Communion & Thanksgiving

The word "Eucharist" means thanksgiving. This aspect of the Holy Communion is reflected in the BCP service a number of times:

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's Church militant here in earth.

Almighty and everliving God, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks, for all men:


And above all things ye must give most humble and hearty thanks to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ, both God and man.... To him therefore, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, let us give (as we are most bounden) continual thanks;


Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
It is meet and right so to do.

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, *Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.

Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving....

Drink this in remembrance that Christ's Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.

O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving

Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us, who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,