# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_December 1855_S371
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

The Lutheran Formula of Distribution, etc. 371

set words, hold them to be neither an essential piece, belonging to the
essence, nor an integral piece, belonging to the proper completeness of the
Supper, nor likewise necessary for the profit and wholesome use of the
Lord's Supper. In consideration, namely: 1. that they are not incorporated
into the first institution or expressly commanded therein; 2. that they are
not cited by St. Paul as necessary to the Holy Sacrament; 3. that it is
nowhere read that Christ, the apostles, or the first apostolic Church used
this or a similar formula (although with them everything that is necessary
to the Holy Sacrament, for its substance and its benefit, was performed).
Nevertheless it cannot be denied that it is very useful for the welfare and
edification of the Church, when one does not let the performance of the
Communion be an actio muta (a mute action), but rather reminds each
communicant separately of the benefits of the Lord Christ and also of the
profit and effect of this Sacrament, informs and instructs the simple, and
also otherwise awakens many a person who, through the recitation of such
a formula, is led to a deeper contemplation of his act. There also results,
finally, all the more compliance with the words of Christ: "This do in
remembrance of me," and of Paul: "As often as you eat of this bread, etc.,
you shall proclaim the Lord's death." Therefore no congregation, for the
reasons here raised and for other reasons as well, should omit making use
of a certain formula in the performance of the Holy Supper." (See:
Thesaurus Dedekenni, Vol. I, P. 2, fol. 267.)

Three years earlier the same faculty had expressed itself in the same
way: "Although we do not hold that the omitted application in the case
of each individual violates the Substantia or Integritas Sacramenti
Coenae, so that without it the Supper would have to be regarded and
held as no true Supper: nevertheless you yourselves, together and along
with us, will recognize and confess that for the true remembrance and
strengthening of the weak in faith, and for greater comfort, it would be far
better if it were also said to each communicant: 'Take, eat, this is the
body, etc.'" (L. c. fol. 268.)

That this, moreover, has been the conviction of the whole orthodox
Church from the time of the apostles down to this day is shown
incontrovertibly by the character and variety of the words which have
been used from time to time in the Church at the distribution of the
consecrated elements.

The oldest known formula of distribution (see Constitutiones
Apostolorum VIII, 13; compare Tertullian, De spectaculis, c. 25; Eusebius,
Historia Ecclesiastica VI, 43) was, at the giving of the consecrated bread:
"The body of Christ!" and at that of the consecrated cup: "The blood of
Christ, the cup of life!" Whereupon the recipient, as a testimony that he
joined in this confession, added: "Amen!" Guericke, who reports this in
his Archäologie, remarks on this: "The words of institution themselves,
reported historically (as in the Union-