The Holy Communion And The Communion Essay

Sacramentality, mediation, and communion – three properties of Catholicism that are central to its understanding. Like Catholicism, these three properties are universal and can be found in the writings of Catholic authors dating back thousands of years ago. From the first written Scriptures found in the Bible to the modern day works of writers like Flannery O’Connor, these three properties can be found portrayed in works of both fiction and nonfiction. However, these properties are not always easy to find for the untrained mind or even to differentiate for those who do have a better understanding. Sacramentality is the notion that all of creation potentially bears the presence of God. Essentially, one experiences the invisible God through the visible world. Mediation goes hand in hand with sacramentality. It occurs when God is not only present in creation but also works through it. Instead of something symbolizing or reminding you of God, it actually speaks to you and brings you closer to Him. The last property of the Catholic Church is communion. Communion is God’s way of reaching us through the communities in which we live. All three of these properties have close ties to each other. Flannery O’Connor portrays all three – sacramentality, mediation, and communion – in her book Mystery and Manners.

The Eucharist or communion has been celebrated for over 2000 years in the church; however, the frequency of the practice varies greatly across churches. For example, the non-denominational church that I grew up in, celebrated communion every Sunday with consistency and the focal point of each service. (It was so routine I could quote what was going to be said.) Now, I am part of a church that celebrates communion once per month as a conclusion to the sermon. Another major difference between the two churches is who is welcome to participate in communion. For instance, my first church greatly expressed that only those who profess Christ could partake and must not receive communion in an unworthy. Evidently, the church’s view of Atonement (Penal Substitution) influenced a memorial view of communion. Also, the leader’s interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11:29 influenced this approach to communion. As our weekly reading pointed out, “Most who take the Memorial View do not have a place for grace in their theology beyond salvation” (Peterson 3). Therefore, during

“Breaking bread together is an act of sharing and peace…One generally invites one’s friends to

Communion, or Eucharist, whereby Jesus is believed to award communion by way of himself *

A communion doesn’t only happen in church, as that is the most common meaning, but communions can happen anywhere and mean anything. Thomas C. Foster says on page 8 of his ‘How to Read Literature Like a Professor’, that communion is an act of sharing and peace, since if you’re breaking bread you’re not breaking heads.’ Thomas C. Foster also says on page 11 ‘Think of all those movies where a soldier shares his C rations with a comrade, or a boy his sandwich with a stray dog; from the overwhelming message of loyalty, kinship, and generosity, you get a sense of how strong a value

Communion is the second sacraments of initiation. After receiving first communion the sacrament becomes open to do every time we go to church. St Paul’s, written between 40 and 64 AD, speak of the festivity of the Eucharist and its origins in Jesus’ words and action at the last supper. “Take now and eat for this is my body” “Take this and drink for this is my

Salvador Dali’s painting, The Sacrament of the Last Supper (oil on canvas, 65 ¾ x 105 ½ in., c. 1995), has become one of his most iconic paintings from his “late” period. This painting portrays one of the most famous scenes from the Bible, the Last Supper, depicting the twelve disciples eating their final meal with Jesus. This scene has been created many times throughout history by many different artists. However, through Salvador Dali’s use of equal symmetry, the uncommon setting he chose and the interesting perspective and focal points, he was able to recreate a completely unique version of this common biblical scene while adding his twist of surrealism.

Communions or relationships are set to be peaceful and universal. Many discoveries such as eating together can be made through this act,“communion”. Foster discusses that communion can also be seen when “substance is taken into their bodies in a shared , almost ritualistic experience” (Foster 11). In similar ways in “Brave New World” , Ford’s celebration began with the consumption of soma tablets which was “passed from hand to hand and with the formula, I drink to my annihilation”(Huxley 81). This demonstrates that the soma(drug) is a powerful sacrament that is used in the World State to show the powerful influence they have towards technology and science. As the soma kicked in the people began to feel more vibrant with compassion and “ a sensation

Christians have been celebrating the Lord’s Supper for almost two thousand years. In this paper I will refer to the Lord’s Supper as an ordinance of the church. “An ordinance is an outward rite prescribed by Christ to be performed by His Church.” There are quite a few varying interpretations among the different churches on how the Lord’s Supper is to be practiced. I Corinthians 11:23-34 provides Christians with the scriptural meaning and reasons for observing the Lord’s Supper, also known as communion. Many consider the Lord’s Supper of little or no value and some consider the ordinance as more of a ritual. In some modern churches, preaching the Word is emphasized the most and communion is only observed once a month or

The baptism of the Holy Spirit. What is it and how do I get it? A teaching from Pat Robertson. The first of two parts.

Communion) When it came time for the communion, a very different sequence occurred than the one to which I had become so accustomed. The bread and wine were administered to the congregation, not by forming a line towards the priest, but by having select people administer both a small helping of something bread and a small cup of “wine”, or grape juice. The idea behind this was that, only when every member of the service held the bread and wine, did they, as a group, receive the communion together. Observing this allowed me to re-evaluate the process familiar to me all my life: does it not make sense to receive the communion as a community? Though this process is not too far off from our own practices, I still found it to be a rather interesting understanding and practice of what is meant behind the communion of Christ.

Receiving the Eucharist is one of the most important things we can do as a catholic. Holy Communion is the most important of all the sacraments. It completes the Sacraments of Initiation. The bread and wine we receive at communion is the body and blood of Jesus. It becomes the bread and body of Jesus through Transubstantiation. Transubstantiation is the conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements into the body and blood of Christ at consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine still remain. We participate in the sacrament of communion to commemorate all that Jesus did for us and getting nailed to a cross so we can be free from sin and have eternal life in heaven.

Two practices important to Christian worship usually take place in churches. These practices are (1) baptism and (2) the Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper. The ceremony of baptism celebrates an individual's entrance into Christianity. The Eucharist represents the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus shared with His disciples. Worshipers share bread and wine in the Eucharist as a sign of their unity with each other and with Jesus.

Christians' Celebrations of Holy Communion There are many different ways in which Christians celebrate Holy Communion, depending on the denomination of Christianity, in which they belong. Holy Communion is one of the seven sacraments found in Christianity. A sacrament is an outward physical act with an inward, deeper meaning, which can be obtained through various, specific rituals. In the case of Holy Communion, which is also known as the Eucharist meal or Mass, Christian worshippers believe that they receive the body and the blood of Jesus Christ, through the act of eating the bread, which symbolises Christ’s body, and by drinking the wine, said to be his blood. This sacrament originates back to

The doctrines of the Eucharist and eschatology are best understood in the context of each other, yet Moore-Keish continues, arguing that the unification of the doctrines unites the body of believers. In partaking in the communal sacrament, believers get a taste of the “eschatological feast of the Lamb” when they will all be seated at the table of the King (116). Therefore, communion is more an act within community than a display of one’s own salvation. The breaking of the bread and pouring of the wine is an act in which the disciples partook. When the Church performs the Eucharist, they are joining with the body of believers past and present in the remembrance of Good Friday while yearning for the day all believers will be gathered around the Lord’s table.