On Eucharistic liturgies, see the links given in Christian liturgy

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names, is one of the Christian sacraments said to have been instituted by Jesus of Nazareth. A Liturgy is a set form of ceremony or pattern of worship Christian liturgy is a pattern for worship used (whether recommended or prescribed by a Christian congregation or A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Almost every Christian denomination celebrates in some form this rite, generally seeing it as a "sacrament commemorating the action of Jesus at his Last Supper with his disciples, when he gave them bread saying, 'This is my body', and wine saying, 'This is my blood'. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings A rite is an established ceremonious usually Religious act or Process art. In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his "^[1] Beginning in the Early Church as a prayer or blessing over bread and wine associated with a common meal that followed the form of earlier Jewish blessings, it evolved into more elaborate liturgies, such as the Roman Catholic Mass and the Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy. Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c Sacramental bread, sometimes called Lamb or Host is the bread which is used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist. Sacramental wine or Altar wine is Wine prepared for use in Christian Liturgy as part of the celebration of the Eucharist or the A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group according to their particular traditions The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. There are different interpretations of its significance, but "there is more of a consensus among Christians about the meaning of the Eucharist than would appear from the confessional debates over the sacramental presence, the effects of the Eucharist, and the proper auspices under which it may be celebrated. "^[1]

The phrase "the Eucharist" may refer not only to the rite but also to the "bread" and "cup" used in the rite,^[2] and, in this sense, communicants may speak of "receiving the Eucharist", rather than "celebrating the Eucharist".

History of the Eucharist

Further information: Theories about the origin of the Eucharist

The Eucharist in the Bible

The Last Supper in Milan (1498), by Leonardo da Vinci. The Last Supper (Il Cenacolo or L'Ultima Cena) is a 15th century Mural painting in Milan created by Leonardo da Vinci for his patron Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ( April 15 1452 – May 2 1519 was an Italian Polymath, having been a scientist Mathematician, Engineer

The Last Supper appears in all three Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke; and in the First Epistle to the Corinthians, while the last-named of these also indicates something of how early Christians celebrated what Paul the Apostle called the Lord's Supper. In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his The synoptic gospels are the first three Gospels of the New Testament in the Christian Bible. The First Epistle to the Corinthians is a book of the Bible in the New Testament. Paul the apostle (שאול התרסי Šaʾul HaTarsi, meaning " Saul of Tarsus " Σαούλ Saul and Σαῦλος Saulos and

Paul the Apostle and the Lord's Supper

The epistles of Paul the Apostle (d. 64-67) are the earliest documents in the New Testament. He recalled for the Corinthians the Last Supper to indicate how they should celebrate the Lord's Supper.

In his First Epistle to the Corinthians (c 54-55), Paul the Apostle gives the earliest recorded description of Jesus' Last Supper: "The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body which is for you. The First Epistle to the Corinthians is a book of the Bible in the New Testament. Paul the apostle (שאול התרסי Šaʾul HaTarsi, meaning " Saul of Tarsus " Σαούλ Saul and Σαῦλος Saulos and In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his Do this in remembrance of me. ' In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. The term New Covenant (; Greek:, diathēkē kainē is used in the Bible (both in the Hebrew Bible and the Greek New Testament) to refer Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me'. " ^[3]

Paul recalled this in view of the way in which the Lord's Supper was celebrated at Corinth: middle- and upper-class people, who could come early to the meetings of the Christians, feasted on their better food and drink in a way that shamed the slaves and peasants who could arrive only later. Corinth, or Korinth ( Greek Κόρινθος ( is a city in Greece. He pointed out that they were all participating in Christ's body and blood, not their own meal, and that to do so in an unworthy manner, with divisions and class distinctions among them, profaned the meal, turning it from the Lord's Supper to a sham. ^[4]

Stephen L Harris describes the situation as "a near brawl at which the early arrivals would overeat and overdrink";^[5] but commentators generally^[6] give a much less lurid description of the Corinthians' celebration of the Lord's Supper: the two abuses that Paul reproved were the divisions of the participants into separate groups and the fact that some selfishly indulged, even to the point of excess, in food and drink that they brought with them, while others remained hungry. Stephen L Harris is Professor and Chair Department of Humanities and Religious Studies at California State University Sacramento. ^[7]

Last Supper in the Gospels

The synoptic gospels, first Mark,^[8] and then Matthew^[9] and Luke,^[10] depict Jesus as presiding over the Last Supper. References to Jesus' body and blood foreshadow his crucifixion, and he identifies them as a new covenant. ^[5] In the gospel of John, the account of the Last Supper has no mention of Jesus taking bread and wine and speaking of them as his body and blood; instead it recounts his humble act of washing the disciples' feet, the prophecy of the betrayal, which set in motion the events that would lead to the cross, and his long discourse in response to some questions posed by his followers, in which he went on to speak of the importance of the unity of the disciples with him and each other. ^[11][5]

The Eucharist in early Christian sources

The Didache (Greek: teaching) is an early Christian church order, including, among other features, instructions for Baptism and the Eucharist. The Didache ( Koine Greek:, Didachē, meaning "Teaching" ˈdɪdəkiː in English ðiðaˈxi in Modern Greek) is the common name of a brief In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted Most scholars date it to the early 2nd century. ^[12] Two separate eucharistic traditions appear in the Didache, the earlier tradition in chapter 10 and the later one preceding it in chapter 9. ^[13][14] The Eucharist is mentioned again in chapter 14. ^[15]

Ignatius of Antioch, one of the Apostolic Fathers, mentions the Eucharist as "the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ",^[16] and Justin Martyr speaks of it as more than a meal: "the food over which the prayer of thanksgiving, the word received from Christ, has been said . . . is the flesh and blood of this Jesus who became flesh . . . and the deacons carry some to those who are absent. "^[17]

Christian theology concerning the Eucharist

Many Christian denominations classify the Eucharist as a sacrament. A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active ^[18] Some Protestants prefer to call it an ordinance, viewing it not as a specific channel of divine grace but as an expression of faith and of obedience to Christ. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Ordinance is a Protestant Christian term for Baptism, Communion and other Religious rituals Some Protestants do not call them In Christianity, divine Grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to Salvation — irrespective of actions

Most Christians, even those who deny that there is any real change in the bread or wafer and wine or juice used, recognize a special presence of Christ in this rite, though they differ about exactly how, where, and when Christ is present. Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " ^[19]

The Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry document of the World Council of Churches, attempting to present the common understanding of the Eucharist on the part of the generality of Christians, describes it as "essentially the sacrament of the gift which God makes to us in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit", "Thanksgiving to the Father", "Anamnesis or Memorial of Christ", "the sacrament of the unique sacrifice of Christ, who ever lives to make intercession for us", "the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, the sacrament of his real presence", "Invocation of the Spirit", "Communion of the Faithful", and "Meal of the Kingdom". The World Council of Churches ( WCC) is an international The Real Presence is the term various Christian traditions use to express their belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was

Roman Catholic Church

Main article: Eucharist (Catholic Church)

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the Eucharist at the canonization of Frei Galvão in São Paulo, Brazil on 11 May 2007

In the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eucharist is one of the seven sacraments. Eucharist in the Catholic Church refers to both the celebration of the Mass that is the Eucharistic Liturgy, and the consecrated bread and wine which Pope Benedict XVI ( Latin: Benedictus PP XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI; born Joseph Alois Ratzinger Canonization is the act by which a particular Christian church declares a deceased person to be a Saint and is included in the canon or list of recognized saints Saint Anthony de Saint Anne Galvão ( Portuguese: Santo Antônio de Sant'Anna Galvão) OFM, popularly known as Frei Galvão (Friar Galvão (1739 &mdash São Paulo ( is the largest city in Brazil, with its metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active The institution of the Eucharist is one of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. The Rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden" or "garland of roses" is a popular traditional Roman Catholic devotion. The Eucharist not only commemorates the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ, but also makes it truly present. This article describes the Christian Passion For other meanings see Passion. Introduction The chronology of Jesus is linked to a number of Jewish festivals Within the body of Christian beliefs the resurrection of Jesus is a core event on which much of Christian doctrine and theology depend The priest and victim of the sacrifice are one and the same (Christ). The only difference is how the Eucharist is offered: in an unbloody manner. ^[20]

