Category:Communion

Com*mun"ion, n. Etym: [L. communio: cf. F. communion. See Common.]

1. The act of sharing; community; participation. "This communion of goods." Blackstone.

2. Intercourse between two or more persons; esp., intimate association and intercourse implying sympathy and confidence; interchange of thoughts, purposes, etc.; agreement; fellowship; as, the communion of saints. We are naturally induced to seek communion and fellowship with others. Hooker. What communion hath light with darkness 2 Cor. vi. 14. Bare communion with a good church can never alone make a good man. South.

3. A body of Christians having one common faith and discipline; as, the Presbyterian communion.

4. The sacrament of the eucharist; the celebration of the Lord's supper; the act of partaking of the sacrament; as, to go to communion; to partake of the communion. Close communion. See under Close, a. -- Communion elements, the bread and wine used in the celebration of the Lord's supper. -- Communion service, the celebration of the Lord's supper, or the office or service therefor. -- Communion table, the table upon which the elements are placed at the celebration of the Lord's supper. -- Communion in both kinds, participation in both the bread and wine by all communicants. -- Communion in one kind, participation in but one element, as in the Roman Catholic Church, where the laity partake of the bread only.

Syn. -- Share; participation; fellowship; converse; intercourse; unity; concord; agreement.

- ---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Communion - Fellowship with God (Gen. 18:17-33; Exodus 33:9; Numbers 12:7, Numbers 12:8), between Christ and his people (John 14:23), by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1), of believers with one another (Ephesians 4:1). The Lord's Supper is so called (1 Corinthians 10:16, 1 Corinthians 10:17), because in it there is fellowship between Christ and his disciples, and of the disciples with one another.