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The Passover began around 1440 BC, this was the start of the Eucharist and was first written by Exodus in the bible. This included a sacrifice of a lamb.
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Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was written in the middle of the first century, probably around c 55CE. It was written before the gospel texts had developed. 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.
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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. -
In 1215CE, to encourage people to receive the Eucharist, it became obligatory for Catholics to receive Communion at least once a year, at Easter.
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The monstrance is used for a special eucharistic blessing (called “benediction”) and for carrying the Host in procession on feast days, such as the feast of the Eucharist, Corpus Christi, which is held on the Thursday or Sunday after Trinity Sunday.
Other main symbols include bread and wine. -
By the middle of the twentieth century the Mass was very different from the gatherings for the breaking of the bread in earlier centuries. However, the most important belief that Jesus Christ is truly present under the appearance of bread and wine did not change. This belief has been fundamental in the history of the Eucharist through the centuries.
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The celebration of the Eucharist in the Church today has four parts. These are:The Introductory Rites, The Liturgy of the Word, The Liturgy of the Eucharist, The Concluding Rites.
