Thomas Cranmer's Presence Of Christ In The Eucharist

It has been widely contended that Thomas Cranmer’s thoughts on the presence of Christ in the Eucharist had wavered throughout his time as a theologian, and that his writings are somewhat ambiguous when it comes to addressing this important theological topic. A great number of academics agree that Cranmer is not overly notable for his clarity in writing and concede that this ambiguity, especially on his writings of the presence in the Eucharist, is due to the long and the uneven evolution of his understanding of the presence. According to Daniel Marrs, a biographer was once quoted in saying that Cranmer was a man of liberal-sympathies and a man of extraordinary charm and goes on to say that Cranmer’s abilities as a leader was questionable at …show more content…
This understanding of the Eucharist followed the understanding of transubstantiation. Transubstantiation teaches that while the visible qualities of the bread and the wine (also called the accidents) do not change after consecration, the “inner being” (called the substance) of the bread and the wine is transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ. In the ten articles published there were five articles that were pertinent to doctrine, and five pertinent to the ceremony. The article relating to the presence in the Eucharist follows the same belief system as that of the Roman Catholics, being that the actual blood and body of Christ are present within the Eucharistic matter upon consecration. The ten articles heartily reflect the Roman Catholic belief system to which King Henry VII was accustomed. However, shortly after the release of the ten articles, Cranmer composes a new set of articles which reveals both his zest for constant and meticulous study of Church doctrine, and at the same time exposes the fragility of his