Catholique traditions. Or A treatise of the beliefe of the Christians of Asia, Europa, and Africa, in the principall controuersies of our time In fauour of the louers of the catholicke trueth, and the peace of the Church. Written in French by Th. A.I.C. and translated into English, by L.O.

ANNOTATION.

THe Christian nations, contrary to the practise of the Latine Church, doe thinke that we ought to follow the example of the Lord, and to obey his commaundement. He broke the bread and gaue the peeces to the Apostles, and com∣maunded them to doe as he had done, that is to say, to giue to the Communicants the peeces of one selfe same bread. This Circumstance is noted in that great Mysterie, whereof Saint Paul speaketh: It is (saith he) a great Mysterie in Christ and the Church: and he sheweth that all the faithfull do par∣ticipate of the same body of the Lord, and are one body a∣mongst themselues. The cuppe of blessing (saith S. Paul) which we blesse,* 1.1 is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? and the bread which we breake, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? for we that are ma∣ny, are one bread, and one body: for wee are all parta∣kers of one bread.

And as for the rest, our Sauiour would that a man should doe that which he did, and that in remembrance of him. And this Sacrament is not simply a memoriall of him, being con∣sidered as he is in heauen, but a memoriall of his passion: and also of the effect thereof, which is to make them that commu∣nicate partakers of his body, being broken for them all. The foresaid Christians doe thinke that those little Wafers are

not fit to call to mind that Communion. They shew rather that the Lord was not broken, and that euery one hath his Christ apart. This therefore shall be the Conclusion:

That in the holy Sacrament, the bread ought to be bigge enough, and that it ought to be broken, and the parts there of distributed to the people.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Cor. 10. 16