wfn.org | Ecumenical Dialogue on Celebration of Eucharist Must Continue

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Ecumenical Dialogue on Celebration of Eucharist Must Continue 
Vatican Document Affirms Already Established Roman Catholic Restrictions for
Eucharistic Practices

GENEVA, 3 May 2004 (LWI) * The Vatican document Redemptionis sacramentum,
(The Sacrament of Redemption) made public April 23 by the Congregation for
Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, affirms already
established Roman Catholic Church regulations for Eucharistic practice, said
Acting LWF General Secretary, Rev. Sven Oppegaard.

Oppegaard said the document reaffirms implicitly some significant differences
from other church traditions such as the Lutheran, which also sees itself as
representing a valid expression of the faith of the universal church in the
area of the Eucharist, but with different practical consequences, for
example, in the area of Eucharistic hospitality.

On the common basis of sacramental faith, ecumenical dialogue must continue
on the important subject of the celebration of the Eucharist, so that the
unifying power of Holy Communion can become, also in practice, a shared
treasure within the one ecumenical movement, Oppegaard stressed. (164 words)

The English language version of the document Redemptionis sacramentum can be
found on the Vatican Web site at:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_
doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html 

The full text of the statement by Rev. Oppegaard on the document Redemptionis
sacramentum follows:

Concerning Redemptionis sacramentum. On certain matters to be observed or to
be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist, instruction by the Congregation
for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Statement by Rev. Sven Oppegaard, Acting General Secretary of the Lutheran
World Federation

Geneva, 30 April 2004

The document, Redemptionis sacramentum, from the Congregation for Divine
Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, expresses in the form of
instructions the official rules governing the practices of the Roman Catholic
Church regarding the Eucharist. By the many references to the Encyclical
Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia it is clear that this document seeks to
substantiate, in the area of practical implementation, the sacramental
theology expressed in that Encyclical. 

Referring to the Encyclical, the instruction notes with sadness that
ecumenical initiatives which are well-intentioned, nevertheless indulge at
times in Eucharistic practices contrary to the discipline by which the Church
expresses her faith. Such practices, it states, lead to "ambiguity" and
"depreciation" which must be corrected so that the Eucharist can continue to
shine forth in its radiant mystery.

By the liturgical directions given, the document affirms already established
Roman Catholic parameters for Eucharistic practice. Doing this, it reaffirms
implicitly some significant differences from other church traditions, such as
the Lutheran, which also sees itself as representing a valid expression of
the faith of the Universal Church in the area of the Eucharist, but with
different practical consequences, e.g. in the area of Eucharistic
hospitality. 

The Lutheran Reformation upheld a strong Eucharistic spirituality. Lutherans
could therefore affirm large parts of the Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de
Eucharistia. And together with the new instruction, Lutherans would clearly
affirm that "the Church herself has no power over those things which were
established by Christ himself and which constitute an unchangeable part of
the Liturgy." Lutherans would also firmly uphold that the mystery of the
Eucharist "is too great for anyone to permit himself to treat it according to
his own whim."

On the common basis of sacramental faith, ecumenical dialogue must continue
on the important subject of the celebration of the Eucharist, so that the
unifying power of Holy Communion can become more and more, also in practice,
a shared treasure within the one ecumenical movement. 

[The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 136 member
churches in 76 countries representing 62.3 million of the almost 66 million
Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas
of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless
specifically noted, material presented does not represent positions or
opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article
contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.]
 
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