The only minister of the Eucharist, that is, one authorized to celebrate the rite and consecrate the Eucharist, is a validly ordained priest (either bishop or presbyter) acting in the person of Christ (in persona Christi). A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations then a synonym of episkopos (which has now come to mean Bishop In other words the priest celebrant represents Christ, who is the Head of the Church, and acts before God the Father in the name of the Church. The matter used must be wheaten bread and grape wine; this is essential for validity. ^[21]

At a celebration of the Eucharist at Lourdes, the chalice is shown to the people immediately after the consecration of the wine. Lourdes ( Occitan: Lorda) is a town and commune situated in the southwest of the Hautes-Pyrénées department, lying in the first Pyrenean

According to the Roman Catholic Church, when the bread and wine are consecrated in the Eucharist, they cease to be bread and wine, and become instead the body and blood of Christ: although the empirical appearances are not changed, the reality is changed by the power of the Holy Spirit who has been called down upon the bread and wine. The consecration of the bread (known as the host) and wine represents the separation of Jesus' body from his blood at Calvary. Sacramental bread, sometimes called Lamb or Host is the bread which is used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist. However, since he has risen, the Church teaches that his body and blood can no longer be truly separated. Where one is, the other must be. Therefore, although the priest (or minister) says "The body of Christ" when administering the host, and "The blood of Christ" when presenting the chalice, the communicant who receives either one receives Christ, whole and entire. The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those ^[22]

The mysterious^[23] change of the reality of the bread and wine began to be called "transubstantiation" in the eleventh century. See also Eucharist (Catholic Church On the related belief that Christ is present in the Eucharist in body blood soul and divinity see Real Presence. It seems that the first text in which the term appears is of Gilbert of Savardin, Archbishop of Tours, in a sermon from 1079 (Patrologia Latina CLXXI 776). Hildebert of Lavardin or Hildebert of Tours (c 1055&ndash December 18, 1133) was a French writer and ecclesiastic The Patrologia Latina is an enormous collection of the writings of the Church Fathers and other ecclesiastical writers published by Jacques-Paul Migne between The term first appeared in a papal document in the letter Cum Marthae circa to a certain John, Archbishop of Lyon,29 November 1202,^[24] then in the Fourth Lateran Council (1215)^[25] and afterward in the book "Iam dudum" sent to the Armenians in the year 1341. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe The Fourth Council of the Lateran was summoned by Pope Innocent III with his Papal bull of April 19, 1213. ^[26] An explanation utilizing Aristotle's hylemorphic theory of reality did not appear until the thirteenth century, with Alexander of Hales (died 1245). Alexander Hales (also Halensis, Alensis, Halesius, Alesius; called Doctor Irrefragabilis and Theologorum Monarcha) was a

Catholics may receive Holy Communion outside of Mass, but then it is normally given only as the host. The consecrated hosts are kept in a tabernacle after the celebration of the Mass and brought to the sick or dying during the week. A Tabernacle is the fixed locked box in which in some Christian churches the Eucharist is "reserved" (stored Occasionally, the Eucharist is exposed in a monstrance, so that it may be the focus of prayer and adoration. A monstrance is the vessel used in the Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, and Anglican Churches to display the consecrated Eucharistic Host Eucharistic adoration is a practice in the Roman Catholic Church and in some Anglican churches in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed to and adored ^[27]

Eastern Orthodoxy

Main article: Divine Liturgy

The Eucharist is at the center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. Orthodox Christians affirm the Real Presence in the Sacred Mysteries (consecrated bread and wine) which they believe to be the actual Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Real Presence is the term various Christian traditions use to express their belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was The term sacred mysteries generally denotes the area of Supernatural phenomena associated with a Divinity or a religious ideology. Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service usually religious Body of Christ is a term of Christian Theology, implicitly traceable to Jesus 's statement at the Last Supper that "This is my body" The Blood of Christ in Christian Theology refers to (a the physical blood actually shed by Jesus Christ on the Cross, and the salvation which Christianity Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) The Eucharist is normally received in the context of the Divine Liturgy. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. The bread and wine are believed to become the genuine Body and Blood of the Christ Jesus through the operation of the Holy Spirit. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) The Eastern Orthodox Church has never described exactly how this occurs, or gone into the detail that the Roman Catholic Church has with the doctrine of transubstantiation. See also Eucharist (Catholic Church On the related belief that Christ is present in the Eucharist in body blood soul and divinity see Real Presence. This doctrine was formulated after the Great Schism took place, and the Eastern Orthodox churches have never formally affirmed or denied it, preferring to state simply that it is a "Mystery",^[28] while at the same time using, as in the 1672 Synod of Jerusalem, language very similar to that used by the Roman Catholic Church. The East-West Schism, or the Great Schism, divided medieval Christendom into Eastern (Greek and Western (Latin branches which later became known as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Dositheos Notaras convened a Synod in Jerusalem on March 1672. ^[29]

Communion is given only to baptized, chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared by fasting, prayer, and confession. The priest administers the Gifts with a spoon directly into the recipient's mouth from the chalice. ^[30] From baptism young infants and children are carried to the chalice to receive Holy Communion. ^[31]

The holy gifts reserved for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts or communion of the sick are specially consecrated as needed, especially on Holy Thursday. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, informally Presanctified Liturgy, is an Eastern Christian liturgical service for the distribution of communion In the Christian Liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter They are kept in an elaborately decorated tabernacle, a container on the altar often in the shape of a church. A Tabernacle is the fixed locked box in which in some Christian churches the Eucharist is "reserved" (stored Generally, Eastern Christians do not adore the consecrated bread outside the Liturgy itself. After the Eucharist has been given to the congregation, the priest or the deacon has to eat and drink everything that is left.

Anglicans/Episcopalians: Real Presence with opinion

Main article: Anglican Eucharistic theology

The historical position of the Anglican Communion is found in the Thirty-Nine Articles of 1571, which state "the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ"; and likewise that "the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ" (Articles of Religion, Article XXVIII: Of the Lord's Supper) and that "Transubstantiation is repugnant to Holy Writ". Anglican Eucharistic theology is divergent in practice reflecting the essential comprehensiveness of the tradition See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion were established in 1563 and are the historic defining statements of Anglican doctrine in relation to the controversies of the The fact that the terms "Bread" and "Wine" and the corresponding words "Body" and "Blood" are all capitalized may reflect the wide range of theological beliefs regarding the Eucharist among Anglicans. However, the Articles also state that adoration, or worship per se, of the consecrated elements was not commanded by Christ and should not be practiced. It also stated that those who receive unworthily do not actually receive Christ but rather their own condemnation.

Anglicans generally and officially believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but the specifics of that belief range from transubstantiation, sometimes with Eucharistic adoration (mainly Anglo-Catholics), to something akin to a belief in a "pneumatic" presence, which may or may not be tied to the Eucharistic elements themselves (almost always "Low Church" or Evangelical Anglicans). The Real Presence is the term various Christian traditions use to express their belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was Eucharistic adoration is a practice in the Roman Catholic Church and in some Anglican churches in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed to and adored The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism (or sometimes possibly incorrectly High Church &mdashsee below describe people Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel The normal range of Anglican belief ranges from Objective Reality to Pious Silence, depending on the individual Anglican's theology. There are also small minorities on the one hand who affirm transubstantiation, or on the other hand, reject the doctrine of the Real Presence altogether. See also Eucharist (Catholic Church On the related belief that Christ is present in the Eucharist in body blood soul and divinity see Real Presence. The classic Anglican aphorism with regard to this debate is found in a poem by John Donne (sometimes attributed to Elizabeth I):

He was the Word that spake it;

He took the bread and brake it;

and what that Word did make it;

I do believe and take it. John Donne (pronounced like done, dʌn 1572 – 31 March 1631 was a Jacobean poet preacher and a major representative of the Metaphysical poets ^[32]

Anglican belief in the Eucharistic Sacrifice ("Sacrifice of the Mass") is set forth in the response Saepius officio of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to Pope Leo XIII's Papal Encyclical Apostolicae curae. Pope Leo XIII ( March 2, 1810 – July 20, 1903) born Count Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci, was the 256th Pope Anglicans and Roman Catholics declared that they had "substantial agreement on the doctrine of the Eucharist" in the Windsor Statement on Eucharistic Doctrine from the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Consultation and the Elucidation of the ARCIC Windsor Statement.

