The Definition & Command of Communion — Small Catechism — Hymn Desk

What is Holy Communion?

Communion is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, given to us Christians to eat and drink, as it was instituted by Christ himself.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying: "Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me." Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me."

Hymns connected to this article

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus

Alleluia! sing to Jesus, his the scepter, his the throne

William Chatterton Dix ·1866

An Awefull Mystery Is Here

An awefull mystery is here

Bread of the World in Mercy Broken

Bread of the world in mercy broken

Reginald Heber ·1811

Come Host of Heaven

Come, host of heaven's high dwelling place,

Come Risen Lord and Deign to Be Our Guest

Come, risen Lord, and deign to be our guest

George Herbert ·1633

Come, Risen Lord

Come, risen Lord, and deign to be our guest

George Herbert ·1633

Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord

Draw near and take the body of the Lord

John of Damascus ·1696

Draw Nigh and Take the Body of the Lord

Draw nigh and take the body of the Lord

Latin anonymous ·700

The dream of God, a tree of life

Eat this bread and never hunger more

Bernadette Farrell ·1980

Father, We Thank Thee

Father, we thank thee who hast planted

F. Bland Tucker ·1939

For the Bread Which You Have Broken

For the bread which you have broken

Louis F. Benson ·1924

Here is bread, here is wine, Christ is with us, he is with us

Graham Kendrick ·1991

Here O Lord I See You Face to Face

Here, O Lord, I see You face to face

Gerhard Wolter Molanus ·1589

Here O My Lord I See You Face to Face

Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face

Horatius Bonar ·1855

Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face To Face

Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face

Horatius Bonar ·1855

Humbly I Adore Thee

Humbly I adore thee, Verity unseen,

I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table

I come, O Savior, to Thy table

Johann Gerhardt ·1630

Invited, Lord, by Boundless Grace

Invited, Lord, by boundless grace

It Happened on that Fateful Night

It happened on that fateful night

Thomas Sternhold ·1549

It Was a Dark and Dismal Night

It was a dark and dismal night

Jesus Calls Us Here to Meet Him

Jesus calls us here to meet him

Jesus Comes Today with Healing

Jesus comes today with healing

Margaret Clarkson ·1984

Let Us Break Bread Together on Our Knees

Let us break bread together on our knees

Unknown/Traditional African American Spiritual ·1800

Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ

Let us talents and tongues employ, reaching out with a shout of joy

Fred Kaan ·1975

Lord Jesus Christ Thou hast Prepared

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast prepared

Johann Funck ·1642

Lord Jesus Christ You Have Bestowed

Lord Jesus Christ, You have bestowed

Johann Heermann ·1630

Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray

Martin Behm ·1610

Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared

Lord Jesus Christ, You have prepared

Martin Behm ·1610

Lord Jesus Who art Come

Lord Jesus, who art come

Lord Who the Night You Were Betrayed Did Pray

Lord, who the night you were betrayed did pray

Fred Pratt Green ·1961

My God and Is Thy Table Spread

My God, and is Thy table spread

Isaac Watts ·1707

Now Is the Feast of the Lamb Once Slain

Now is the feast of the Lamb once slain,

We hold the death of the Lord deep in our hearts.

Now, My Tongue, the Mystery Telling

Now, my tongue, the mystery telling

Thomas Aquinas ·1264

O Living Bread from Heaven

O Living Bread from Heaven

Josua Stegmann ·1626

O Lord We Praise You Bless You and Adore You

O Lord we praise you, bless you, and adore you

Martin Behm ·1610

O Lord, We Praise Thee

O Lord, we praise thee, bless thee, and adore thee

Martin Behm ·1610

Of the Glorious Body Telling

Of the glorious Body telling

St. Thomas Aquinas ·1263

Our Table Now with Food is Spread

Our table now with food is spread

Nicolai Leonhard Grundtvig ·1844

Pan de Vida, cuerpo del Señor,

Panis Angelicus

Panis angelicus fit panis hominum

Soul Adorn Thyself with Gladness

Soul, adorn thyself with gladness

Johann Franck ·1661

Soul of My Savior

Soul of my Savior, sanctify my breast,

Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness

Soul, adorn yourself with gladness

Johann Franck ·1661

Tantum ergo Sacramentum

Thomas Aquinas ·1264

The Mystery Hidden from the Eyes

Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise

Thine the amen, thine the praise

Carl P. Daw Jr. ·1989

This Is the Feast

This is the feast of victory for our God

John Arthur ·1978

Thy Body, Given for Me, O Savior

Thy body, given for me, O Savior

Johann Franck ·1649

Thy Table I Approach

Thy table I approach

Gerhard Wolpers ·1958

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Water, Blood, and Spirit Crying

Water, blood, and spirit crying

James Rosenthal Woodward ·1860

What Is This Bread

What is this bread?

Fredrick W. Herzfeld ·1974

What Is This Place

What is this place where we are meeting

Huub Oosterhuis ·1967

With Trembling Awe the Chosen Three

With trembling awe the chosen three

James Waddell Alexander ·1850

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart

You satisfy the hungry heart

Omer Westendorf ·1977

Your Table I Approach

Your table I approach, O Lord

Heinrich Behm ·1648