How does the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians describe the Eucharist?

In the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, written around 55 CE, St. Paul the Apostle provides the earliest written record of the institution of the Eucharist.12

Paul recounts the event of the Last Supper, stating that on the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and declared, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Similarly, he shared a cup of wine, identifying it as "the new covenant in my blood" and instructing his followers to drink it in remembrance of him.32

Paul describes the Eucharist as a sacrificial-sacramental rite that serves as a proclamation of the death of Christ in anticipation of his return. He emphasizes that the celebration is a communal act of responsibility and love. Paul wrote this account partly to correct abuses in the Corinthian church, where the ritual had been combined with a common meal and marred by gluttony and social division, urging the congregation to maintain unity and sensitivity to one another's needs.132