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The Eucharist originates with the Israelites and their passing over from slavery to freedom. In the book of Exodus, God asked the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle its blood on their doorposts so the Angel of Death would be able to "Passover" their homes and strike down the first born of Egyptian families.
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Jesus and his 12 disciples shared a meal. Jesus broke bread and said "this is my body which will be given up for you." He then Poured wine and said "this is my blood which will be poured out for you". These words symbolize the connection between Jesus and the lamb in exodus as attonement.
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Paul's letter to the Corinthians was written in the middle of the first century, around 55 AD. It was written before the gospel texts were developed. Paul's words to the Corinthians gave us evidence that the Eucharist, or the "breaking of the bread" as it was called, was central to the life and identity of the early Christian communities that were scattered around the Middle East.
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The early Christians gathered on Sundays to read the Scriptures, to re-tell the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, to remember him in the blessing of the bread and wine. Christians believed and taught that the bread and wine became the Body and Blood of Christ. Early in the second century, St Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, described the Eucharist as the flesh of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
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Emperor Constantine brought peace to the Christian world early in the 4th century resulting in Christian communities getting 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.
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For reasons that are not always clear, many ordinary people became more like spectators than participants in the Eucharist. Some were fearful of the Eucharist, feeling unworthy to get it. Many Catholics stopped receiving the sacrament frequently, and would limit their reception of Eucharist to special feasts. Children only received the Eucharist at twelve or fourteen, many adults would receive the Eucharist only once a year. Some only received Communion if they went to confession the same day.
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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 (Preparation of the gifts, the Eucharistic prayer, Communion rite) and the last part being the Concluding Rites