Concomitant

(1.) A term used by Roman theologians to denote the grace of God accompanying an action, as distinguished from prevenient grace, which (against the Pelagians) is necessary to excite to good desires and actions (Bergier).

(2.) Concomitance, in the Roman doctrine of the Lord's Supper (q. v ), means the "accompanying of the body of Christ by the blood, and of the blood by the body," in the Eucharist. Aquinas introduced the term (concomitantia). The withholding of the cup from the laity is justified by this Romanist doctrine of concomitance on the ground that as Christ is present entirely in each of the elements, he is received fully in either by the communicant. Of course this theory goes along with transubstantiation. — Burnet, On the Articles, art. 31; Smith's Hagenbach, History of Doctrines, § 195. SEE LORDS SUPPER.