In the Lutheran Churches, the Eucharist (also called the

Mass Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...

, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Lord's Supper, the Lord's Table, Holy Communion, the Breaking of the Bread, and the

Blessed Sacrament The Eucharist ( ; from , ), also called Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament or the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite, considered a sacrament in most churches and an ordinance in others. Christians believe that the rite was instituted by J ...

''An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism,'' ( LCMS), question 285")Lutheran Eucharist names.
Retrieved 2009-08-18.) refers to the

liturgical Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembra ...

commemoration of the

Last Supper Image:The Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci - High Resolution 32x16.jpg, 400px, alt=''The Last Supper'' by Leonardo da Vinci - Clickable Image, ''The Last Supper (Leonardo), The Last Supper'' (1495-1498). Mural, tempera on gesso, pitch and mastic ...

Lutherans Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched the Reformation in 15 ...

believe in the

real presence of Christ in the Eucharist The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, sometimes shortened Real Presence'','' is the Christian doctrine that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist, not merely symbolically or metaphorically, but in a true, real and substantial way. T ...

, affirming the doctrine of

sacramental union Sacramental union (Latin: ''unio sacramentalis''; Martin Luther's German: ''Sacramentliche Einigkeit'';''Weimar Ausgabe'' 26, 442.23; ''Luther's Works'' 37, 299-300. German: ''sakramentalische Vereinigung'') is the Lutheran theological doctrine o ...

, "in which the body and blood of Christ are truly and substantially (''vere et substantialiter'') present, offered, and received ''with'' the bread and wine."

Beliefs

The Eucharist is based on the events of , , , and .

Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist: sacramental union

Lutherans believe that the Body and Blood of Christ are "truly and substantially present in, with and under the forms" of

consecrated Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...

bread and wine (the elements),''An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism,'' ( LCMS), question 291) so that communicants eat and drink both the elements and the true Body and Blood of

Christ Jesus ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Christianity, central figure of Christianity, the M ...

himself in the Sacrament of the Eucharist whether they are believers or unbelievers. The Lutheran doctrine of the

Real Presence The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, sometimes shortened Real Presence'','' is the Christian doctrine that Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist, not merely symbolically or metaphorically, but in a true, real and substantial way. Th ...

is also known as the

. This theology was first formally and publicly confessed in the Wittenberg Concord (1536). It has been called "

consubstantiation Consubstantiation is a Christian theological doctrine that (like transubstantiation) describes the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It holds that during the sacrament, the substance of the body and blood of Christ are present along ...

," but Lutheran theologians reject the use of this term "since Lutherans do not believe either in that local conjunction of two bodies, nor in any commingling of bread and of Christ's body, of wine and of his blood." Lutherans use the term "in, with, and under the forms of consecrated bread and wine" and "sacramental union" to distinguish their understanding of the Eucharist from those of the Reformed and other traditions. The real presence of Christ is effected at the Words of Institution:

Sacrifice

Lutherans affirm that the Sacrifice of the Mass (''sacrificium eucharistikon'') is a

sacrifice Sacrifice is an act or offering made to a deity. A sacrifice can serve as propitiation, or a sacrifice can be an offering of praise and thanksgiving. Evidence of ritual animal sacrifice has been seen at least since ancient Hebrews and Gree ...

of thanksgiving and praise (''sacrificia laudis''): Lutherans affirm that the Eucharist is a sacrifice "in the sense that 1) it is Christ, not the celebrant priest, who offers and is offered as the sacrifice, 2) Christ's sacrifice of atonement is made once and for all with respect to God, and 3) it is sacramentally enacted so that its benefits are distributed to the believers each and every time the Eucharist is celebrated." Additionally, during the Mass, Lutherans hold that the faithful gathered offer themselves as "living sacrifices to God." The Lutheran dogmatician David Hollatz summarizes the teaching of the Church on the Eucharistic Sacrifice: The Lutheran Small Catechism teaches that the sacrament of the Eucharist remits sin and is salvific: The Swedish Lutheran priest Gunnar Rosendal wrote:

Use of the sacrament

For Lutherans the Eucharist is not considered to be a valid sacrament unless the elements are used according to Christ's mandate and institution (consecration, distribution, and reception). This was first formulated in the Wittenberg Concord of 1536 in the formula: ''Nihil habet rationem sacramenti extra usum a Christo institutum'' ("Nothing has the character of a sacrament apart from the use instituted by Christ"). To remove any hint of doubt or superstition, the ''reliquiæ'' traditionally are either consumed, poured into the earth, or reserved (see below). In most Lutheran congregations, the administration of private communion of the sick and "shut-in" (those too feeble to attend services) involves a completely separate service of the Eucharist for which the sacramental elements are consecrated by the celebrant. Lutheran churches typically offer the Eucharist at least weekly, especially on the

Lord's Day In Christianity, the Lord's Day refers to Sunday, the traditional day of communal worship. It is the first day of the week in the Hebrew calendar and traditional Christian calendars. It is observed by most Christians as the weekly memorial of the ...

