October 20, 2025
View Full PaperAnglican-Thomistic Eucharistic Presence: The Principles of the Summa Theologiae within the Articles of Religion
Key Points
- The study highlights an overlooked relationship between thomistic metaphysics and anglican eucharistic theology.
- It finds that while transubstantiation is not accepted, a coherent sacramentology emerges from both texts.
- Reading the articles alongside the Summa opens a more incarnational view of the Eucharist.
- This approach emphasizes the foundational beliefs of early Anglican church members.
Abstract
Thomastic metaphysics has been often overlooked as a means of understanding Anglican Eucharistic theology because of St. Thomas’ association with Transubstantiation. However, Thomas’ method is not rejected by the Articles, merely his conclusion. When the Articles of Religion and the Summa Theologiae are read together, there is a notable amount of harmony which opens up the Articles to a more robust and incarnational exposition of sacramentology which is native to the exposition of early subscribers.