Some Later Medieval Theories of the Eucharist

This theological study emerged from Marilyn McCord Adams's decades-long engagement with medieval philosophy and her commitment to rigorous ecumenical dialogue. Writing as both a philosopher of religion and an Episcopal priest, Adams recognized that contemporary debates over the Eucharist often proceeded without adequate understanding of the sophisticated theological frameworks developed by medieval scholastics. Her work addresses the need for precise analysis of how four major thinkers approached the central mystery of Christian worship, particularly given ongoing Protestant-Catholic tensions over eucharistic theology.

Adams methodically examines how Thomas Aquinas, Giles of Rome, Duns Scotus, and William Ockham each constructed their understanding of Christ's presence in the Eucharist. She demonstrates that Aquinas's famous doctrine of transubstantiation, while influential, was neither universally accepted nor philosophically inevitable. Giles of Rome refined Thomistic approaches while addressing metaphysical difficulties about substance and accident. Scotus offered alternative frameworks that preserved real presence without committing to Aristotelian substance theory. Ockham pushed further, questioning whether philosophical categories could adequately capture eucharistic mystery and proposing more nominalist approaches. Adams shows how each thinker balanced theological commitments with philosophical rigor, revealing the diversity of medieval eucharistic thought and the ongoing tension between systematic explanation and sacramental mystery.

This work has proven valuable for its careful philosophical analysis and its contribution to ecumenical understanding. Adams demonstrates that medieval theology was far more pluralistic than often assumed, providing resources for contemporary Christians seeking alternatives to polarized debates. Who should read this: scholars of medieval theology, philosophers of religion engaged with sacramental questions, and theologians working in ecumenical contexts who need sophisticated historical grounding for contemporary eucharistic discussions.