Huldrych Zwingli the Implementation of the Lord’S Supper

Huldrych Zwingli The Implementation of the Lord’s Supper

Translation and Introduction by Jim West

Occasional Publications of the Pitts Theology Library Published by the generous support of Dr. and Mrs. Walker L. Ray in honor of Susan Snow Hope

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Zwingli, Ulrich, 1484-1531, author. | West, Jim, 1960- translator. Title: The Implementation of the Lord’s Supper / Huldrych Zwingli ; translation and Introduction by Jim West. Other Tites: Action oder Brauch des Nachtmals. English Description: Atlanta: Pitts Theology Library, [2016] | Series: Occasional Publications of the Pitts Theology Library Subjects: Lord’s Supper -- Early works to 1800 | Reformed Church -- Doctrines. | Reformation -- Switzerland -- Zurich. Classifcation: LCC BR346.A2813 2016 | DDC 230.4--dc23

9 8

namely, Easter, Pentecost, harvest time, and Christmas. and time, harvest Pentecost, Easter, namely, because he does not discern the Lord’s body.” Lord’s the discern not does he because

We will follow this practice, as far as it will please our churches, four times a year, year, a times four churches, our please will it as far as practice, this follow will We and as one should, eats and drinks judgment and condemnation to himself, himself, to condemnation and judgment drinks and eats should, one as and

tting tting f is as not is, that manner, unworthy an in drinks and eats who one the For

The plates and cups are wooden so that the pomp of the mass does not return. return. not does mass the of pomp the that so wooden are cups and plates The admonish, and examine himself, and then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. cup. the of drink and bread the of eat then and himself, examine and admonish,

rst investigate, investigate, rst f should person a refore n is, that manner, unworthy an in so does

congregation should do so in the same manner. manner. same the in so do should congregation death. Now, whoever eats this bread or drinks from this cup of the Lord but but Lord the of cup this from drinks or bread this eats whoever Now, death.

be divided as noted above. On Easter Day the most senior members of the the of members senior most the Day Easter On above. noted as divided be this bread and drink this cup, you should proclaim and highly praise the Lord’s Lord’s the praise highly and proclaim should you cup, this drink and bread this

in the thanksgiving in the same manner, although men and women should should women and men although manner, same the in thanksgiving the in This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat eat you as often as For me.’ of remembrance in it, drink you as often as do, This

are middle-aged should go to the named place of the chancel and participate participate and chancel the of place named the to go should middle-aged are saying, ‘Drink from this all of you. This drink is the new covenant in my blood. blood. my in covenant new the is drink This you. of all this from ‘Drink saying,

congregation should speak the concluding “Amen.” On Good Friday those who who those Friday Good On “Amen.” concluding the speak should congregation same manner he also took the cup after supper, gave thanks, and gave it to them them to it gave and thanks, gave supper, after cup the took also he manner same

with public and clear words and with a clear, distinctive voice. Then the whole whole the Then voice. distinctive clear, a with and words clear and public with this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the the In me.’ of remembrance in this do you; for broken is which body my is this

Once the elements are distributed, God should be given praise and thanks thanks and praise given be should God distributed, are elements the Once death, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; eat; ‘Take, said, and it broke he thanks, given had he when and bread; took death,

that the Lord Jesus, in the same night in which he was betrayed and given into into given and betrayed was he which in night same the in Jesus, Lord the that

from their seat. their from received and learned from the Lord that which I also reported to you, namely, namely, you, to reported also I which that Lord the from learned and received

wine should be similarly distributed so that it is not necessary for anyone to move move to anyone for necessary not is it that so distributed similarly be should wine I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you in this matter. For I I For matter. this in you praise not do I this? in you praise I Shall you? to say I

is to break off a bite or mouthful with his own hand and eat it. Thereafter the the Thereafter it. eat and hand own his with mouthful or bite a off break to is do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall shall What nothing? have who those shame and God of church the despise you do

