Real Presence?

Foundations for a Virtually Gathered Assembly

Abstract

To what degree might we consider those who participate in online worship services to be really present for them? This question seems foundational for considering possibilities relating to communion. After describing an approach to online worship experienced in a Lutheran seminary, the Roman Catholic author considers two parallels to virtual presence from liturgical history: the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the presence of St. Paul in the reading of letters within worship.