Christian Communion: Catholic And Zwinglian Traditions

Christian Communion is understood to be the practice of translating Christ’s example of commemorating his sacrifice through the consumption of wine and bread. Since then, denominations have continued the tradition, each interpreting the scripture in ways in which they consider Biblically sound. By attending Mass and reading the Erikson essay, I have concluded that Catholic and Zwinglian traditions differ on points of Christ’ presence in the elements, efficacy of the rite, and the administration the sacraments. On September 10th, I visited St. Therese of Lisieux’s Saturday evening mass. While attending, I witnessed hundreds of years of tradition transpire through the depictions of the saintly icons, the papal prayer, and the beautifully somber

Believing that while the food’s appearance remains unchanged, the clergy’s concretion sparks a metaphysical change that invites Christ to embody every particle of the holy meal. Transubstantiation is a concept that is challenging to conceptualize if not raised in the Catholic tradition. To the onlooker, the practice appears to be cannibalism; however, Catholics believe the tradition is rooted in Biblical truths stemming from Jesus; statement, “Take and eat; this is my body.” By interpreting Matthew literally, Catholics believe in the metaphysical transformation of the Eucharist. Secondly, according to Erickson, Catholics believe a renewal of the sacrifice of Christ transpires each Mass. Instead of a single atonement, Holy Eucharist must occur in order to continually expiate one’s mortal sins. Since Christ repeatedly sacrifices himself each mass, if one has not confessed their physical sin to a clerical official, then an individual is prohibited from partaking in communion. Limited to sinless Catholics, communion is a right to be earned in order to partake in Christ’s

Zwinglianist believe that by consuming the Lord’s Supper will bestow the spiritual benefits of the death of Christ upon the consumer. Additionally, Zwinglianist do not require particular denomination or confession of sins to partake in Eurcharist. They believe in a more equalist view of the church. Furthermore, the doctrine does not require a pastor’s presece in order for the Eucharist to be holy. In my experience, the church decides to partake in communion so that the congregation has a time to reflect upon the Lord’s sacrifice. Within Zwinglian traditions, the requirements of the congregation and the value the administration of communion are not rigidly detailed, but simply laid out in order for the whole church to grow closer to the