Three Things Talks: The Presence of
Christ in Liturgy
February 2011
What is Presence?
10 a.m. Fr. John H. McKenna, CM
John H. McKenna is a Vincentian priest teaching at St. John's
University, Queens, NY. He is a former president of the North
American Academy of Liturgy, an ecumenical group of liturgical
scholars. Among his publications are “The Eucharistic Epiclesis: A
Detailed History; A History of the Mass” (VCR/DVD); and “Become
What You Receive: A Eucharistic Spirituality” (forthcoming).
Description
Exploring the context of "real presence". How do people become
present to one another? What difference does it make what image we
use to describe that presence?
Liturgical Presence
11 a.m. Dr. Julia Upton, RSM
Dr. Julia A. Upton, RSM, a member of the Institute of the Sisters
of Mercy of the Americas, is Professor in the Department of
Theology and Religious Studies at St. John’s University (NY), where
she currently serves as University Provost. She holds a doctorate
in Theology from Fordham University and has served on the Liturgy
Commission of the Diocese of Brooklyn for more than 30 years, and
currently serves as a consultant to the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship. In January 2010, her
latest book, “Worship in Sprit and Truth: The Life and Legacy of H.
A. Reinhold” was published by The Liturgical Press.
Description
When we consider presence in the context of Eucharist, we often
limit the discussion to Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist.
However, it is important when we gather as a Eucharistic community
to be conscious of other presences of Christ as well—in the
presider, the Word and the Assembly—to have a full experience of
the Eucharist.
Eucharistic Real
Presence
12 p.m. Fr. Michael Whalen,
CM,
Fr. Michael Whalen, CM, has an STD in Liturgical Theology from The
Catholic University of America. He is currently the Chair of the
Department of Theology in St. John’s College at St. John’s
University.
The Eucharistic presence of Christ has often been called a real and
true and substantial presence. It has sometimes been contrasted
with a spiritual or symbolic presence. In this presentation, we
will explore the past evolution and current teaching about Christs
real presence in the Eucharist.