Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Eucharist

The Church's central act of worship, instituted at the Last Supper — bread and wine received as the body and blood of Christ; also called the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, the Mass, the Divine Liturgy, the breaking of bread.

Greek eucharistia, 'thanksgiving'; from the thanksgiving Jesus spoke over the bread and cup (Matt 26:26–27).

Matthew 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:14–20; 1 Corinthians 10:14–22; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34; John 6:22–71 (debated); Acts 2:42, 46.

Described by Justin (c. 155) and assumed by Ignatius (c. 108) as the body and blood of Christ; its meaning refined through the medieval and Reformation debates.

All the main questions cluster here: presence, sacrifice, who may receive, and what it does.

The most church-dividing of the sacraments — see the individual terms.

Open in the glossary for related terms and the doctrines this concept appears in.