Joshua Bennett
The Lord's Supper, also known as Communion, is a Christian sacrament that commemorates Jesus' death, symbolises the New Covenant, and anticipates the Messiah's return. It is celebrated by almost all Christians, including Catholics, although there are some differences in interpretation. Catholics believe that during the Lord's Supper, the bread and wine are literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ, an act known as transubstantiation. This is in contrast to Protestants, who reject the idea of transubstantiation but still recognise the symbolic significance of the bread and wine. The frequency of the Lord's Supper also varies, with some celebrating it weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | The Lord's Supper, Communion, The Eucharist, The Blessed Sacrament, The Sacrament of the Altar, The Mass |
| Frequency | No standard frequency. Weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually. |
| Purpose | To commemorate the death of Jesus, symbolise the New Covenant, provide fellowship, and anticipate the Messiah's return. |
| Participants | Open to all baptised Christians, but eligibility depends on the views of the assembly. |
| Food and Drink | Bread and wine, though there is no specification on the type of bread or wine used. |
| Consecration | The bread and wine are consecrated by a priest and become the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ. |
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What You'll Learn
The Lord's Supper is a memorial of the Passover of the Lord Jesus
The Lord's Supper, also known as Communion, is a Christian sacrament that commemorates Jesus' death, symbolises the New Covenant, and anticipates the Messiah's return. It is celebrated by almost all Christians, although there are differing interpretations of the ordinance among various denominations.
The roots of the Lord's Supper can be traced back to the Passover meal, as described in the book of Exodus. The Passover feast commemorates the night when God instructed Moses and Aaron to mark the doorposts and lintels of the Hebrew slaves' houses with the blood of a lamb so that death would pass over them. This event marked the beginning of the Hebrews' Exodus from Egypt and their journey towards freedom.
The Last Supper, as described in the New Testament, was a Passover meal during which Jesus gave thanks and broke bread, saying, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:24; Luke 22:19). He also took a cup and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:25).
For Catholics, the Lord's Supper, or Eucharist, is not just a memorial of the Passover of the Lord Jesus but also "an anticipation of the heavenly glory" (CCC 1402). They believe that during the Eucharist, the bread and wine are literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ through the process of transubstantiation. This belief sets them apart from other Christian denominations, such as Lutherans and Reformed Christians, who interpret the presence of Christ in the supper symbolically or spiritually.
The frequency of celebrating the Lord's Supper varies among Christian denominations. While some evangelicals and Reformed Christians may observe it monthly or quarterly, Catholics often celebrate it weekly. The Eucharist is typically celebrated as part of the Mass, which is a central ritual in Catholic worship.
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The bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ
The Catholic Church takes the words of Christ in the Gospels literally. Each time the elements of the Lord’s Supper are consecrated by a priest, a literal metaphysical change takes place. The bread and wine become the real body and blood of Jesus Christ. This change is called transubstantiation. The Catholic Church teaches that when this "change" occurs, the substance of the bread and wine are transformed into the literal body and blood of Christ. This belief is in contrast to the views of Protestants, who reject the idea of transubstantiation.
The Lord's Supper, also known as Communion, is a symbolic reenactment of the Last Supper, which Jesus shared with his disciples. The bread and wine are definitive symbols of the New Covenant in Christ, pointing to his broken body and shed blood. The New Testament, originally written in Greek, contains the phrase "this is my body" in reference to the bread, and “this is my blood” in reference to the wine. These phrases are understood literally by Catholics, who believe that the bread and wine are truly transformed into the body and blood of Christ.
The Lord's Supper is a means of grace and spiritual sustenance, providing believers with communion with Christ and spiritual nourishment for their journey of faith. It is a foretaste of the future, anticipating the coming fulfillment of the kingdom of God and the final goal of life when believers will be fully united with God and one another in the new heaven and new earth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes that the Eucharist is not only a memorial of the Passover of the Lord Jesus but also an anticipation of the heavenly glory.
The frequency of celebrating the Lord's Supper varies among Christian denominations. While some evangelicals have adopted a monthly observance, others have reduced the frequency to quarterly or even quarterly. The Reformed tradition, following John Calvin, generally practices Communion on a quarterly basis to allow for proper reflection and inward consideration. In contrast, Lutheran congregations have moved towards weekly celebrations, and the Catholic Church also encourages weekly Eucharist celebrations.
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The supper is a symbolic reenactment of the Last Supper
The bread and wine used during the supper are considered to be definitive symbols of the New Covenant in Christ. The bread represents Jesus' body, which was broken for humanity's salvation, and the wine represents his blood, shed for humanity's sins. This symbolic interpretation of the supper is a central aspect of the Christian faith, uniting Christians across denominations.
