4. Persons by ichom, and the Marnier in which the Lord's Supper is received. — In the primitive Church all baptized persons were admitted to the Lord's Supper; afterwards the catechumens and the lapsi were excluded from it. Communion of infants is found in an early pe- riod, and is still used in the (Jreek Church. See Zorn, Hist, eucharist. infant. (Berl. 1742). To those who were prevented from being present at the public service the consecrated elements were carried by deacons. Thus it was especially carried to the dying as a Viaticwn, and until the 5th or 6th century it was even ))la(('d in the mouth of the dead, or in their coffin (see Schmidt, De eucharistia mortuorum, Jena, 1645).
The apostles received the Lord's Su(>pcr reclining, according to Eastern custom. Since the 4th century the communicants used to stand, afterwards to kneel, the men with uncovered head, the women covered with a long white cloth.
Since the 4th century a certain order was introduced in approaching the communion table, so that first the higher and lower clergy, and afterwards the laity came.
LORD'S SUPPER
515
LORENZO
Thfe self-communion of the laity is prohibited by all Christian denominations. The self-communion of offi- ciating clergymen is the general usage in the Koman Church, but also permitted and customary in the Epis- copal Church, among the Moravians, and with other denominations.
5. Ceremonies in Celebration. — In the Roman Church the communicants, after having confessed and received absolution, approach the communion table, which stands at some distance from the altar, and receive kneeling a host from the priest, who passes round, taking the host out of a chalice which he holds in his left hand, repeat- ing for each communicant the words " Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodial animam tuam in vitam ffiternam." The communion service of the Greek Church is nearly the same as tliat of the ancient Church.
In the Lutheran Church the communion is preceded by a preparatory service, confession (q. v.). After the sermon the clergyman consecrates the host and the wine at the altar. Amid the singing of the congrega- tion, the communicants, first the men, then the women, step, either singly or two at a time, to the altar, where the clergyman places the host in their mouth, and reaches to them the cup, using the following or a simi- lar formida : " Take, eat, this is the body of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; it may strengthen and pre- serve you in the true faith unto life everlasting. Amen. Take, drink, this is the blood," etc. The service is con- cluded with a prayer of thanks, and with the blessing. During the service frequently candles burn on the altar.
In the Keformed, Presbyterian, Congregational, Ar- minian, etc., churches, the service begins commonly with a formula containing the passage 1 Cor. xi. The communicants step, in most places singly, to the com- nnuiion table, and the broken bread and the cup are given into their own hands. In some places they re- main sitting in the pews, where the elders carry to them bread and wine ; in others, twelve at a time sit around a table. Private communion of the sick is an exception.
In the Episcopal Church of England the service of the Lord's Supper is immediateh' preceded by a general confession of sins, which is followed by a prayer of con- secration and the words of institution. The clergymen first commune themselves, then the communicants, who approach without observing any distinction, and kneel down at the communion table, receiving the bread (which is cut) and the cup into their hands. The same service takes place in the Protestant Episcopal Church, and substantially in the Methodist churches.
The Socinians have, on the day before they celebrate the Lord's Supper, a preparation (•' discipline") with closed doors, when the preacher exhorts the Church members, rebukes their faults, reconciles enemies, and sometimes excludes those guilty of grave offences from the Church. On the following day, at public service, the altar tables are spread and furnished with bread and wine. The communicants sit down round the table, and take with their hands the bread, which is broken by the preacher, and the cup.
The service of the Moravians approaches that of the primitive Church. It is celebrated every fourth Sun- day at the evening service, and was formerly connected with tlie Agapoe (love feasts), washing of feet, and the kiss of peace.
On the ceremonies in the Eastern churches, see Ritns Orientalinm. Coptorum, Si/?-onim, et Armenorum, in ad- ministrandis Sucrameniis. Ex Assemanis, Kenandotio, Trombellio aliisque fontibus authenticis coUectos. Edi- dit Henricus Denziger, Ph. et S. Th. Doc. et in Univ. Wirceburgensi Theol. Dogmat. Prof, (tom, i, London, D. Xutt, 1863).
