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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

First, you are quite correct in assuming that transubstantiation was a
theory, or actual a group of theories, about how the risen Christ might be
present in the Eucharist.  It was very much,as you describe it, about "the
relationship between outside and inside, visible and invisible."

Transubstantiation was not a doctrine in the Middle Ages and not declared
to be so by Lateran IV.  I have discussed this all at length in "The Dogma
of Transubstantiation in the Middle Ages." *Journal of Ecclesiastical
History* 45 (1994): 11-41.  On the later understanding
of transubstantiation, the work of Ian Levy is excellent.  I would suggest
his *​*
*John Wyclif's Theology of the Eucharist in Its Medieval Context*.  Be sure
to use the 2015 edition.  If you don't want to read lots of technical stuff
on transubstantiation, the best recent summary of the theology of the
Eucharist in the Middle Ages can be found in *A Companion to the Eucharist
in the Middle Ages* (Brill's Companions to the Christian Tradition) edited
by Ian Levy, Gary Macy and Kristen Van Ausdall (Brill, 2011).  As some
compensation for the dusty theology, the book also discusses art, liturgy,
architecture, popular devotion, and even some (but not enough) literature.


On Mon, Aug 14, 2017 at 11:39 AM, Maija Birenbaum <[log in to unmask]
> wrote:

> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> It became doctrine in Lateran IV, 1215.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 14, 2017, at 1:14 PM, Sarah Wilkins <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> Dear all,
>
> I'm working on editing a volume of essays, and a question of terminology
> has arisen that I thought perhaps someone here would be able to assist with.
>
> At issue is Transubstantiation in the late medieval era (13th-14th c.
> Italy specifically)
>
> What would one refer to it as in this period.
> It is not officially church doctrine until Trent, correct? But calling it
> a "theory" didn't seem quite sufficient to me (but I'm an art historian,
> hence my asking opinions here).
>
> The passage in question is:
> "As theologians explored and debated over the difficult relationship
> between Eucharistic accidents and substance suggested by the
> [doctrine/theory?] of transubstantiation, that is, between the appearance
> of bread in the Host and its ‘bread-ness’ or, as in the case of the
> consecrated Host, its ‘Christ-ness’, they had to consider the relationship
> between outside and inside, visible and invisible."
>
> One solution would simply to say "suggested by Transubstantiation, that
> is..."
> Is there something else one could call it more accurately?
>
> (I realize it is a bit odd to give such a snippet out of its larger
> context, but considering it is not yet published, it seems inappropriate to
> give more.)
>
> Thanks for any assistance!
>
> Best regards,
> Sarah W.
> --
> Sarah S. Wilkins, PhD
> Visiting Assistant Professor
> Pratt Institute
> History of Art and Design Department
> 200 Willoughby Avenue
> Brooklyn, NY 11205
>
> Programming Committee, Italian Art Society
> http://italianartsociety.org
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-- 
Please note that I am no longer Director of the Graduate Program in
Pastoral Ministries.  All correspondence for the GPPM should be directed to
Joseph Morris ([log in to unmask]) or Lynne Luckenbill ([log in to unmask]).

Gary Macy
"Veritas non erubescit nisi abscondi" – Leo XIII

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