Sacramental Realism and the Powers: A Reconsideration of de Lubac’s Eucharistic Ecclesiology -- By: Bryan C. Hollon
Journal: Ashland Theological Journal
Volume: ATJ 43:1 (NA 2011)
Article: Sacramental Realism and the Powers: A Reconsideration of de Lubac’s Eucharistic Ecclesiology
Author: Bryan C. Hollon
ATJ vol 43 p. 21
Sacramental Realism and the Powers: A Reconsideration of de Lubac’s Eucharistic Ecclesiology
Henri de Lubac typically referred to himself, not as a systematic theologian, but rather as a historian of dogma. Although his historical projects had far reaching implications, he often did not make those implications explicit. Nor did he always state clearly the extent of his own motivations for taking on some of his major writings. He simply went about his work, tracing important developments in the history of Catholic theology, and leaving it to others to draw many of the conclusions. His famous book,
Indeed, the chief motivation for the book may well have been de Lubac’s conviction that the Eucharist is the central and efficacious sign of the Church’s victory in Christ over the powers and principalities which rule this current age and which ravaged European civilization in an especially monstrous way during much of the 20th century. Along with his conviction that the Eucharist “makes the church” by facilitating an ontological bond with Jesus Christ, the one who defeats the powers, de Lubac was concerned that eucharistic piety had been reduced to a mere spectacle under neo-scholastic influence and thus had become disconnected from true sacramental efficacy. Toward the end of
ATJ vol 43 p. 22
It would be easy to conclude that
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