Eucharist, Theology and Discipleship

Abstract

The author begins by describing the qualities of Eucharistic celebration in functioning Australian Eucharistic communities. He then summarises the eucharistic theology of Josef Ratzinger, who provides a well-argued basis for criticising these qualities. Because discipleship is expressed in local situations, we should expect to find the life of the local communities taken into the celebration of the Eucharist. Within the acceptance of Apostolic proclamation and office, we should also expect to find a democratic and demotic spirit because these express the shape of discipleship in Australia, and so may not improperly be called the gift of Australia to the universal church.