Lutherans: Sacramental union: "in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine"

Main article: Sacramental union

Manner of the Real Presence

Lutherans believe that the Body and Blood of Christ are "truly and substantially present in, with and under the forms" of the consecrated bread and wine (the elements), so that communicants eat and drink both the elements and the true Body and Blood of Christ Himself (cf. Sacramental union ( Latin, unio sacramentalis; German, sakramentliche Einigkeit) is the Lutheran theological Doctrine The Real Presence is the term various Christian traditions use to express their belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was Augsburg Confession, Article 10) in the Sacrament of Holy Communion whether they are believers or unbelievers ("manducatio indignorum": "eating of the unworthy"). The Augsburg Confession, also known as the "Augustana" from its Latin name Confessio Augustana is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran The Lutheran doctrine of the Real Presence is formally known as "the sacramental union. Sacramental union ( Latin, unio sacramentalis; German, sakramentliche Einigkeit) is the Lutheran theological Doctrine " This theology was first formally and publicly confessed in the Wittenberg Concord. Wittenberg Concord ( 1536) is a religious Concordat signed by Reformed and Lutheran theologians and churchmen on May 29, 1536 It has been called "consubstantiation" by some, but this term is rejected by Lutheran Churches and theologians as it creates confusion with an earlier doctrine of the same name. Consubstantiation is a theological doctrine that (like Transubstantiation) attempts to describe the nature of the Christian Eucharist in concrete metaphysical Lutherans use the terms "in, with and under the forms of [consecrated] bread and wine" and "sacramental union" to distinguish their understanding of the Lord's Supper from those of the Reformed and other traditions.

Use of the sacrament

For Lutherans, there is no sacrament unless the elements are used according to Christ's mandate and institution (consecration, distribution, and reception). This was first formulated in the Wittenberg Concord of 1536 in the formula: Nihil habet rationem sacramenti extra usum a Christo institutum ("Nothing has the character of a sacrament apart from the use instituted by Christ"). As a consequence of their belief in this principle, some Lutherans have opposed in the Christian Church the reservation of the consecrated elements, private masses, the practice of Corpus Christi, and the belief that the presence of Christ's body and blood continue in the "reliquæ" (what remains of the consecrated elements after all have communed in the worship service). This interpretation is not universal among Lutherans. The consecrated elements are treated with respect, and in some areas are reserved as in Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican practice, but eucharistic adoration is not typically practiced. To remove any scruple of doubt or superstition the reliquæ traditionally are either consumed or poured into the earth. In some Lutheran congregations a small amount or the reliquæ may be kept for delivery to those too ill or infirm to attend the service (private communion). In this case, the consecrated elements are to be delivered quickly, preserving the connection between the communion experienced by the ill person, and the communion of the rest of the congregation. In other Lutheran congregations the administration of private communion of the sick and "shut-in" (those too feeble to attend service) involves a completely separate service of Holy Communion for which sacramental elements are consecrated by the administrant.

Close(d) or Open Communion

More liberal Lutheran Churches tend to practice open communion, inviting all who are baptized to participate. Conservative Lutheran Churches such as the Confessional Lutherans are more likely to practice closed communion (or "close communion"), restricting participation to those, who are more or less in doctrinal agreement with them. Confessional Lutheran is a name used by certain Lutheran Christians to designate themselves as those who accept the doctrines taught in the Book of Concord This might involve the formal declaration of "altar and pulpit fellowship," another term for eucharistic sharing coupled with the acceptance of the ministrations of one another's clergy.

The term "Eucharist"

Lutheran tradition employs the term "Eucharist," but some Lutherans, particularly those who reject high church theology, object to it because it emphasizes human response and agency (thanksgiving) rather than the usual Lutheran theological emphasis on God's grace and activity in the sacrament. " High Church " relates to Ecclesiology and Liturgy in Anglican theology and practice ^[33] On the other hand, the term "Eucharist", as well as being derived from the original Greek word "εὐχαριστήσας" in the Words of Institution (cf. The Words of Institution are those used inserted into a narrative of the Last Supper, in Christian Eucharistic liturgies to recall those used by Jesus on that 1 Cor. 11:24; Mt. 26:27; Mk. 14:23; Lk. 22:19), appears in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession (Article XXIV. 66)^[34] and in catechisms of conservative Lutheran Churches^[35] In the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, which distinguishes "eucharistic sacrifice" from "propitiatory sacrifice" (Article XXIV. 19)^[36], Lutherans declare that speaking of the Lord's Supper as Eucharist denies that it is a propitiatory sacrifice that the church offers to God to earn the forgiveness of sins:

. . . piety looks at what is given and at what is forgiven; it compares the greatness of God's blessings and the greatness of our ills, our sin and our death; and it give thanks. From this the term "eucharist" arose in the church. The ceremony is not a thanksgiving that can be transferred to others ex opere operato [by the deed done] to merit the forgiveness of sins for them or to free the souls of the dead. The theory that a ceremony can benefit either the worshiper or anyone else without faith conflicts with the righteousness of faith. ^[37]

Methodism: Real Presence as "Holy Mystery"

Methodists understand the eucharist to be an experience of God's grace. God's unconditional love makes the table of God's grace accessible to all.

According to the Articles of Religion in the Book of Discipline of the Methodist Church,

A United Methodist Elder presides at the Eucharist, assisted by a Deacon. The Articles of Religion are an official doctrinal statement of American Methodism. The Book of Discipline constitutes the law and doctrine of the United Methodist Church. An Elder in the Methodist Church -- sometimes called a Presbyter or Minister -- is someone who has been Ordained by a Bishop to the Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind but which varies among theological and denominational traditions

There are various acceptable modes of receiving the Eucharist for Methodists. Some Methodists kneel at the altar, sometimes referred to as the communion table. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place In other churches, communicants stand or are served in the pew. Most Methodist Churches use unfermented grape juice instead of alcoholic wine (though there is no official restriction for United Methodists), and either leavened yeast bread or unleavened bread. The juice may be distributed in small cups, but the use of a common cup and the practice of communion by intinction (where the bread is dipped into the common cup and both elements are consumed together) is becoming more common among many Methodists. ^[39]

The Methodist Church believes in the real presence of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion:^[39]

Jesus Christ, who "is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being" (Hebrews 1:3), is truly present in Holy Communion. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations The Real Presence is the term various Christian traditions use to express their belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names is a Christian Sacrament by which in a common interpretation those Through Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, God meets us at the Table. An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place God, who has given the sacraments to the church, acts in and through Holy Communion. A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active Christ is present through the community gathered in Jesus' name (Matthew 18:20), through the Word proclaimed and enacted, and through the elements of bread and wine shared (1 Corinthians 11:23–26). Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Grape juice is a Juice obtained from crushing Grapes The juice is often fermented and made into Wine, Brandy, or Vinegar The divine presence is a living reality and can be experienced by participants; it is not a remembrance of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion only. In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his ^[39]

The followers of John Wesley, himself an Anglican clergyman, have typically affirmed that the sacrament of Holy Communion is an instrumental Means of Grace through which the real presence of Christ is communicated to the believer,^[40] but have otherwise allowed the details to remain a mystery. John Wesley (ˈwɛslɪ ( – March 2, 1791) was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian who was the founder of the (Evangelical The Means of Grace in Christian theology are those things (the means) through which God gives grace. ^[39] In particular, Methodists reject the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation (see "Article XVIII" of the Articles of Religion, Means of Grace). See also Eucharist (Catholic Church On the related belief that Christ is present in the Eucharist in body blood soul and divinity see Real Presence. The Articles of Religion are an official doctrinal statement of American Methodism. The Means of Grace in Christian theology are those things (the means) through which God gives grace. In 2004, the United Methodist Church reaffirmed its view of the sacrament and its belief in the Real Presence in an official document entitled This Holy Mystery. The United Methodist Church is the largest Methodist denomination and the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. Of particular note here is the Church's unequivocal recognition of the anamnesis as more than just a memorial but, rather, a re-presentation of Christ Jesus:

Holy Communion is remembrance, commemoration, and memorial, but this remembrance is much more than simply intellectual recalling. Anamnesis (ἀνάμνησις = "recollection reminiscence" is a term used in Medicine, Philosophy, Psychoanalysis and "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25) is anamnesis (the biblical Greek word). This dynamic action becomes re-presentation of past gracious acts of God in the present, so powerfully as to make them truly present now. Christ is risen and is alive here and now, not just remembered for what was done in the past.

