Was Grundtvig’s Eucharist Lutheran?By Christian ThodbergThis question is examined through an analysis of Grundtvig’s attitude to, in particular, the various elements of the sacrament. In 1806 Grundtvig’s view was undoubtedly a reformed one; the divine is too exalted to be contained in earthly things - a romantic viewpoint - and Grundtvig thus maintained a symbolic interpretation of the Eucharist.When Grundtvig in later years described himself as Lutheran, he was not following Luther’s interpretation of the Eucharist, namely, that Christ is present in substance in the bread and the wine. Nevertheless, Grundtvig did accept a real presence, cf Nugent Wade, the English chaplain at the legation, who reported Grundtvig’s position thus: »He is pos...