Sacrament of Unity

Saint Augustine, who has had such an influence on Catholic Eucharistic spirituality, referred to the Eucharist as the “sign of unity, bond of love,” a phrase quoted in whole or in part in documents of the Fourth Lateran Council [1215], the Council of Trent [1545-1563] and Vatican Council II [1962-65].

This is such a timeless phrase because "Unity is the essence of the Church" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 813).

Cardinal Walter Kaspar, the president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, has written on this topic (Sacrament of Unity, pages 119-120):

Theologians such as Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas do not consider this understanding of Eucharist as a sacrament of unity something trivial or arbitrary, the fruit of pious exaggeration, something that one might just be permitted to say after dealing with the dogmatic truths of the real presence and the sacrificial character of the Eucharist. On the contrary, this understanding is essential in their eyes; indeed, it is the essential truth about the Eucharist…the unity of the Church is the reason why the Eucharist exists.

Eucharist exists for unity, and “unity is the essence of the Church.” We pray this in the third Eucharistic Prayer:

"Look with favor on your Church’s offering,
and see the Victim whose death has reconciled us to yourself.
Grant the we, who are nourished by his body and blood,
may be filled with his Holy Spirit,
and become one body, one spirit in Christ."

One Body. One Spirit.

It is my hope that this blog will offer liturgical information, insight and guidance to liturgical leaders in the Diocese of Madison. There are many wonderful people in our Diocese who work closely with the liturgy (pastors, liturgists, musicians, RCIA directors, liturgical ministers, to name a few). In charity and love we seek to do God's will together, until the Lord returns in glory.