This affirmation of Real Presence can be seen clearly illustrated in the language of the United Methodist Eucharistic Liturgy (for example: Word and Table 1) where, in the epecletical portion of the Great Thanksgiving, the celebrating minister prays over the elements:

A United Methodist Elder consecrates the elements

For most United Methodists — and, indeed, for much of Methodism as a whole — this reflects the furthest extent to which they are willing to go in defining Real Presence. They will assert that Jesus is really present, and that the means of this presence is a "Holy Mystery"; the celebrating minister will pray for the Holy Spirit to make the elements "be the body and blood of Christ", and the congregation will even sing, as in the third stanza of Charles Wesley's hymn Come Sinners to the Gospel Feast:

Come and partake the gospel feast,

Be saved from sin, in Jesus rest;

O taste the goodness of our God,

and eat his flesh and drink his blood. Biography Charles Wesley was the son of Susanna Wesley and Samuel Wesley. [2]

Methodists believe that Holy Communion should not only be available to the clergy in both forms (the Bread and the Cup), but to the layman as well. An Elder in the Methodist Church -- sometimes called a Presbyter or Minister -- is someone who has been Ordained by a Bishop to the The term " layman " originated from the use of the term Laity, but over the centuries changed definition to mean a person who is a non-expert in a given field of According to Article XIX of the Articles of Religion in the Book of Discipline of the Methodist Church,

Calvinist/Reformed: Spiritual feeding, "Pneumatic" or "Spiritual" presence

Communion service in the Three-kings Church, Frankfurt am Main.

Many Reformed Christians hold that Christ's body and blood are not actually present in the Eucharist. The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically The elements are only symbols of the reality, which is spiritual nourishment in Christ.

The sum is, that the flesh and blood of Christ feed our souls just as bread and wine maintain and support our corporeal life. For there would be no aptitude in the sign, did not our souls find their nourishment in Christ. [. . . ] I hold. . . that the sacred mystery of the Supper consists of two things—the corporeal signs, which, presented to the eye, represent invisible things in a manner adapted to our weak capacity, and the spiritual truth, which is at once figured and exhibited by the signs. ^[42]

Following a phrase of Augustine, the Calvinist view is that "no one bears away from this Sacrament more than is gathered with the vessel of faith. " "The flesh and blood of Christ are no less truly given to the unworthy than to God's elect believers", Calvin said. Faith, not a mere mental apprehension, and the work of the Holy Spirit, are necessary for the partaker to behold God incarnate, and in the same sense touch Christ with their hands; so that by eating and drinking of bread and wine Christ's actual presence penetrates to the heart of the believer more nearly than food swallowed with the mouth can enter in. ^[42] The 'experience' of Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper, has traditionally been spoken of in the following way: the faithful believers are 'lifted up' by the power of the Holy Spirit to feast with Christ in heaven. The Lord's Supper in this way is truly a 'Spiritual' experience as the Holy Spirit is directly involved in the action of 'eucharist'.

The Calvinist/Reformed view also places great emphasis on the action of the community as the Body of Christ. As the faith community participates in the action of celebrating the Lord's Supper they are 'transformed' into the Body of Christ, or 'reformed' into the Body of Christ each time they participate in this sacrament. In this sense it has been said that the term "transubstantiation" can be applied to the Faith Community (the Church) itself being transformed into the real Body and Blood of Christ truly present in the world.

Although Calvin rejected adoration of the Eucharistic bread and wine as "idolatry" later Reformed Christians have argued otherwise. Leftover elements may be disposed of without ceremony (or reused in later services); they are unchanged, and as such the meal directs attention toward Christ's bodily resurrection and return. ^[42]

Latter Day Saint movement

Main article: Sacrament (Latter Day Saints)

Among Latter Day Saints (or Mormons), the Eucharist (in LDS theology it is "The Sacrament") is partaken in remembrance of the blood and body of Jesus Christ. In Mormonism, the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper most often simply referred to as the Sacrament is the Sacrament in which participants partake of A Latter TalkMormon#Latter Day Saint vs Latter-day Saint --> Mormon It is viewed as a renewal of the covenant made at baptism, which is to take upon oneself the name of Jesus. In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted As such, it is considered efficacious only for baptized members in good standing. However, the unbaptized are not forbidden from communion, and it is traditional for children not yet baptized (baptism occurs only after the age of eight) to participate in communion in anticipation of baptism. Those who partake of the Sacrament promise always to remember Jesus and keep his commandments. The prayer also asks God the Father that each individual will be blest with the Spirit of Christ. ^[43]

The Sacrament is offered weekly and all active members are taught to prepare to partake of each opportunity. It is considered to be a weekly renewal of a member's commitment to follow Jesus Christ, and a plea for forgiveness of sins.

The Latter Day Saints do not believe in any kind of literal presence. They view the bread and water as symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. Currently The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses water instead of wine. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known Early in their history the Sacrament wine was often purchased from enemies of the church. To remove any opportunity for poisoned or wine unfit for use in the Sacrament, it is believed a revelation from the Lord was given that stated "it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory — remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins. "^[44] After this time water became the liquid of choice for all Sacrament uses.

Zwinglian Reformed: no Real Presence

Main article: Memorialism

Some Protestant groups regard the Eucharist (also called the Lord's Supper or the Lord's Table) as a symbolic meal, a memorial of the Last Supper and the Passion in which nothing miraculous occurs. The study of the theology of Huldrych Zwingli since the 1990s has been facilitated by a modern critical edition of his works The study of the theology of Huldrych Zwingli since the 1990s has been facilitated by a modern critical edition of his works In the Christian Gospels the Last Supper (also called the Lord's Supper or Mystical Supper) was the last meal Jesus shared with his This view is known as the Zwinglian view, after Huldrych Zwingli, a Church leader in Zurich, Switzerland during the Reformation. Huldrych (or Ulrich) Zwingli (1 January 1484 &ndash 11 October 1531 was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. Zürich (, Zürich German: Züri, Zurich, Zurigo; in English generally Zurich) is the largest city in Switzerland and capital of the The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time It is commonly associated with the United Church of Christ, Baptists, and the Disciples of Christ. The United Church of Christ ( UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America As with the Reformed view, elements left over from the service may be discarded without any formal ceremony, or if feasible may be retained for use in future services.

Some of the Reformed hold that Calvin actually held this view, and not the Spiritual feeding idea more commonly attributed to him; or that the two views are really the same.

The successor of Zwingli in Zurich, Heinrich Bullinger, came to an agreement theologically with John Calvin. Heinrich Bullinger ( July 18, 1504 - September 17, 1575) was a Swiss reformer, the successor of Huldrych Zwingli The Consensus Tigurinus lays out an explanation of the doctrine of the Sacraments in general, and specifically, that of Holy Communion, as the view embraced by John Calvin and leaders of the Church of Zurich who followed Zwingli. It demonstrates that at least the successors of Zwingli held to the real spiritual presence view most commonly attributed to Calvin and Reformed Protestantism. The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation.

