The bible tells as that at the Last Supper Jesus shared a meal with his disciples. He took bread, gave thanks and broke it and said “This is my body given for you, do this in remembrances of me”. In the some way after supper he took the cup and said, “ This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you” this is from Matthew 26v26-28. Then he told them to “ Do this as a memorial of me” and because Jesus told people to do this today Christians still celebrate the sharing of bread and wine together.
In the Roman Catholic Church before any members can share the bread and wine they must go to confession, and have been baptised (which is usually done as a baby), this is because confession pears them for Mass. It puts them in the right frame of mind and they have their sins forgiven. The service begins with the priest welcoming the people, after that the priest starts to say a prayers of confession “Father forgive me for I have sinned…” and the people join in. There are usually three readings, one from the Old Testament the second is the New Testament. Everyone stands for the reading from one of the Gospels, read by the priest then everyone says the Nicene Creed. Then the congregation prays for the church, the world, the local communion, those who suffer or are ill and those who have die.
The bread and wine, and the offerings of the congregation are brought to the altar in a procession. The priest offers the gifts to god. He say,” lord god, we ask you to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offers you with humble and contrite hearts.” The priest washes his hands and says the Eucharistic prayer. “Let them become for use the body and blood of Jesus at that Last Supper ending. “Do this in memory of me.” The priest and the congregation offer each other the sign of peace. They take the hand of the people around them in turn and say, “peace be with you”. Before receiving the bread and wine, people ask god’s forgiveness, “ Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.” The congregations receive communion unleavened waters called host are used. The priest says to each communion, ‘the body of Christ’ and ‘the blood of Christ’. In the Roman Catholic Church children can first receive communion from the age of seven after a series of lessons with the local priest to make sure they understand the meaning and importance of this ritual.
