Why is the communion rites important?

Answer 1

Because Christ commanded us to at his last Passover with the Disciples.

It is commemorated in I Corinthians 11:23-26: (The Apostle Paul speak in the letter)

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: 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." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (NIV)

It is a memoriam and a public profession.

Answer 2

Christ had said at the last Supper, taking up the bread, breaking it and giving thanks: "Take, eat: this is my body (as remembrance), which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me." This is a picture of what would happen on the Cross, as his body was out of joint from the Crucifixion, as He was dying for our sins.

Then he also took the cup containing pressed wine gave thanks, drinking a little and said: "This cup is the New Testament (agreement, covenant) in my blood: this do in remembrance of me." I was a picture of the blood He would shed for our sins. Paul said: "For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come."

This activity of holy communion is for Christians, those who have trusted in Christ as their Savior, to remember what Christ had done for them on the Cross, so that they might be conscientiously dedicated in their lives to live for Him. Paul warned against taking part unworthily of this remembrance, but for a person to examine themselves as to their lives before partaking. It is a time for Christians to seriously cleanse themselves from sin to honor the Lord, who died for them.

The observance of Holy Communion, then, is basically for believers to remember that it cost our Savior His death to pay for their sins. In participating, one should desire to live a holy (separated from sin) life, in honor to that great sacrifice that Christ made for us. "For He (God) hath made Him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Holy Communion is not for those who don't believe in Christ as their Savior. It would only be a mockery of what he did on the Cross and would lend itself to make the non-believer more insensitive to the meaning of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. Paul said: "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation (condemnation, judgment) to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 1 Corinthians 11:29.

Answer 3

The Eucharist is the pinnacle of the Catholic faith. It is the whole reason the Mass exists and it was directly commanded by Jesus when he said "this is my body...this is my blood... do this in memory of me."

We were expressly told by Jesus at the Passover meal with his disciples that we are to remember his death and what his death represented. We are always to remember his victory over death and Satan and the cleansing of our sin by His blood. It is important to thank Him for what He did for us and to celebrate it. It also allows parents to teach the story of His death and resurrection and the cleansing of our sin by His blood.

Catholic Answer:

In St. John's Gospel we are told "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you." The apostles did not understand what he was saying until Jesus, at the Last Supper, said, "Take and eat, this is my body. . . . this is the chalice of my blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins."

it is important to receive the first holy communion because then you can eat the holy spirit of Jesus.really it is Jesus.

In the Catholic Faith, the wine & the wafer do more than just signify the blood & body of Christ- they are believed to be transformed into the actual blood & body.

Jesus commanded the disciples to partake of the Cup & Loaf, "...this is my blood you drink; this is my body you eat..." Because of this Sacrament, mankind becomes one with the Christ.

Roman Catholic AnswerCatholic never "take" Holy Communion, they only "receive" Holy Communion. Holy Communion is the participation in the actual Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Blessed Lord. It is important as He, Himself, told us that unless we eat His Body, and drink His Blood, we will have no life in us. This is the method par exellence that Our Blessed Lord established for us to receive grace until everlasting life.