at, wooden plate is to be distributed from one seat to the other, and each person person each and other, the to seat one from distributed be to is plate wooden at, f another is drunk. Do you not have houses in which you may eat and drink? Or Or drink? and eat may you which in houses have not you Do drunk. is another

by us in understandable German (as they follow hereafter). Then the bread on a a on bread the Then hereafter). follow they (as German understandable in us by Supper, for each one eats his own supper beforehand; and one is hungry and and hungry is one and beforehand; supper own his eats one each for Supper,

practice of Christ as he instituted this remembrance. The words should be spoken spoken be should words The remembrance. this instituted he as Christ of practice 11:20-29]: “When you come together in one place, you do not eat the Lord’s Lord’s the eat not do you place, one in together come you “When 11:20-29]:

the wine should be placed on a table in the chancel, according to the meaning and and meaning the to according chancel, the in table a on placed be should wine the rst epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 11 [1 Corinthians Corinthians [1 11 chapter Corinthians, the to Paul of epistle rst f the in written

in other places. And when the sermon has concluded, the unleavened bread and and bread unleavened the concluded, has sermon the when And places. other in The assistant or lector speaks with a loud voice thusly: What we now read is is read now we What thusly: voice loud a with speaks lector or assistant The

and the women on the left—while the others remain in the nave, the narthex, and and narthex, the nave, the in remain others the left—while the on women the and

together on Holy Thursday at the front of the church—the men on the right side side right the on men church—the the of front the at Thursday Holy on together the unity of the Holy Spirit, God eternal. Amen! eternal. God Spirit, Holy the of unity the

of God and who want to attend this thanksgiving and Supper, should gather gather should Supper, and thanksgiving this attend to want who and God of through the same Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in in you with reigns and lives who son, your Christ, Jesus Lord same the through

our Lord Jesus Christ, the disciples, who come in faith and in the knowledge knowledge the in and faith in come who disciples, the Christ, Jesus Lord our in remembrance of your only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Christ, Jesus Savior and Lord our Son, begotten only your of remembrance in

belongs to those who believe that they are redeemed by the death and blood of of blood and death the by redeemed are they that believe who those to belongs thanks as you have commanded us believers to do with true sincerity and faith faith and sincerity true with do to believers us commanded have you as thanks

apparent in this festive meal or thanksgiving, and since he assures them that he he that them assures he since and thanksgiving, or meal festive this in apparent maker, creator, and father, grant us poor sinners that we praise you and give you you give and you praise we that sinners poor us grant father, and creator, maker, T

God for the grace that he has shown us through his son, and since this grace is is grace this since and son, his through us shown has he that grace the for God God, whom all creatures rightly honor, worship, and praise as their their as praise and worship, honor, rightly creatures all whom God,

And since this remembrance is a thanksgiving to and rejoicing in the almighty almighty the in rejoicing and to thanksgiving a is remembrance this since And the following prayer with a loud, distinctive voice: O’ almighty, eternal eternal almighty, O’ voice: distinctive loud, a with prayer following the

F he bishop or pastor turns to the people and prays prays and people the to turns pastor or bishop he

that everything that does not conform to God’s word must be abolished. abolished. be must word God’s to conform not does that everything that

revealed that the supper of Christ is greatly misused. Thus it is necessary necessary is it Thus misused. greatly is Christ of supper the that revealed

at Easter in Zurich in the year 1525. year the in Zurich in Easter at

or a long time God’s word has strongly and clearly and strongly has word God’s time long a or

or Thanksgiving of Christ as it is instituted instituted is it as Christ of Thanksgiving or

A Preface A The Practice or Use of the Supper, Remembrance, Remembrance, Supper, the of Use or Practice The

OCCASIONAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE PITTS THEOLOGY LIBRARY Editor’s Preface

Since 1987 and the gift of the 41 early German Reformation imprints by Richard and Martha Kessler, the Pitts Theology Library has collaborated with the Kesslers and almost 150 other supporters of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection to build one of America’s most remarkable collections of early sixteenth century imprints related to Luther’s reformation in Germany. This corpus now includes more than 3,700 manuscripts and printed works, of which 1,052 were written by Martin Luther himself. In addition to several hundred works by Roman Catholic authors, the collection also includes works by other reformers who were engaging Luther and his supporters along the way. Such diversity in the collection was part of the collection development policy from the beginning, carefully articulated by Pitts Librarian Channing R. Jeschke in collaboration with the Kesslers and the Standing Advisory Committee for the Kessler Reformation Collection. The aim was always to enable researchers to hear both sides of the sixteenth-century debate.

