EUCHARIST: THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
PART OF SEVEN SACRAMENT SERIES
Photo: karen massiel / Pinterest
Author: Ken Klark L. Flores
The Eucharist is a Christian sacrament and ritual known by other names like Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper. It is a commemoration of Jesus's Last Supper, where bread and wine are consecrated and believed to become the Body and Blood of Christ. This rite is central to Christian worship, serving as a memorial of Jesus's death and resurrection, a sign of unity, and a foretaste of heavenly glory.
Definition and Practice
According to Britannica, the word Eucharist comes from the greek word, "eucharistia", translates to thanksgiving (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014). The practice has roots in Jewish tradition, particularly the Passover feast, which commemorates God's liberation of Israel from Egypt. The prayers also show their origin in Jewish blessings and prayers (Chapter 1: How the Eucharist Evolved, 2010).
In the story according to synoptic gospels, Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22–24; and Luke 22:17–20, along with Apostle Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians (11:23-25), the Lord's Supper was instituted by Jesus Christ, which he created the rite on the night before his crucifixion during a Passover celebration. Jesus commanded his disciples to "do this in remembrance of me" (Ligonier Ministries, 2025). This practice continues by the Early Christians until today.
In Catholicism and Orthodoxy
The Holy Communion is the central mystery of faith. The doctrine of transubstantiation holds that the bread and wine used in the sacrament literally become the body and blood of Jesus Christ, not just symbolically (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994, 283). This belief is central to the Liturgical Mass, whether in the Traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo (Vernacular Mass), and is often referred to as Eucharistic adoration.
Eucharistic adoration is a Catholic practice of spending time in prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament, which is a consecrated host displayed in a monstrance. It is a form of worshipping God, believed to be truly present in the consecrated host (Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ), and serves to deepen one's faith and connection with Jesus. The practice involves silent prayer, meditation, or reciting traditional prayers, and is considered a continuation of the worship of the Eucharist outside of Mass, (Dynamic Catholic, 2023).
The Catholic Church uses ostia or Eucharistic Host, while Orthodox uses unleavened bread. However, this doctrine has been subject to misconceptions. Some critics argue that the Eucharist implies a repetitive sacrifice, undermining the once-and-for-all nature of Jesus' crucifixion (Catholic Answers, 2003). Others have likened the practice to cannibalism (Catholic FAITH Defense Philippines, 2022; Staples, 2010). In response, Catholics clarify that the sacrament is meant to be understood in a spiritual sense, although there have been reported cases of miracles associated with the Eucharistic host.
Catholic priests can and do practice Eucharistic adoration, which involves leading prayers, exposing the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance, and presiding over the ceremony. Priests play a central role in this devotion, which is a key part of Catholic practice to honor the Real Presence of Christ in the consecrated host (Catholic Answers, n.d.).
In Protestant Denominations
In contrast, many Protestant denominations, such as Pentecostalism, Evangelicalism, and Charismatic movements, view the Eucharist or Communion as symbolic. They interpret Jesus' words at the Last Supper as figurative, specifically metaphorical, where Jesus doesn't mean he command his literal body and blood, but rather he compares his body to bread and his blood to wine (Ian Acda, 2020). This perspective emphasizes the spiritual significance of communion without subscribing to the doctrine of transubstantiation. In their services, many of these denominations use small cups of grape juice and wafers to celebrate communion.
Symbolic vs Literal
A key point of divergence between these traditions lies in their interpretations of biblical passages such as John 6:53-58, which Jesus says:
“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
Catholics see these verses as supporting the idea that partaking in the Eucharist is essential for eternal life (Staples, 2010), whereas many Protestants view this passage in the context of spiritual nourishment through faith in Jesus Christ (Got Questions, 2024).
Conclusion
The Holy Communion remains a central part of Christianity, although it had differences on views on Bread and wine, along with Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who brings the bread of life to the world. Understanding these differing perspectives can foster greater appreciation for the rich diversity within Christian traditions.
Reference
Encyclopedia Britannica. (2014). Eucharist | Christianity. In Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eucharist
Ligonier Ministries. (2025, January 4). The Institution of the Lord’s Supper: Kingdom Feast with R.C. Sproul. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fth_FkAk968
Chapter 1: How the Eucharist Evolved. (2010, February 14). Eucharist: The Basic Spirituality; https://theeucharist.wordpress.com/index/chapter-1/
Merriam-Webster (2019). Definition of TRANSUBSTANTIATION. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transubstantiation
Dynamic Catholic (2023). How to Pray a Holy Hour | A Guide to Eucharistic Adoration. https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/about-eucharistic-adoration.html
Ian Acda. (2020, October 27). MALING PANINIWALA SA BIBLIYA! YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amg9RgFandc
Catholic FAITH Defense Philippines. (2022). Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=793340811230379&id=100076599055741
Catholic Answers (2003). Is the Mass a True Sacrifice? https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/is-the-mass-a-true-sacrifice
Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994). United States Catholic Conference
Staples, T. (2010, November 1). What Catholics Believe about John 6. Catholic Answers. https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/what-catholics-believe-about-john-6
Got Questions (2024). What did Jesus mean when He said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood? https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-eat-flesh-drink-blood.html
Catholic Answers (n.d.) Why can only priests consecrate the Eucharist? https://www.catholic.com/qa/why-can-only-priests-consecrate-the-eucharist
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect the views of any religious organization or denomination. This article is for religious and educational purposes only.
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