Understanding the Eucharist and Traditional Liturgy

For the Life of the World. Alexander Schmemann
The Eucharist (Part 2) Study Guide

Calvin: First, then, the signs are bread and wine, which represent the invisible food which we receive from the body and blood of Christ. For as God, regenerating us in baptism, ingrafts us into the fellowship of his Church, and makes us his by adoption, so we have said that he performs the office of a provident parent, in continually supplying the food by which he may sustain and preserve us in the life to which he has begotten us by his word…" "Therefore, we must not drag him from heaven, as some dream, but by the secret power of his Spirit he gives himself to us from thence, so that he becomes our life. Hence it follows, that the communion which we have with the body and blood of the Lord is of such a nature, that while he remains in heaven, we are nevertheless truly partakers of him; not that the substance of his flesh descends into us, but that we are quickened by the power of the Spirit, who transfuses to us the life which flows from his flesh."

Schmemann "The early Christians realized that in order to become the temple of the Holy Spirit they must ascend to heaven where Christ has ascended." (pg 28)

Doxology – "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages." Anglican – Procession from world to the Altar with Decalogue/Collect for Purity moving from Earth upward.

Entrance – pg 31 (Section 5) "It is not "grace" that comes down ; it is the Church that enters into "grace," and grace means the new being, the Kingdom, the world to come." Lord have mercy vs. Trisagion.

Sacrament of the Word – p. 33 " The proclamation of the