The acquisition of rare and important materials related to the German Reformation has been accompanied over almost three decades by the lecture and musical programs of the annual Reformation Day at Emory University and the print and electronic publications that make the riches of the Kessler Collection more widely known and accessible. In addition, the creation of the Digital Image Archive—with its 60,000 digital images of woodcuts and etchings from special collections at the Pitts Theology Library, freely available to all for teaching and research via the Pitts Library’s home page—has made thousands of woodcuts from the Kessler Reformation Collection available to the church and academy. The current pamphlet represents Pitts’ latest effort to make Reformation materials available for the frst time in English translation.

Huldrych Zwingli’s Actio[n] oder Brauch des Nachtmals, Gedechtnus, oder Dancksagung Christi … (1525) was purchased for the Kessler Reformation Collection in 2010 and given a bookplate to honor Prof. Valerie Hotchkiss for her lecture at the 2011 Reformation Day at Emory. This rare volume was acquired to document the vigorous debate between Luther and Zwingli about the Lord’s Supper, one of the most divisive issues among Protestants in the third decade of the sixteenth century. We are delighted that Dr. Jim West, widely known for his scholarly engagement with Zwingli’s work, helped us identify a Zwingli pamphlet for translation and then undertook this diffcult project himself. His translation

10 7

. , 4: 25-34. [Number 52]) [Number 25-34. 4: , Werke Sämtliche Zwinglis Huldrych (

Ratschlag betreffend Ausschliessung vom Abendmahl für Ehebrecher, Wucherer ...... Wucherer Ehebrecher, für Abendmahl vom Ausschliessung betreffend Ratschlag his means Zwingli

The second edition of the pamphlet reads “Ezekiel and Joshua.” and “Ezekiel reads pamphlet the of edition second The 1

Now the Deacon or Lector says: The Lord be with you. with be Lord The says: Lector or Deacon the Now

Men and women: Amen. women: and Men

The grace of Christ be with you all. you with be Christ of grace The glory of God the Father. the God of glory

The Women: You are the Most High, O’ Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the the in Spirit Holy the with Christ, Jesus O’ High, Most the are You Women: The

little book. little

will happen (because we have little time now) will be explained later in another another in later explained be will now) time little have we (because happen will Lord. the are alone You Men: The

irremovable stains and spots have been cleansed and removed. However, how this this how However, removed. and cleansed been have spots and stains irremovable

us according to his will, reminds us that as members of the body of Christ our our Christ of body the of members as that us reminds will, his to according us One. Holy the are alone you For Women: The

that an innocent and pious life should follow) that this supper, given by God to to God by given supper, this that follow) should life pious and innocent an that

thanksgiving for his death should become commonplace among Christians and and Christians among commonplace become should death his for thanksgiving us. on mercy have Father, the of hand right the at sit who You Men: The

We also desire (because this remembrance of the suffering of Christ and and Christ of suffering the of remembrance this (because desire also We

The Women: You who take away the sin of world, hear our prayer! our hear world, of sin the away take who You Women: The

hearts and to win many people. people. many win to and hearts

devotion), for we hope that all leaders everywhere always endeavor to nurture nurture to endeavor always everywhere leaders all that hope we for devotion), us! on mercy have 1:29], [John world the of sin the

singing and others (which may all be suitable to them and conducive to fostering fostering to conducive and them to suitable be all may (which others and singing away takes who Father, the of Son God, of Lamb you, God; Lord O’ Men: The

However, we do not want to condemn the ceremonies of other churches, such as as such churches, other of ceremonies the condemn to want not do we However,

