Lutherans believe that the Body and Blood of Christ are "truly and substantially present in, with and under the forms" of consecrated bread and wine (the elements),[4] so that communicants eat and drink both the elements and the true Body and Blood of Christ himself[5] in the Sacrament of the Eucharist whether they are believers or unbelievers.[6][7] The Lutheran doctrine of the Real Presence is also known as the sacramental union.[8][9] This theology was first formally and publicly confessed in the Wittenberg Concord (1536).[10] It has been called "consubstantiation," 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."[11][12] 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.[4]
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).[4] 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").[13] 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.[14]
Today, many Lutheran churches offer the Eucharist weekly, while others offer it less frequently. 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.Шаблон:Citation needed
Practices in American Lutheran churches
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and its congregations practice open communion—meaning that Holy Communion is offered to all those who are baptized.[15] Congregations in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (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. For Lutherans in general, confession and absolution are considered proper preparation for receiving the sacrament. However, the historic practice among Lutherans of preparation by private confession and absolution[16] is rarely found in American Lutheran congregations.[17][18] For this reason, often a brief order or corporate rite of confession and absolution is included at the beginning of Lutheran liturgies.
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.[17] Most other ELCA congregations offer First Communion instruction to children in the 5th or 6th grade (ages about 10-11). In other Lutheran churches, the person must have received confirmation before receiving the Eucharist.[17][19] 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.[20]
Manner of reception
Файл:EucharistELCA.JPGCommunion setting at an ELCA service: an open Bible, both unleavened bread and gluten-free wafers, a chalice of wine, and another with grape juiceФайл:Kneeling at Angelica Lutheran Church.jpgA congregation kneeling during the Eucharistic distribution
The manner of receiving the Eucharist differs throughout the world. In most American Lutheran churches, an older Latin Rite custom is maintained in which the communicants kneel on cushions at the altar rail. In other Lutheran churches, the process is much like the Post-Vatican II revised rite of the Roman Catholic Church.[21]Шаблон:Failed verification The eucharistic minister (most commonly the pastor) and the assistants line up, with the eucharistic minister in the center holding the hosts and the two assistants on either side holding the chalices.Шаблон:Citation needed The people process to the front in lines and receive the Eucharist standing. Following this, the people make the sign of the cross (if they choose to) and return to their places in the congregation. Traditionally only those within the Office of the Holy Ministry distributed the Sacrament, but it has become common for lay people to assist in the distribution.
The host is commonly a thin unleavened wafer, but leavened wafers or bread may also 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. 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.[22]Шаблон:Failed verification
The wine is commonly administered in a chalice, but many congregations offer individual cups as well.[23] 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.[24]
Upon receiving the Body and Blood, it is common for communicants to make the sign of the cross.
Lutheran Eucharistic adoration is not commonly practiced, but when it occurs it is done only from the moment of consecration to reception.Шаблон:Disputed inline 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, Roman Catholic, and Anglican practice.[25] The Feast of the Corpus Christi was retained in the main calendar of the Lutheran Church up until about 1600,[26] but continues to be celebrated by some Lutheran congregations.[27] On this feast day the consecrated host is displayed on an altar in a monstrance and, in some churches, the rites of the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and other forms of adoration are celebrated.[28]
Liturgy
The Lutheran worship liturgy is called the "Mass", "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:[29]
Finally the Benedicamus Domino and benediction are spoken or chanted by the pastor and congregation with the optional Sign of the Cross being made at the end.
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,[29]Thy Table I Approach,[29] and Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (an English language translation of which is Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness[30]), follow a Eucharist theme throughout, whilst others such as Wide Open Stand the Gates[29] are sung in preparation or during distribution of the sanctified elements. Chorale preludes on their themes are traditionally played during communion (sub communione).
↑An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism, (LCMS), question 296")
↑Formula of Concord Solid Declaration VII.36-38 (Triglot Concordia, 983, 985 [1]Шаблон:Webarchive; Theodore G. Tappert, The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1959), 575-576.
↑Weimar Ausgabe 26, 442; Luther's Works 37, 299-300.
↑F.L. Cross, ed., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, second edition, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1974), 340 sub loco; cf. also J.T. Mueller, Christian Dogmatics: A Handbook of Doctrinal Theology, (St. Louis: CPH, 1934), 519; and Erwin L. Lueker, Christian Cyclopedia, (St. Louis: CPH, 1975), under the entry "consubstantiation".
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