“The Eucharist, Physics, Metaphysics: (Mis)Understanding the Real Presence"

What do Catholics actually believe about the Eucharist? Much has been made of surveys that seem to show that many American Catholics misunderstand the Church’s teachings on the Eucharist. But what do these teachings mean? Is Christ’s presence in the Eucharist a physical presence? When Catholics speak about encountering Christ in the Eucharist, which words should we use? In the past the Church introduced technical terms to indicate the kind of change that makes an encounter with Christ in the Eucharist possible. But do we understand these terms today? This lecture examines the tension between modern science and Catholic doctrine on the Eucharist in an effort to cut through the confusion revealed in polls and parish life alike and arrive back at the mystery of encounter with Christ.

Joseph Mudd is Associate Professor of Religious Studies. Joe holds a Ph.D. from Boston College and a Masters of Divinity from Harvard University. A native of Montana, he received a B.A. in Religious Studies from The University of Montana where he also worked in campus ministry. His area of expertise is systematic theology with an emphasis in sacramental/liturgical theology. Joe is the author of "Eucharist as Meaning: Critical Metaphysics and Contemporary Eucharistic Theology" (Liturgical Press, 2014). Other areas of interest include the philosophy and theology of Bernard Lonergran, S.J., Thomas Aquinas, political and liberation theologies, and Christian spirituality. Before coming to Gonzaga Joe taught at Boston College, The College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA) and Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, CT). Joe also co-directs the graduate program in Religious Studies and the Francis Youth Institute.

This lecture is made possible by the grant, "In Lumine: Supporting the Catholic Intellectual Tradition on College Campuses Nationwide," (Grant #62372) from the John Templeton Foundation.