Spirit.

delity, the improvement of life, and the prevention of depravity. of prevention the and life, of improvement the delity, f brotherly and Holy the and Christ; Jesus son begotten only the you, Lord, O’ Women: The

heart in fostering the spiritual remembrance of Christ’s death, the increase of faith faith of increase the death, Christ’s of remembrance spiritual the fostering in heart

t for the human human the for t f and cial f bene somewhat be to them considered have We matter. Father! almighty King, heavenly God, Lord

ed) established such ceremonies that are useful regarding this this regarding useful are that ceremonies such established ed) f speci here are they O’ blessing, and glory great your of sake the for thanks you give We Men: The

poorly and meagerly and in order to acknowledge human ignorance, we have (as (as have we ignorance, human acknowledge to order in and meagerly and poorly

could eventually again be permitted. However, since the matter is dealt with so so with dealt is matter the since However, permitted. be again eventually could you. worship we you; beseech We Women: The

to prescribe ceremonies and ecclesiastical customs through which the old error error old the which through customs ecclesiastical and ceremonies prescribe to

is also a ceremony, but one instituted by Christ), even though we are disinclined disinclined are we though even Christ), by instituted one but ceremony, a also is you. glorify we you; praise We Men: The

we have been occupied in instructing our people in the use of this Supper (which (which Supper this of use the in people our instructing in occupied been have we

God have occurred until now as a result of many of these ceremonies. Therefore, Therefore, ceremonies. these of many of result a as now until occurred have God 2:14] [Luke people! the among spirit right a And Women: The

Without doubt, all believers certainly know what harm and leading away from from away leading and harm what know certainly believers all doubt, Without

ceremonies, and so we, therefore, wish to argue with no one regarding them. them. regarding one no with argue to wish therefore, we, so and ceremonies, earth! on peace And Men: The

respected less and others more. Each congregation has an opinion about these these about opinion an has congregation Each more. others and less respected

With regard to the accompanying ceremonies, some should be observed and and observed be should some ceremonies, accompanying the to regard With highest! the in God to Glory Pastor: The

its proper use, and we have done so with regard to the essence of the Supper. Supper. the of essence the to regard with so done have we and use, proper its litany: a of form the in verse each say women, and men both people, the

again with God’s help, as we hope, and have established it in accordance with with accordance in it established have and hope, we as help, God’s with again then and praise, of hymn following the of verse rst f the begins pastor the Now

the kings after a long imprisonment, so we have conquered the Passover lamb lamb Passover the conquered have we so imprisonment, long a after kings the

conquered conquered 34:3-7] Chronicles 2 [cf. Josiah and 18:4] Kings 2 [cf. Hezekiah praised. be God say: congregation whole the with together assistants the Then 1

refects both the strength of his scholarship and his personal engagement with the theological contributions of the great Swiss reformer.

Finally, I must express appreciation to three more who have made this work possible. First, Prof. Kurt K. Hendel, the Bernard, Fischer, Westberg Distinguished Ministry Professor Emeritus of Reformation History at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, carefully reviewed Dr. West’s translation and made many helpful comments. Prof. Hendel is renowned for his translations of the works of Johann Bugenhagen, a member of the Scholars Advisory Board for the Kessler Reformation Collection, and a steadfast friend of the Pitts Theology Library. In addition, I must note the generous contribution of Nancy and Walker Ray in honor of Susan Snow Hope, which has made this publication possible. Dr. Ray serves on the Standing Advisory Committee for the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection, and he and Nancy’s encouragement and involvement over the years has been exemplary. They are indeed friends of the Pitts Theology Library. Once more, the staff of the Creative Group, Emory University, have used their fne artistic sense and design expertise to produce a publication that is at once beautiful and reminiscent of the famous Flugschriften of the early sixteenth century. All these—translator, reviewer, patron, and designer—have collaborated in a beautiful way to allow Zwingli’s voice to be heard once more, but this time in English. For this we can all be thankful.