Some Christian denominations that hold this view include the United Church of Christ, the Baptist Church, the Disciples of Christ, and the Church of the Nazarene. List of Christian denominations (or Denominations self-identified as Christian) ordered by historical and doctrinal relationships The United Church of Christ ( UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America The Church of the Nazarene, often referred to as the Nazarene Church is an International evangelical Christian denomination that began in The Plymouth Brethren hold the Lord's Supper, or the Breaking of Bread, instituted in the upper room on Christ's betrayal night, to be the weekly remembrance feast enjoyed on all true Christians. The Plymouth Brethren is a Conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland They celebrate the supper in utmost simplicity. Among 'closed' Brethren assemblies usually any one of the brothers gives thanks for the loaf and the cup. In conservative 'open' Brethren assemblies usually two different brothers give thanks, one for the loaf and the other for the cup. In liberal 'open' Brethren assemblies (or churches/community chapels, etc. ) sisters also participate with audible prayer.

Summary of views

Because Jesus Christ is a person, theologies regarding the Eucharist involve consideration of the way in which the communicant's personal relationship with God is fed through this mystical meal. However, debates over Eucharistic theology in the West have centered not on the personal aspects of Christ's presence but on the metaphysical. The opposing views are summarized below.

For more details on this topic, see Real Presence. The Real Presence is the term various Christian traditions use to express their belief that in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was

• "Transubstantiation" — the substance (fundamental reality) of the bread and wine is transformed in a way beyond human comprehension into that of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ, but the accidents (physical traits, including chemical properties) of the bread and wine remain; this view is that taught by the Roman Catholic Church and by the Eastern Orthodox Synod of Jerusalem, and is held by many Anglicans, especially in Anglo-Catholic circles. See also Eucharist (Catholic Church On the related belief that Christ is present in the Eucharist in body blood soul and divinity see Real Presence. Substance theory, or substance attribute theory, is an ontological theory about objecthood, positing that a substance is distinct from its The philosophical term accident has been employed throughout the history of philosophy with several distinct meanings The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Greek Orthodox Patriarch Dositheos Notaras convened a Synod in Jerusalem on March 1672. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism (or sometimes possibly incorrectly High Church &mdashsee below describe people
• "Consubstantiation" or "Impanation"— "the bread retains its substance and . Consubstantiation is a theological doctrine that (like Transubstantiation) attempts to describe the nature of the Christian Eucharist in concrete metaphysical Impanation is a name employed to denote the union of the body of Christ with the bread of the Eucharist. . . Christ’s glorified body comes down into the bread through the consecration and is found there together with the natural substance of the bread, without quantity but whole and complete in every part of the sacramental bread. " It was the position of the medieval scholastic doctor Duns Scotus^[45] It is erroneously used to denote the position of the Lutheran Church, although some Lutherans, Anglicans and non-Lutherans identify with this position. Scholasticism was the dominant form of theology and philosophy in the Latin West in the Middle Ages, particularly in the 12th 13th and 14th centuries Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs
• "Sacramental union" — in the "use" of the sacrament, according to the words of Jesus Christ and by the power of his speaking of them once for all, the consecrated bread is united with his body and the consecrated wine with his blood for all communicants, whether believing or unbelieving, to eat and drink. Sacramental union ( Latin, unio sacramentalis; German, sakramentliche Einigkeit) is the Lutheran theological Doctrine This is the position of the Lutheran Church that echoes the next view with its "pious silence about technicalities" in that it objects to philosophical terms like "consubstantiation. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther "
• "Objective reality, but pious silence about technicalities" — the view of all the ancient Churches of the East, including the Eastern Orthodox, the Oriental Orthodox, the Eastern Catholic Churches) and the Assyrian Church of the East as well as perhaps most Anglicans and Lutherans. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See The Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East (ܥܕܬܐ ܩܕܝܫܬܐ ܘܫܠܝܚܝܬܐ ܩܬܘܠܝܩܝ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܪ̈ܝܐ ‘Ittā Qaddishtā wa-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi These, while agreeing with the Roman Catholic belief that the sacrament is not merely bread and wine but truly the body and blood of Christ, and having historically employed the "substance" and "accidents" terminology to explain what is changed in the transformation,^[46] usually avoid this terminology, lest they seem to scrutize the technicalities of the manner in which the transformation occurs.
• "Real Spiritual presence", also called "pneumatic presence", holds that not only the Spirit of Christ, but also the true body and blood of Jesus Christ (hence "real"), are received by the sovereign, mysterious, and miraculous power of the Holy Spirit (hence "spiritual"), but only by those partakers who have faith. This view approaches the "pious silence" view in its unwillingness to specify how the Holy Spirit makes Christ present, but positively excludes not just symbolism but also trans- and con-substantiation. It is also known as the "mystical presence" view, and is held by most Reformed Christians, such as Presbyterians, as well as some Methodists and some Anglicans, particularly Low Church Reformed Anglicans. The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs Low church is a term of distinction in the Church of England or other Anglican churches initially designed to be pejorative See Westminster Confession of Faith, ch. 29. This understanding is often called "receptionism". Some argue that this view can be seen as being suggested — though not by any means clearly — by the "invocation" of the Anglican Rite as found in the American Book of Common Prayer, 1928 and earlier and in Rite I of the American BCP of 1979 as well as in other Anglican formularies:

And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us, and of thy almighty goodness, vouchsafe to bless and sanctify, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine; that we, receiving them according to thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ's holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood. In most Christian churches the epiclesis (also sometimes spelled epiklesis, since it is a transliterated Greek word is that part of the The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion.

• "Symbolism" — the bread and wine are symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and in partaking of the elements the believer commemorates the sacrificial death of Christ. This view is also known as "memorialism" and "Zwinglianism" after Ulrich Zwingli and is held by several Protestant and Latter-day Saint denominations, including most Baptists. Huldrych (or Ulrich) Zwingli (1 January 1484 &ndash 11 October 1531 was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. A Latter Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination.
• "Suspension" — the partaking of the bread and wine was not intended to be a perpetual ordinance, or was not to be taken as a religious rite or ceremony (also known as adeipnonism, meaning "no supper" or "no meal"). This is the view of Quakers and the Salvation Army, as well as the hyperdispensationalist positions of E. W. Bullinger, Cornelius R. The Salvation Army is a Christian charity and church that is internally organised like a military service. Hyperdispensationalism is a further development of some (but not all of the core doctrines of Dispensationalism and differs from the same in that principally (although Ethelbert William Bullinger ( December 15, 1837 - June 6, 1913) was an Anglican clergyman Biblical scholar and dispensationalist Stam, and others.

Ritual and liturgy

Anglican

In many of the provinces and national jurisdictions of the Anglican Church, the Eucharist is designated as the principal service of the Church. See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches The service for Holy Eucharist is found in the Book of Common Prayer for each national Church in the Anglican Communion. The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion. See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches The Anglican Church holds the Eucharist as the highest form of worship, the Church's main service. See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches Daily celebrations are now the case in most cathedrals and many parish churches, and there are few churches with a priest where Holy Communion is not celebrated at least once every Sunday. This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral The nature of the ritual with which it is celebrated, however, varies according to the orientation of the individual parish, diocese or national Church. In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop.

See Book of Common Prayer and Ritualism. The Book of Common Prayer is the common title of a number of prayer books of the Church of England and used throughout the Anglican Communion. this article is on the Anglican church in particular See Orthopraxis for ritualism in general

Baptist

The bread and "fruit of the vine" indicated in Matthew, Mark and Luke as the elements of the Lord's Supper^[47] are interpreted by Baptists as unleavened bread and, in line with their historical stance (since the mid-19th century) against partaking of alcoholic beverages, grape juice, which they commonly refer to simply as "the Cup". Grape juice is a Juice obtained from crushing Grapes The juice is often fermented and made into Wine, Brandy, or Vinegar ^[48]

Eastern Christianity

Main article: Divine Liturgy

Among Eastern Christians, the Eucharistic service is called the Divine Liturgy. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. It comprises two main divisions: the first is the Liturgy of the Catechumens which consists of introductory litanies, antiphons and scripture readings, culminating in a reading from one of the Gospels and often, a sermon; the second is the Liturgy of the Faithful in which the Eucharist is offered, consecrated, and received as Holy Communion. This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic Within the latter, the actual Eucharistic prayer is called the anaphora, literally: "offering" or "carrying up" (ἀνα- + φέρω). The Anaphora is the most solemn part of the Divine liturgy, Mass, or other Christian Communion rite where the offerings of bread and wine are consecrated In the Byzantine Rite, two different anaphoras are currently used: one is attributed to St. John Chrysostom, and the other to St. Basil the Great. This article refers to the Christian saint For other uses of the name see Chrysostomos. Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great (c 330 – January 1, 379) (Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας Latin Among the Oriental Orthodox, a variety of anaphoras are used, but all are similar in structure to those of the Byzantine Rite. Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the In the Byzantine Rite, the Anaphora of St. John Chrysostom is used most days of the year; St. Basil's is offered on the Sundays of Great Lent, the eves of Christmas and Theophany, Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday, and upon his feast day (January 1). Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important Fasting season in the Church year in Eastern Christianity, which prepares Christians Theophany, from the Greek, theophaneia (meaning "appearance/showing of God" refers to the appearance of a Deity to a human or to a divine disclosure In the Christian Liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter Holy Saturday ( Latin: Sabbatum Sanctum) is the day after Good Friday. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC At the conclusion of the Anaphora the bread and wine are held to be the Body and Blood of Christ.