, though daily Mass is celebrated in some Lutheran churches, as well as at Lutheran

convent A convent is an enclosed community of monks, nuns, friars or religious sisters. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The term is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...

s and

monasteries A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which m ...

, such as Östanbäck Monastery and Saint Augustine's House. Weddings and funerals may sometimes include the celebration of the Eucharist, but at the ordinations of pastors/priests and the consecration of bishops, the Eucharist is nearly always celebrated.

Practices

Eucharistic fast

The

Small Catechism Luther's Small Catechism () is a catechism written by Martin Luther and published in 1529 for the training of children. Luther's Small Catechism reviews the Ten Commandments, Apostles' Creed, the Apostles' Creed, Lord's Prayer, the Lord's Prayer ...

, with regard to the Eucharistic Fast, states: "Fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a fine outward training". Though voluntary, the Eucharistic Fast is kept from midnight until the reception of the Eucharist. Theologically, the "Eucharistic Fast is always in anticipation for the Eucharistic Feast, a reminder of the Last Day when all poverty is abolished, the necessity of fasting has ceased and every prayer answered as all of God's people celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb."

Confesion and Absolution

For Lutherans in general, confession and absolution are considered proper preparation for receiving the sacrament. The

Book of Concord ''The Book of Concord'' (1580) or ''Concordia'' (often referred to as the ''Lutheran Confessions'') is the historic doctrinal standard recognized as authoritative by many Lutheran church bodies since the 16th century. It consists of ten creeda ...

, the compendium of Lutheran dogma, teaches: "Among us…the sacrament is available for all who wish to partake of it after they have been examined and absolved." Traditionally, Lutheran churches have offered the sacrament of confession on Saturdays so that individuals are able receive the Eucharist on the following day. Certain congregations include a General Confession at the start of the Holy Mass.

First Communion

A growing number of congregations in the ELCA, offer instruction to baptized children generally between the ages of 6–8 and, after a relatively short period of catechetical instruction, the children are admitted to partake of the Eucharist.At what age do ELCA congregations allow members their first Communion?
Retrieved 2010-01-12. Most other ELCA congregations offer

First Communion First Communion is a ceremony in some Christian traditions during which a person of the church first receives the Eucharist. It is most common in many parts of the Latin tradition of the Catholic Church, Lutheran Church and Anglican Communion (ot ...

instruction to children in the 5th or 6th grade (ages about 10-11). In other Lutheran churches, the person must have received

confirmation In Christian denominations that practice infant baptism, confirmation is seen as the sealing of the covenant (religion), covenant created in baptism. Those being confirmed are known as confirmands. The ceremony typically involves laying on o ...

before receiving the Eucharist.LCMS Youth Confirmation & First Communion
. Retrieved 2010-01-18. Infants and children who have not received the catechetical instruction (or confirmation) may be brought to the Eucharistic distribution by their parents to be blessed by the pastor.

Open Communion and Closed Communion

The congregations of the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) and the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a mainline Protestant church headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA was officially formed on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three Lutheran church bodies. As of December 31, 2023, it ...

(ELCA) practice

open communion Open communion is the practice of some Protestant Churches of allowing members and non-members to receive the Eucharist (also called Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper). Many but not all churches that practice open communion require that the ...

—meaning that Holy Communion is offered to all those who are baptized. Congregations in the

Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

(LCMS) and the

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), also referred to simply as the Wisconsin Synod, is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as Christian theology, theologically conservative, it was founded ...

(WELS) practice closed communion (''close'' is used by some in place of ''closed''), meaning that Lutheran catechetical instruction is required for all people before receiving the Eucharist, though some congregations in these synods simply either ask that one speak to the pastor before the service to confirm their common faith or acknowledge this on their attendance card.

Eucharistic elements

In the

Lutheran Church Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched the Reformation in 15 ...

es that use the Western Rite,

unleavened bread Unleavened bread is any of a wide variety of breads which are prepared without using rising agents such as yeast or sodium bicarbonate. The preparation of bread-like non-leavened cooked grain foods appeared in prehistoric times. Unleavened br ...

is typically used for the celebration of the Eucharist (as in the Jewish

Passover Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Biblical Egypt, Egypt. According to the Book of Exodus, God in ...