M. Patrick Graham Margaret A. Pitts Professor of Theological Bibliography Candler School of Theology, Emory University

11 6

celebration of this supper. Just as the children of Israel at the time of of time the at Israel of children the as Just supper. this of celebration

faith and love, we realize that not the least have occurred in connection with the the with connection in occurred have least the not that realize we love, and faith

to us. In spite of the fact that very many errors have arisen and brought harm to to harm brought and arisen have errors many very that fact the of spite In us. to

with much desire, because the error was all the more damaging and dangerous dangerous and damaging more the all was error the because desire, much with Then the Pastor begins the Creed: I believe in one God, one in believe I Creed: the begins Pastor the Then

his grace. This was also esteemed so highly by us and was accepted and received received and accepted was and us by highly so esteemed also was This grace. his

that God our heavenly Father has revealed the proper way and light through through light and way proper the revealed has Father heavenly our God that The people say: Amen! say: people The

lled era of darkness we are overjoyed, dearest brothers, brothers, dearest overjoyed, are we darkness of era lled f error- and long a After

according to his holy word he desires to forgive all of our sin. our of all forgive to desires he word holy his to according W

and peace. and Then the lector kisses the book and says: God be praised and thanked, because because thanked, and praised be God says: and book the kisses lector the Then

the word of God. May God grant his grace grace his grant God May God. of word the serve and to obedient

are life.” life.” are e entreat all Christian people inhabiting Zurich to be be to Zurich inhabiting people Christian all entreat e

they and spirit, are you to speak I that words The nothing. ts f pro esh f the life;

should see the Son of Man ascend where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives gives who Spirit the is It before? was he where ascend Man of Son the see should

then if you you if then What you? offend this “Does them, to said he this, about complained

who can understand it?” However, when Jesus knew himself that his disciples disciples his that himself knew Jesus when However, it?” understand can who

However, many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; saying; hard a is “This said, this, heard they when disciples, his of many However,

live forever.” These things he said in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Capernaum. in taught he as synagogue, the in said he things These forever.” live

not as your fathers ate the manna and are dead. Whoever eats this bread will will bread this eats Whoever dead. are and manna the ate fathers your as not

on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven— from down came that bread the is This me. of because live will me on

my living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father’s will, so he who feeds feeds who he so will, Father’s the of because live I and me, sent Father living my

esh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As As him. in I and me, in abides blood my drinks and esh f my eats Whoever indeed.

esh is food indeed, and my blood is drink drink is blood my and indeed, food is esh f My day. last the on up him raise will

esh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I I and life, eternal has blood my drinks and esh f my eats Whoever you. in life no

esh of the Son of Man and do not drink his blood, you have have you blood, his drink not do and Man of Son the of esh f the eat not do you

esh to eat?” However, Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if if you, to say I truly, “Truly, them, to said Jesus However, eat?” to esh f his us

give give man this can “How saying, themselves, among quarreled therefore Jews The

esh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” world.” the of life the for give shall I which esh, f my is give shall I that bread the

who came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and and forever; live will bread this of eats Whoever heaven. from down came who

from heaven so that everyone who eats of it does not die. I am the living bread bread living the am I die. not does it of eats who everyone that so heaven from

ate the manna in the wilderness and died. This is the bread that comes down down comes that bread the is This died. and wilderness the in manna the ate

believes and trusts in me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers fathers Your life. of bread the am I life. everlasting has me in trusts and believes

Then the Lector begins thusly [John 6:47-63]: Truly I say to you, “He who who “He you, to say I Truly 6:47-63]: [John thusly begins Lector the Then

The people respond: Thanks be to God. God. to be Thanks respond: people The

in Zurich in the year, as commonly reckoned, 1525. reckoned, commonly as year, the in Zurich in sixth chapter of John [John 6:47-63]. [John John of chapter sixth

or Thanksgiving of Christ as it is instituted at Easter Easter at instituted is it as Christ of Thanksgiving or Then the Lector says: What is hereafter read from the Gospel is written in the the in written is Gospel the from read hereafter is What says: Lector the Then

