Eucharistic Spirituality An Overview of Anglican Theolgy in Thought

							         Eucharistic Spirituality




An Overview of Anglican Theolgy in Thought & Practice
               Sources of Information and Formation

   The Bible – Passover Meal, Maundy Thursday, Agape feast,
     St Paul (1 Cor), Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation)

   Sacred Tradition – Didache, Apostolic Traditions

   The Book of Common Prayer – Beginning in 1549

   Customs, Piety, and Local Flavor
                                            Some Anglican Distinctives
                                            and Contributions
                                            The offering of the Eucharist in the
                                            vernacular (usually) not Latin.

                                            The offering is “common prayer” not
                                            the private work of the priest.

                                            Although “Protestant” still retains
                                             catholic values (role of priesthood,
                                             sacramental, etc.)

                                            Restored an epiclesis in the Western
                                             Rite long before the Roman Rite did

The principle of lex orandi, lex credendi; literally, the law of prayer is the law
of belief.

The Book of Common Prayer is the expression and articulation of what


 Anglicans believe and practice... even with all its ambiguities and omissions!
Rite and Ceremony

The Rite (words of
the service) are
prescribed in the Book
of Common Prayer.

The Ceremony (the
ways in which the
service is carried out)
is not spelled out in
the Book of Common
Prayer.


Things Left Unsaid
in the BCP...

    Vestments to be worn (or not to be worn)
    Leavened or Unleavened bread for the eucharist

    The use of icons, candles, or crosses

    Manual gestures of the celebrant (only to touch the elements)

    Requirements to genuflect or bow
                                 Novus Ordo Missae:
                                 Changes in Rite & Ceremony
                                 in Recent Times




The Second Vatican Council brought in far-reaching reform, not just in
the Roman Church, but in Anglicanism and global Christianity as a
whole. The overall purpose was to renew the church and move toward
Christian unity as a whole.

Some Post-Conciliar Eucharistic Reforms

Simple, approachable liturgies. Revised Lectionaries.
Emphasis on Eucharist as common meal rather than ritual action.

Removal of “secret” prayers and priestly actions.

Movement of the altar away from the wall

Replacement of choir chant with folk music.
Classic Anglican
Eucharistic Aphorism

Christ was the Word that
spake it;
He took the bread and
brake it;
And what that Word did
make it;
I do believe and take it
(John Donne - Divine Poems. On the
Sacrament)
Anglican Eucharistic
 Theology & Spirituality
Divergent in belief and practice
  (Low, High, Broad)
Multiform not uniform in composition

Comprehensive in tradition

Comfortable with mystery

Anchored in the BCP tradition

Most affirm “real presence” of Christ




Ideas are often tied to particular
technical and hermeneutic interests
of various church parties within the
Anglican tradition.
  Eucharistic Spirituality – Part 2




An Overview of Anglican Theolgy in Thought & Practice
Equal Tme... Celebrant facing East or Tabernacle not the wall!
The Eucharist as Metaphor and Symbol

           “Symbolic evocation transcends the
          impotence of conceptual articulation.”
                 ---Edward Schillebeeckx
                              --or--

         To launch the power of a symbol is much more
             powerful that just expressing concepts

                              --or--

        What is the easier way to understand the idea of a
         swimming pool: a lecture on contained water, or
                    jumping into a filled pool?
Sacrifice under the Covenant (Old
            Testament)


                     Unblemished Offering
                     



                     Atonement
                     



                     Deliverance from Bondage
                     



                     Ritual Sacrifice
                     



                     Types and Shadows
                     
   Eucharist as 'Reheasal of the Archetype'

 archetype - an original model of a person,
 ideal example, or a prototype after which
 others are copied, patterned, or emulated; a
 symbol universally recognized


Practice - to do repeated exercises for proficiency

Rehearsal - something recounted or told again
            and again
                Mystical Union


                    Transcends Natual Union

                    Beyond Human Accomplishment

                    Comfort of Mind, Soul & Spirit

                    Quickening of the Imagination

                    Abiding peace


God is at once the Giver, the Guest and the Gift
Effectiveness of a Shared Meal




What do you like about a shared meal?
    Cosmic Hospitality
 Generosity, Spontaneity, Inclusiveness, Welcoming, Sharing
               Grace, Forgiveness... Communion
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
(Genesis 1:1)

"You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the
land of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 10:19)

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that
some have entertained angels without knowing it." (Hebrews
13:2)