Original scientific paper
The world Council of churches and the question of Eucharistic for the unity of the christians
Tomo Vukšić
Abstract
The article firstly displays the content regarding Eucharist according to BEM (Baptism, Eucharist, Ministry), (1982.). Follows an answer of the Secretariat for the promotion of the unity of the Christians given in the name of the Catholic Church (1987.) and composed on an invitation of the Council, “Faith and establishment”, that all Churches and church communities officially express an opinion the BEM. The article closes with the Croatian translation of the text of “Liturgy of Lima” firstly celebrated in the 1982, in Lima in the occasion of the publishing of BEM.
BEM is undoubtedly one of the most important moments in the field of ecumenism. On the other side, BEM pointed that there are still divergences, without a solution. This was stated by numerous Churches and church communities in their official answer which up to 1990 were cca. 200. This can be seen from the reaction of the Secretariat for the promotion of the unity of Christians, which regarding the contents is clearly set between an “already” and “not yet” unity, real but incomplete.
BEM can be seen as a high point of the ecumenism of consensus and theological agreement in respect to the theology of the Eucharist. But the question of its consequences and specific applications in the Church is still opened. On the other side, the ecumenical dialogue on the Eucharist, above all BEM, opened certain questions that need a serious study: i.e. the relationship between the ontological-static presence of Christ and his salvific-dynamic real presence in the Eucharist. Further, should the Eucharist be understood in the anamnetic and in the epicletic sense, so that the Christological, institutional, and pneumatological dimensions might be shown? The question of the relation of Christ’s sacramental presence and his act of salvation synthesised in self-sacrifice eternally present in Christ?
Further, strengthening the conscience of the ecclesial meaning of the Eucharist, because the Spirit is invoked on the Church, sets forth the obligation of an active responsibility for the Church, but also for the solidarity with all people. And not the least: the presence of Christ and the actualisation of his salvation are sacramental, but are the efficient sign of what they denote, which makes them a prophetical sign of the eschatological realisation of salvation.
Keywords
Church; Eucharist; sacrament; dialogue
Hrčak ID:
121862
URI
Publication date:
21.1.2011.
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