Different understandings of communion
| Catholic Church | Protestant Church |
| In the Catholic Church the Eucharist or Holy Communion is celebrated daily in the Mass. | In most Protestant churches, communion is seen as a memorial of Christ’s death. |
| Catholics believe in transubstantiation - that the bread and wine are physically changed into the body and blood of Christ. | The bread and wine do not change at all because they are symbols. |
| Communion means ‘sharing’ and at a communion service Christians share together to remember the suffering and death of Christ. |
| Catholic Church | In the Catholic Church the Eucharist or Holy Communion is celebrated daily in the Mass. |
|---|---|
| Protestant Church | In most Protestant churches, communion is seen as a memorial of Christ’s death. |
| Catholic Church | Catholics believe in transubstantiation - that the bread and wine are physically changed into the body and blood of Christ. |
|---|---|
| Protestant Church | The bread and wine do not change at all because they are symbols. |
| Catholic Church | |
|---|---|
| Protestant Church | Communion means ‘sharing’ and at a communion service Christians share together to remember the suffering and death of Christ. |
Consider the following statement - Receiving communion on Sunday is not important, it is living a Christian life that counts.
People will agree or disagree with this statement. What is your opinion? Some points to consider are as follows:
| Agree | Disagree |
| There are many people who receive Holy Communion and it doesn’t make them better people. | Holy Communion bears great significance for Christians today. |
| People should focus on living like Christ. | Jesus commanded the disciples to remember him in bread and wine. |
| It is not necessary to receive Holy Communion in order to remember the death of Christ. Jesus’ death can be remembered through the study of scripture. | Participation in the Eucharist binds Christians in fellowship. |
| Holy Communion underpins Christian worship in many denominations. | |
| Some Christians believe that Holy Communion gives them spiritual nourishment for the week ahead. | |
| Holy Communion reminds us of the suffering and death of Christ. | |
| All Christians should take part in Holy Communion in order to give thanks. |
| Agree | There are many people who receive Holy Communion and it doesn’t make them better people. |
|---|---|
| Disagree | Holy Communion bears great significance for Christians today. |
| Agree | People should focus on living like Christ. |
|---|---|
| Disagree | Jesus commanded the disciples to remember him in bread and wine. |
| Agree | It is not necessary to receive Holy Communion in order to remember the death of Christ. Jesus’ death can be remembered through the study of scripture. |
|---|---|
| Disagree | Participation in the Eucharist binds Christians in fellowship. |
| Agree | |
|---|---|
| Disagree | Holy Communion underpins Christian worship in many denominations. |
| Agree | |
|---|---|
| Disagree | Some Christians believe that Holy Communion gives them spiritual nourishment for the week ahead. |
| Agree | |
|---|---|
| Disagree | Holy Communion reminds us of the suffering and death of Christ. |
| Agree | |
|---|---|
| Disagree | All Christians should take part in Holy Communion in order to give thanks. |
