Holy Communion is a sacrament in Catholicism where the Eucharist is transformed into the physical body of Christ. Other Christian denominations see it as symbolic. Catholics take their first Holy Communion at age seven or eight. Non-believers and visitors are asked not to partake. The wine or juice offered is optional, and the wafer is made of wheat. Both men and women can administer the Eucharist, but only a priest can consecrate it. Holy Communion is offered at every Mass and other sacraments.
Holy Communion refers to the Eucharist and the wine that some Christians take as a symbol of the body and blood of Christ, during part of a church service. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Eucharist is not merely symbolic of the body of Christ, it is also the body of Christ. It’s a sacrament. A sacrament in Catholicism is described as the symbol of the thing and of the thing itself.
This means that when practicing Catholics take Holy Communion, it has been transformed through prayer into the physical body of Christ. Thus they take Christ within themselves. Other Christian denominations either do not practice the Eucharist, or refer to it only as symbolic of Christ’s body, as it did at the Last Supper.
In Catholicism, practicing Catholics take their first Holy Communion at the age of seven or eight. This is considered the age of reason in Catholicism. So children taking their first sacrament need to understand exactly what they are doing when they first accept the wafer. In other Christian denominations, bread and wine may be passed to all members of a church.
If an adult joins the Catholic Church, they will participate in a ceremony that may include baptism, if the person has not already been baptized; first Holy Communion; and Confirmation or baptism of the spirit. Other churches may also require baptism before offering the sacrament to new church members. Many churches do not differentiate between the baptism of one denomination or another.
Most churches ask that non-believers or those of other denominations not take Holy Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper). While visitors are welcome to fellowship with church members, partaking of the Lord’s Supper is a conscious act that requires faith.
Not all persons who partake of the sacrament also drink the offered wine or grape juice. Alcoholics, for example, rarely drink wine. Additionally, those concerned about illness may not drink as wine is often shared from a common cup. The wine or juice offered at the Lord’s Supper is optional. In general, a person is considered to have taken Holy Communion if he has eaten the “wafer”, i.e. bread. Churches differ on what constitutes bread. Sometimes the Lord’s Supper begins as a simple loaf.
In Catholic churches, the wafer is a round white wafer made of wheat. Towards the end of the Mass, the priest consecrates the Host, and then people walk to the priest to receive the Host. The priest momentarily lifts the wafer and says “The body of Christ”. Whoever receives the Host responds by saying “Amen”.
The wafer is then placed on the recipient’s tongue, or palms facing up, and is immediately consumed. The parishioners then return to their places and a few moments of silent reflection are then observed.
The consecrated Host may be sent with those authorized by the church to administer the Lord’s Supper, to be taken to those unable to attend church, such as the sick. Both a man and a woman can administer the Eucharist, but only a priest can consecrate Holy Communion. Before its consecration, the Host is simply bread.
Taking Holy Communion is a part of virtually every Mass and every other sacrament. For example, a baptism offers the Eucharist to all participants who are practicing members of that particular sect of Christianity. Weddings, even when they don’t include Mass, usually include the Eucharist. Holy Communion is also offered at every daily Mass in the Catholic church.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
