17th CENTURIES:
1.) visits to Blessed Sacrament–Tabernacles built near altar
2.) Processions with blessed Sacrament carried in container
3.) Exposition of blessed Sacrament so faithful might glaze at it followed by Benediction
COUNCIL OF TRENT (1548-1563)
1.) defines Transubstantiation
2.) Order of Mass becomes uniform and in Latin
3.) Eucharist strenghtens us spiritually and wipes away venial sins
RITUAL OF 1614
1.) advocates frequent communion at Mass
2.) provides rituals for communion outside Mass
20TH CENTURY
1905—Pope X advocates frequent communion; allows reception at age of reason (7)
1963—Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
1.) Christ is present in people, priests word, Eucharistic species
2.) reform of the Mass, including return to vernacular language

 

[Righteousone]

1965—MASS OF PAUL VI
revised Liturgical year, Sacramentary and Lestionary
1973—IMMENSAE CARITAS
1.) permits extraordinary ministers for distribution for communion
2.) extends faculty to receive more than once per day
3.) eliminatesfast for ill and aged
4.) restores reception of Eucharist in the hand
2000
U.S. Bishops issue pastoral letter on the Real Presence.

This should be very interesting to non-Catholic christians who want to know how the Eucharist was started after Jesus initiated it.

 

[rstegeman]

Excellent timeline! You should provide some notations as to where you got this information that way people could research more if they should so desire.

Thank you, though, for this work. Great job!