What Happens in Holy Communion?

Rating:
Summary: Faulty information on Roman Catholic beliefs
Review: The information given as to the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church on the Eucharist/Holy Communion are superficial and inaccurate. The author shows lack of indepth research of the teachings of the Church starting with the teachings of the early Church Fathers, such as Ignatius of Antioch and Hippolytus of Rome who lived at the time of the formation of the New Testament, to the teachings of the Church councils up to the Second Vatican Council. His suggestion that the Church's teaching on the Eucharist is changing is also inaccurate. The author focused on practices which over time do change rather than on the actual doctine. For those who would wish a more detailed study of the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist, I suggest The Hidden Manna by James T. O'Connor. For a look at the practice of the early Christian Church, I suggest The Mass of the Early Christians by Mike Aquilina. Both works show that the Roman Catholic teaching on the Eucharist has been refined in wording and understanding but has not changed over the centuries.