Saturday, December 19, 2020

Rabanus Maurus and Transubstantiation

Q. Did Rabanus Maurus advocate the Roman dogma of transubstantiation?


Rabanus Maurus, Archbishop Of Mainz (c. 780-856 A.D.):

As regards your inquiry: Whether the Eucharist, after it is consumed and cast out into the draught, after the manner of other food, again returns to its former nature which it had before it was consecrated upon the altar. Such a question is superfluous, since the Saviour Himself says: Everything that entereth into the mouth, goeth into the belly, and is cast into the draught. The Sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord is composed of things visible and corporal: but it effects an invisible sanctification and salvation both of body and soul. For what is the reason , that what is digested in the stomach, and is cast out into the draught, should again return to its former state; seeing that no one has ever asserted that this was done? For certain of late, not entertaining a correct view of the Sacrament itself of the body and blood of our Lord, have said, that this very body and blood of our Lord, which was born of the Virgin Mary, and in which the Lord Himself suffered upon the cross, and rose again from the tomb, is the self-same body which is taken from the altar. Wedis closed this error, as far as we were able, writing to Egilus, the Abbot, what ought to be truly believed concerning that body. For our Lord says concerning His body and blood in the Gospel: I am the living bread, which have come down from heaven. If any man shall eat of this bread, he shall live forever: for My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. Whoso eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, hath life eternal. He, therefore, hath not this life, who eateth not this bread and drinketh not this blood. For this temporal life men can have in this world without that (spiritual eating), who are not in His body through faith; but they can never have that eternal life which is promised to the Saints. But lest they should think that in this food and drink, which they take carnally, and do not understand spiritually, life eternal is thus promised in faith, that they who should take it, should die neither in soul or body, He condescended to meet this thought. For when He had said, Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh My blood hath eternal life; He immediately added and said: I will raise Him up in the last day; that he may have, in the meantime, eternal life according to the spirit. (J. P. Minge, Patrologiæ Cursus Completus, [1864], Patrologiæ Latinæ, Tomus CX, B. Rabani Mauri Archiep. Mogunt., Incipit Poenitentiale, Caput XXXIII - De Eucharistia, Col. 492-493). Here Trans. (J. H. Treat, The Catholic Faith; Or, Doctrines of the Church of Rome Contrary to Scripture and the Teaching of the Primitive Church, [1888], p. 242). Here


But after that time is fulfilled, when Christ, going to the heavens, departed by His bodily presence, etc. (J. P. Minge, Patrologiæ Cursus Completus, [1864], Patrologiæ Latinæ, Tomus CVII, B. Rabani Mauri Archiep. Mogunt., De Clericorum Institutione, Lib. II, Caput XXI, Col. 336). Here Trans. (J. H. Treat, The Catholic Faith; Or, Doctrines of the Church of Rome Contrary to Scripture and the Teaching of the Primitive Church, [1888], p. 215). Here



~ Soli Deo Gloria



No comments:

Post a Comment