); these are called hosts. Hosts are made by a number of Lutheran

religious order A religious order is a subgroup within a larger confessional community with a distinctive high-religiosity lifestyle and clear membership. Religious orders often trace their lineage from revered teachers, venerate their Organizational founder, ...

s, as well as

monks A monk (; from , ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many reli ...

and

nun A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 5 ...

s, to support their religious communities. Lutheran seminaries and religious goods stores, such as the Concordia Publishing House, make hosts as well. Hosts often contain a cross,

crucifix A crucifix (from the Latin meaning '(one) fixed to a cross') is a cross with an image of Jesus on it, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the (Latin for 'body'). The cru ...

IHS Christogram A Christogram () is a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a Christian symbolism, religious symbol within the Christian Church. One of the oldest Christograms is the C ...

on them. The Eastern Lutheran Churches use leavened bread for the

prosphora A prosphora (, ''offering'', or in Demotic Greek πρόσφορον) is a small loaf of leavened bread used in Orthodox Christian, Eastern Lutheran and Greek Catholic (Byzantine) liturgies. The classical plural form is ''prosphorai'' (). The ...

. The Lutheran Churches use

sacramental wine Sacramental wine, Communion wine, altar wine, or wine for consecration is wine obtained from grapes and intended for use in celebration of the Eucharist (also referred to as the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion, among other names). It is usually ...

in the Eucharist, and this may be mingled with water in the

chalice A chalice (from Latin 'cup', taken from the Ancient Greek () 'cup') is a drinking cup raised on a stem with a foot or base. Although it is a technical archaeological term, in modern parlance the word is now used almost exclusively for the ...

during the Mass:

Manner of reception

The manner of receiving the Eucharist differs throughout the world. In most Lutheran churches, an older Latin Rite custom is maintained in which the communicants kneel on cushions at the altar rail. In Lutheranism,

acolyte An acolyte is an assistant or follower assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession. In many Christian denominations, an acolyte is anyone performing ceremonial duties such as lighting altar candles. In others, the term is used f ...

s assist the priest by carrying a

paten A paten or diskos is a small plate used for the celebration of the Eucharist (as in a mass). It is generally used during the liturgy itself, while the reserved sacrament are stored in the tabernacle in a ciborium. Western usage In many Wes ...

under the chin of each of the faithful as they receive the

Body of Christ In Christian theology, the term Body of Christ () has two main but separate meanings: it may refer to Jesus Christ's words over the bread at the celebration of the Jewish feast of Passover that "This is my body" in (see Last Supper), or it ...

. In other Lutheran churches, the process is much like the Post-

Vatican II The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the or , was the 21st and most recent Catholic ecumenical councils, ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. The council met each autumn from 1962 to 1965 in St. Peter's Basilic ...

revised rite of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. The priest (pastor) and the eucharistic ministers line up, with the priest in the center holding the hosts and the two eucharistic ministers on either side holding the

s. The people process to the front in lines and receive the Eucharist standing. Following this, the people make the

sign of the cross Making the sign of the cross (), also known as blessing oneself or crossing oneself, is both a prayer and a ritual blessing made by members of some branches of Christianity. It is a very significant prayer because Christians are acknowledging ...

and return to their places in the congregation. Traditionally only those within the Office of the Holy Ministry distributed the Blessed Sacrament, but it has become common for lay people known as eucharistic ministers to assist in the distribution. The

host A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it. Host may also refer to: Places * Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County * Host Island, in the Wilhelm Archipelago, Antarctica People * ...

is traditionally thin unleavened wafer, but leavened wafers or bread may be used. Traditionally, the minister placed the host on the tongue of the communicant, with the communicants not even touching the base of the chalice as they received the

Blood of Christ Blood of Christ, also known as the Most Precious Blood, in Christian theology refers to the physical blood actually shed by Jesus Christ primarily on the Cross, and the salvation which Christianity teaches was accomplished thereby, or the sacram ...

