The Original Meaning Of The Word "symbol"

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Many non-Catholics debate that the Eucharist is merely a symbol of Christ's Body and Blood.

The trouble the Church finds with this is not the word [i]symbol[/i], but the word [i]merely[/i].

The Eucharist is a symbol of the Body and Blood of Christ, but it actually also [b]is[/b] what it symbolizes. The Eucharist is a symbol of the Body and Blood of Christ and it actually [b]is[/b] the Body and Blood of Christ.

This causes great confusion for the modern English-speaking person. It need not be a problem if one looks to the etymology of the word [i]symbol[/i].

It comes from the Greek [i]symbolon[/i] and is half of a broken object. A [i]symbolon[/i] would be placed with it's other half to identify it. Thus, the word [i]symbol[/i], in its original context, which the Catholic Church uses, refers to an object which represents what it is. A broken dish half, for instance, is of the material of the dish. It is rightfully said to be of the same essence as a dish. It would be matched with the other half, the dish. So, in context of the ancient meaning, a symbol is a thing which represents itself. The symbol of a thing, in the purest sense, is in truth the thing itself.

[phatcatholic]

woh, that's deep..........i like it

[StColette]

that's awesome Micah I've never heard it put quite like that so it's awesome hearing it from a different perspective !!

[Colleen]

Wow, that's really awesome! Thank you!