 | Consubstantiation: Encyclopedia - Consubstantiation
Consubstantiation
also known as
"The Eucharist" or
"The Lord's Supper"
Theology
Consecration
Consubstantiation
Memorialism
Real Presence
Transubstantiation
Theologies contrasted
Important theologians
Paul ·Aquinas
Augustine · Calvin
Chrysostom · Cranmer
Luther · Zwingli
Related Articles
Christianity
Catholic Historic Roots
Closed and Open Table
Divine Liturgy
Eucharistic adoration
Eucharistic discipline
First Communion
Infant Communion
Mass · Sacrament
Sanctification
Consubstantiation is a theory which, like the competing philosophical theory of transubstantiation, attempts to describe the nature of the Christian Eucharist in concrete metaphysical terms. It holds that during the sacrament the fundamental "substance" of the body and blood of Christ are present alongside the substance of the bread and wine, which remain present. Transubstantiation differs from consubstantiation in that it postulates that through consecration, according to some, that one set of substances (bread and wine) is exchanged for another (the Body and Blood of Christ) or, according to others, that the reality of the bread and wine become the reality of the body and blood of Christ. The substance of the bread and wine do not remain, but their accidents (superficial properties like appearance and taste) remain.
Consubstantiation is commonly -- though erroneously -- associated with the teachings of Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon, but many present-day Lutherans reject this term and, in fact, reject any attempt to explain the presence of Christ in the Eucharist philosophically. Luther did teach that the body and blood of Christ are present "in, with, and under the forms" of bread and wine, and present-day Lutherans hold to this statement while disagreeing about its exact meaning. Luther illustrated his belief about the Eucharist "by the analogy of the iron put into the fire whereby both fire and iron are united in the red-hot iron and yet each continues unchanged," a concept which he called "sacramental union." (The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, F.L. Cross, Ed., London: Oxford, 1958, p. 337). Consubstantiation is also affirmed by a minority of Anglicans and Eastern Orthodox Christians.
Consubstantiation - History and culture
In England in the late 14th century, there was a political and religious movement known as Lollardy. Among much broader goals, the Lollards affirmed a form of consubstantiation -- that the Eucharist remained physically bread and wine, while becoming spiritually the body and blood of Christ. Lollardy was effectively ended with the execution of John Badby for heresy by burning at the stake.
In literature the conflict between Consubstantiation and Transubstantiation was satirically described in Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" as war between Lilliput and Blefuscu.
Eucharistic theologies contrasted, Real Presence
See also
- Eucharistic theologies contrasted
- Real Presence
Categories: Christian liturgy, rites, and worship services | Lutheranism
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 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Consubstantiation", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