The Practice or Use of the Supper, Remembrance, Remembrance, Supper, the of Use or Practice The The people answer: And with your spirit. spirit. your with And answer: people The

Then the ordained ministers carry around the unleavened bread, and each believer takes a bite or a mouthful with his own hand or allows it to be offered by the Translator’s Preface minister who carries the bread around. And after those with the bread have distributed it so that everyone has eaten a piece, the other ministers follow with In the summer of 2015 Prof. Pat Graham and I discussed over lunch the the cup and in the same way give each one a drink. All of this happens with such possibility of making more of Zwingli’s works available to English-speaking audiences. This pamphlet is the frst step toward that end. It presents Zwingli’s reverence and propriety as is, indeed, proper in the community of God and in work in a modern English translation that is faithful to both the reformer’s words Christ’s supper. and intent.

After everyone has eaten and drunk, one should give thanks after the example Very few of Zwingli’s writings have been translated into English. Indeed, those of Christ with Psalm 112 [Psalm 113:1-9], and the shepherd or pastor begins as that have ft into three average size volumes, and all those volumes were published follows: at the beginning of the twentieth century. Not a single work of Zwingli’s has been The Pastor: Give praise, you servants of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord. rendered into modern English for over a century. This is in my view an unacceptable reality. Accordingly, I want to thank Prof. The Men: Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and forevermore! Graham for the invitation to provide this translation and the Standing Advisory Committee for the Kessler Reformation Collection for bringing it to fruition. God The Women: From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Lord’s name is to be willing, future days will see additional works of this great reformer in modern praised. English translation.

The Men: The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Finally, I would like to dedicate this slender volume to several colleagues in Zurich who share my opinion that Zwingli deserves greater appreciation and The Women: Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high and can be seen wider accessibility. Their input in connection with various projects regarding Zwingli over the years has been utterly indispensable.1 So to them this work is below in heaven and on earth? offered with great appreciation (in no particular order): Emidio Campi, Peter Opitz, Pierrick Hildebrand, Luca Baschera, and Christian Moser. The Men: Who raises the simple one out of the mud,

The Women: So that he seats him with the princes, the princes of his people.

The Men: He appoints the barren one of the house to be a mother who experiences joy with children.

Then the pastor says: Lord, we give you thanks for all of your gifts and blessings, who lives and reigns, God forever!

The people answer: Amen!

The Pastor should say: Go in peace!

1 Jim West, The Humor of Huldrych Zwingli: The Lighter Side of the Protestant Reformation (Lewiston: Edwin Mellen Press, 2007); idem, “Christ Our Captain”: An Introduction to Huldrych Zwingli (Quartz Hill: Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2011); idem, Through the Year with Zwingli and Bullinger (Quartz Hill: Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2015).

14 3

5 12

, ed. Lee Palmer Wandel (Brill’s Companions to the Christian Tradition, 46; Leiden: Brill, 2014) 57-74. 2014) Brill, Leiden: 46; Tradition, Christian the to Companions (Brill’s Wandel Palmer Lee ed. , Reformation

A Companion to the Eucharist in the the in Eucharist the to Companion A in Bullinger,” Heinrich and Zwingli “Huldrych Euler, Carrie e.g., See,

204-207.

(New Haven: Yale University Press, 2015) 2015) Press, University Yale Haven: (New Reformer Visionary Luther: Martin Hendrix, H. Scott recently, Most 1

The Men and Women: Amen. Women: and Men The

The Men: And everlasting life. everlasting And Men: The

throughout, even when the translation treats his actual words rather freely. rather words actual his treats translation the when even throughout,

to modern readers. Nonetheless, the spirit of Zwingli’s intention is retained retained is intention Zwingli’s of spirit the Nonetheless, readers. modern to The Women: The resurrection of the body. the of resurrection The Women: The

