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Bilocation

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(Latin bis, twice, and locatio, place.)

I. The question whether the same finite being (especially a body) can be at once in two (bilocation) or more (replication, multilocation) totally different places grew out of the Catholic doctrine on the Eucharist. According to this Christ is truly, really, and substantially present in every consecrated Host wheresoever located. In the endeavour to connect this fact of faith with the other conceptions of the Catholic mind theologians make the following distinctions:

II. That bilocation (multilocation) is physically impossible, that is, contrary to all the conditions of matter at present known to us, is the practically unanimous teaching of Catholic philosophers in accordance with universal experience and natural science. As to the absolute or metaphysical impossibility, that is, whether bilocation involves an intrinsic contradiction, so that by no exertion even of Omnipotence could the same body be at once in wholly different places — to this question the foregoing distinctions are pertinent.

Sources

BALMES, Fundamental Philosophy (New York, 1864); DALGAIRNS, The Holy Communion (London, 1868); FABER, The Bl. Sacrament (Baltimore, 1855); GUTBERLET, Die Metaphysik (Münster, 1880); NYS, Cosmologie (Louvain, 1906); LA FARGE, L'idée de continu (Paris. 1894); PESCH, Philosophia Nat. (Freiburg, 1897); URRABURU, Cosmologia (Valladolid, 1892).

About this page

APA citation. Siegfried, F. (1907). Bilocation. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02568a.htm

MLA citation. Siegfried, Francis. "Bilocation." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02568a.htm>.

Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Douglas J. Potter. Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.

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