The Sacrament of the Altar as taught by Luther's Small Catechism

	Trinity Lutheran Church RR#3, 2027 Niagara Stone Road Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario L0S 1J0 (905) 468-2611 Pastor: Rev. Larry Ritter rev.lritter@trinitynotl.ca Divine Service: Sunday, 10 AM
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What We Believe The Divine Service The Bible The Gospel The Ten Commandments The Creed The Lord's Prayer Baptism Confession The Lord's Supper Issues, Etc. Links	+ The Lord's Supper + As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household. What is the Sacrament of the Altar? It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. Where is this written? The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also he took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” What is the benefit of this eating and drinking? These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” shows us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things? Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.” Who receives this sacrament worthily? Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe. from Martin Luther's Small Catechism For more information about the Lord's Supper, please see the following resources: + What about the Sacrament of the Altar? (by Dr. A. L. Barry) + What about Fellowship in the Lord’s Supper? (by Dr. A. L. Barry) + Closed Communion in Contemporary Context (Lutheran Church-Canada) + Holy Communion: Terms and Practices (Lutheran Church-Canada) + The Lord’s Supper in the Congregation (by Rev. Kenneth W. Wieting) + It Is Not Ours But The Lord’s Supper (by Rev. Prof. Naomichi Masaki) + The Holy Supper: A Taste of Heaven (by Rev. Dr. William Weinrich) + “This is My Blood” (from Good News Magazine) + Singing of the Sacrament (Part 1) (LCMS Commission on Worship) + Singing of the Sacrament (Part 2) (LCMS Commission on Worship) + Faithful and Frequent Communing (LCMS Commission on Worship) + “Where There Is Forgiveness of Sins...” (LCMS Commission on Worship) + Christ Gives Rest and Refreshment (LCMS Commission on Worship) + Go in Peace (LCMS Commission on Worship) + This Is Heaven on Earth (LCMS Commission on Worship) + Refreshed for the Journey (LCMS Commission on Worship) + A Foretaste of the Feast to Come (LCMS Commission on Worship) + Is More or Less Frequent Often Enough? (LCMS Commission on Worship) + Christ Gives Real Pardon and Peace (LCMS Commission on Worship) + Frequently Asked Questions: The Lord’s Supper

+ The Lord's Supper +

As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.

Where is this written?
The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also he took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” shows us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?
Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.”

Who receives this sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe.

from Martin Luther's Small Catechism