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Home / Newsroom / “A Communion of Transcendence: U2 and The Eucharist”
On April 27th, part-time professor, Dr. James Menkhaus and graduate student, Kristen Pungitore, presented a paper they wrote entitled“A Communion of Transcendence: U2 and The Eucharist” at “U2: The Hype and The Feedback.” The conference, which was held in downtown Cleveland, attracted U2 fans and academics from across the world. Jimmy and Kristen’s paper drew upon the universal hopefulness of Vatican II’s description of the Eucharist as “a memorial of his [Christ’s] death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity (Sacrosanctum Concilium),” and used the lyrical imagination of U2 to promote an understanding of the Eucharist that transcends church doctrine and teaching. The paper was divided into three sections. First, the importance of the Eucharist as a memorial of the past was explored through songs such as “Mercy,” “Pride (In the Name of Love),” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” Second, the Eucharist as a call to action on behalf of justice and charity in the present was exemplified in “Crumbs from Your Table,” “Peace on Earth,” and “Yahweh.” Finally, the conclusion highlighting the importance of the Eucharist as a call for unity in the future was envisioned in “One,” “Sunday, Bloody Sunday,” and “Love and Peace.”