Ecumenical Info

Eucharistic Church

November 2004

By Rev. Michael Demkovich, O.P.

The two great sacraments of the Church are Baptism and Eucharist, so from an ecumenical perspective, these are significant topics. There is much agreement among Christians on the meaning of Baptism as membership into the Body of Christ, but less of a common understanding on Eucharist. Most people, and many Catholics, may not know that we have now begun a year dedicated to the Eucharist. “The Year of the Eucharist” will end in October 2005 when the Bishops assemble in Synod at Rome. The theme of this synod will be “The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church.” Catholics in particular have a unique understanding of the Eucharist that often confuses our Protestant friends and neighbors. Sadly, some Catholics also fail to appreciate what Pope John Paul II has called “the Church of the Eucharist” in his recent encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia.

Many people do not appreciate the Catholic Church’s reverence for this sacrament. It confuses them when they hear that the Catholic Church doesn’t allow “non-Catholics” to receive communion. Many Protestant churches allow what is called “inter-communion” but Roman Catholics do not. This is a very significant point in ecumenical dialogue and demonstrates two very different understandings or theologies on the Eucharist. At the risk of oversimplifying the arguments it comes down to the question of reality. When we say “Amen” what is it that is being received? This is an extremely important question in the ecumenical dialogue. This can be a very fruitful conversation as you engage your fellow parishioners and non-Catholic friends.

A very valuable document for you to read is Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia. It is available online at the Vatican website here and follow the links or Google “Ecclesia de Eucharistia”. It is a beautiful statement of the Catholic Church’s understanding of the Eucharist. It helps explain some of the distinctive differences behind why the Roman Catholic Church is so careful in its teaching on reception of the Eucharist. The “Amen” for Catholics means something more than it does for most Protestants. In part, that something more is why the Catholic Church celebrates a Eucharistic Year, why we have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, why the tabernacle is reverenced, and why the International Eucharistic Congress was held last month in Guadalajara, Mexico.

This month the Archdiocese of Santa Fe’s Ecumenical Office offers a new opportunity for promoting ecumenism. It is called “O.N.E.” and stands for “Organizing Neighborhood Ecumenism.” You will be able to access it on the internet through the Archdiocesan web page at www.archdiocesesantafe.org and follow the links to the Ecumenical Office. O.N.E. provides downloadable resources for you to organize a neighborhood dialogue on ecumenism with your fellow parishioners and neighbors from different Churches. You will find materials on topics like Baptism and Eucharist, as well as ideas for bringing the ecumenical dialogue to your parish. For more information call the Ecumenical Office at 505.831.8243.