The Eucharist Ritual

Any repetitive and structured conduct that is mandated by or connected to a religious

organization, belief, custom, and/or used frequently with the goal of interacting with a god or

supernatural force, is referred to as a religious ritual. I picked the Eucharist for this paper because

this can be defined as a sacrament, but also a religious ritual. The Eucharist is commonly

considered a Christian ritual as well. Both Catholics and Protestants embrace the Flesh and

Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ via the sacrament: The consumption of bread represents the

Lord’s flesh. Drinking wine represents the Lord’s blood. The symbolism comes from “The Last

Supper,” in which Christians believe that Jesus ate with his twelve disciples before his

crucifixion.

The Eucharist ritual has been historically traced as far back as AD 55 when a follower of

Christ, Paul the Apostle, refers back to Christ’s Last Supper and the “breaking of bread” with

Jesus and his twelve disciples. Paul is said to have practiced this as a “celebration” of God’s

sacrifice. The word itself “Eucharist” stems from a Greek translation of “thanksgiving,” which

can also be a form of celebration. There are historical references that The Eucharist began as

more of a meal than simply the ritual as it is today of consuming just wine and bread. Early

masses have been reported to have taken place in houses with limited groups, however by the

Third Century, the meal itself had been utterly abandoned. The Medieval Ages saw a rise in the
veneration of the Eucharist. At this point, they established the minimum age requirements for

participation in the practice.

Though the Eucharist is a focal point in both Protestant and Catholic traditions, in

Catholicism tradition at around age seven or eight, the baptizing of the child’s First Communion

is often observed, and it is foreshadowed by their First Confession. It is a type of symbolism for

bonding Jesus to his people. The ceremony serves as Christ’s first sacrifice- the forgiveness of

sins after one confesses them. Catholics place tremendous value on this, as the forgiveness of

sins is believed to be the pathway to everlasting life. Some Roman Catholics hold to the doctrine

that the Eucharist is truly present physically, that the bread and wine physically become the body

and blood of Jesus when it is consumed. This belief is called transubstantiation. Though there

have been disputes within Christianity as to whether the elements change physically or if the

practice is merely for symbolism, either way, it still serves as a centerpiece to most Christian

traditions. This ritual is often held at Sunday Mass (or in other Christian-type services), but the

ritual can also be taken daily. In some masses, the partakers go up to the priest and drink from

the actual cup. In other services, trays are passed down the pews where members of the church

can pick up their elements. The elements provided can be taken at their seats.

I chose the Eucharist as a ritual because of my Christian upbringing. This is

representative of what I practice at church regularly and it is a foundation of my traditions. We

still take communion in my church, but there are things that we now do differently: Our church

drinks grape juice, and not wine. We have individual cups of grape juice and crackers that we
separately consume. There are no restrictions on age and any individual can receive them. We do

not practice the Eucharist every Sunday, however, we do practice it at the end of every month.

Certain aspects that make the sacrament more personal to me are attributes that I practice

already in my church. We do not have particular classes or an age requirement to take the

sacraments. I like that this is less regimented and that guests may freely partake. No one feels left

out. I also like that it is not taken weekly. Some families may feel guilty if they miss the

Eucharist weekly, but having it monthly gives the families the chance for extracurricular

activities. If the Eucharist is encouraged weekly, there may be times when the families feel guilt

for not attending.

The Eucharist has changed and made amendments over the course of history that have

made communion more accessible to larger groups of people. The purpose of communion is to

bind people together and bring them closer to Jesus. For me, It is not about the elements taken

specifically but of the event and of the action itself. One change that I would make to this ritual

is making it accessible to individuals who cannot leave their homes to attend. A pastor can come

to their homes, but it is not the same as attending the church service. However, there should be a

way where they can still feel included in a group setting with other believers.
 Bibliography page

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2023, January 5). Eucharist. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved

March 1, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eucharist

Eucharist ritual structure. Home. (n.d.). Retrieved March 1, 2023, from

https://parenteucharistinfo.weebly.com/eucharist-ritual-structure.html

Sutori. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2023, from

https://www.sutori.com/en/story/eucharist-timeline--MCFSW1sPG7z7JrFUTSkLBjww