Mass and Holy Communion
Celebrating the Last Supper
The most important religious service for Christians is known as the mass, the eucharist or holy communion. It commemorates the Last Supper which Jesus had with his disciples before his crucifixion. During this supper, Jesus gave his disciples bread and wine and told them that, in future, the taking of bread and wine should be a commemoration of the sacrifice of his body and blood which he was about to make by being crucified.
In Shakespeare's day, everyone in England would have been expected to attend church each Sunday, and to take holy communion regularly, especially at the great festivals of the Church such as Christmas, Easter and Whit Sunday (also called Pentecost). For further detail see Big ideas: Last Supper, communion, eucharist, mass.
Blasphemy
It is noticeable in Hamlet that the term ‘mass' with this meaning is used twice by Polonius, and both times lightly or even blasphemously—
‘By the mass, I was about to say something' (Act I scene i)
and
‘By th' mass, and 'tis like a camel indeed' (Act III scene ii)
and also by the gravedigger:
‘Mass, I cannot tell' (Act V scene i)
suggesting perhaps that religious observances at the court of Denmark are little regarded.
The central religious service of the Roman Catholic Church, incorporating praise, intercession and readings from scripture. The central action is the consecration of the bread and wine by the priest.
An act of remembrance in which Christians consume bread and wine in the way that Jesus demonstrated at the Last Supper before his betrayal and death.
The central act of Christian worship in which bread and wine are consumed in the way that Jesus demonstrated at the Last Supper before his betrayal and death.
The Passover meal which Jesus ate with his disciples before his betrayal and arrest, at which he instituted the eucharist or holy communion or mass.
1. Term meaning learner or follower.
2. Used in the New Testament in particularly of the twelve apostles of Jesus.
3. Now applied more generally to all Christians.
Execution by nailing or binding a person to a cross.
Executed by nailing or binding a person to a cross.
'Mass of Christ', a celebration or feast of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The celebration of the Resurrection of Christ and the oldest and greatest festival of the Christian Church.
Whitsun is a traditional term for the Festival of Pentecost, the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit celebrated on the 50th day after Easter. This name derives from the word 'white'.
Seventh Sunday (50th day) after Easter. The Jewish feast of Weeks (harvest). In the New Testament, the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples (Acts 2).
Showing disrespect towards God or sacred things.
