Meaning of the Eucharist

Sir, – Brendan Ó Cathaoir (Opinion Analysis, July 3rd) is right

Sir, – Brendan Ó Cathaoir (Opinion Analysis, July 3rd) is right. Making a song and dance about “transubstantiation” is anachronistic and counter-productive. The Council of Trent merely stated that this word was an “apt” one to express the Real Presence. In today’s biblical theology of the Eucharist and in agreed ecumenical statements the focus is rather on the dynamic nature of Christ’s presence in the eucharistic meal, conceived as a communal event rather than in terms of isolated physical elements. Intelligent responses to the crisis of eucharistic culture among Irish Catholics are constantly stymied by people who obsess about slogans. – Yours, etc,

JOSEPH S O’LEARY,

Winterfeldt Strasse,

Berlin.