1. Transubstantiation The term has two meanings: As a description
Trans means “change over” (eg transform)
Transubstantiation means “change in substance”.
The bread and wine are substantially changed, so that they are no longer bread and wine but Christ’s body and blood
A philosophical explanation
St.Aquinas tried to explain the change in terms of a philosophical theory.
He understood “substance” to mean “essence” in a philosophical sense . He tried to explain that in transubstantiation, the substance of something ie its essential nature, is replaced by the action of the Holy Spirit, but leaving the “accidents” (visible properties) intact.
This distinction of “substance” and “accidents” made use of Aristotle’s philosophy. Not scriptural at all! And the Holy Spirit is not a “cause”. It was therefore rejected by the Reformers.
Luther preferred to speak of “sacramental union” between the elements and Christ’s body and blood, rather than “change” from one into the other. (aka consubstantiation)
The Church teaches that Transubstantation in the meaning of (1) must be believed as a doctrine – it does not suggest that the philosophical understanding of the term in (2) must be accepted. Orthodox avoid the controversy by referring to it as “trans-elementation” and a “mysterious” change.

2. The Eucharist NT background
C/P Differences in the sacrificial character of the Eucharist
C/P Differences in the manner of Jesus’ presence
Modern developments
Implications for practice
Evaluation of similarities/ differences

3. The NT Background
Contrast the 2 traditions. Which tradition focuses on sacrifice more? Which tradition emphasising Covenant more, and Jesus’ glorified humanity more?
In the New Testament - 2 traditions: Lk-Paul and Mt-Mk
Mt-Mk is a slightly later tradition, representing a more developed understanding of what Jesus’ death meant.
Mt 26: While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Lk 22:19
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Eucharist = “thanksgiving” in Greek
1 Cor 10:14 – St.Paul
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
Mk 14:22-25
While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
1 Cor 11:23 – St.Paul
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Lk-Paul emphasise more the risen glorified presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the New Covenant he establishes.
Mt-Mk use imagery reflecting sacrifice themes in the OT. Jesus’ death is a sacrificial, redemptive death.

4. “do this in remembrance”
Psychological sense
Anamnesis: Biblical understanding of “to remember”
Means a timeless representation making a past sacred reality actually present, through ritual.
Christ’s saving work is actually made present, here and now, through the ritual of the mass
It is not a new or different sacrifice, or a re-offering of a victim. It is the same act as Jesus’ self-offering.
It makes present Jesus as he is now (risen, glorified).
Jesus himself pre-figured and made real his sacrifice, in celebrating the Last Supper with his disciples (but that was Jesus present in a humanity able to suffer)
Protestants reject this biblical meaning of “remembering”.
In the Protestant celebration of the Eucharist, the focus is on psychologically remembering Jesus’ saving death, so as to inspire and strengthen faith. Through faith, Jesus then becomes truly present, in a real way.
Luther: the mass is not a sacrifice that can be offered, because this would be doing “a good work” : God’s grace can only come through the one, historical and unique sacrifice of Christ on the cross, obtained by faith. Not by anything humans can do. Reject understanding of Last Supper as sacrificial ritual, hinted at by institution narratives.
AGREE: that in the Eucharist, Jesus is really present. His Real Presence is communicated to the believers, under the form of bread and wine – somehow.
DISAGREE: if the mass is a sacrifice. And on how the bread and wine make Jesus “really present”.

5. The Reformation rejected the Catholic Mass as a “work” of the devil:
“Yea, I declare that all the brothels, all manslaughters, murders, thefts and adulteries have wrought less evil than the abomination of the popish mass” (Luther).

6. Contrast Catholic/ Orthodox and Protestant views
Read Sections A to D on the handout.
Briefly summarise differences in:
Meaning of “do this in remembrance”
Eucharist as sacrifice
Eucharist as ascending vs. descending worship
Eucharist as participation in Christ
To what extent is there agreement about the character of the Eucharist in different Christian traditions ?

7. Recap Catholics emphasise. Protestants emphasise..
For both traditions: Eucharist is Real Presence of Christ, spiritual sustenance, symbol Christ’s death and resurrection, God’s love.
Catholics emphasise.
Sacrificial aspect of last supper
Anamnesis: re-presentation of the same sacrifice of Christ
Ascending attitude to worship: mass is highest expression of worship
Objectification of consecrated host as Real Presence of Christ: adoration of it.
Now more emphasis on participating in Eucharist, for union with Christ.
Protestants emphasise..
Reject sacrifice view – Jesus’ was the one and only sacrifice, unrepeatable
Remembrance is in psychological sense only
Sola fide – only attitude of faith brings blessings
Not a good work: no blessings apart from in faith (descending attitude to worship)
Focus on participating for closer union with Christ, participation as Body of Christ

8. The manner of Christ’s Presence
The Holy Spirit makes Christ a personal presence, it “communicates” his body and blood in a spiritual, but not literal, way (Reformed Protestants – Calvin. Presbyterians)
Bread and wine do not “communicate” anything. They help the believer remember what Jesus did, in a psychological sense, to strengthen faith. This then brings God’s grace. (Zwingli. Radical reformed – baptists, evangelicals)
The manner of Christ’s Presence
Really present in the power (virtus) of the Spirit, through faith
Symbolically through faith
Co-exists alongside the bread and wine, which remain bread and wine
= consubstantiation (Lutherans, Anglicans)
Really present, literally and physically, in his full humanity and divinity
Complete change in substance, so the bread and wine so longer exist as bread and wine, but are, substantially, the body and blood of Christ = transubstantiation (Catholic/ Orthodox)
Which do you think is the case? Why?

9. Explain 3 different understandings of how Christ is present in the Eucharist

10. The Manner of Christ’s presence
Draw a long arrow, from LITERAL to SYMBOLIC
make notes on the following theologies on separate boxes of paper
Place them along your arrow, in order of literal to symbolic
Memorialism
Consubstantiation
Transubstantiation
Virtualism
Literal
Symbolic

11. Implications for Practice
CATHOLICS
PROTESTANTS
Not necessarily celebrated weekly
Outsiders are welcomed to participate
Focus is on faith and communion between believers
Take communion to the sick
Called “Celebration of Last Supper” rather than “Eucharist”
Celebration of Mass high point of Church’s worship
Crumbs, spills carefully managed
Displayed for adoration
“Reserved” in Tabernacle, with great respect
Christ is as present in the Word of Scripture as he is in the bread/ wine

12. Similarities, differences