2025/03/06 by Hans-Christian Seraphim, Seraphim, Hans-Christian
Arts and Humanities · #Catholicism and Religious Studies #Historical, Literary, and Cultural Studies #Reformation and Early Modern Christianity
paper · doi:10.71510/pzl.v4i.6055
openalex created_date 2016/08/23 · openalex publication_date 2025/03/06 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
The ecumenical workgroup of Protestant and Roman-Catholic theologians in Germany came to the result, that the damnation of the time of the Reformation in reference to the sacrifice of the mass is no longer effective in present day discussions. The agreement is based on a deeper understanding of the biblical anamnesis with the result that a liturgical and conceptual separation of sacramentum and sacrificium in doctrine and practise of the eucharist is an outdated view. But the question arises, if this includes the formulations of the Roman Catholic eucharistic prayers of today. Luther strongly opposed the idea that the consecrated elements are offered by the Church to God. But it is just these formulations that are still alive in today's interpretations of the old Roman Canon as well as in the new eucharistic prayers. The solution of this problem is given by latest scientific findings of liturgical studies. The west-latin (mozarabe) tradition shows that an offering of the consecrated elements to God was unknown. In the same way early medieval interpretations of the Roman Canon of the mass understood the object of the prayers following the words of institution as consecranda, not consecrata, Since Hippolyt of Rome we find the following structure: words of institution - anamnesis - epiclesis (referring to elements and congregation) in the Early Church in the West as well as in the East up to the VII. Ecumenical Council (Nicea II). Medieval occidental theology however found out a moment of consecration by the words of institution according to the opinion of St. Ambrose. Therefore after more than half a thousand years the rite was changed and the object of the prayers after the words of institution now understood from the consecrata. But this understanding was a misinterpretation of the old Roman Canon. Today we have to overcome the medieval position. The promise of our Lord is given in the words of institution, but to realize it the congregation is asked to do what the