Christianity: Worship and Practice » The Eucharist

Where the Eucharist comes from

The Eucharist is a service in which Christians share bread and wine to remember Jesus. It goes back to the Last Supper, the meal Jesus ate with his disciples the night before he died. You met that meal in the lesson on Lent and Holy Week. The Gospels say that Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and shared it, then did the same with a cup of wine. He told his followers to keep doing this: 'Do this in remembrance of me' (Luke 22:19).

The apostle Paul also describes the meal in a letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). He says that each time Christians eat the bread and drink from the cup, they proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. From the earliest days of the Church, Christians have repeated this meal as part of their worship.

Key terms:

• Eucharist: the Christian service of sharing bread and wine in memory of the Last Supper. The word comes from a Greek word meaning 'thanksgiving'.
• Sacrament (recap from Christian Marriage: Vows, Monogamy and Purposes): a religious ceremony that many Christians believe is a sign of God's grace (his free gift of love and help).
• Transubstantiation: the Catholic belief that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, although they still look and taste the same.
• Real presence: the belief that Christ is truly present in the bread and wine, without necessarily explaining exactly how.
• Memorial: the belief that the bread and wine are symbols that help Christians remember what Jesus did.
• Consecrate: to set the bread and wine apart for holy use, using special prayers.

Different names for the same service

Christians use different names. Each name stresses a different idea.

How it is celebrated

The Eucharist is celebrated in different ways. Remember that a liturgy is a service with a set order of words and actions.

• Catholic Mass: a priest says the special prayers over the bread and wine, repeating Jesus' words at the Last Supper. Catholics believe this is when they become the body and blood of Christ. Mass is held every day in many churches, and Catholics are expected to attend on Sundays. Baptised Catholics who have been prepared may receive communion. Someone who is aware of a serious sin should go to confession first. Catholics usually receive the bread, a small round wafer, and sometimes the wine as well.
• Orthodox Divine Liturgy: celebrated every Sunday and on festivals, with chanting and incense. The priest consecrates bread and wine, and the Orthodox call this a holy 'mystery'. They receive both together from a spoon. Orthodox Christians usually prepare by prayer and fasting, and only members of the Orthodox Church normally receive.
• Anglican Holy Communion: in the Church of England, the service follows a set order from books such as Common Worship. Many parishes hold it every Sunday, and some hold it midweek too. A priest leads it, and baptised Christians are usually welcome to receive bread and wine. Some Anglican churches follow Catholic customs closely, while others keep it simple.
• Baptist or Methodist Lord's Supper: usually simpler and held less often, perhaps once a month. The minister reads Jesus' words and the congregation share small pieces of bread and a little wine or grape juice, often passed along the pews. Most invite all who follow Jesus to take part. Baptists usually see it as a memorial, while Methodists teach that Christ is present in a real but spiritual way.

Different beliefs about its meaning

Almost all Christians who celebrate the Eucharist agree that it is important. They disagree about what happens to the bread and wine.

Both Catholics and many Protestants appeal to the same words of Jesus, 'This is my body', but they understand them differently. Catholics take them as describing a real change. Many Protestants take them as a way of speaking, just as Jesus called himself 'the door' without being made of wood.

Christians who do not celebrate it

Two groups do not hold a Eucharist at all.

• The Salvation Army does not practise sacraments. Its members believe that a person can be close to God without outward ceremonies, and that a life of service shows faith. The Army's worship has no bread and wine.
• Quakers believe that every moment can be holy and that they meet with Christ directly through silent waiting. For them, a shared meal does not need a special ceremony to be a communion with God.

Why the Eucharist matters today

For most Christians the Eucharist is the centre of worship. It matters for these reasons:

• It obeys Jesus' command to remember him.
• It reminds Christians of his sacrifice on the cross.
• Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that receiving Christ gives spiritual strength.
• Eating from one loaf and sharing one cup shows that the congregation is one family.
• Disagreements about it keep some churches apart, so it is also a topic for talks between denominations.

Exam-style question

(a) Outline two ways in which the Eucharist is celebrated in the Christian tradition. [4 marks]

(b) Explain why the Eucharist is important for Christians. [6 marks]

(c) 'The Eucharist is the most important part of Christian worship.' Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view and your own reasoned opinion. [10 marks]