Eucharistic Spirituality

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Eucharistic Spirituality
An Overview of Anglican Theolgy in Thought
Practice
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• 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

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• 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!

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• 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 Unsaidin 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

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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.

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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)
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• 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.

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Eucharistic Spirituality Part 2
An Overview of Anglican Theolgy in Thought
Practice
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Equal Tme... Celebrant facing East or Tabernacle
not the wall!
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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?
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Sacrifice under the Covenant (Old Testament)

• Unblemished Offering
• Atonement
• Deliverance from Bondage
• Ritual Sacrifice
• Types and Shadows

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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
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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
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Effectiveness of a Shared Meal
What do you like about a shared meal?
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Cosmic Hospitality
Generosity, Spontaneity, Inclusiveness,
Welcoming, SharingGrace, Forgiveness...
Communion "In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth." (Genesis 11)"You shall
also love the stranger, for you were strangers in
the land of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 1019)"Do not
neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by
doing that some have entertained angels without
knowing it." (Hebrews 132)