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central basis of agreement must be found, but the actual reunion in one Church is not organizational but sacramental and Eucharistic. Sound ecumenical theology lives from the hope expressed in Cor. 10 :17, "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the same bread." But does this not also say a great deal about the meaning of the Eucharist in an existing Catholic parish or diocese? This same line of thought about Christian unity has given rise to the question whether there should not be special occasions on which a common Eucharist can even now be celebrated by separated Christians. Vatican II has stated that there 'is partial communion because of the common elements in the respective heritages. Vatican II also approved common services for unity. Now it is asked whether such services should not at times include celebrations of the Eucharist, so Christ himself can seal the partial unity achieved and give efficacious help in promoting further unity. A number of unanswered questions are holding back official acceptance of these arguments for intercommunion. The Orthodox Churches, with whom intercommunion would be easiest to understand, have not yet welcomed these proposals. Many have seen a major obstacle in the acceptance of Protestant ministers as celebrants of a Eucharist, because they are not ordained by bishops standing in apostolic succession. But even on this last point, recent Catholic theology has come up with a number of ingenious and significant positive statements. Catholic teaching by no means requires that we judge Protestant celebrations of the Eucharist in a negative manner. We know how Vatican II spoke positively of the importance of the separated churches in the mystery of salvation (L1<men Gentium, n. 15: Unitatis Redintegmtio, nn. 3, 19-23). If these ecclesial bodies are significant means of grace and salvation, then their ministry and sacraments cannot be without value, The absence of episcopal ordination, while implying some lack of fullness, does not simply negate the Protestant ministry as an important bearer of Christ's Word and grace to the people of these churches. Specifically regarding the Eucharist, there are a great number of biblical and patristic themes Catholics can unhesitatingly