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1200 BCE
The Passover
In order to protect their first-born children, the Israelites marked their doors with lamb's blood so the angel of death would pass over them. Thus the name Passover, which is “pesach” in Hebrew. The Israelites were ultimately freed from slavery and wandered the desert for 40 years before making it to the promise land. -
33 BCE
Last supper
Jesus and his apostles had a last meal before his death and restriction. He broke the bread and passed it to his disciples saying, “Take and eat, this is my body.” He offered them the cup of wine, saying “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood, which seals God's covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” -
33
The first recorded use of communion in church
The first recorded use of communion in a church was found in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. He states that phrases such as 'do this as a memorial of me' and 'this cup is the new covenant in my blood' which are very similar to the words spoken today during Eucharist -
100
Early Eucharist celebration
Christians would gather on the first day of the week, Sunday, to celebrate together. They would break the bread, quoting 'do this in memory of me' and believed that they were eating and drinking the body and blood of the Lord. It was also believed that Jesus was kept alive through reading and telling stories -
1215
The fourth Lateran council
The law was passed to give people the right to the lay people to receive communion at least one time in a calendar year -
1570
Published the Roman missal
Pope Pius published a roman missal that thoroughly explained the ritual of the Eucharist. -
Pope Pius x
Pope Pius X motivated lay-people to participate in mass by singing at mass and receiving communion more often -
Eucharist today
The prayers and readings in a Eucharistic service remind those taking part of that final meal and of the solemn words and actions of someone standing at the edge of death. The people taking part drink a sip of wine (or grape juice) and eat a tiny piece of some form of bread, both of which have been consecrated
