2.3.6

Eucharist

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The Eucharist

Most Christians consider the Eucharist to be a sacrament, a special means of receiving God’s grace instituted by Jesus. It has various names among different Christian Churches, including the Eucharist, Holy Communion, the Divine Liturgy (in some Orthodox Churches), and the Mass.

Origins

Origins

  • The Last Supper is the origin of the Christian celebration of the Eucharist, which the early Church celebrated as ‘the breaking of bread’ (Acts 2:42).
    • At the Last Supper Jesus took bread and wine, blessed them, shared them with his disciples saying that they should do the same in his memory (Luke 22:19).
  • The word Eucharist comes from the Greek and means ‘thanksgiving’ because the Gospels record that Jesus ‘gave thanks’ at the Last Supper.
Sunday

Sunday

  • Over time this celebration was particularly associated with ‘the Lord’s Day’, Sunday, the day set aside for Christians to unite in celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.
  • Today, some Churches only celebrate the Eucharist on a Sunday, but Catholic parishes, for example, celebrate the Mass almost every day.
  • For the Christian Churches that celebrate the Eucharist, it has become the principal weekly gathering of the Church community.
Components

Components

  • Over the centuries, the way in which the Eucharist is celebrated has changed and has become more elaborate in many circles.
  • The celebration can often include hymns and processions, and a rite of penance.
  • Usually, they will include prayers, as well as readings from and reflections on the Bible.
Communion

Communion

  • The central element is when the priest or minister takes the bread and wine and blesses it with the words spoken by Jesus at The Last Supper.
  • Usually, all the Christians present will receive the bread and wine in an act called communion, because it unites the people with Christ and with each other.

Differing Beliefs Around the Eucharist

Different Churches within Christianity have differing beliefs about the Eucharist and what it resembles, particularly with regard to the Real Presence and Mass.

The Real Presence

The Real Presence

  • In the Catholic Church, there is the belief that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, the Real Presence, in a miracle called ‘transubstantiation’.
  • The Real Presence is also accepted by the Orthodox Churches, though they do not refer to the miracle as ‘transubstantiation’.
  • Protestant Churches reject belief in the Real Presence and believe that the bread and wine represent or symbolise the presence of Christ.
Mass

Mass

  • Catholics and Orthodox Christians also refer to the Eucharist as the Sacrifice of the Mass, believing that the Mass is a renewal of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
  • This was also rejected by Protestants who teach that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was a single saving event that cannot be repeated and does not need to be repeated.
Sharing between Churches

Sharing between Churches

  • Due to these different beliefs, not all Christian Churches share communion with all fellow Christians.
    • Catholics, for example, do not give communion to Protestants who do not believe in the Real Presence as Catholic theology argues that sharing in communion should be a sign of a shared belief.
    • Many Protestant Churches believe Jesus intended his followers to share communion as a way of uniting them.
Ceremonies

Ceremonies

  • Because of these different interpretations, the Eucharist is sometimes celebrated with great reverence and ceremony, and sometimes just as a simple re-enactment of the ‘Lord’s Supper’ with minimal ceremony.
  • Some Christians, such as the Quakers, do not perform sacramental ceremonies such as the Eucharist, believing that the sacraments are an inward spiritual experience.
Jump to other topics
1

Buddhism

1.1

Key Beliefs

1.1.1The Dhamma1.1.2The Five Skandhas1.1.3Aspects of Human Life1.1.4The Buddha1.1.5The Ascetic & Enlightened Life1.1.6Dhukka1.1.7Samudaya1.1.8Nirodha1.1.9Magga1.1.10The Wheel of Life1.1.11End of Topic Test - Buddhism Key Beliefs
1.2

Practices

1.2.1Places of Worship1.2.2Objects of Worship1.2.3Puja1.2.4Meditation1.2.5Death1.2.6Festivals1.2.7End of Topic Test - Buddhism Practices
1.3

