On the Mysteries

...Indeed the theological enterprise is fraught with linguistic misfires and quagmires and it can be certain that semantical differences often do separate pensive conversationalists who otherwise would likely agree. We do have substantial (forgive the theological pun) differences with protestants, but we have seen in twentieth century ecumenical dialogues that we in fact agree on more than we disagree. What I find most fascinating about the Reformation period is the vast array of nuanced and differentiated theologies which emerged, particularly surrounding the mystery of the Eucharist, which is, of course, at its heart a Mystery, the Mystery to end all others. What we do not say about the Blessed Sacrament can be as important as what we say - a true case of apophatic theology. Dispute over Eucharistic doctrine was really at the essence of the Reformation debates and the Mass remains the most controverted point of Reformation polemics old and revived. I find myself in somewhat surprising agreement with the Lutheran theologian who once said that it was not justification or total depravity or faith or Scripture that divided the Reformation nearly as much as the doctrine of the Holy Eucharist. To use a phrase of my own, to get Eucharistic doctrine wrong is to get the Apostolic Faith wrong: for the Eucharist is the heart of the Christian Religion and the prolongation of the Incarnation. And thus Anglicanism has developed her own special language and expressions when dealing with this incomparable subject...