Utraquism is a term used to describe a medieval Christian doctrine that allowed the administration of Holy Communion in both forms of bread and wine to the laity. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word "utraquism" is /juːtrəkwɪzəm/. The "u" sound is pronounced like "you", followed by "tr" and "ə" sounds. The "kw" sound is pronounced like "q" in the word "queen", followed by "ɪz" and "əm" sounds. The spelling of the word reflects its Latin origin, where "utraque" means "both."
Utraquism is a theological doctrine that emerged during the early 15th century in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. It refers to a belief and practice within the Catholic Church that the sacrament of Holy Communion should be administered in both forms, namely the consecrated bread (Host) and wine, to the laity during the Mass.
The term "utraquism" is derived from the Latin word "utraque," which means "each of the two." This particular doctrine became significant within the Bohemian religious context due to the strong influence of Jan Hus and his followers, known as Hussites. Hus, a Czech priest and reformer, preached against the practice of withholding the cup (wine) from the laity during the Mass, arguing that it contradicted the teachings of scripture.
Utraquism became a central tenet of the Hussite movement, which sought a more inclusive and accessible form of worship. The doctrine gained even greater prominence after the Hussites successfully defended their beliefs against attempts to suppress them during the Hussite Wars of the early 15th century.
The Council of Basel in 1432 unofficially recognized the practice of utraquism and permitted the administration of Communion under both kinds to the laity. However, it was later officially condemned by the Catholic Church at the Council of Trent in the 16th century. Despite this condemnation, the influence of utraquism continued in Bohemia, and it eventually evolved into the distinct religious movement known as the Unity of the Brethren or Moravian Church.
The word "utraquism" is derived from the Latin term "utraque", which means "each" or "both". It is formed by adding the suffix "-ism", which signifies a belief, doctrine, or system of principles. Therefore, the etymology of "utraquism" reflects its meaning as a doctrinal position or belief in the reception of both the bread and wine during the Eucharist in Christian liturgy.