Ethan Walker
Communion is a way for Christians to remember what Jesus did for them on the cross and to celebrate how he saved them. It is a spiritual symbol and reminder of Jesus' sacrifice. Communion involves eating bread and drinking wine or grape juice, which symbolise Jesus' body and blood. It is usually taken as part of a group or community, but it can also be taken at home, either alone or with family. Some Catholic laypeople believe that it is sacrilegious to offer the sacrifice of the mass without a priest, but during the pandemic, some priests visited people at home to give communion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What to use | Bread and juice, or wine |
| Who can give communion | A priest, or yourself if you are with a group |
| Who can receive communion | Those who have accepted Jesus as the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives |
| What to do | Prepare, pause, pray, partake, and praise |
| What to say | "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." |
| What to read | Scripture, e.g. Matthew 26, Luke 22, Mark 14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 |
| What to reflect on | Jesus's sacrifice and promise, your relationship with the Lord and with others |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare elements: bread and juice/wine
Preparing the elements of bread and juice/wine is an important step in the Catholic communion ceremony. The bread and juice/wine symbolise the body and blood of Jesus, representing his sacrifice and the promise of salvation.
For the bread, it is preferable to use unleavened bread, as this is symbolic of the Passover, which was celebrated by Jewish people to commemorate God bringing them out of Egypt. In the Bible, leaven is seen as a symbol of sin, so using unleavened bread reflects the idea that sin has been cleansed. A matzo cracker is a good option for unleavened bread. However, any type of bread or cracker can be used, depending on what is available.
For the juice/wine, grape juice is ideal, especially if children are participating, as it is a non-alcoholic option. However, any type of juice can be used if grape juice is unavailable. The juice/wine symbolises the blood of Jesus, which was shed to pay for our sins and bring about the new covenant between God and humanity.
Once you have prepared the bread and juice/wine, hold them up as a symbol of Jesus' body and blood, and say a prayer of thanksgiving for his sacrifice. For example, you could say: "God, thank You for sending Jesus who not only lived for us, but died for us. The Son of God, who came in the body of a man, gave Himself up so we could live! Thank You that His body was raised back to life. Thank You that because of the grace of Jesus we have real life, and we can live forever in You. Amen."
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Explain the meaning of communion
Communion, also called the Lord's Supper, is one of two sacraments instituted by Jesus, the other being baptism. The term communion comes from the Greek word "to give thanks", which is fitting because in communion, Christians give thanks for what Jesus has done.
Communion is a way to remember what Jesus did on the cross. The bread and juice (or wine) symbolise Jesus' body and blood, which were broken and spilled to pay for our sins. The Bible describes Jesus' last supper with his disciples before he was killed, during which he asked his disciples to “do this in remembrance of me”.
Communion is meant to be a personal yet shared experience. It is a time for personal reflection and to examine our relationship with God and with others. It is also a joyous celebration and a reminder of God's promise of salvation.
Different churches celebrate communion in different ways, from the use of wine versus grape juice, to the frequency of communion, to church membership mandates, and the use of a communal goblet versus individual cups. In the Catholic Church, one must be in a "state of grace", meaning one has not committed any "mortal sins" since their last confession, and must believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation, which holds that the bread and wine are "transformed into the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ".
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Pray for the bread and cup
Communion is a spiritual symbol and reminder of what Jesus has done. The bread and juice (or wine) symbolise Jesus's body and blood, which were broken and spilled to pay for our sins. Communion prayers for the bread and cup are a way to ask for God's blessing and give thanks for his sacrifice.
> Lord, as we take this bread, we remember that You are the bread of life. You feed our souls, you nourish our hearts and You give us sustenance to run the race before us. As we break the bread, we feel the softness of Your love for us. We smell the fragrance of the grace You release afresh each day. We thank you with all our hearts for the great price You paid when You were crucified on the cross for us.
And a prayer for the cup:
> Lord, as we drink this wine, we remember that you are the giver of life. You are forgiveness, You bring deep peace to our souls and Your love flows within us. As we pour out this wine, we see Your sacrifice poured out for us. We notice the depth of Your goodness, and the pain You suffered for us. We dwell upon the intricacy of human life, and the price You paid to set humanity free.
Communion prayers can also be broken up into two sections: one prayer for before the breaking of the bread, and one before the pouring of the wine. Here is an example of a prayer for the bread:
> Crucified God, we wear beautiful crosses around our necks, and hang them on our walls. We have made your triumphant sign of suffering decorative, when what it really needs to be is defining. So make us cruciform Lord, in our weekly remembrance of Christ's death on the cross in our breaking of this bread.
And a prayer for the cup:
> In lifting this cup of remembrance here this morning, Oh God of sacrifice, we are lifting high the cross of Christ and proclaiming your great love.
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Partake in the bread and cup
Communion is a time to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross and to celebrate how He saved us. The bread and juice (or wine) symbolise what Jesus did for us. The bread is a symbol of His body that was broken for us, and the juice or wine symbolises His blood that was spilled to pay for our sins.
Before partaking in the bread, it is customary to pray. For example, while holding the bread, say: "Jesus asked us to eat this to remember that He gave His body for us. Let’s pray. God, thank You for sending Jesus who not only lived for us, but died for us. The Son of God, who came in the body of a man, gave Himself up so we could live! Thank You that His body was raised back to life. Thank You that because of the grace of Jesus we have real life, and we can live forever in You. Amen."
Then, eat the bread. Next, pray for the cup. For example, while holding the cup, say: "Jesus asked us to drink this cup to remember that our sins are washed by the powerful new covenant Jesus made possible between us and God. Let’s pray. God, what an incredible picture this is of Your love for us."
Then, drink from the cup. Communion is also a time to praise. Lift up praises out loud, proclaiming Jesus’ perfect work on the cross and making way for us to receive eternal life.
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Praise and reflect
Communion is a spiritual symbol and reminder of Jesus' sacrifice. It is a time to invite the Holy Spirit to examine our lives and continue the work of washing us by the grace of Jesus. We remember that Jesus gave His body and blood for us, and we are encouraged to live in the truth of His resurrection.
When taking communion at home, it is important to prepare the atmosphere and explain the meaning of communion to those who may not be familiar with it. This is a great opportunity to introduce children to the practice and explain the significance of the bread and juice/wine as symbols of Jesus' body and blood.
During the communion service, there should be a time for personal reflection and examination of our relationship with God and others. We can reflect on how God has helped us and remember His promises. We can also share our thoughts and feelings with others, proclaiming Jesus' perfect work on the cross and our eternal life through Him.
Communion is a joyous celebration and a proclamation of Jesus' promise of salvation. It is a time to lift up praises and give thanks for His incredible love and forgiveness. We can praise God for sending Jesus, who lived and died for us, and for the gift of eternal life through His sacrifice.
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