Conventionally this change in the elements is understood to occur at the Epiklesis (Greek: "invocation") by which the Holy Spirit is invoked and the consecration of the bread and wine as the Body and Blood of Christ is specifically requested, but since the anaphora as a whole is considered a unitary (albeit lengthy) prayer, no one moment within it can be readily singled out. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is one of the three entities of the Holy Trinity which make up the single substance

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses commemorate Christ's death as a ransom or propitiatory sacrifice by observing The Lord's Evening Meal, or Memorial, each year on Nisan 14 according to the ancient Jewish calendar. Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationist, millenialist Christian denomination See also Easter controversy, Easter Quartodecimanism (derived from the Vulgate Latin: quarta decima, meaning fourteen They believe that this is the only celebration commanded for Christians in the Bible. Of those who attend the Memorial a small minority worldwide will partake of the eating of the unleavened bread and the drinking of the wine.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that144,000 people will receive heavenly salvation and thus spend eternity with God in heaven. They are called the "anointed" and are the only ones who should partake of the bread and wine.

The celebration of the Memorial of Christ's Death proceeds as follows: In advance of the Memorial, Jehovah's Witnesses invite anyone that may be interested to attend this special night. The week of the Memorial is generally filled with special activity in the ministry, such as door-to-door work. A suitable hall, for example a Kingdom Hall, is prepared for the occasion. Kingdom Hall is the term for the meeting place for Jehovah's Witnesses. The Memorial begins with a song and a prayer. The prayer is followed by a discourse on the importance of the evening. A table is set with wine and unleavened bread. Jehovah's Witnesses believe the bread stands for Jesus Christ's body which he gave on behalf of mankind, and that the wine stands for his blood which redeems from sin. They do not believe in transubstantiation or consubstantiation. Hence, the wine and the bread are merely symbols (sometimes referred to as "emblems"), but they have a very deep and profound meaning for Jehovah's Witnesses. A prayer is offered and the bread is circulated among the audience. Only those who are "anointed" partake. Then another prayer is offered, and the wine is circulated in the same manner. After that, the evening concludes with a final song and prayer.

It is common for the bread and wine to be passed in a local Kingdom Hall and have no partakers.

Latter Day Saint movement

In the Latter Day Saint movement (also known as Mormonism), the "Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper",^[49] more simply referred to as the Sacrament, is held at the beginning of Sacrament meeting. Please see the talk page for this article and the "See also" list before adding content or adding a hyphen to Latter Day Saint Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement The Sacrament, both bread and water, is prepared by priesthood holders prior to the beginning of the meeting. At the beginning of the Sacrament priests say individual prayers to bless the bread and water. The bread is passed first after the priests have broken slices of bread into small pieces. All in attendance are provided an opportunity to partake of the Sacrament as it is passed from row to row by priesthood holders. After all have who desire partake, the bread is returned to the priests, who then replace the bread trays and cover them, while uncovering the water held in trays. The priests then say the second prayer and the water is then passed in small individual cups, just as the bread was.

Lutheran

In the Lutheran Book of Concord, in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, article 24, paragraph 1 it is asserted that among Lutherans in 1531 the eucharist was celebrated weekly: "In our churches Mass is celebrated every Sunday and on other festivals, when the sacrament is offered to those who wish for it after they have been examined and absolved. The Book of Concord or Concordia (1580 is the historic doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church, consisting of ten credal " This was the Lutheran response to those who accused them of abolishing the eucharist. Strict adherence to this assertion varies in present day Lutheranism as does the manner of manner of sacramental practice. Some congregations celebrate the eucharist in formal rites similar to the Roman Catholic and "high" Anglican services. Other congregations may celebrate the sacrament outside of traditional liturgical worship services, such as during in-home meetings and services. Administration of the sacrament varies between congregations. The bread can be a thin wafer, or leavened or unleavened. The wine may be administered via a common cup (the "chalice"), or through individual cups that may be either prefilled or filled from the chalice during the distribution of the sacrament. Intinction is acceptable, but rarely used. Some congregations that use wine, make grape juice available for those who are abstaining from alcohol, and some will accommodate those with an allergy to wheat or grapes.

Reformed/Presbyterian

In the Reformed Churches the Eucharist is variously administered. The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically Acknowledging that the bread at the Passover celebration was almost certainly unleavened, some Churches use bread without any raising agent (whether leaven or yeast). A leavening agent (sometimes called just leavening or leaven) is a substance used in Doughs and batters that causes a foaming action intended Yeasts are a growth form of eukaryotic Microorganisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with about 1500 Species currently described The Presbyterian Church (USA), for instance, prescribes "bread common to the culture". The Presbyterian Church (USA or PC (USA is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. The wine served might be true alcoholic red wine or grape juice, from either a chalice or from individual cups. Hearkening back to the regulative principle of worship, the Reformed tradition had long eschewed coming forward to receive communion, preferring to have the elements distributed throughout the congregation by the presbyters (elders) more in the style of a shared meal, but some Churches have reappropriated a High Church liturgy in the spirit of Philip Schaff's Mercersburg theology, which held ancient traditions of the Church in higher esteem than did much of the Reformed world. The regulative principle of worship is a 20th century term used for a teaching shared by Calvinists and Anabaptists on how the second commandment and Philip Schaff ( January 1, 1819 – October 20, 1893) was a Swiss -born German -educated Protestant The elements may be found served separately with "consecration" for each element or together. Communion is usually open to all baptized believers, and although often it is reserved for those who are members in good standing of a Bible-believing Church, participation is left as a matter of conscience.

Roman Catholicism

Main article: Eucharist (Catholic Church)

See Mass (Catholic Church) for Catholic worship in the Latin Rite and Divine Liturgy for worship in the Eastern Catholic Churches. Eucharist in the Catholic Church refers to both the celebration of the Mass that is the Eucharistic Liturgy, and the consecrated bread and wine which The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The Latin Rite is one of the 23 Sui iuris Particular Churches within the Catholic Church. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See

In the Latin Church, the administration of the Eucharist to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the Body and Blood of Christ with appropriate faith and devotion.

Open and closed communion

Main articles: Open communion, Closed communion, and Full communion

Christian denominations differ in their understanding of whether they may receive the Eucharist with those with whom they are not in full communion. Open communion is the practice of Christian churches that allow individuals other than members of that church to receive communion (also called the Eucharist Closed communion is the practice of restricting the serving of the elements of communion (also called Eucharist, The Lord's Supper) to those who are members of a particular Full communion is a term used in Christian Ecclesiology to describe the relationship of communion, with mutually recognized sharing of the same essential Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Full communion is a term used in Christian Ecclesiology to describe the relationship of communion, with mutually recognized sharing of the same essential The famed apologist St. Justin Martyr (c. A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity Saint Justin Martyr (also Justin the Martyr, Justin of Caesarea, Justin the Philosopher, Latin Iustinus Martyr or Flavius 150) wrote: "No one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true. . . . " For the first several hundred years, non-members were forbidden even to be present at the sacramental ritual; visitors and catechumens (those still undergoing instruction) were dismissed halfway through the Liturgy, after the Bible readings and sermon but before the Eucharistic rite. In Ecclesiology, a catechumen (ˌkætəˈkjuːmən from Latin catechumenus, Greek κατηχουμενος, instructed is one receiving instruction The Divine Liturgy of St. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. John Chrysostom, used in the Byzantine Churches, still has a formula of dismissal of catechumens (not usually followed by any action) at this point.