. More recently, it has become common for the laity to receive the host in the hand. Some parishes use intinction, the dipping of the host into the chalice. The wine is commonly administered from a common

, but some congregations offer individual cups as well. These may be either prefilled or filled from a pouring chalice during the distribution of the Eucharist. Some ELCA congregations make grape juice available for children and those who are abstaining from alcohol and some will accommodate those with an allergy to wheat, gluten, or grapes. Upon receiving the Body and Blood, it is common for communicants to make the

Liturgy

The Lutheran worship liturgy is called the "

", " Divine Service", "Holy Communion", or "the Eucharist." An example formula for the Lutheran liturgy as found in the Lutheran Service Book of the LCMS is as follows:

The "Great Thanksgiving" or '' Sursum corda'' is
chant A chant (from French ', from Latin ', "to sing") is the iterative speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two main pitches called reciting tones. Chants may range from a simple melody involving a limited set of no ...
ed or spoken. Next, the proper
preface __NOTOC__ A preface () or proem () is an introduction to a book or other literature, literary work written by the work's author. An introductory essay written by a different person is a ''foreword'' and precedes an author's preface. The preface o ...
is chanted or spoken by the pastor. Below is an example: This is followed by the ''
Sanctus The ''Sanctus'' (, "Holy") is a hymn in Christian liturgy. It may also be called the ''epinikios hymnos'' (, "Hymn of Victory") when referring to the Greek rendition and parts of it are sometimes called "Benedictus". ''Tersanctus'' (Latin: "Thr ...
'', which is sung by the congregation. Next, the first part of the ''
Eucharistic Prayer The Anaphora (), Eucharistic Prayer, or Great Thanksgiving, is a portion of the Christian liturgy of the Eucharist in which, through a prayer of thanksgiving, the elements of bread and wine are consecrated. The prevalent historical Roman Rite for ...
'' is spoken by the pastor. The pastor then says the Words of Institution. The pastor may also elevate the elements as well as genuflect. The Eucharistic Prayer continues, along with the
Memorial Acclamation The Memorial Acclamation is an acclamation sung or recited by the people after the institution narrative of the Eucharist.Lord's Prayer The Lord's Prayer, also known by its incipit Our Father (, ), is a central Christian prayer attributed to Jesus. It contains petitions to God focused on God’s holiness, will, and kingdom, as well as human needs, with variations across manusc ...
The "Peace" or " pax" Following this, the
Agnus Dei is the Latin name under which the "Lamb of God" is honoured within Christian liturgies descending from the historic Latin liturgical tradition, including those of Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism. It is the name given to a spec ...
is chanted. The Distribution is next (see above for different manners), it is followed by the ''
nunc dimittis The Nunc dimittis (), also known as the Song of Simeon or the Canticle of Simeon, is a canticle taken from the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 29 to 32. Its Latin name comes from its incipit, the opening words, of the Vulgate transl ...
'', which is chanted as follows: The postcommunion is prayed by the pastor. Finally the Benedicamus Domino and
benediction A benediction (, 'well' + , 'to speak') is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service. It can also refer to a specific Christian religious service including the exposition of the eucharisti ...
are spoken or chanted by the pastor and congregation with the optional Sign of the Cross being made at the end.

Music

Communion is often accompanied by music. Most Lutheran hymnals have a section of communion hymns or hymns appropriate for the celebration of the Lord's Supper. Some of these hymns, such as ''I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table'', ''Thy Table I Approach'', and '' Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele'' (an English language translation of which is ''Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness''), follow a Eucharist theme throughout, whilst others such as ''Wide Open Stand the Gates'' are sung in preparation or during distribution of the sanctified elements.

Chorale prelude In music, a chorale prelude or chorale setting is a short liturgical composition for pipe organ, organ using a chorale tune as its basis. It was a predominant style of the German Baroque music, Baroque era and reached its culmination in the works ...

s on their themes are traditionally played during communion ('' sub communione'').

Adoration and the Corpus Christi

Lutheran Eucharistic adoration is not commonly practiced, but when it occurs it is done only from the moment of consecration to reception. Many people kneel when they practice this adoration. The consecrated elements are treated with much respect and in many areas are reserved as in

Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodoxy, otherwise known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main Branches of Christianity, branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholic Church, Catholicism and Protestantism ...

and

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

practice. The Feast of the Corpus Christi was retained in the main calendar of the Lutheran Church up until about 1600, Frank Senn: Christian Liturgy: Catholic and Evangelical, Fortress Press, 1997. p. 344. but continues to be celebrated by some Lutheran congregations. On this feast day the consecrated host is displayed on an altar in a

monstrance A monstrance, also known as an ostensorium (or an ostensory), is a vessel used in Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, High Church Lutheran and Anglican churches for the display on an altar of some object of piety, such as the consecrated Eucharisti ...

and, in some churches, the rites of the

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, also called Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament or the Rite of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction, is a devotional ceremony, celebrated especially in the Roman Catholic Church, but also in some other C ...

and other forms of adoration are celebrated.

References

External links

The Church of Sweden Service Book
including the orders for High Mass and Low Mass
An Explanation of The Common Service
(1908)
Clips of the Lutheran Mass
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eucharist in the Lutheran Church Martin Luther Lutheran sacraments and rites