The Catholic Church, however, holds a unique perspective on the Lord's Supper, known as transubstantiation. According to Catholic doctrine, during the supper, the bread and wine are literally and metaphysically transformed into the body and blood of Christ through the consecration performed by a priest. This belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is a distinguishing factor between Catholic and Protestant theology.
The frequency of celebrating the Lord's Supper, or Communion, also varies among Christian denominations. While some evangelicals and Reformed Christians may observe it monthly or quarterly, Catholics often celebrate it weekly, emphasizing the importance of regularly remembering Christ's sacrifice.
The supper is not just a memorial of the past but also an anticipation of the future. It serves as a spiritual foretaste of the kingdom of God and the heavenly glory that believers will experience in the presence of Christ. This sacramental meal provides spiritual nourishment and fellowship for believers, uniting them with each other and with the Lord.
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The supper is a time for spiritual communion with Christ
The Lord's Supper, also known as Communion, is a time for spiritual communion with Christ. This sacrament is observed by Christians to commemorate the Last Supper, which Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. During this meal, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). He also took a cup and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:25).
The Catholic Church teaches that during the Lord's Supper, the bread and wine are literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ through a process called transubstantiation. This belief sets them apart from other Christian denominations, such as Lutherans, who believe in the spiritual presence of Christ during the sacrament but not in the physical change of the elements. For Catholics, the Lord's Supper is not just a symbolic re-enactment but a true communion with Christ, where grace is imparted to those who participate.
The frequency of celebrating the Lord's Supper varies among Christian traditions. While some observe it weekly, others do so monthly or quarterly. The decision on frequency aims to balance honouring the Lord's expectation of regular remembrance and avoiding ritualism that may diminish the sacrament's significance. The supper is often called "Communion," emphasising the communion believers have with one another and with the ascended Lord.
The Lord's Supper is a sacred time for Christians to unite in fellowship and spiritual communion with Christ. It is a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and a foretaste of the heavenly glory to come, as believers journey towards new life in Christ and community with God and his people. The supper is a means of grace, providing spiritual sustenance and nourishment along the journey of faith. It is a time to focus on Jesus, his death, and the redemption he brings.
In conclusion, the Lord's Supper holds great significance for Christians, especially Catholics, as it is a time for spiritual communion with Christ. Through this sacrament, believers remember Jesus' sacrifice, anticipate his return, and find strength and grace for their spiritual journey.
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The Eucharist is celebrated in communion with the whole Church
The Eucharist, also known as the Lord's Supper, is a Catholic celebration of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is derived from the Greek word "eucharistia", meaning "thanksgiving", which appears several times in the New Testament in accounts of the Last Supper.
The Eucharist is a sacred meal that serves as a means of grace and spiritual sustenance for Catholics on their spiritual journey from slavery to sin to new life in Christ. It is celebrated in communion with the whole Church, including those in heaven and on earth, the living and the dead. This belief is supported by the Catechism, which states that the Eucharist is a memorial of the Passover of the Lord Jesus and an anticipation of the heavenly glory.
The Eucharist is often referred to as "Communion", emphasising the communion shared among believers in the meal and with the ascended Lord. This communion is a foretaste of the final goal of life, when believers will be fully united with God and one another in the new heaven and new earth. The sacramental meal provides fellowship for today and a taste of the life to come.
The Eucharist is typically celebrated during Mass, which is led by an ordained priest. The bread and wine used in the Eucharist are consecrated by the priest, who believes that a literal metaphysical change takes place, transforming the substances into the literal body and blood of Christ. This change is known as transubstantiation, and it is a central belief of the Catholic Church. The frequency of celebrating the Eucharist varies, with some doing so weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
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Frequently asked questions
The Lord's Supper, also known as Communion, is a symbolic re-enactment of the Last Supper, which was Jesus's final meal with his disciples before his crucifixion.
Catholics refer to the Lord's Supper as the Eucharist or Mass. They believe that the bread and wine are literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ. The priest consecrates the elements, and grace is imparted to the Catholic participants.
The Lord's Supper is rooted in the Jewish Passover meal, which commemorates the Exodus from Egypt. Jesus, as the "'Passover lamb', was sacrificed to bring freedom from sin and death.
There is no set frequency for celebrating the Lord's Supper among Catholics. While some Catholics celebrate it weekly, others do so monthly or quarterly.
The bread and wine symbolise the body and blood of Christ, broken and shed for the salvation of believers. They also represent the New Covenant in Christ.
