Sacrament of Salvation: An Introduction to Eucharistic Ecclesiology

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding - and very original and insightful
Review: Dr McPartlan's work not only explains the ecclesiological aspects of the Eucharist (a critical and often neglected topic) but provides very original, fascinating treatment of New Testament texts in the eucharistic context.

For example, McPartlan's explanation of Hebrews 18, and the relation to the parousia and Eucharist, and his treatment of the Lamb and multitude in Revelation, make for superb reflections, meditation, or topics for group discussion. The only reservation that I would have about that last is that, since later chapters defend the Vatican position and admit only Roman Catholic and Orthodox Orders as valid, the book may not be suited for group discussions in other sister churches. It nonetheless would be a valuable contribution to the library of anyone interested in sacramental theology and ecclesiology.

McPartlan quotes extensively from documents of Vatican II, which makes it an excellent reference for a correct understanding of these (this often sadly lacking elsewhere - my stress was on 'correct.') It is notable that there are many references to the books of the New Testament and earliest Christian texts, and the setting of these in the context of worship and Church fills a most important need.

Rating:
Summary: eucharist and church -- inseparable
Review: So much good liturgical theology brings in ecclesiology (I think immediately of Schmemann's Introduction to Liturgical Theology), and so much good ecclesiology hinges on the liturgy (I think of Ratzinger's Called to Communion). In Sacrament of Salvation, Paul McPartlan explains why. The liturgy and the Church are almost one and the same. If my conception of one excludes the other, I have an incomplete conception of both.

The first millenium Church saw that the Eucharist makes the Church. In the second millenium, we forgot that, but knew that the Church makes the Eucharist. Both are true. Both make us.

This is the wisdom of the Catholic faith. It is distilled and presented in a clear and stimulating manner in McPartlan's short book. I'm sure I'll refer to McPartlan's work for a long time.