Rediscovering The Eucharist

Essays from an ecumenical conference that promote a further convergence in our understanding of the Eucharist.

Raymond Moloney has taught the theology of the Eucharist over many years, as professor and writer, both in Ireland and in Kenya. His work is marked by lucidity and deep scholarship. As the Eucharist lies so close to the heart of our faith it was inev

Winner of a first-place award for popular presentation of the faith and second-place in pastoral ministry, catechetical resource from the Catholic Media Association. Many Catholics don’t believe that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist. Rather, they see the bread and wine of Holy Communion as mere symbols of Christ’s body and blood. Is that disbelief just a misunderstanding or is it a blatant rejection of one of the central beliefs of the faith? In Real Presence, University of Notre Dame theologian Timothy P. O’Malley clears up the confusion and shows you how to learn to love God and neighbor through a deeper understanding of the doctrine of real presence. A 2019 study by the Pew Research Center found that almost seventy percent of Catholics don’t believe that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist. O’Malley offers a concise introduction to Catholic teaching on real presence and transubstantiation through a biblical, theological, and spiritual account of these doctrines from the early Church to today. He also explores how real presence enables us to see the vulnerability of human life and the dignity of all flesh and blood. O’Malley leads you to a deeper understanding and renewed faith in Catholic teaching about transubstantiation and real presence by helping you learn how the doctrine of real presence is rooted in divine revelation and how the Church’s teaching regarding transubstantiation is spiritually fruitful for the believer today; how to make your own the doctrine of real presence by worshipping Christ in the Eucharist and therefore making a real assent to real presence; how the Eucharist, although not the exclusive presence of Christ in the Church’s liturgy and mission, is crucial in growing our capacity for recognizing those other presences; and the important relationship between Eucharistic communion and adoration.

Following his father's classic work CHURCH DOGMATICS, Markus Barth considered the doctrine of the Lord's Supper, which, had not received a full treatment. His work resulted in an exegesis of the Lord's Supper texts in the Synoptics, the Fourth Gospel, and the Pauline letters. His perspective sees the Lord's supper and its accomanying Agape meal as a symbolic event that allows God's people to commune in an atmosphere that remains open to all, including the Jews, whose Passover continues to shed light on this sacrament. His presentation covers the Lord's Supper, Passover, the relationship of Christians and Jews, and the participation of children in communion. He challenges the definitions of Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry as expressed in the Lima Document, offering one of the most sharply stated alternatives available. His discussion provides a reexamination of the Lord's Supper as a symbol of ecumenism--the opportunity for all God's people to celebrate together. This approach makes an important ecumenical contribution to understanding the Lord's Supper from a New Testament perspective.

We live hectic lives in a chaotic world. All this can lead to confusion that fogs the mind,unsettles the soul, and leads to poor decisions. Amidst such chaos and confusion, our soulsyearn for peace and clarity. We long to hear God¿s voice with greater clarity.God wants to put things in order. He wants to rearrange our priorities. If we let him, we will behappier than we ever thought possible in this lifetime, and finally then we will come to knowthe peace for which we all yearn, but so few of us ever find. Our Catholic spirituality isconstantly inviting us to establish the deep roots of order in our lives, and one of the best waysI know to do that is by praying the Rosary.The Rosary works. It¿s a very powerful way to pray. There is just something about it that settlesour hearts and minds. It puts everything in perspective and allows us to see things as they reallyare. It reaches deep down into our souls and puts us at ease, creating a peace that is rare andbeautiful. When I pray the Rosary, I am a better person. It makes me a better son, brother, husband,father, employer, neighbor, citizen, and a better member of the human family. It teaches me toslow down, calm down, let go, surrender, and listen. The Rosary teaches me how to simply be; and that is not a small or insignificant lesson. It is the perfect prayer for busy people in a busy,noisy, confused world.But don¿t take my word for it. Try it for yourself. Develop a habit of praying the Rosary.The Rosary will focus you. It will calm your heart, mind, and spirit, so you can hear the voice ofGod. It will open the eyes of your heart so that you can recognize him at work in your life. It willlead you to make better decisions, become a better listener, get clear about what matters mostand what matters least, and fill your life with peace and order. Discover for yourself thetreasures of this powerful, ancient prayer.

This book explores the character of the Eucharist as communion inand through sacrifice. It will stimulate discussion because of itscontroversial critique of the dominant paradigm for Eucharistictheology, its reclamation of St Thomas Aquinas’s theology ofthe Eucharist, and its response to Pope John Paul II’sEcclesia de Eucharistia. Argues that the Eucharist cannot be separated from sacrifice,and rediscovers the biblical connections between sacrifice andcommunion. Timed to coincide with the Year of the Eucharist, proclaimed byPope John Paul II. Reclaims the riches of St Thomas Aquinas’s theology ofthe Eucharist, which had recently been reduced to a metaphysicaldefence of transubstantiation.