Here is an example.
Love is his word, love is his way,
Feasting with men, fasting alone,
Living and dying, rising again,
Love, only love, is his way.
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord:
Better than splendour and wealth.
Love is his way, love is his mark,
Sharing his last Passover feast,
Christ at his table, host to the Twelve,
Love, only love, is his mark.
Love is his mark, love is his sign,
Bread for our strength, wine for our joy,
‘This is my body, this is my blood,’
Love, only love, is his sign.
Love is his sign, love is his news,
‘Do this,’ he said, ‘lest you forget
All my deep sorrow, all my dear blood,’
Love, only love, is his news.
(Luke Connaughton, 1917-79)
Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians think of Holy Communion as their main act of worship and because of this in most churches they celebrate Holy Communion every Sunday and often during the week as well. Whereas Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed and other Free Churches may only celebrate Holy Communion once or twice a month and their worship in services is mostly readings from the Bible and preaching.
The Salvation Army do not have Holy Communion services because they believe that the outward symbols are not important. Their worship is just to accept Jesus into their hearts.
Although there are differences among the meaning of Jesus’ words at the Last Supper most Christians would still agree on some certain things.
- Holy Communion is an opportunity to thank and praise God for the death and resurrection of Jesus.
- At the Last Supper Jesus asked his followers to share the bread and wine in memory of him and therefore it begun Holy Communion.
- Jesus is present among Christians during Holy Communion in a special way.
- Christians share a meal with each other and the risen Christ.
In the world of religion there are many different names for Holy Communion all meaning the same. Here are some of them.
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Eucharist: This is a Greek word meaning ‘Thanksgiving’. Christians give thanks for the death and resurrection of Jesus and the relationship with God made possible with the sacrifice of Jesus by sharing the bread and wine among them. The title Eucharist is most used often by Anglicans and Roman Catholics.
Here is one form of the Eucharistic Prayer:
Priest/Minister: The Lord be with you.
Congregation: And also with you.
Priest/Minister: Lift up your hearts.
Congregation: We lift them to the Lord.
Priest/Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Congregation: It is right to give thanks and praise.
Priest/Minister: It is indeed right,
It is our duty and our joy,
At all times and in all places
To give thanks and praise,
Holy Father, heavenly King,
Almighty and eternal God,
Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
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Holy Communion: The word ‘Communion’ means to take part in something as a group or family. Christians meet together as a family to share the bread and wine and the title Holy Communion is used by Anglicans and members of the Free Churches.
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Mass: This service used to be read in Latin and the final sentence was ‘Ite, missa est’ and this means ‘Go, you are sent on a mission’. After the service the congregation go out and continue their mission, after being given more strength by the fellowship of the church and the body and blood of Jesus. Roman Catholics and some Anglicans use the title Mass.
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Divine Liturgy: In this signification the word ‘liturgy’ means to give an offering or a service. Members of the Orthodox Church look upon the ceremony as an opportunity to praise God and give their lives to his service so they use the title Divine Liturgy.
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Breaking of Bread: Jesus broke bread and shared it among his disciples at the Last Supper and today Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus by sharing this simple meal with their family and friends. Some Free Church Christians use the title Breaking of Bread as it reminds them of the origin of the service.
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Lord’s Supper: In the same way as the disciples shared the Last Supper with Jesus, they can share the meal now with the spiritual sense of Jesus with them. Other Free Church Christians such as Baptist prefer to use the title Lord’s Supper.
Roman Catholic Celebration
Holy Communion is called Mass in the Roman Catholic Church, and this is how it is celebrated.
Introductory Rites
The Priest greets everyone; all the worshippers make the sign of the cross and there is a hymn and a prayer.
The Priest then invites everyone to ask for God’s forgiveness and to think about his or her sins. Then the Priest leads everyone into the Kyrie: ‘Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.’
A hymn of praise called the Gloria is then said or sung by everyone, here are some of the words from the hymn: ‘Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.’
Liturgy of the word
There are usually three readings from the bible all read by the priest. The first is from the Old Testament and often one of the letters of Paul. Between the two lessons a spiritual song called a Psalm is sung.
Then the priest reads a reading from one of the Gospels, when doing this everyone stands up.
Then the priest gives a sermon, which is usually based on the Bible readings.
Then everyone says the Nicene Creed, which is the most widely accepted and used statements of Christian faith.
Then follows the prayer of the faithful in which the congregation pray for the Church, the World and the local community, those who suffer or ill, and those who have died.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
The bread, wine and the offerings of the congregation are brought to the altar. The priest offers the gifts to God, he says ‘Lord God, we ask you to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts.
The priest then washes his hands and says the Eucharist prayer. ‘Let them become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ.’
He then says the words that Jesus said at the Last Supper ending, ‘Do this in memory of me.’
The congregation say the Lord’s Prayer.
Then the priest and the congregation offer the sign of peace, they hold hands with everyone around them and say, ‘Peace be with you.’
Before receiving and consuming the bread and wine they ask for God’s forgiveness by saying this: ‘Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.’
Then instead of using bread they use unleavened wafers called hosts as the body of Christ and when you go to collect them the priest says to you ‘The body of Christ’ and ‘The blood of Christ.’ This is an example of transubstantiation. Transubstantiation means that the bread and wine, as Jesus’ body and blood, have changed or transformed into something else for the celebration. Transubstantiation is used here as the bread is ‘transformed’ into the wafers for the celebration of Holy Communion.
After the service there is a short time for silent prayer, then the priest blesses and dismisses the people.
Methodist Celebration
This is the Methodist celebration for Holy Communion.
The service is first opened with a hymn and prayers of praise to God.
Then the priest reads a Hymn and a Sermon from the Bible and then prayers are said for people in need all over the world.
The Minister says thanksgiving over the bread and wine, and this tells the story of the Last Supper.
Then the people will be invited to the communion table by the priest saying the words, ‘Receive the body of Christ which was given for you and the blood of Christ which was shed for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith and thanksgiving.’ Ordinary bread and either grape juice or unfermented wine, are used in this celebration rather than real alcoholic wine.
Then after the communion there is a prayer of thanksgiving and the people are sent into the world by the priest saying, ‘Go in peace with the power of the Spirit to live and work to God’s praise and glory.’
This is an example of consubstantiation as the wine has stayed as wine but has become non-alcoholic or unfermented.
The opposite of transubstantiation is consubstantiation and this means that the bread or wine in the celebration of Holy Communion has not changed and they have stayed ‘constant’.
Bibliography
All information received from:
School textbook: Christianity
Internet:
Bitesize Revision book: Religious Studies