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The Last Supper, represented by polychrome sculptures in the Pilgrimage Church of Madonna dell Sasso ( Locarno) In Christianity, the Last Supper was the last meal between Jesus and his apostles before his death. The Last Supper has been the subject of many paintings, most famously by Leonardo da Vinci.
The meal is discussed at length in all four Gospels of the canonized Bible. The meal is considered by most scholars to likely have been a Passover seder, celebrated on a Thursday night ( Maundy Thursday), before Jesus was crucified on Friday ( Good Friday). In the course of the last supper, and with specific reference to taking the bread and the wine, Jesus told his disciples, "Do this in remembrance of me" (1 Cor 11:23-25).
These worship services became codified as the MassThis article discusses the Mass as part of Christian liturgy, in particular the form it has taken in the Roman Catholic Church ( Latin rite). For the Mass as a genre of classical music composition, see Mass (music). For mass as a concept in physics, see M in CatholicThis article considers Catholicism in the broadest ecclesiastical sense. See Catholicism (disambiguation) for alternative meanings Catholicism has two main ecclesiastical meanings, described in Webster's Dictionary as: a) "the whole orthodox Christian chu traditions, and as the Divine LiturgyThe Divine Liturgy is the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern-Rite Catholic eucharistic service. It consists of three interrelated parts: Prayers of Preparation; the Liturgy of the Catechumens, so called because in ancient times catechumens were allowed to atten in Oriental traditions, which embrace both Eastern RiteThe Eastern Rites are the rites used by many of the ancient Christian churches of Eastern Europe and the Middle East that are in the Catholic Communion but do not follow the Latin Rite. The churches that use these rites are called the Eastern Catholic Chu Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox. At those services, Catholics and Eastern Orthodox celebrate the EucharistThe Eucharist is either the Christian sacrament of consecrated bread and wine or the ritual surrounding it. The term "Eucharist" is used mainly in Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Lutheran traditions, and is based upon the Greek word &epsilo, held to be the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus. The name Eucharist is from the Greek word eucharios which means thanksgiving or thank you. Catholics typically restrict the term 'communion' to the distribution to the commmunicants during the service of the body and blood of Christ.
300px Jacopo Bassano 's the Last Supper
Within many Protestant traditions, the name Holy Communion is used. This name emphasizes the nature of the service as a "joining in common" between God and humans, due to the sacrifice of Christ Jesus.
Another variations of the name of the service is The Lord's Supper. This name usually is used by the churches of minimalist traditions, such as those strongly influenced by Zwingli. Some echoes of the agape meal may remain in fellowship or potluck dinners held at some churches.
As well, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commonly refers to the service as The Sacrament.
Each major divison of Christianty has formed different theology about the exact meaning and purpose of these remembrance cerimonies.