Flesh of the Church, Flesh of Christ: At the Source of the Ecclesiology of Communion

by J.-M.R. Tillard OP

How does the ecclesiology of communion go back to the very sources of the great ecclesial tradition? How should we explain that a Christian is never alone, even before God? How should we perceive that the Church is a communion before being a society, a mystery before being a structure? These questions reflect the inner being of the Church that is at the center of Flesh of the Church, Flesh of Christ.

The late renowned scholar J.-M.-R. Tillard defines what the flesh of the Church is for the New Testament and the period of the undivided Church. He enables readers to understand not the structure of God's Church but the living reality of grace for which this structure exists. Tillard explains that the "flesh of the church" is communion of life for humanity reconciled with the Father and with itself "in Christ." He also shows that through the power of the Spirit and the Word, the Church is the "flesh of Christ" in the osmosis of the sacrificial flesh of the Lord and the concrete life of the baptized, of which the Eucharist is the sacrament.

Chapters are "All Linked Together by Salvation: For God, in Communion," "All Joined into One Body, Eucharistic Body, Ecclesial Body," "All Taken into the One Sacrifice: The Sacrifice of Christ," and "Flesh of the Church, Flesh of Christ."

Genres: Theology

168 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

Reviews

[Dan Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author admits this ecclesiology of communion is an ideal vision, and it certainly is. But this idealism is warranted in the desire and efforts toward the visible unity of the church, and the idea that such unity would need to grow from the bottom up is not pie in the sky. From local congregations becoming unified within their own communities, to cross-denomination unity growing in local geographic contexts, and out from there with the ultimate goal of full sharing of the Eucharist across current church divides...it is a big vision. But church unity stands at the center of what the church is and what the church is called to, as we are both constituted by the gospel of Christ and called to witness to it in the world. If we think that church unity is incidental to what the church is as Christ's body or incidental to our mission, then we have failed to comprehend much of the NT teaching on the nature of the church as a body of many members connected to Christ-the-head, or as many branches connected to the vine which is Christ, and we have failed to recognize the importance of Jesus' prayer that the church may be one so that the world would know that the Father sent the Son for its salvation. No matter where one stands on the issue of ecumenical discussion or church unity debates, this book ought to be read and its theology and implications dealt with seriously. For Christians to confess every Sunday that we believer in "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church," and then think that the church's oneness, holiness, and catholicity doesn't matter, or that the instructions the apostles gave regarding her unity are peripheral, is inconsistent, to put it mildly. My personal application from this book (not one the author speaks to specifically): cultivate friendships with Christians of many and varied traditions, and do so by extending hospitality to them through a meal around our table in our home, in the hope that shared meals will 'prime the pump' of a future joining around the Eucharistic table.

[Harman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Eucharist in all its sacramental glory forms us at the Spirit-breathed Body of Christ. Read it.

Drawing from Protestants, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox (though mainly from the Scriptures and Tradition), Tillard strikes a fairly ecumenical balance in his ecclesiology. It seems that his RCC thinking is heavily influenced by Vatican II, following its dramatic emphasis on pneumatology and the epikletic role of the Holy Spirit in Holy Communion. Read it.

[Ross Jensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a strange book: the author presents it as a kind of fundamental theology of the eucharist/the communion of saints, and yet it is nothing but a collection of various quotations from (mostly) patristic texts with sparse comments here and there. I did not find it useful at all—or even particularly interesting.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is grounded in a sacramental understanding of the church as communion. Tillard surveys the witness of the New Testament understanding of the Church, culminating with 1 Corinthians 10-12 and its focus on the Eucharist and argues for an ecclesiology shaped by the Sacrament, where members are in true communion, one with another. He then examines several theologians from the common Catholic era (before the split with the Orthodox and the protestants) and shows how this Communion ecclesiology is grounded in the Christian tradition. Finally he approaches the topic from the language of sacrifice as used in both the New Testament and the Church tradition.

This is a beautiful book, and its picture of the interconnection between the members of the Church is inspiring. This book is good medicine to individualistic privatistic Christianity.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well researched book. I would expect nothing less from Tillard.

There are a couple of areas that I would like to have seen expanded. First, looking at the roots of Judaism. There were areas this was started, but more is needed. The sense of community is strong, and many of the scriptures quoted would/could be incorporated into these roots.There were many places this could have been integrated. Second, more of a look to the present, and the future ~ where does thus take one, especially in light of documents from Vatican II and forward. Also, addressing what this means to the relationship with other denominations and other religions should be part of any discussion.

The concept of the importance of diversity within unity was key and should be a part of any dialogue.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a good historical and theological persepctive on the link between the celebration of Eucharist and the mission and deep reality of the church as communion of disciples united in Christ - all from a Roman Catholic perspective and readable - this translation of Tillard's work is a great start!