Recent Sacramental Theology III

RECENT SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY III KEVIN W. IRWIN The Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. HIS ARTICLE is the third in a series o.£ reviews on contemporary works on sacramental theology. The first, published in October, 1983,1 reviewed eleven books published between 1975-1988 on sacraments, and considered issues of method. The concluding section delineated the elements to be included in a contemporary systematic study of the sacraments . The second article, published in January, 1988,2 reviewed seven .books published between 1988-1987, also from the perspective of method. This article completes the survey of recent English language works on sacraments by reviewing the books on individual sacraments in the Message of the Sacraments series edited by Monika Hellwig.8 In a preface reproduced a.t the beginning of each volume in the series, Monika Hellwig describes the scope of the project. She then describes five aspects of sacramental life dealt with in each work. 1 See, Kevin W. Irvin, "Recent Sacramental Theology: A Review Discussion " The Thomist 47 (October, 1983) , 592-608. 2 See, Kevin W. Irvin, " Recent Samramental Theology,'' The Thomist 52 (January, 1988), 124-147. 11 The books discussed here are all volumes in the Message of the Sacraments series under the general editorship of Monika K. Hellwig, publisih.ed by Michael Glazier (Wilmington). They are: Thomas Marsh Gift of Com· munity: Baptism and Confirmation (1984); Ralph Keifer, Blessed, and, Broken: An Fl«JPloration of the Contemporary Fl«JPerienoe of Goa in Flucha· ristio Celebration (1982) ; Monika K. Hellwig, Sign of ReconciUaticm and Conversion: The Sacrament of Penance for our Timl36 (1984, revised edition ); David M. Thoma!!, Christian Marriage: A Journey Together (1983), Nathan Mitchell, Mission and Ministry: History and Theology in the Sacra· ment of Order (1982); James L. Empereur, Prophetic Anointing: Goa's Cail to the Sick, the Blons against sentimentality in composing new liturgical terla (88), and calls for a new sense of God as present in the splendor and tragedy of human existence (41) . This, he maintains, will open up a new "sense of [the] mystery" of God. In chapter three Kei£er deals with the phenomenon of a divided Christianity celebrating eucharist •sepairately. He discusses primary metaphors for the eucharist and (again) oontrasts two difierent approaches: the medieval understanding of Christ's atoning sacrifice as atonement for sin (43-47) and the contemporary metaphm- of Christ's identification with humanity (48). Rather than rinterpret "sacrifice,, as meaning "to give up " or " to kill," Keifer sees the notion of "holocaust " (5~) 'as evncative and immediately understandable for our culture .17 Two key insights which the eucharistic liturgy offers in orrder 16 Here Keifer criticizes the hymn Vea:illa, Regis for being militaristic and triumphant; however this is to misunderstand the full meaning of Christ's kingship commemorated during the Paschal triduum. The proclamation of the passion from St. John on Good Friday reveals significant royal images of the crucified Christ, the king who freely ascends the cross in order to reveal his glory from the throne of a tree. Frequently in liturgical texts kingship is linked to the lamb of sacrifice •and to the altar of the eucharist. The present revisions in the Mass formula for the Solemnity of Christ the King, specifically its preface, indicate that kingship is linked to the reign of God and less to militaristic images: You anointed Jesus Christ ..• as the eternal priest and universal king. As priest he offered his life on the altar of the cross and redeemed the human race by this one perfect sacrifice of peace. As king he claims dominion over all creation, that he may present to you, his almighty Father, an eternal and universal kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, kingdom of justice, love and peace. 17 For a more insightful understanding of the import which the Holocaust has for Christian worship see, Michael Downey, "Worship Between the Holocausts ," TheoZogy Today 43 (1986), 75-87. RECENT SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY III 291 to interpret Christ's presence and sacrifice are anamnesis and epiclesis-remembering and invocation (56) . Keifer describes the meaning and draws out the implica.tions of eucharistic memorial and invocation by describing how...