The Eucharist: Mystery of Presence, Sacrifice, and Communion

782 Pages·2018·4.88 MB·English

by  Lawrence Feingold

“A stunning achievement. Lawrence Feingold’s up-to-date study of the
Eucharist is truly comprehensive, taking the reader from the book of
Genesis through the Upper Room and all the way to Pope Francis. The
result is a biblical, patristic, medieval, modern, and thoroughly Catholic
study of the sacrament that is the ‘source and summit of the Christian life.’
And all this in clear and accessible prose! This work will be essential
reading for anyone interested in Eucharistic theology for decades to
come.”
—BRANT PITRE
Professor of Sacred Scripture, Notre Dame Seminary
“Dr. Feingold has written a masterful summary of the Catholic theology of
the Eucharist that integrates scriptural and patristic foundations with
scholastic and magisterial teachings on Eucharistic presence, the Mass as
sacrifice, the participation of the faithful in the sacrifice of the Mass, the
fruits of the Eucharist, adoration of the Eucharist, and contemporary
canonical–pastoral questions regarding the worthy reception of Holy
Communion. Drawing upon St. Thomas Aquinas and other eminent
theologians, Dr. Feingold provides a treatment of the Holy Eucharist that
is ideal for Catholic university and seminary classes on ‘the most august
sacrament.’”
—ROBERT L. FASTIGGI
Professor of Systematic Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary
“In addition to being a Catholic theologian of the highest rank, Professor
Lawrence Feingold is also one of the very finest teachers in the Catholic
academy today. Like his intellectual and spiritual master, St. Thomas
Aquinas, Feingold not only sees deeply into Catholic truth, he also unlocks
for his students the wise order by which the faith is most fully intelligible.
This book on the Eucharist showcases Professor Feingold at the height of
his theological and pedagogical powers. Professors of sacramental
theology now have a resource that is sure to enrich their courses—and the
spiritual lives of their students.”
2
—ROGER W. NUTT
Associate Professor of Theology and Director of the MA Program
in Theology, Ave Maria University
3
— THE —
EUCHARIST
4
— THE —
E U C H A R I S T
M P ,
YSTERY OF RESENCE
S C
ACRIFICE, AND OMMUNION
L AW R E N C E F E I N G O L D
www.emmausacademic.com
Steubenville, Ohio
5
Steubenville, Ohio
www.emmausacademic.com
A Division of The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
Editor-in-Chief: Scott Hahn
1468 Parkview Circle
Steubenville, Ohio 43952
© 2018 Lawrence Feingold
All rights reserved. Published 2018
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Feingold, Lawrence, author.
Title: The Eucharist : mystery of presence, sacrifice, and communion /
Lawrence Feingold.
Description: Steubenville : Emmaus Academic, 2018. | Includes
bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017037498 (print) | LCCN 2017039059 (ebook) |
ISBN
9781945125744 (ebook) | ISBN 9781945125720 (hardcover) | ISBN
9781945125737 (pbk.)
Subjects: LCSH: Lord’s Supper--Catholic Church.
Classification: LCC BX2215.3 (ebook) | LCC BX2215.3 .F45 2017 (print)
| DDC 234/.163--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017037498
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The Revised
Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (Ignatius Edition) Copyright ©
2006 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.
Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition,
6
copyright © 2000, Libreria Editrice Vaticana--United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. Noted as CCC in the text.
Imprimatur: In accordance with CIC 827, permission to publish has been
granted on October 18, 2017, by the Most Reverend Mark S. Rivituso,
Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of St. Louis. Permission to publish is an
indication that nothing contrary to Church teaching is contained in this
work. It does not imply any endorsement of the opinions expressed in the
publication; nor is any liability assumed by this permission.
Cover image: The Last Supper (1481–1482), Cosimo Rosselli, Sistine
Chapel, Vatican City
Cover design and layout by Margaret Ryland
7
Contents
ABBREVIATIONS
INTRODUCTION
STRUCTURE OF THE WORK
PART I: FOUNDATIONS
CHAPTER ONE: WHY DID CHRIST INSTITUTE THE EUCHARIST?
REASONS OF FITTINGNESS FOR THE EUCHARIST
Sacrament of Spiritual Nourishment
Sacrament of Charity
Presence
Sacrificial Love
Intimate Union
Three Ends of the Eucharist
CHRIST INSTITUTED THE EUCHARIST FOR THE SAME REASONS THAT
HE BECAME MAN
1. Presence
Divine Condescension Wishing to Dwell with Us
Teaching Perfect Virtue
The Merit of Faith
2. Sacrifice
Expiatory Sacrifice of Atonement
Full Revelation of the Divine Love
3. Communion
Divinization of Man
The Eucharist Is the Principal Means of Divinization
Dignity of Man
The Eucharist Is the Nuptials of the Lamb with His Church
8
The Eucharist and the Giving of the Holy Spirit
Mary and the Eucharist
THE EUCHARIST WAS INSTITUTED TO BE THE SUMMIT OF THE
SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY
Uniqueness of the Eucharist Compared with the Other Sacraments
The Eucharist and the New Covenant
The Eucharist and the Mysteries of Christ
STUDY QUESTIONS
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
CHAPTER TWO: THE EUCHARIST PREFIGURED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
FIGURE OF THE REAL PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST: THE
SHEKHINAH
FIGURES OF THE SACRIFICE OF THE EUCHARIST
Priesthood and Sacrifice before the Mosaic Law
Priesthood and Sacrifice in the Law of Moses
Different Kinds of Old Testament Sacrifice
Solemnity and Quantity of Sacrifice in the Temple
The Passover
Sealing of the Old Covenant
FIGURES OF THE EUCHARIST AS SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT UNDER
THE SACRAMENTAL SIGNS OF BREAD AND WINE
Manna
The Offering of Melchizedek
The Bread of the Presence
Unleavened Bread of the Passover and the Four Cups of Wine
The Tree of Life
Yearning of the Prophets for Union with God
Unity of Presence, Sacrifice, and Spiritual Nourishment
STUDY QUESTIONS
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING
9
CHAPTER THREE: THE EUCHARIST IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE IN JOHN 6
FOUR ACCOUNTS OF THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST
Synopsis of the Accounts of the Last Supper
Preparation for the Last Supper
Betrayal of Judas Announced
Announcement That Jesus Would Not Eat Another Passover
The Institution Narrative
The Setting: Preparing the Passover
Why Did Christ Choose the Last Supper as the Time to Institute the
Eucharist?
The Date of the Last Supper according to John
Four Positions on the Date of the Last Supper in John and the
Synoptics
Synoptic Hypothesis
Johannine Hypothesis
Essene Calendar Hypothesis
Passover Hypothesis
Significance of the Passover as the Setting for the Last Supper
The Passover Seder Described in Luke’s Account
SACRIFICIAL CONNOTATIONS OF THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
“My Body Given for You”
“Do This in Remembrance of Me”
Blood Poured Out for the Forgiveness of Sins
Blood of the Covenant / New Covenant in My Blood
Christ’s Knowledge of His Sacrifice
OTHER REFERENCES TO THE EUCHARIST IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1 Corinthians 11:23–32
1 Corinthians 5:6–8 and 10:16–21
The Eucharist in Luke 24 and the Acts of the Apostles
Hebrews
Revelation
10