There certainly has been no more central symbol for Catholic Christianity than the celebration of the Eucharist. Eucharistein is the Greek word for giving thanks. Thus, the Eucharist is a thanksgiving meal. The early Christians combined the weekly Jewish scripture service and the Jewish Passover meal into one meal, intended as a symbol of universal table fellowship. In light of that, it is disappointing whenever it has become a symbol of ethnicity, worthiness, or group membership and loyalty.