V. The Literature on the doctrine of the Lord's Sup- per is very extensive. A history of the doctrine was given by Schulz (Rationalistic),"/;/? christliche Lehre vom heilir/en Abendmuhle (2d ed. Leipsic, 1831) ; Ebrard (Evangelical), Das Dogma vom Ahendmahl iind seine Geschichte (Frankfort, l'«-15) ; Kahnis (High Lutheran),
Die Lehre vom Ahendmahle (Leipsic, 1851) ; L. J. Ruck- ert (Rationalistic), I)as Ahendmahl, sein Wesen und seine Geschichte in der alten Kirche (Leipsic, 1856, 2 vols.). For many other foreign monographs, see Danz, Worter- buch, s: V. Abcndmahl: Yolbeding, Index, p. 50; Hase, Leben Jesu, p. 194; Malcom, Theol. Index, p. 275. The following are the principal luiglish works on the sub- ject: "Wilberforce (Puseyite), Doctrine of the Eucharist (Lond. 1853), and Sermons on the Ilohj Communion (ib. 1854) ; J. Taylor (in opposition to \Vilberforce), True Doctrine of the Eucharist (London, 1855) ; Goode (W.), Nature of Christ's Person in the Eucharist (1856) ; Pu- sey (E. Ii.),Eeal Presence (1853-7); Freeman, Princi- ples of Divine Service ; Turton (Pp.), Eucharist, and Wiseman's Reply (in ten Essays, 1854). ]\Iore general are Dorner, Doctrine of the Person of Christ (Edinburgh, 1864, 5 vols. 8vo), vol. ii, div. ii, p. 116 ; and his Protest. Theol. p. 298; Hagenbach, History of Doctrines, vo]. i, § 73; Heppe, /Vo.ymM^j/i-, p. 455 ; Cunningham, ///i.-^ Theol. i, 205; ii, 142 sq. ; Auberlen, Dis. Revel, p. 210 sq. ; Browne, Exposition of the XXXIX Articles, p. 683 sq. ; Forbes, Explan. of the XXXIX A rticles, ii, 496 ; Mar- tensen, Christian Dogmatics, p. 482 sq. ; J. Pye Smith, Christian Theology, p. 686 sq. ; Baur, Dogmengesch. iii, 10, 247; Liddon, Our Lord's Divinity (see Index under Eucharist); Miinscher, Dogmengesch. ii, 673 sq. See also Ch. of Engl. Quart. 1855, Jan. art. i ; Evangel. Rev. 1866, p. 369 sq.; Method. Quart. Rev. 1860 (Oct.). p. 648 sq. ; 1870 (April), p. 301 ; Jahrb. deutsche Theol. 1867, ii, 21 sq. ; 1868, vol. i and ii ; 1870, vol. iii and iv ; Stud. u.Krit. 1841, iii, 715 sq.; 1839, i, 69, 123; 1840, ii, 389; 1844, ii, 409; 1860, ii, 362; WWgmMA, Zeitschr. Wis- sensch. Theol. 1867, p. 84 ; Christian Monthly,l»M: (Blay), p. 542; Christian Rememh. I8h3 (Oet.), p. 93, 203 ; 18(37, p. 84; Khto,Joi(rn. Sac. Lit. 1854 (Oct.), p. 102: Bibl. Sacra, 1862, art. vi ; 1803, p. 3 ; Mercersb. Rev. 1858, p. 103 .; Ch. Reviciv, 1866. p. 11 sq. ; Christian Rev. xl, 191 ; Lit. and Theol. Rev. 1836 (Sept.) ; Bapt. Quart. Review, 1870 (Oct.). p. 497 ; Contemp. Rev. 1868 (July and Nov.) ; Edinb. Rev. 1867 (April), p. 232; Brit. Quart. Rev. 1868, p. 1 13 ; Princeton Rer. 1848 ; Brit, and Ear. Ev. Revietr, 1808, p. 431 ; Westm. Rev. 1871, p. 96 sq. An accoimt of the mode of the celebration of the Lord's Supper by the various denominations is given by Scheibel, Feier des heiligen Abendmahls bei den verschiedenen Religions- parteien (Breslau, 1824). See Supper.