-
-
Passover was the event where the Israelite people were passed into freedom from slavery. It is considered the origin of Eucharist
-
-
The Last Supper is the final meal that, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus shared with his apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion.
-
When Jesus handed over the bread and wine to his disciples it was considered the New Passover. Many of the actions he did were likened to the actions of the First Passover.
-
The first recorded use of communion in a church was found in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. He states that phrases such as 'do this as a memorial of me' and 'this cup is the new covenant in my blood' which are very similar to the words spoken today during Eucharist
-
-
Christians would gather on the first day of the week, Sunday, to celebrate together. They would break the bread, quoting 'do this in memory of me' and believed that they were eating and drinking the body and blood of the Lord. It was also believed that Jesus was kept alive through reading and telling stories.
-
Turning point. Constantine gave freedom to Christians and built basilicas for Eucharistic worship. Processions, courtly movement in the sanctuary, chants and sung litanies, incense and bells, kissing sacred objects and genuflections became part of the structure of the Eucharist. The celebrants wore vestments. Plates and cups became chalices and patens. Important bishops like Augustine developed a theology of the Eucharist – “The Body of Christ [Eucharist] builds the Body of Christ [Church].
-
-
During the 16th century Pope Pius V allowed a reform to occur within the Roman Catholic Church. This created a unified practice of the Eucharist and allowed all teachings of it to be synthesized.
-
