3 - Transubstantiation Part 2 | Fr. Thomas Joseph White, OP
Apr 21, 2024
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Fr. Thomas Joseph White, a Dominican priest, discusses transubstantiation, delving into philosophical terms like substance and accidents. He compares this transformation in the Eucharist to natural transmutation and creation, highlighting the uniqueness of this process.
Transubstantiation transforms bread into Christ's body without altering its visible properties.
Aristotle's substance-accidents distinction influences the understanding of transubstantiation in the Eucharist.
Deep dives
God's Omnipotent Power Allows for Substantial Change
God, being omnipotent, can convert the substance of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. Through the conversion of substance, the existing bread and wine are transformed into the real presence of Christ without altering their visible properties.
Substance vs. Accidents: Aristotle's Influence
Aristotle's distinctions between substance and accidents influence the understanding of transubstantiation. Each individual, representing a substance, has unique properties or accidents, such as quantity, quality, and relations. The significance lies in how the bread's accidents remain while its substance changes into the body of Christ.
Symbolism and Real Presence in the Eucharist
The properties of bread and wine remaining after transubstantiation allow for symbolism in the Eucharist. While consuming the body and blood of Christ, believers are nourished symbolically by the bread and wine, embodying the sacrament of faith and communion with Christ.
Transubstantiation: A Unique Act of Creation
Transubstantiation is a unique act where the whole substance of bread converts into the whole substance of Christ's body, akin to creation or natural transmutation but distinct in its immediate change. Aquinas' detailed analysis of transubstantiation underscores its significance in the theological understanding of the Eucharist.
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Exploration of Transubstantiation and Philosophical Concepts