The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

presence of the body is not mechanical, but voluntary; it is conditioned on
the strict observation of the essentials of the institution. The body is
present for sacramental impartation, and if the object of the external act of
consecration precludes the communion, if the elements are merely to be
reserved or carried about in procession for worship, there is no reason to
believe that there is any sacramental presence of Christ's body whatever.
Hence the emphasis of the Confession, “in the Supper," cutting off in one
direction an objection like that of Kahnis, and in another the Romish
abuse of the reservation, procession, and worship associated with the
elements.
In the Formula of Concord 538 the error of the Romish Church is
defined as this: "They feign that the body of Christ is present under the
species of bread, even outside of the conducting of the Supper (to wit,
when the bread is shut up in the pyx, or carried about as a show and object
of worship). For nothing has the character of a sacrament outside of God's
command, and the use to which it has been appointed by Christ." This
implies that within the entire conducting of the Supper, properly so called,
as distinct from the mere preliminaries, or the things following it, the body
of Christ is sacramentally present; and the principle that nothing has a
sacramental character apart from the divine command and use, is properly
limited by its antithesis to the abuses of the Romish Church. The doctrine
of the Lutheran Church is, that the sacramental presence of the body and
blood of Christ begins with the beginning of the Supper, and ends with the
end of the Supper. The presence does not depend upon the individual
eating; the eating simply actualizes a presence existing; that presence is
vouchsafed on condition that the divine essentials of the institution be
observed. "As to the consecration, we believe, teach, and confess, that the
presence of the body and blood is to be ascribed solely to the Almighty
power of our Lord Jesus Christ...The words of the institution are by no
means to be omitted...The blessing (1 Cor. x. 16) takes place through the
repetition of the words of Christ." 539 “The true presence is produced, not
by the eating,
538 670, 108; 665, 82.
539 Formula Concord. 530, 9.