The Celebration of Meal in Africa: Its implications for the Eucharist.

Author

Gabriel J. Ssenkindo OSB, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University

Date of Award

8-24-1999

Document Type

Graduate Paper

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Theology

Department

School of Theology and Seminary

First Advisor

R. Kevin Seasoltz OSB

Subject Categories

African Languages and Societies | Christianity | Liturgy and Worship | Missions and World Christianity | Religion

Abstract

A meal is an integral aspect of human experience. Human beings eat and drink to survive. For an African, simply eating and drinking does not constitute a meal. A meal is a celebration of life and relationships. It is a meal when it is shared with another person. The Eucharist is a special meal which is celebrated by Christians in remembrance of Jesus Christ. As with the African meal, so with the Eucharstic, the past, present and future are gathered into the present moment. The past, present and future become a lived experience in the meal.

This paper describes what an African meal is, its elements and significance. It draws out the parallels between an African and the Eucharistic meal, especially by tracing the origin of the Eucharist in Luke's gospel. This paper concludes by looking at the Zairean Mass as a result of the integration into the Eucharist of African values expressed in the meal.

Comments

Access restricted to College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University on-campus users.

Recommended Citation

Ssenkindo, Gabriel J. OSB, "The Celebration of Meal in Africa: Its implications for the Eucharist." (1999). School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses. 1553.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/sot_papers/1553