Eucharist: From the Greek word eucharista (I give thanks), the term has been used in the Christian tradition to refer to one of the central rites of the church, namely, the ongoing commemoration of the last supper that Christ had with his disciples before his crucifixion or the commemoration of the crucifixion itself. As such, the Eucharist is a celebration of thanksgiving to God for the redemptive work of Christ. The term Eucharist (or Mass) has generally been used in Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions, while Protestant traditions generally prefer to speak of the celebration as the Lord’s *Supper, *Communion or “the breaking of bread.”

Stanley J. Grenz; David Guretzki; Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Kindle Locations 504-507). Kindle Edition.