Ethics

1.3.1Kamma1.3.2Five Moral Precepts1.3.3End of Topic Test - Buddhism Ethics
2

Christianity

2.1

Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God2.1.2The Problem of Evil2.1.3Monotheism2.1.4Creation2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation2.1.6The Trinity and Creation2.1.7Afterlife2.1.8Heaven and Hell2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs
2.2

Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human2.2.3The Crucifixion2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension2.2.6Sin2.2.7Original Sin2.2.8Punishment2.2.9The Means of Salvation2.2.10Achieving Salvation2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation2.2.13Theories of Salvation2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.3

Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship2.3.2Prayer2.3.3Sacrament2.3.4Baptism2.3.5Other Sacraments2.3.6Eucharist2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations2.3.8Christmas & Easter2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals
2.4

Community

2.4.1Local Community2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth2.4.3Worldwide Church2.4.4Reconciliation2.4.5Persecution2.4.6Caring for Those in Need2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices
3

Catholicism (Christianity)

3.1

Key Beliefs

3.1.1The Trinity3.1.2Creation3.1.3Incarnation3.1.4Redemption3.1.5Life After Death3.1.6Heaven and Hell3.1.7End of Topic Test - Catholic Key Beliefs
3.2

The Seven Sacraments

3.2.1Meaning & Significance3.2.2Baptism3.2.3Confirmation3.2.4Reconciliation3.2.5Anointing of the Sick3.2.6Marriage3.2.7Holy Orders3.2.8The Eucharist3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Seven Sacraments
3.3

Practices

3.3.1Prayer3.3.2Popular Piety3.3.3Pilgrimage3.3.4Pilgrimages HyperLearning3.3.5Funeral Rites3.3.6The Duty to Love Our Neighbour3.3.7Catholic Agencies3.3.8Catholic Social Teaching3.3.9Justice3.3.10War3.3.11Mission & Evangelism3.3.12End of Topic Test - Catholic Practices
4

Islam

4.1

Key Beliefs

4.1.1Oneness of God4.1.2Six Articles of Faith4.1.3Five Roots of Usul4.1.4The Nature of God4.1.5Angels4.1.6Freedom4.1.7Life After Death4.1.8Human Responsibility4.1.9End of Topic Test - Muslim Key Beliefs
4.2

Authority

4.2.1Prophethood4.2.2The Holy Books4.2.3The Imamate4.2.4End of Topic Test - Muslim Authority
4.3

Practices

4.3.1Worship4.3.2Ten Obligatory Acts4.3.3Shahadah4.3.4Salah & Its Significance4.3.5Mosques4.3.6Rak'ahs4.3.7Sawm4.3.8Zakah4.3.9Hajj4.3.10Jihad4.3.11Festivals & Commemorations4.3.12End of Topic Test - Muslim Practices4.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Muslim Practices
5

Judaism

5.1

Key Beliefs

5.1.1The Nature of God5.1.2God as One5.1.3God's Name5.1.4God as Creator5.1.5Free Will5.1.6God as Law Giver and Judge5.1.7The Divine Presence & Beliefs5.1.8Role of the Messiah5.1.9End of Topic Test - Jewish Key Beliefs5.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Jewish Beliefs
5.2

Covenant & The Mitzvot

5.2.1The Promised Land5.2.2Abraham5.2.3The Covenant5.2.4The Covenant at Sinai5.2.5The Covenant at Sinai 25.2.6Key Moral Principles5.2.7End of Topic Test - Covenant & The Mitzvot
5.3

The Synagogue & Worship

5.3.1The Synagogue & Its Importance5.3.2Public Acts of Worship5.3.3Shabbat5.3.4Worship & Law5.3.5End of Topic Test - Synagogue & Worship

Practice questions on Eucharist

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Which of the following is NOT a name used for the Eucharist?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Features of the origins of the Eucharist:True / false
  3. 3
    Components of the Eucharist:True / false
  4. 4
    What is the central part of the Eucharist?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    The Catholic Church believes that during the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. What's this miracle called?Multiple choice
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Other Sacraments

Pilgrimage & Celebrations