What is Communion (the Eucharist or Lord's Supper)?

The origin: the Last Supper

On the night before his crucifixion, during a Passover-season meal, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said, "Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me" — and likewise the cup, as the new covenant in his blood (1 Corinthians 11:23–25, KJV). This is the earliest written account, from Paul, around AD 55. The first Christians gathered for "the breaking of bread" (Acts 2:42).

Many names, one meal

Eucharist (from the Greek for "thanksgiving") is used by Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and Lutherans. Mass is the Catholic name for the whole service. Divine Liturgy is the Orthodox name. Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper are common in Protestant churches.

What happens to the bread and wine?

Catholic: transubstantiation — the substance of bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ, while the appearances remain. The Mass is also understood as making present the one sacrifice of Christ.

Orthodox: the bread and wine truly become Christ's body and blood; the Orthodox affirm the reality but generally decline to define the mechanism philosophically, calling it a mystery.

Lutheran: Christ's body and blood are truly present "in, with and under" the bread and wine (sacramental union).

Reformed / Presbyterian: Christ is spiritually present and believers truly feed on him by faith through the Spirit.

Baptist and many evangelical churches: a memorial and ordinance — remembering Christ's death and proclaiming it "till he come" (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Anglicans hold a range across these views.

Who may receive

Catholic and Orthodox churches generally reserve communion for their own members in full communion; many Protestant churches practise open communion for all baptised believers. This is one of the most painful practical divisions between Christians, and it is worth asking before attending a service — our guide to what happens at a church service explains the etiquette.

In Scripture

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.Luke 22:19 · KJV

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.John 6:35 · KJV

Where the traditions differ

Each position is attributed to the tradition that holds it; we do not rank them. See the full comparison.

Context