The ancient Churches, such as the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox exclude non-members from Communion under normal circumstances, though they may allow exceptions, e. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world g. , for non-members in danger of death who share their faith in the reality of the Eucharist and who are unable to have access to a minister of their own religion. Many conservative Protestant communities also practice closed communion, including conservative Lutheran Churches like the Old Lutheran Church. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther The Old Lutheran Church an Orthodox Lutheran Church holding to the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession (UAC The Landmark Baptist Churches also practices closed communion, as a symbol of exclusive membership and loyalty to the distinctive doctrines of their fellowship. Landmarkism is a type of Baptist Ecclesiology. Landmarkism may also appear as Old Landmarkism in some works

Most Protestant communities practice open communion, including some Anglican, Reformed, Evangelical, Methodist, and more-liberal Lutherans (such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Church of Sweden). Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Open communion is the practice of Christian churches that allow individuals other than members of that church to receive communion (also called the Eucharist Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The Reformed churches are a group of Christian Protestant Denominations formally characterized by a similar Calvinist system of doctrine historically Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ( ELCA) is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago Illinois. The Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan Ruoŧa girkui is the largest church in Sweden. Some open communion communities adhere to a symbolic or spiritual understanding of the Eucharist, so that they have no fear of sacrilege against the literal body and blood of Christ if someone receives inappropriately. Others feel that Christ calls all of his children to his table, regardless of their denominational affiliation. Many Churches that practice open communion offer it only to baptized Christians (regardless of denomination), although this requirement is typically only enforced by the recipients' honesty. In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted Some Progressive Christian congregations offer communion to any individual who wishes to commemorate the life and teachings of Christ, regardless of religious affiliation. ^[50]

The Eucharist and health issues

Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church believes that the matter for the Eucharist must be wheaten bread and wine from grapes: it holds that, if the gluten has been entirely removed, the result is not true wheaten bread,^[51] and that grape juice that has not begun even minimally to ferment cannot be accepted as wine. It allows in certain circumstances low-gluten bread and mustum (grape juice in which fermentation has begun but has been suspended without altering the nature of the juice). In Roman Catholic liturgy, mustum is Grape juice that is only minimally fermented, for use in place of Sacramental wine. ^[52] Besides, except for the priest, those who participate in Mass may receive Holy Communion in the form of either bread alone or wine alone. The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church.

Other traditions

Alternatives to wine

Main article: Christianity_and_alcohol

Many churches allow alcoholic priests and communicants to take mustum instead of wine. Throughout the first 1800 years of church history, Christians consumed Alcoholic beverages as a common part of everyday life and nearly always used Wine Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions In Roman Catholic liturgy, mustum is Grape juice that is only minimally fermented, for use in place of Sacramental wine. Some churches offer grape juice in which fermentation has not even begun or water as an alternative to wine. ^[53]

Alternatives to wheaten bread

Main article: Celiac_disease#Social_and_religious_issues

With exception of the Roman Catholic Church, most mainline Christian churches offer their communicants gluten-free alternatives to wheaten bread, usually in the form of a rice-based cracker or gluten-free bread. Coeliac ^[54]

Names by which the Eucharist is known

• "Eucharist" (noun). The word is derived from Greek "εὐχαριστία" (transliterated as "eucharistia"), which means thankfulness, gratitude, giving of thanks. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Today, "the Eucharist" is the name still used by Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, the Oriental Orthodox, Anglicans, United Methodists, and Lutherans. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The United Methodist Church is the largest Methodist denomination and the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Most other Protestant traditions rarely use this term, preferring either "Communion", "the Lord's Supper", or "the Breaking of Bread". Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation.

• "The Lord's Supper", the term used in 1 Corinthians 11:20. "The Lord's Supper" is also a common term among Lutherans, as is "The Sacrament of the Altar". Other Churches and denominations also use the term, but generally not as their basic, routine term. The use is predominant among Baptist groups, who generally avoid using the term "Communion", due to its use (though in a more limited sense) by the Roman Catholic Church. Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination.

• "The Breaking of Bread", a phrase that appears in the New Testament in contexts in which, according to some, it may refer to celebration of the Eucharist: Luke 24:35;Acts 2:42, 2:46, 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16.

• "Communion" (from Latin communio, "sharing in common") or "Holy Communion",^[55] used, with different meanings, by Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, and many Protestants, including Lutherans. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Catholics and Orthodox apply this term not to the Eucharistic rite as a whole, but only to the partaking of the consecrated bread and wine, and to these consecrated elements themselves. In their understanding, it is possible to participate in the celebration of the Eucharistic rite without necessarily "receiving Holy Communion" (partaking of the consecrated elements. Groups that originated in the Protestant Reformation usually apply this term instead to the whole rite. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time The meaning of the term "Communion" here is multivocal in that it also refers to the relationship of the participating Christians, as individuals or as Church, with God and with other Christians (see Communion (Christian)). The term Communion is derived from Latin communio (sharing in common

• "Mass", used in the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Church, Anglo-Catholicism, the Church of Sweden and some other forms of Western Christianity. The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The Latin Rite is one of the 23 Sui iuris Particular Churches within the Catholic Church. The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism (or sometimes possibly incorrectly High Church &mdashsee below describe people The Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan Ruoŧa girkui is the largest church in Sweden. Western Christianity is a term used to cover the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church Among the many other terms used in the Roman Catholic Church are "Holy Mass", "the Memorial of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord", the "Holy Sacrifice of the Mass", and the "Holy Mysteries". ^[56]

• The "Blessed Sacrament" and the "Blessed Sacrament of the Altar" are common terms for the consecrated elements, especially when reserved in the Church tabernacle. A Tabernacle is the fixed locked box in which in some Christian churches the Eucharist is "reserved" (stored In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the term "The Sacrament" is used of the rite. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the United States and the largest and most well-known In Mormonism, the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper most often simply referred to as the Sacrament is the Sacrament in which participants partake of "Sacrament of the Altar" is in common use also among Lutherans.

• "The Divine Liturgy" is used in Byzantine Rite traditions, whether in the Eastern Orthodox Church or among the Eastern Catholic Churches. The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite, is the liturgical rite used currently (in various languages The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world This article refers to Eastern Churches in full communion with the Holy See These also speak of "the Divine Mysteries", especially in reference to the consecrated elements, which they also call "the Holy Gifts".

• In Oriental Orthodoxy the terms "Oblation" (Syriac, Coptic and Armenian Churches) and "Consecration" (Ethiopian Church) are used. Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the Likewise, in the Gaelic language of Ireland and Scotland the word "Aifreann", usually translated into English as "Mass", is derived from Late Latin "Offerendum", meaning "oblation", "offering". The Goidelic languages, (also sometimes called particularly in colloquial situations the Gaelic languages or collectively Gaelic) historically formed a Dialect

• The many other expressions used include "Table of the Lord" (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:16), the "Lord's Body" (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:29), "Holy of Holies".

