Worship of the Eucharist outside mass

Abstract

The term Eucharist derives from the Greek word ‘eucharistia’ that means thanksgiving. It is the main sacrament and central act of worship of Christian Churches. It is also known as Holy Communion and the Mass, where its origin is described in the Synoptic Gospels. At the Last Supper, Christ blessed and shared the bread and wine to represent his death on the cross, leading to mankind's salvation. If the Mass is the principle celebration of the Christian people, the liturgy of the Eucharist is the principle part of the Mass, joined to the liturgy of the word to form one complex celebration. Also, it is a celebration of the sacrifice of Christ, in which the faithful participate primarily by receiving Communion at it. Since the early centuries of the Church, this liturgical action was prolonged in various ways, as when the sacrifice of the Mass was completed, not all the consecrated offerings have necessarily been consumed. The early Christians had celebrated their Eucharist in the context of an ordinary meal. The emphasis was on the action of eating and drinking, of sharing a meal with the risen Christ and with one another. As St Justin makes a point that ' .... The gifts over which the thanksgiving has been spoken are distributed, and everyone shares in them, while they are also sent via the deacons to the absent brethren. ' 2 The Church always felt the need to give communion to those who were unable to go to the gatherings because of their sufferings. So, deacons were commissioned to help her in the Church work to distribute the Holy Species for those who are in danger of dying and also sick. Viaticum was instituted as the last food before entering into the holy journey. Today the Church has her extraordinary ministers, chosen from a cross section of the lay people to help with the distribution of the Holy Communion to the sick [...]