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Glossary

Last Supper

The Last Supper is the meal celebrating the Jewish feast of the Passover which Christ shared with his disciples in Jerusalem. At the meal he announced that one of them would betray him. This prophecy was fulfilled by Judas, who subsequently informed the Roman soldiers of his whereabouts and so facilitated his arrest.

The Last Supper is of the greatest significance for the Christian faith because at the table Christ instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist. He shared with the disciples bread and wine, telling them 'Take, eat; this is my body... . Drink of it all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'. It is described in all four Gospels (Matthew 26: 17-29; Mark 14: 12-25; Luke 22: 7-23; John 13: 21-30).