Eucharist as Meaning: Critical Metaphysics and Contemporary Sacramental Theology

This study moves beyond postmodern trends in Catholic Eucharistic theology by exploring the works of Bernard Lonergan. Postmodern theologians have been critical of using metaphysics to interpret the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, liturgical sacrifice, and sacramental causality, preferring instead a symbolic approach. Lonergan's critical metaphysics, however, offers an account of knowing and being that resists attempts to pit metaphysics against the symbolic, and moves sacramental theology into the real world of meaning. The result is a theology of the Eucharist grounded in tradition but speaking on the level of the times.