View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Mary Immaculate Research Repository and Digital Archive The Presence of Christ in the Eucharist: A Strange Neglect of the Resurrection? Research Masters in Theology Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick David Kennedy Student Number: 13172921 Supervisor: Rev. Dr. Eugene Duffy Abstract The Presence of Christ in the Eucharist: A Strange Neglect of the Resurrection? Eminent theologians, Gerald O’Collins, Anthony J. Kelly and Luis M. Bermejo claim that a strange neglect of Jesus’ resurrection persists in contemporary theologies of the Eucharist. All three suggest that this deficiency emerges from, and is most evident in, theologies of the Eucharist which are shaped by the insights of classical Christology. This thesis will demonstrate that the narrowness and rigidity of such Christology with regard to the Eucharist, finds its clearest expression in the neo-scholastic manualist tradition. To show how traditional theologians failed to engage with Jesus’ resurrection Joseph Pohle’s dogmatic treatise on the Eucharist first published in 1917, is presented herein. However, while such traditional discourse on the Eucharist prevailed in the seminaries in the early twentieth century, a clear shift soon began to emerge, whereby sacramental theologians on mainland Europe broke away from the narrow approach of neo-scholastic reflection by rediscovering the centrality of the Paschal Mystery to theologies of the Eucharist. This thesis suggests that the break with the neo-scholastic manualist tradition and its treatment of the Eucharist, finds its origins in the writings of the Benedictine liturgist, Dom Odo Casel, whose treatise on the mystery of Christian Worship was published in 1932. After being refined and modified by Louis Bouyer in his dynamic theology of the Word of God and Edward Schillebeeckx in his treatise on sacramental encounter, the acceptance of the insights raised by Casel in his mystical theology reached its climax in the liturgical renewal of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). However, with the Council’s revitalised appreciation of the Paschal Mystery, one must ask whether the claim of O’Collins, Kelly and Bermejo is justly founded or whether it holds weight only in respect of the manualist tradition. From this standpoint, the theologies of Jean-Luc Marion, Louis-Marie Chauvet and Herbert McCabe with regard to the Eucharist are observed in order to establish whether an appreciation of the resurrection has flourished in post-conciliar theologies or whether its neglect has persisted. By examining these theologians’ reflection on the Eucharist, it becomes apparent that an obvious neglect of the resurrection has unquestionably persisted, especially with regard to the transformative dimension of the Eucharist. This thesis argues that by engaging in a more comprehensive manner with Jesus’ resurrection, in particular, the appearance narratives, the dynamic of our encounters with the risen Christ in the Eucharistic celebration is enriched. The appearance narratives present a well-spring of symbolic language which enables us to better understand humankind’s revelatory encounters with the glorified, transfigured Christ now in His-Spirit filled existence. Thus, by engaging with Jesus’ resurrection in this more comprehensive manner, the response of those in the Gospel narratives – the disciples who experienced the risen Christ – this thesis brings the dynamism of the entire Eucharistic action to the fore. i Declaration I hereby declare that the work set out in this MA by Research in Theology is my own work and has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, by me or any other person, for the purpose of obtaining any other grade or academic reward. I also agree that this MA in Theology may be made available by Mary Immaculate College at the University of Limerick to future students. Signed: ____________________ Student Number: 13172921 Date: 27th August, 2015 ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank the members of the Theology and Religious Studies Department, without their help, insight and support this research would not have been possible. In particular, I would like to whole heartedly thank my supervisor Dr Eugene Duffy whose scholarly rigour, enthusiasm, support and guidance not only helped bring this thesis to completion but has also made a lasting impression on me, to him, I am eternally grateful. Likewise, I would like to thank Prof Eamonn Conway [Head of the Department] for his kind words, support and guidance throughout my theological studies at Mary Immaculate College. Furthermore, I would like to thank my external examiner Dr Niall Coll and my internal examiner Dr Cyprian Love O.S.B for their scholarly insights. Many thanks must also be giving to the members of the Arts Office, particularly Deirdre Franklin, for all their assistance over the past two years. To my family, partner and friends, thank you for all your love, care and support throughout my life and especially over the course of the past six years. Finally, I would like to dedicate this thesis to my late grandparents and cousin, Patrick Kennedy, John Brennan and Sarah Kennedy who are forever in my heart and thoughts, may they rest in peace and eternal light shine upon them. iii Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... i Declaration............................................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. iii Chapter One .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Purpose of this Work........................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Outline and Plan .................................................................................................................. 3 Chapter Two .......................................................................................................................................... 7 A Strange Neglect of Jesus’ Rising from the Dead in Contemporary Theologies of the Eucharist ............................................................................................................................... 7 2.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 7 2.2. Gerald O’Collins, S.J. ......................................................................................................... 7 2.3. Anthony J. Kelly ............................................................................................................... 18 2.4. Luis M. Bermejo, S.J. ....................................................................................................... 24 2.5. An Emerging Consensus ................................................................................................... 29 2.6. The Manualist Tradition: An Exemplar of Resurrection Neglect ...................................... 30 2.7 Brief Synopsis .................................................................................................................... 35 Chapter Three ..................................................................................................................................... 37 An Emerging Perspective: A Retrieval of the Paschal Mystery .................................... 37 3.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 37 3.2. Breaking with the Rigidity of Neo-Scholastic Theologies of the Eucharist ..................... 38 3.2.1. Dom Odo Casel, O.S.B .................................................................................................. 38 3.2.2. The Fullness of Time ..................................................................................................... 45 3.2.3. The Christian Mysterium .............................................................................................. 48 3.2.4. The Eucharist: A ‘Wiedergegenwärtigsetzung’ of the Paschal Mystery ....................... 50 3.3. An Emerging Acceptance of Mystery ............................................................................... 56 3.3.1. Mystici Corporis Christi (1943) .................................................................................... 56 2.3.2. The Eucharist as the Climax of our Mystical Union with the Risen Christ .................. 60 3.3.3. A Brief Synopsis ............................................................................................................ 65 3.3.4. Mediator Dei (1947) ..................................................................................................... 67 3.3.5. The Eucharist as the Commemorative Sacrifice of Christ’s Death .............................. 70 iv 3.3.6. The Beginning rather than the End ............................................................................... 75 3.4. Refining and Modifying Casel’s Mystical Theology .......................................................