Foreword to Manfred Hauke’s Shed for Many

Foreword to Manfred Hauke’s Shed for Many Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith On 17 October 2006, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments sent to the presidents of the Episcopal Conferences the letter on the accurate translation of the Latin words pro multis in the Eucharistic prayers. This directive, in the name of the Holy Father, provoked a lively debate, especially among pastors and theologians. In general, the linguistic correctness of the instruction was acknowledged, but various voices questioned the theological message and the pastoral significance of the letter. Among these voices, some even went so far as say that such a change would put in serious doubt the salvific role of Christ, the High Priest of the New Covenant. This study by Manfred Hauke, Professor of Patristics and Dogmatic Theology at the Theological Faculty of Lugano (Switzerland), collects the fruits of the contemporary discussion. The work presents the biblical foundation of the theme, follows the interpretation of the sacred words through the course of history, reports the relevant documents of the Magisterium, and finally offers a systematic interpretation of the accurate translation in light of the theological doctrine of the Eucharist. As the author notes at the end of his investigation, the faithful presentation of the biblical message is also important for ecumenism and the pastoral care of souls. At the beginning the book sheds some interesting light on the background of the papal decision, bringing to attention an exegetical work written under the guidance of Albert (now Cardinal) Vanhoye, S.J. This work, recently published in Germany and well known to the Pope, puts the biblical discussion on a more secure foundation than was the case some forty years ago, when many Catholic exegetes placed all too much trust in the interpretation of a single Protestant biblical scholar. Hauke draws support from this new monograph and offers his own biblical reflections showing how, in the New Testament, both the offering of Jesus for all men and His sacrifice for the Church are connected with each other. In the context of the Last Supper, it is plausible to see the sacrifice as part of a covenantal event that includes the personal acceptance of Christ on the part of man. This acceptance is not automatic, but demands the readiness of the free Antiphon 14.2 (2010): 165-168 166 Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith will in faith. The Eucharistic sacrifice “for many” corresponds to the perspective of the Gospel of John, according to which the Lord gives His life for His flock. The Eucharistic sacrifice of Jesus is addressed to all men as an offer of salvation, but is realized as a covenantal event only in those who, according to the eternal plan of God, are chosen and accept, in a faith informed by charity, the gift of Christ. In the contemporary discussion recourse to the theological tradition has been almost nonexistent. But prior to the recent past it was never dared to translate the sacred words hyper pollôn (Latin: pro multis) with “for all,” although over the course of time diverse opinions have been expressed regarding their proper interpretation. Hauke, starting from the first testimonies of the patristic era and continuing to the present day, brings to light the history of the discussion, which begins already in the biblical commentaries of the first centuries. He stresses the historical importance of the position taken by St Jerome, prepared by the theology of Origen, which emphasizes the importance of the faithful acceptance of Christ, without denying in any way the universal offer of salvation. Hippolytus, one of the most ancient witnesses of the liturgy, follows a similar path, reaffirming in the authentic preface to his Eucharistic Prayer the consequence of the sacrifice of Christ for those who have believed in the Savior. A notable theological clarification occurs in the time of the Carolingians, when the Church rejects the predestinarianism that would deny the universal aspect of Christ’s sacrifice. The archbishop Hincmar of Reims, one of the greatest enemies of this heresy, insists at the same time on the significance of “for many” in the words of the Eucharistic consecration. This line of thought is also accepted by the...