This is necessary, since a relatively literal rendering would make little sense sense little make would rendering literal relatively a since necessary, is This

below is not wooden and in many places it is more paraphrase than translation. translation. than paraphrase more is it places many in and wooden not is below The Men: The forgiveness of sins. of forgiveness The Men: The

then in the second part the liturgy of the Supper is described. The translation translation The described. is Supper the of liturgy the part second the in then

theological instruction concerning the purpose and meaning of the Supper, and and Supper, the of meaning and purpose the concerning instruction theological

The Women: The holy catholic Christian Church, the communion of saints. of communion the Church, Christian catholic holy The Women: The

The work itself is divided into two chief segments. First, readers receive basic basic receive readers First, segments. chief two into divided is itself work The

The Men: I believe in the Holy Spirit. Holy the in believe I Men: The the Lord’s Supper. Lord’s the

seen in the translation that follows, women have a role to play in the liturgy of of liturgy the in play to role a have women follows, that translation the in seen

well before his time in allowing women to participate in liturgical acts. As will be be will As acts. liturgical in participate to women allowing in time his before well The Women: Whence he is coming to judge the living and the dead. the and living the judge to coming is he Whence Women: The

invaluable historical work, and not least because it shows us that Zwingli was was Zwingli that us shows it because least not and work, historical invaluable

and the other Reformed of the canton from 1525 on. Consequently, it is an an is it Consequently, on. 1525 from canton the of Reformed other the and The Men: He sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty. Father the God, of hand right the at sits He Men: The

celebration of the Lord’s Supper unfold, as it was actually practiced by Zwingli Zwingli by practiced actually was it as unfold, Supper Lord’s the of celebration

congregation itself, permitting them to “sit on the back pew” and watch the the watch and pew” back the on “sit to them permitting itself, congregation

The Women: Has ascended into heaven. into ascended Has Women: The

The pamphlet at hand allows readers “virtually” into the liturgy of the Zurich Zurich the of liturgy the into “virtually” readers allows hand at pamphlet The

The Men: On the third day he rose from the dead. the from rose he day third the On Men: The

illustrates the practical nature of his reformation of the Mass. the of reformation his of nature practical the illustrates

as a memorial. Here he simply, plainly, and forcefully forcefully and plainly, simply, he Here memorial. a as merely partisans—never

The Women: He descended into hell. into descended He Women: The to the various misrepresentations of Zwingli’s thought promulgated by Lutheran Lutheran by promulgated thought Zwingli’s of misrepresentations various the to

moving towards an understanding of the Supper as “memorial” but— in contrast contrast in but— “memorial” as Supper the of understanding an towards moving

nd Zwingli Zwingli nd f we 1523 of Theses 67 the as early as Indeed, earlier. years several ed, died, and was buried. was and died, ed, f cruci was Pilate, Pontius under suffered He Men: The

cally, Zwingli’s re-thinking of the meaning of the Mass had begun begun had Mass the of meaning the of re-thinking Zwingli’s cally, f speci More

The Women: Was born of the Virgin Mary. Virgin the of born Was Women: The

reformers would never see eye to eye on the subject. the on eye to eye see never would reformers

1529, which itself ended in hardened positions and a recognition that these two two these that recognition a and positions hardened in ended itself which 1529,

The Men: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Holy the by conceived was Who Men: The

the meaning of the Supper. This debate culminated in the Marburg Colloquy of of Colloquy Marburg the in culminated debate This Supper. the of meaning the

before Zwingli and Luther began their occasionally acrimonious debate about about debate acrimonious occasionally their began Luther and Zwingli before

The Women: And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord. our Son, begotten only his Christ, Jesus in And Women: The the actual body of Christ and the wine his blood. It also springs from an era era an from springs also It blood. his wine the and Christ of body actual the

Lord’s Supper was a “memorial” and not an event at which the bread became became bread the which at event an not and “memorial” a was Supper Lord’s

Zwingli’s pamphlet itself sprang from the author’s growing awareness that the the that awareness growing author’s the from sprang itself pamphlet Zwingli’s almighty. Father the In Men: The

