Compare
Comparing traditions on Communion
Each row reflects commonly cited official teaching for that tradition — individual congregations and theologians within any of them can differ.
How this table is built.
- What is claimed to happen to the bread and wine
- How the tradition talks about Christ's presence
- How often Communion is typically celebrated
- Who is typically invited to receive
| Question | Catholic | Eastern Orthodox | Protestant (varies by tradition) |
|---|---|---|---|
| What happens to the bread and wine | Catholic doctrine: transubstantiation — the substance changes, the appearance does not | A real change is affirmed, without the Church formally defining the philosophical mechanism | Varies widely: some traditions hold a spiritual presence, others a memorial view, with wording differing by denomination |
| How presence is described | Real Presence — Christ is truly, substantially present | The Holy Mysteries — a real, sacred mystery generally not explained further | Ranges from 'spiritual presence' in Reformed thought to 'symbolic remembrance' in some Baptist and evangelical traditions |
| Typical frequency | Most Sundays and many weekdays, in parishes that offer daily Mass | Sunday Divine Liturgy, and major feasts | Varies widely — weekly to monthly to quarterly, depending on denomination and congregation |
| Who is typically invited to receive | Baptized Catholics in a state of grace who have made First Communion | Baptized, chrismated Orthodox Christians in good standing, generally | Varies by denomination — some invite all baptized Christians, others restrict to church members |
What this table cannot tell you. This table describes commonly cited official positions, not every congregation or individual believer within a tradition — and it is not an argument for which view is correct.
Next step
If you want to go deeper
Some links in this section are partner or affiliate links, and we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend or the order anything appears in. Full disclosure · how we source this.