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1528 BCE
The First Passover
Passover begun in the 5th century BCE. It is a major Jewish holiday that celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, which occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month. It is celebrated by having a special family meal -
33
Key Symbols
The bread, or communion, symbolized Jesus' body while the wine symbolized his blood. Both represented both life and sacrifice -
100
Early Eucharist
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. -
100
The Last Supper
The Eucharist began at the Last Supper. In Jesus' First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul describes a Eucharist celebrated in connection with a common supper shared in the homes of the early Christians. This supper included the blessing of the bread and wine, the breaking of the bread -
1200
Eucharist in the middle ages
Eucharist became more of a revered practice throughout the Middle Ages. It became a custom that children would not receive the communion until 12 or 14 years old -
1500
Eucharist Reform
During the 16th century Pope Pius V allowed a reform to occur within the Roman Catholic Church. This created a unified practice of the Eucharist and allowed all teachings of it to be synthesized. -
Communion
Christians believe that once a priest consecrates the bread and wine its inner nature does change and it becomes the body and blood of Christ -
Passover Nowadays
Today Passover is celebrated by the Jewish people at approximately the same time as Easter -
Eucharist Today
Today the reception of Eucharist is broken into four different parts: The Introductory Rites, The Liturgy of the Word, The Liturgy of the Eucharist and The Concluding Rites. Together these four parts make up a Mass -
Receiving the Bread
When receiving the Eucharist people are encouraged to place their right hand below their left, have the communion placed into their left palm, say 'Amen', take it into their right hand and eat it and then make the sign of the cross.