Eucharist & Society

Tuesday, April 17 at 9:00am to 10:30am

Student Center (Lincoln Park), 120AB 2250 N Sheffield Ave

Michael Budde (DePaul University) and Susan Wood, SCL (Marquette University) co-present this session on Day Two of World Catholicism Week. Dr. Budde's presentation, "Real Presence & False Gods: The Eucharist as Discernment," explores the social, political & ecclesial implications of Eucharistic discernment in the contemporary Church. As a central means by which Christian disciples are formed, the Eucharist--when practiced rightly--shapes the affection, dispositions & desires of Christians. To the extent that the Eucharist instantiates the Real Presence of Christ in and for the Church today, so must the sacrament reveal to Christians those practices & collective gatherings that form identities & allegiances at odds with the Lordship of Christ.

Dr. Wood draws on a theme prominent in the Early Church Fathers & developed at length by the French Jesuit Henri du Lubac (1896-1991) to explore how the Eucharist reconciles all things to Christ (in the manner proclaimed by Colossians 1:15-20). In particular, she will discuss how the Eucharist remembers & re-members the broken body of Christ to become a reconciling presence in the world, restoring the unity of the human race & bringing that unity to sacramental fulfillment.

Speaker bios available at worldcath2012.depaul.edu/Pages/Speakers.aspx