Eucharist

In Christianity, the term Eucharist is used in two distinct ways. First, in general terms, it can be used as a synonym for the celebration of Mass, which is a worship service. In some branches of Christianity, such as Lutheranism, the Eucharist is a specific type of church service that differs from regular Mass. More specifically, the term also refers to the sacrament of Holy Communion, a feature of multiple Christian denominations that plays a particularly prominent role in the Catholic faith.

The Eucharist as a Celebration of Mass

Reenactments of the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus Christ is said to have shared with his Apostles before his betrayal and crucifixion, are a central feature of many Christian church services. According to standard accounts of the Last Supper, Christ understood that his death was imminent, gathered his Apostles or followers, and led them in a solemn meal consisting of bread and wine. During the meal, Christ explained that the bread represented his body and the wine represented his blood, both of which would be sacrificed so he could return to God and open the gates of Heaven to his believers.

In Catholicism, weekly Mass is divided into two main segments: the Liturgy of the Word, consisting of scripture and gospel readings from the Old and New Testaments respectively, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, in which the celebrant performs a ritualistic reenactment of the Last Supper before inviting qualified members of the congregation forward to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. The Eastern Orthodox Church uses a similar division in its regular church services. Furthermore, the Eastern Orthodox Church is similar to the Catholic Church in that receiving the Holy Eucharist is considered sacramental, serving as one of seven holy mysteries attainable by members of the church.

Practices similar to the Catholic Liturgy of the Eucharist are seen in most major branches of Protestant Christianity, including the Anglican Church, the Baptist Church, and the Presbyterian Church. However, in these faiths, the distribution of the Eucharist does not always conform to a standardized protocol as it does in Catholicism, nor is it necessarily viewed as sacramental. The Lutheran interpretation of the Eucharist is noteworthy in that Holy Communion has not historically been a feature of weekly services. Rather, Lutherans traditionally received Communion during a distinct celebration known as the Divine Service, which is typically held monthly or seasonally.

The Eucharist as a Sacrament

For Catholics, the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is one of seven sacraments, and the last of three initiation sacraments new church members must receive before being considered a full participant in the faith. Baptism, which is traditionally performed shortly after birth, is the first initiation sacrament; Penance, or Reconciliation, is the second. Those joining the Catholic Church as adults sometimes receive the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion simultaneously. The Eastern Orthodox Church uses a near-identical set of conventions, though sacraments are alternately known as holy mysteries.

According to Catholic dogma, Jesus Christ is physically present in the Eucharist, as the rituals performed by the celebrant during the Liturgy of the Eucharist are believed to transform the bread and wine used in the ceremony into the body and blood of Christ. Celebrants earn the ability to perform this transmutation (also called transubstantiation), or changing of the state of items, when they officially enter the priesthood after receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders. The Eucharist is performed in accordance with commands Christ gave to his Apostles during the Last Supper, in which he ordered them to re-enact their final meal in remembrance of his sacrifice. The word Eucharist is derived from the ecclesiastical Greek term for "thanksgiving."

In receiving the Eucharist, Catholics believe that they are physically taking the body of Christ into their own, symbolizing their desire to be more like Christ in their daily lives. However, the practice of Holy Communion does not carry this same significance in all branches of Christianity. In the Baptist Church, for example, the Eucharist is not considered a sacrament, but is viewed solely as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice to his faithful.

Forms and Distribution of the Eucharist in Christian Church Services

The Eucharist is given to members of the church in the form of bread and wine. The bread that forms the Eucharist is often an unleavened wafer, which is known as a host. In some churches, it is a cube or chunk of bread. Wine is often referred to as the cup, though some Christian denominations substitute other drinks, typically grape juice. Traditionally, the bread is shared much more commonly than the cup, though this may differ from church to church and parish to parish.

Distribution of the Eucharist is normally a concluding feature of church services. Members of the congregation typically come forward in an orderly fashion to receive the bread or the cup from the celebrant or, in Catholic churches, non-ordained members of the church known as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. In many Protestant churches, members of the congregation pass plates holding bread—and often small cups—in their seats, row by row.

In the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Eucharist is only available to those who have officially received the sacrament or holy mystery of Holy Communion. Reception of this sacrament follows several months of spiritual preparation, and occurs at a special ceremony known as First Communion. However, many Protestant branches of Christianity reject the strict and ritualistic conventions of Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodox Church, instead offering the Eucharist to anyone who believes in Christ and wishes to receive it.

Bibliography

"A Brief Exposition of the Divine Service." Trinity Lutheran Church. Lutherans Online. Web. 25 June 2015. ERLINK "http://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo‗ProcServ/dbpage=page&mode=display&gid=20052995655655607101111555&pg=20053264518475013601111555" \h http://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo‗ProcServ/dbpage=page&mode=display&gid=20052995655655607101111555&pg=20053264518475013601111555

"The Celebration of the Christian Mystery." Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Vatican. Web. 25 June 2015. HYPERLINK "http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc‗css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a3.htm" \h http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc‗css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a3.htm

"The Eucharist." BBC. BBC. 23 June 2009. Web. 25 June 2015. HYPERLINK "http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ritesrituals/eucharist‗1.shtml" \h http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ritesrituals/eucharist‗1.shtml

"Eucharist (Holy Communion)." Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide. Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide. Web. 25 June 2015. ERLINK "http://www.adelaide.catholic.org.au/our-faith/sacraments/eucharist-holy-communion-" \h http://www.adelaide.catholic.org.au/our-faith/sacraments/eucharist-holy-communion-

Fay, William P. "The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist: Basic Questions and Answers." United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 2001. Web. 25 June 2015. HYPERLINK "http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/the-real-presence-of-jesus-christ-in-the-sacrament-of-the-eucharist-basic-questions-and-answers.cfm" \h http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/the-real-presence-of-jesus-christ-in-the-sacrament-of-the-eucharist-basic-questions-and-answers.cfm

"Questions About the Holy Eucharist." EWTN Global Catholic Network. EWTN. 1996. Web. 25 June 2015. HYPERLINK "https://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/eucha1a.htm" \h https://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/eucha1a.htm

"The Seven Sacraments." Orthodox Church in America. Orthodox Church in America. Web. 25 Jun. 2015. HYPERLINK "https://oca.org/questions/sevensacraments" \h https://oca.org/questions/sevensacraments