What Is the Purpose of the Communion Rite?
Communion is a ritual practiced in the Christian faith that involves ingesting bread and wine in remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on a cross of crucifixion.
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Origin
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Christian communion is based on the "Last Supper" described in the Gospels of the New Testament, which is actually the Jewish holiday of Passover. Passover commemorates when the Jewish people, in captivity to the Egyptians, were spared a plague that killed the firstborn Egyptian children. The Jews, because they smeared the blood of a sacrificed lamb on their front doors, were "passed over" by God's judgment.
Purpose
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The purpose of Christian communion is to remember the sacrifice Jesus made when he was crucified by the Romans. Jesus is considered the Passover Lamb, whose innocent life was sacrificed to save the souls of others. The bread represents Jesus' body; the wine, his blood. Communion is a time for repentance, prayer and thanksgiving.
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Current Practice
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Most denominations of Christianity practice communion, but there are variations in what is served and how it is administered. Some believe the bread and wine represent Christ's body and blood, others believe the bread and wine are literally transformed into Christ's body and blood at the time of partaking.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit communion tray image by dwags from Fotolia.com
