«Fate questo in memoria di me» (Lc 22,19b; 1Cor 11,24.25): Ma fare che cosa esattamente? Storia, teologia e prassi a confronto

The first part of the article is dedicated to the historical-critical analysis of the commemorative phrase of Jesus addressed to his disciples “Do this in memory of me” (Lk 22:19b; 1Cor 11:24,25). After describing the liturgical provenance of the texts of the Last Supper (Luke-Paul), a literary study of the terms (poiei√te, touvto, ei˙ß th\n e˙mh\n aÓna¿mnhsin) follows with a discussion of its historicity and, finally, a presentation of the immediate context (the farewell supper) and the remote context (the death of Jesus) of the command to repeat the action. In the second part, the words of Jesus are studied in the light of the liturgical background of the Jewish Passover (Ex 12:1-14) and a reflection of the eucharistic parenesis of Paul (1Cor 11:17-34). Interpreting the command of Jesus (v. 26), the Apostle makes known to the community at Corinth that the memorial of the Lord does not consist only of the ritual repetition of gestures and the words of the Last Supper, but demands above all an immersion into the dynamic rapport with the event of Jesusʼ death. His atoning love, celebrated in a cultic meal, is a critical moment that judges, corrects, purifies, and forms the Christian memory of Jesus in an ever more intense way.