Then the minister says: Dear brothers, according to the order and institution of Introduction our Lord, we want to eat the bread and drink the cup which he has commanded us to use in such a way as a remembrance, praise, and thanksgiving of this, The German title of this short work is literally rendered, “Action or Practice namely, that he has suffered death for us and has shed his blood for the washing of the Lord’s Supper,” a title that may leave modern readers of English away of our sin. Therefore, everyone should remind herself or himself according scratching their heads. A more appropriate English translation would be, “The Implementation of the Lord’s Supper,” because that is exactly what this pamphlet to the word of Paul, what comfort, faith, and certainty each has in our Lord Jesus addresses. It is literally a step by step, line by line, phrase by phrase, and word by Christ so that no one passes herself or himself off as a believer, when she or he word implementation of the celebration of the Lord’s Supper for Zwingli’s newly- is not, and thereby becomes guilty of the death of the Lord. One should also not reformed congregation in Zurich and elsewhere in the German-speaking cantons become guilty of sin against the whole Christian community (which is a body of of the Swiss Confederation. Christ).

The critical edition of Zwingli’s works, the justly famous Corpus Reformatorum, Therefore, kneel and pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. includes a copy of this tractate in volume 4, pp. 1-24, most of which is taken up Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us our daily with introductory matters (pp. 1-12) and copious explanatory footnotes.1 The bread. Forgive us our debt, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead editors of the critical edition explain that the pamphlet was only printed twice and that both printings date from 1525. These editions are designated A and B. us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. The frst has a colophon, indicating that it was printed in Zurich by Christopher Froschauer on April 6, 1525. The second was issued without any designation of The people shall say: Amen! place, publisher, or date, and the copy held by the Kessler Collection represents this printing.2 The differences between the two editions are orthographic or Now the minister continues to pray: O’ Lord, almighty God, through your Holy dialectical and so do not represent a different textual base. So, for example, Spirit you have made us into your united body in the unity of faith, and you have while the frst edition has “kilch,” the second uses the more common “kirch,” commanded this body to give you praise and thanks for your kindness and for and while the frst uses “sin,” the second uses the more common “sein.” Since the free gift of giving your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, into death these differences are insignifcant for purposes of translation, they will receive no for our sin. We pray, grant that we do this so faithfully so that we do not provoke further attention here. What follows is a translation of the critical text presented the sincere truth to anger with any kind of hypocrisy and deceit. Grant also that in Corpus Reformatorum. we live so innocently and properly as your body, your servants, and your children that unbelievers also learn to know your name and honor. Lord, protect us so that your name and honor are never slandered because of our lives. Lord, everywhere and always increase our faith, that is, our trust in you, who lives and reigns, God eternally! Amen!

How Christ instituted this remembrance. The minister reads the following [cf. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26]: Jesus, in the night in which he was betrayed and given into death, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is my body; do this in remembrance 1 Huldrych Zwinglis Sämtliche Werke (Zurich: Theologischer Verlag Zurich, 1982) 4: 1-24. of me.” In the same manner he also took the cup (after supper), gave thanks, and 2 The frst edition of the pamphlet is VD 16 M4921, and the second edition VD 16 M 4922. While the editors of gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. This cup is the new covenant the Corpus Reformatorum suggest that the second edition was issued in Augsburg (on the basis of orthographic considerations), the editors of VD 16 assign it to the print shop of Hans Hager in Zurich. However, it has also in my blood. As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me. For as often as been assigned to Heinrich Steiner in Augsburg by Michael A. Pegg in A Catalogue of German Reformation you eat this bread and drink this cup, you should proclaim and highly praise the Pamphlets (1516-1546) in Libraries of Great Britain and Ireland (Bibliotheca Bibliographica Aureliana, 45; Baden-Baden: Valentin Koerner, 1973) 307 (#3968). Cf. also Lee Palmer Wandel, The Eucharist in the Lord’s death.” Reformation: Incarnation and Liturgy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006) 73. The assertion by the editors of the critical edition that the same woodcut was used in both printings is erroneous, since the same woodblock was not used for both printings (one woodcut is a copy of the other).

4 13