On the Body and Blood of the Lord

Book excerpt: First English translation from the Latin of the first monograph written on the Eucharist: 'On the Body and Blood of the Lord' by the Carolingian theologian Paschasius Radbertus appearing in the critical edition found in 'Corpus Christianorum Continuatio Mediaevalis' volume 16.00The 'De corpore et sanguine Domini' by Paschasius Radbertus was the first monograph ever written solely on the Eucharist. This English translation of the 'De corpore', along with its companion piece the 'Letter to Fredugard', make an important contribution to our understanding of the development of Eucharistic theology in the Carolingian era and after. Because of their place in history and the nature of their doctrine, these works give an important witness to the received tradition on the Eucharist, as well as demonstrate an early substantial change theory that contributed to the development of the doctrine of transubstantiation. The translation, along with its extensive commentary and notes, makes this volume in the 'Corpus Christianorum in Translation' series an important resource for the study of Eucharistic theology.00The source text of this volume appeared in 'Corpus Christianorum Continuatio Mediaeualis' as Pascasius Radbertus ? 'De corpore et sanguine Domini, cum appendice Epistola ad Fredugardum' (CCCM, 16). References to the corresponding pages of the 'Corpus Christianorum' edition are provided in the margins of this translation.00.