<P> Contemporary scholars debate whether Jesus meant to institute a ritual at his Last Supper; whether the Last Supper was an actual historical event in any way related to the undisputed early "Lord's Supper" or "Eucharist" and have asked if the Eucharist had its origins in a pagan context, where dinners to memorialize the dead were common . </P> <P> In the New Testament there are four accounts of the institution of the Eucharist, the earliest by St Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians which links it back to the Last Supper and three in the Synoptic Gospels in the context of that same meal . </P> <Table> Paul and the Synoptic Gospels in parallel columns <Tr> <Th> 1 Corinthians 11: 23--26 </Th> <Th> Mark 14: 22--25 </Th> <Th> Matthew 26: 26--29 </Th> <Th> Luke 22: 14--20 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> In vv 17--22 Paul criticises abuses of the Lord's Supper prevalent in Corinth, he continues: For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,' This is my body that is for you . Do this in remembrance of me .' In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying,' This cup is the new covenant in my blood . Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me .' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes . </Td> <Td> In the preceding verses the evangelist makes it clear that the setting is a Passover meal . <P> While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said,' Take; this is my body .' Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it . He said to them,' This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many . Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God .' </P> </Td> <Td> In the preceding verses the evangelist makes it clear that the setting is a Passover meal . <P> While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said,' Take, eat; this is my body .' Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying,' Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins . I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom .' </P> </Td> <Td> In the preceding verses the evangelist makes it clear that the setting is a Passover meal . <P> When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him . He said to them,' I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God .' Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said,' Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes .' </P> <P> Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,' This is my body, which is given for you . Do this in remembrance of me .' And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying,' This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood . </P> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> 1 Corinthians 11: 23--26 </Th> <Th> Mark 14: 22--25 </Th> <Th> Matthew 26: 26--29 </Th> <Th> Luke 22: 14--20 </Th> </Tr>

When did the catholic church start the eucharist