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33
Origin
Church teachings place the origin of the Eucharist in the Last Supper of Jesus. 1/04/33AD Jesus says "This is my blood, which will be poured out for you. Do this in memory of me." -
55
Pauls Letter
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was written in the middle of the first century, probably around c 55AD. Paul’s words to the Corinthians give us evidence that the Eucharist, or the “breaking of the bread” as it was then called, was central to the life and identity of the early Christian communities that were scattered around the Middle East. -
400
The eucharist and the basilicas
After the peace that came to the Christian world early in the fourth century, with the Emperor Constantine, Christian communities became much bigger. The basilica was a large, long hall used by the Romans as law courts. Christians adopted this plan to build enormous beautiful basilicas of their own for the celebration of Eucharist. In these early Eucharistic celebrations, the order of the Mass was not unlike that with which we are familiar today. -
1200
Middle Ages
People were fearful of the eucharist, feeling unworthy to receive it. Many Catholics stopped receiving the sacrament frequently, and would limit their reception of Eucharist to special feasts. Then in 1215AD, to encourage people to receive the Eucharist, it became obligatory for Catholics to receive Communion at least once a year, at Easter. -
Bread and Wine
Catholics believe that when the bread and wine is consecrated by the priest in the Mass the appearances of the consecrated bread and wine do not change, but their inner nature does change. The inner nature of the bread and wine becomes the Body and Blood of Christ. Christ is really present under the appearance of bread and wine. As he foretold during the last supper. -
Belief
Early Christians celebrated the breaking of the bread in response to the command of Jesus at the Last Supper “Do this in memory of me”.
The memory of Jesus was kept alive through reading and telling stories, praying and celebrating the Eucharist. These actions encouraged the hope of the early Christians that Jesus would come again.
The early Christians believed that in the breaking of the bread they were eating and drinking the Body and Blood of the Lord. -
How does the current Eucharistic celebration meet the needs of the Church community today?
It meets the needs of the current church community by providing them with an ideal of what it was like during the last supper and keeps Jesus's spirit alive within the community.
