Theological and Biblical Basis for Construing the Eucharist as a Memorial to the Salvific Sacrifice of Christ

Abstract

The fundamental problem addressed in the article is the question of how, based on the Scriptures, believers participating in the Eucharist have access to Christ’s salvific sacrifice on the cross. The author takes as a starting point Jesus’ words uttered at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of me” and considers it crucial to understand the original meaning of the word “memorial” (gr. anamnesis). He carries out his analysis in two stages. First, he reaches for the Hebrew word zikkaron as the equivalent of the New Testamental term anamnesis and proves it is deeply rooted in the cult language of Judaism. Then, in this context, he carries out an exegesis of the words of the institution of the Eucharist, which he extends by the explanations offered by the author of the Letter to the Hebrews, where we find a full understanding of Christ’s sacrifice made “once for all.” The rediscovery in theology of the full understanding of the concept of remembrance-anamnesis from the words of the institution of the Eucharist only took place in the biblical and liturgical research of the twentieth century, the achievements of which constitute here a fundamental point of reference for the author’s search. The result of this process was the reception and return to the biblical-patristic approach to the memorial in Catholic teaching about the Eucharist as a sacrifice and the breaking of the deadlock in ecumenical dialogue in this area.