Question 137: What Is The Holy Eucharist?

An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

Question 137: What is the Holy Eucharist?

The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ in which His Body and Blood are truly given to His people under the forms of bread and wine. In it, we remember His death, proclaim His resurrection, receive spiritual nourishment, and participate in His life. The Eucharist is the Church’s highest act of worship and thanksgiving. (Luke 22:19–20, 1 Corinthians 10:16–17, 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, John 6:53–56)

Full Scripture References

“And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.’” — Luke 22:19–20 (BSB)

“Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.” — 1 Corinthians 10:16–17 (BSB)

“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’… For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” — 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (BSB)

“Truly, 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 him up at the last day.” — John 6:53–54 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

The Holy Eucharist—also called Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper, or the Divine Liturgy—is the sacrament that Christ gave to His Church on the night before He died. In this sacrament, bread and wine are consecrated by His Word and Spirit to be for us the Body and Blood of Christ—not in a crude physical sense, but in a real and spiritual way that nourishes our souls.

In the Eucharist, we do not simply remember what Christ did long ago. We participate in it. Christ is truly present—not locally or carnally, but sacramentally and spiritually. The Eucharist is communion with the living Christ, a participation in His sacrifice, and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. It strengthens our faith, deepens our unity with one another, and assures us of His saving love.

Article XXVIII of the Thirty-Nine Articles affirms that “The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves, but rather it is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ’s death.” The same article teaches that “the Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper only after a heavenly and spiritual manner. And the means whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is faith.”

Bishop J.C. Ryle wrote, “The Lord’s Supper is a means of grace, ordained by Christ Himself, for the continual remembrance of His death and the strengthening of His people. It is not a mere memorial, but a rich channel of spiritual blessing to all who come in faith” (Knots Untied, 1874).

Rev. Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) explains, “The Eucharist is where the Gospel becomes food. Here Christ feeds His Church—not just with words, but with His very life. It is communion with Him who died and rose again” (Anglican Catechism in Depth, 2020).

Canon Dr. John Yates III (Falls Church Anglican, ACNA) teaches, “In the Eucharist, Christ comes to us—not symbolically only, but sacramentally and truly. By faith, we feed on Him, and He strengthens us to live the Christian life” (Catechesis Forum, 2021).

Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba (Church of Uganda) affirms, “The Holy Table is the place where Christ meets His people. It is where the Church remembers, rejoices, repents, and receives the grace of the risen Lord” (Eucharistic Homily, 2022).

Thus, the Holy Eucharist is not only a remembrance but a real means of grace. It is Christ’s appointed way of nourishing, uniting, and sanctifying His people until He comes again.

Early Church Fathers On Catechism Question

St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35–107 AD): “Take care, then, to use one Eucharist… There is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ and one cup of His blood… that you may be one in the altar, as one bishop and one presbytery.” — Letter to the Philadelphians, 4

St. Justin Martyr (c. 100–165 AD): “We do not receive these as common bread and drink, but as Jesus Christ our Savior… for we are taught that the food blessed by the word of prayer is the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus.” — First Apology, 66

St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202 AD): “The bread, after the invocation of God, is no longer common bread, but the Eucharist—consisting of two realities, earthly and heavenly.” — Against Heresies, IV.18.5

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD): “Do not regard the bread and wine as ordinary. They are the Body and Blood of Christ, given to you under the veil of bread and wine. Receive them with faith.” — Catechetical Lectures, 22.9

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