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100
The Last Supper
The fundamental and pinnacle event regarding the development of the Eucharist is the Last Supper. During the Last supper, Jesus divides up some bread, says a prayer, and hands the pieces of bread to his disciples, saying "this is my body." He then takes a cup of wine, offers another prayer, and hands it around, saying "this is my blood of the everlasting covenant, which is poured for many." He then insinuates them to continue on the tradition as he says ‘do this in memory of me’ -
200
Second and Third Centuries
The second and third centuries saw the continuation of the Eucharist. The reflection of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians was instrumental as it described the connection between Christ and the bread and wine. There was an addition of prayers, singing, chanting and homily to the Eucharistic liturgy. -
400
Emperor Constantine
After the peace that came to the Christian world early in the fourth century, with the Emperor Constantine, Christian communities
became much bigger. The basilica was a large, long hall used by the Romans as law courts. Christians adopted this plan to build enormous beautiful basilicas of their own for the celebration of Eucharist. -
Jan 1, 1215
The Fourth Lateran Council
Because so few received Holy Communion, the Fourth Lateran Council passed legislation that required Catholics to receive communion at least once a year. -
Jan 1, 1500
Theologian Debate (Middle Ages)
The middle ages saw the Theologians of this era debating the meaning of the ''real presence'' of Christ in the Eucharistic bread and wine. There was emphasis which did not fall on receiving Jesus in communion, but on seeing and adoring Christ in the bread and wine. -
Jan 1, 1551
The Council of Trent
The Council of Trent definitively declared: "Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread and that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood.' This changed the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation. -
Pope Pius X
Dedication to the blessed sacrament continued to shine, although people rarely received communion until 1910, when Pope Pius X’s influence permitted children who attained the age of maturity to receive holy communion and encouraged frequent communion by all the faithful. -
The Second Vatican Council
The greatest effect of the Vatican II reform was the recovery of the liturgical role of the congregation at Mass and the restoration to the people of the responses and prayers. This led to a broader explanation of Christ’s presence in the Eucharistic celebration. Such as in the gathering, in the proclaimed scripture, in the presiding priest as well as in the elements of bread and wine. Thus the mass adopting a vernacular approach was due to many people’s misunderstanding of the liturgy. -
Current Day
The Eucharist nowadays is celebrated in the church as a part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It has developed significantly over time since the traditional methods of celebrating the Eucharist