References

See also

• Baptism
• Eucharistic discipline
• Eucharistic miracle
• Eucharistic theologies contrasted
• Eucharistic theology
• Eucharistic adoration
• Communion under both kinds
• Intinction
• Mithraism — Similarities to Christianity
• Open communion
• Osiris — The Osirian Sacrament
• Sacrament (Latter Day Saints)
• Sacrament
• Sacramental wine
• Thanksgiving after Communion
• Year of the Eucharist
• Fraction (religion)
• Marburg Colloquy
• Confession Concerning Christ's Supper
• First Communion
• Sacramentarians
• The Adoration of the Sacrament by Martin Luther
• Ubiquitarians

Books

• 1963 edition of The New Saint Joseph: First Communion Catechism, Baltimore Catechism
• Anderson, S. In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted Eucharistic discipline is the term applied to the regulations and practices associated with an individual preparing for the reception of the Eucharist. A Eucharistic miracle is an alleged Miracle when during consecration during the Catholic or Orthodox Mass, the bread and wine Churches and Ecclesial Communities contrasted in relation to Eucharistic theology: Roman Catholic Church See also Eucharist (Catholic Church Eucharistic theology is a branch of Christian Theology which treats of Doctrines concerning the Holy Eucharist. Eucharistic adoration is a practice in the Roman Catholic Church and in some Anglican churches in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed to and adored Communion under both kinds in Christianity is the reception under both "species" (i Intinction is the Eucharistic practice of partly dipping the consecrated bread or host, into the consecrated wine before distributing it to the Communicant The Mithraic Mysteries or Mysteries of Mithras (also Mithraism) was a Roman mystery religion which became popular among the military in the late Open communion is the practice of Christian churches that allow individuals other than members of that church to receive communion (also called the Eucharist Osiris ( Greek language, also Usiris; the Egyptian language name is variously transliterated Asar, Aser, Ausar, Ausir In Mormonism, the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper most often simply referred to as the Sacrament is the Sacrament in which participants partake of A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active Sacramental wine or Altar wine is Wine prepared for use in Christian Liturgy as part of the celebration of the Eucharist or the Thanksgiving after Communion is a spiritual practice among Christians who believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist they The Year of the Eucharist is the name of the Liturgical year from October 2004 to October 2005, as celebrated by Catholics worldwide The Fraction is the ceremonial act of breaking the consecrated bread during the Eucharistic rite in some Christian denominations The Marburg Colloquy was a meeting at Marburg Castle Marburg, Hesse, Germany which attempted to solve a dispute between Martin Luther and Confession Concerning Christ's Supper ( 1528) (Vom Abendmahl Christi Bekenntnis is a theological treatise written by Martin Luther affirming the The First Communion (First Holy Communion is a Roman Catholic ceremony Sacramentarians, the name given to those who during the Reformation controversies not only denied the Roman Catholic Transubstantiation, but also the The Adoration of the Sacrament ( 1523) (Vom Anbeten des Sakraments des heiligen leichnams Christi is Martin Luther 's treatise written to Bohemian Brethren The Ubiquitarians, also called Ubiquists, were a Protestant Sect started at the Lutheran Synod of Stuttgart, 19 December E. The First Communion
• Chemnitz, Martin. Martin Chemnitz ( November 9 1522 &ndash April 8 1586) was an eminent second-generation Lutheran theologian, reformer The Lord's Supper. J. A. O. Preus, trans. St. Louis: Concordia, 1979. ISBN 057003275X
• Dix, Dom Gregory. The Shape of the Liturgy. London: Continuum International, 2005. ISBN 0826479421
• Elert, Werner. Eucharist and Church Fellowship in the First Four Centuries. N. E. Nagel, trans. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1966. ISBN 0570042704
• Felton, Gayle. This Holy Mystery. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2005. ISBN 088177457X
• Father Gabriel. Divine Intimacy. Rockford, IL: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc. , 1996 reprint ed. ISBN 0895555042
• Grime, J. H. Close Communion and Baptists
• Hahn, Scott. Scott Hahn (born October 28, 1957) is a contemporary author theologian and Catholic apologist. The Lamb's Supper — Mass as Heaven on Earth. Darton, Longman, Todd. 1999. ISBN 0232525005
• Henke, Frederick Goodrich A Study in the Psychology of Ritualism. University of Chicago Press 1910
• Jurgens, William A. The Faith of the Early Fathers. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1970. ISBN 0814604323
• Kolb, Robert and Timothy J. Wengert, eds. The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Book of Concord or Concordia (1580 is the historic doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church, consisting of ten credal Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000. (ISBN 0800627407)
• Lefebvre, Gaspar. The Saint Andrew Daily Missal. Reprint. Great Falls, MT: St. Bonaventure Publications, Inc. , 1999
• Macy, Gary. The Banquet's Wisdom: A Short History of the Theologies of the Lord's Supper. (2005, ISBN 1878009508)
• Magni, JA The Ethnological Background of the Eucharist — Clark University. American Journal of Religious Psychology and Education, IV (No. 1–2), March, 1910.
• McBride, Alfred, O. Praem. Celebrating the Mass. Our Sunday Visitor, 1999.
• Neal, Gregory. Grace Upon Grace 2000. ISBN 0967907403
• Nevin, John Williamson. John Williamson Nevin ( February 20, 1803 - June 6, 1886) American Theologian and Educationalist, was born on The Mystical Presence: A Vindication of the Reformed or Calvinistic Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist. 1846; Wipf & Stock reprint, 2000. ISBN 1579103480.
• Oden, Thomas C. Thomas Clark Oden (born October 21, 1931) is an American United Methodist religious author associated with Drew Corrective Love: The Power of Communion Discipline. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1995. ISBN 0570048036
• Sasse, Hermann. Hermann Otto Erich Sasse ( July 17, 1895 &mdash August 9, 1976) was a Lutheran theologian and author This Is My Body: Luther's Contention for the Real Presence in the Sacrament of the Altar. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2001. ISBN 1579107664
• Schmemann, Alexander. Alexander Schmemann (13 May 1921 - 13 December 1983 was a prominent 20th century Orthodox Christian Priest, teacher, and Writer. The Eucharist. St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1997. ISBN 0881410187
• Stoffer, Dale R. The Lord's Supper: Believers Church Perspectives
• Stookey, L. H. Eucharist: Christ's Feast with the Church. Nashville: Abingdon, 1993 ISBN 0687120179
• Tissot, The Very Rev. J. The Interior Life. 1916, pp. 347–9.
• Wright, N. T. Nicholas Thomas "Tom" Wright (born 1 December 1948) is the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and a leading New Testament The Meal Jesus Gave Us
• Christopher ( Christophorus, Christoph, Christophoro, Christophe ) Rasperger (Raspergero), Two hundred interpretations of the words: This is my Body, Ingolstadt, 1577 [3]Latin text
• Latin title: Ducentae paucorum istorum et quidem clarissimorum Christi verborum: Hoc est Corpus meum; interpretationes, [4]
• German title: Zweihundert Auslegungen der Worte das ist mein Leib [5]

External links

• [6] — Network of Eucharistic Adoration
• http://www.savior.org/ — Live Video Stream of the Eucharist
• The Lord's Supper: What Is Its Scriptural Extent?
• [7] — Eucharistic Miracles
• http://www.revneal.org/onlinecommunion.html — Streaming Video of a United Methodist Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Lord's Supper

Liturgical texts & services

• The Ordinary of the Mass, Roman Rite according to current edition of the Roman Missal
• The Ordinary of the Sacred Liturgy according to the Roman Missal of 1962
• The Priest's Service Book Orthodox Divine Liturgy.
• The Book of Common Prayer, used by the Episcopal Church (ECUSA). Contains the liturgy for the Eucharist and other rites.
• Word and Table I, The Eucharistic Liturgy of The United Methodist Church.

History, theology, practice, etc.

• Eucharist @ the Catholic Encyclopedia and @ the Catholic Dictionary
• EWTN — The Holy Eucharist — Easy yet comprehensive website with Catholic Teaching on the Eucharist
• Paragraph 1376 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
• Celebrating Eucharist — A contemporary online guide to Eucharistic practice starting from current Anglican rites
• This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion
• The Duty of Constant Communion by John Wesley
• Holy Communion as a Means of Grace by Gregory S. The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language Encyclopedia published by The Encyclopedia Neal
• Online Holy Communion: Theological Reflections Regarding The Internet and The Means of Grace by Gregory S. Neal
• Typology and the Real Presence of Jesus in Holy Communion by Gregory S. Neal
• Christians and Alcohol by Hermano Cisco of babylonfalls. org. Considers the symbolism of the wine.
• The Lord's Supper — by Ralph Waldo Emerson, rejecting the Lord's supper as a perpetual rite.
• My Brethren — Studies — The Lord's Supper and the Service of God
• A Baptist viewpoint
• A Church of Christ viewpoint
• A Mennonite viewpoint
• A Reformed (Presbyterian) viewpoint
• Pilgram Marpeck's defense of continuing to practice Lord's Supper (1531)
• Scholarly articles on the Lord's Supper from the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Library