Seeing Cana through Eucharistic eyes

In common with many first-millennium Christian writers, St Peter Chrysologus (c. 380-450), Archbishop of Ravenna and Doctor of the Church, did not leave a systematic treatise on the Eucharist in the way later theologians would. Nevertheless, his sermons contain significant Eucharistic teaching. He belongs to the great patristic era often described as the ‘Golden Age of the Fathers’ (fourth and fifth centuries). Like his contemporary St Leo the Great, Chrysologus understood the Eucharist as a true sacramental participation in Christ's Body and Blood.

One of his most striking Eucharistic passages comes from a sermon reflecting on the Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord, and the wedding feast at Cana:

Today Christ works the first of his signs from heaven by turning water into wine. But water [mixed with wine] has still to be changed into the sacrament of his blood, so that Christ may offer spiritual drink from the chalice of his body, to fulfill the psalmist's prophecy: How excellent is my chalice, warming my spirit. [Sermon 160 on the Epiphany]

Here the miracle at Cana is presented as a foreshadowing of the Eucharist. The transformation of water into wine points beyond itself to the sacramental transformation by which Christ gives his Blood as spiritual drink.

A recurring theme in Chrysologus' preaching is that Christians are united to Christ's self-offering. In his sermons on Romans 12:1 (Sermons 108-109, PL 52:499-510), he teaches that believers participate in Christ's sacrifice and are called to offer themselves as a ‘living sacrifice’. In his memorable phrase, the Christian becomes both ‘priest and victim’ (sacerdos et hostia), joined to the one sacrifice of Christ.

Like Leo the Great, Chrysologus sees the Eucharist as flowing from the mystery of the Incarnation. The God who became visible and tangible in Christ continues to communicate himself through the sacramental mysteries. His preaching repeatedly emphasises God's desire not merely to save humanity but to draw humanity into communion with himself.

The Memorial of St Peter Chrysologus is on 30 July in both the West and in the East.

Father, you made Peter Chrysologus an outstanding preacher of your incarnate Word.
May the prayers of St. Peter help us to cherish
the mystery of our salvation and make its meaning clear in our love for others.  Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.[Collect from the Office of Readings]