Martin Luther on the Sacrament of Communion

Like the sacrament of holy baptism, the holy sacrament of the altar, or the holy and true body of Christ, has three parts which it is necessary for us to know. The first is the sacrament or sign; the second is the significance of this sacrament; the third is the faith required by both of these; the three parts that must be found in every sacrament. The sacrament must be external and visible and have some material form; the significance must be internal and spiritual, within the spirit of man; faith must apply and use both these.

The significance or purpose of this sacrament is the fellowship of all saints, whence it derives its common name synaxis or communio, that is, fellowship; and communicare means to take part in this fellowship, or as we say, to go to the sacrament, because Christ and all saints are one spiritual body, just as the inhabitants of a city are one community and body, each citizen being a member of the other and a member of the entire city. All the saints, therefore, are members of Christ and of the Church, which is a spiritual and eternal city of God, and whoever is taken into this city is said to be received into the community of saints and to be incorporated into Christ's spiritual body and made a member of Him.

As St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12, where this sacrament is given a spiritual explanation: the members have a care one or another; whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; whether one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Cor. 12:25 ff).

Now, adversity assails us in more than one form. In the first place, there is the sin remaining in our flesh after baptism, the inclination to anger, hatred, pride and unchastity, and so forth, which assails us as long as we live. Against this, we not only need the help of the congregation and Christ, so that they may fight with us against it, but it is also necessary that Christ and His saints intercede or us before God, that sin may not be accounted to us according to God's strict judgment. Therefore, to give us strength and courage against these sins, God gives us this sacrament, as though He said: "Behold, many kinds of sin assail thee; take this sign by which I give thee My pledge that sin assails not only thee but My Son Christ, and all His saints in heaven and on earth. Therefore, be bold and confident; thou fightest not alone; great help and support are round about thee." King David also says of this bread: "The bread strengtheneth man's heart" (Ps. 104:15), and the Scriptures in other places characterize this sacrament as a strengthening. 

So in Acts, it is written of St. Paul that he was baptized, and when he had received meat, he was strengthened. (Acts 9:19) In the second place, the evil spirit assails us unceasingly with many sins and afflictions. In the third place, the world is full of wickedness and entices and persecutes us, and is altogether bad. Finally, our guilty conscience assails us with our past sins, with the fear of death, and with the pains of hell. All of these afflictions make us weary and weaken us unless we seek and find strength in this fellowship.

If anyone is in despair, if he is distressed by his sinful conscience or terrified by death, or have any other burden on his heart, and desire to be rid of them all, let him go joyfully to the sacrament of the altar and lay down his grief in the midst of the congregation and seek help from the entire company of the spiritual body; just as when a citizen whose property has suffered injury or misfortune at the hands of his enemies makes a complaint to his town council and fellow citizens and asks them for help. Therefore, the immeasurable grace and mercy of God are given us in this sacrament, that we may there lay down all misery and tribulation and put it on the congregation, and especially on Christ, and may joyfully strengthen and comfort ourselves and say: "Though I am a sinner and have fallen, though this or that misfortune has befallen me, I will go to the sacrament to receive a sign from God that I have on my side Christ's righteousness, He and sufferings, with all holy angels and all the blessed in heaven, and all pious men on earth. If I die, I am not alone in death; if I suffer, they suffer with me. I have shared all my misfortune with Christ and the saints since I have a sure sign of their love toward me. Lo, this is the benefit to be derived from this sacrament; this is the "use we should make of it; then the heart cannot but rejoice and be comforted.

These excerpts are from the Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes Volume II, and can be accessed at the Gutenberg Project.