Breaking of the Host

[rkberlin]

Hi,
ok, don’t think I’m totally stupid. I’ve been a Catholic all my life and at some point I’m sure I was told why this is done. Why does Father break the Host after consecrating it, taking a little piece out and holds it up so it now looks like kind of a fish or something? I know there was a meaning behind it, but I can’t seem to think of it.
Thanks

Resurrexit Sicut Dixit Allelujah Allelujah Allelujah!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

rkberlin:

Hi,
ok, don’t think I’m totally stupid. I’ve been a Catholic all my life and at some point I’m sure I was told why this is done. Why does Father break the Host after consecrating it, taking a little piece out and holds it up so it now looks like kind of a fish or something? I know there was a meaning behind it, but I can’t seem to think of it.
Thanks

Resurrexit Sicut Dixit Allelujah Allelujah Allelujah!

The Little piece you speak of is broken off at the fraction it is placed in the chalice and is the mixing or reuniting of the Body and Blood. The Host is borken because the Scriptures say that Christ took the bread and brook it. But also in the early Church a portion of a Host consecrated by the Bishop was taken to another community of Christians and shared with them, in a show of unity of that community and the Bishop. If you break a host (circle) you can hold the two pieces in the shape of a fish that is true.

 

[Elzee]

Br. Rich SFO:

The Little piece you speak of is broken off at the fraction it is placed in the chalice and is the mixing or reuniting of the Body and Blood. The Host is borken because the Scriptures say that Christ took the bread and brook it. But also in the early Church a portion of a Host consecrated by the Bishop was taken to another community of Christians and shared with them, in a show of unity of that community and the Bishop. If you break a host (circle) you can hold the two pieces in the shape of a fish that is true.

I just realized something…in our parish our priest doesn’t break off a piece of the Host to place in the glass (it’s not really a chalice, unfortunately). Instead, he breaks the Host over the glass, assuming, I guess, that some particles will fall into the Precious Blood. Is this valid? I’m assuming if it’s not, it doesn’t invalidate the consecration?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Elzee:

I just realized something…in our parish our priest doesn’t break off a piece of the Host to place in the glass (it’s not really a chalice, unfortunately). Instead, he breaks the Host over the glass, assuming, I guess, that some particles will fall into the Precious Blood. Is this valid? I’m assuming if it’s not, it doesn’t invalidate the consecration?

No it would not invalidate the consecration. However it is presecribed in the RM to be a very deliberate action.

 

[stbruno]

This is from the GIRM taken from the usccb.org website regarding the fractioning or breaking of the Holy Eucharist.
*The Fraction

*83. The priest breaks the Eucharistic Bread, assisted, if the case calls for it, by the deacon or a concelebrant. Christ’s gesture of breaking bread at the Last Supper, which gave the entire Eucharistic Action its name in apostolic times, signifies that the many faithful are made one body (1 Cor 10:17) by receiving Communion from the one Bread of Life which is Christ, who died and rose for the salvation of the world. The fraction or breaking of bread is begun after the sign of peace and is carried out with proper reverence, though it should not be unnecessarily prolonged, nor should it be accorded undue importance. This rite is reserved to the priest and the deacon.

The priest breaks the Bread and puts a piece of the host into the chalice to signify the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the work of salvation, namely, of the living and glorious Body of Jesus Christ. The supplication Agnus Dei, is, as a rule, sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation responding; or it is, at least, recited aloud. This invocation accompanies the fraction and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has reached its conclusion, the last time ending with the words dona nobis pacem (grant us peace).

 

[rkberlin]

Thanks!
It’s coming back to me now. i feel kind of stupid, it makes so much sense. I appreciate your help
God bless

stbruno:

This is from the GIRM taken from the usccb.org website regarding the fractioning or breaking of the Holy Eucharist.
The Fraction

1. The priest breaks the Eucharistic Bread, assisted, if the case calls for it, by the deacon or a concelebrant. Christ’s gesture of breaking bread at the Last Supper, which gave the entire Eucharistic Action its name in apostolic times, signifies that the many faithful are made one body (1 Cor 10:17) by receiving Communion from the one Bread of Life which is Christ, who died and rose for the salvation of the world. The fraction or breaking of bread is begun after the sign of peace and is carried out with proper reverence, though it should not be unnecessarily prolonged, nor should it be accorded undue importance. This rite is reserved to the priest and the deacon.

The priest breaks the Bread and puts a piece of the host into the chalice to signify the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the work of salvation, namely, of the living and glorious Body of Jesus Christ. The supplication Agnus Dei, is, as a rule, sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation responding; or it is, at least, recited aloud. This invocation accompanies the fraction and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has reached its conclusion, the last time ending with the words dona nobis pacem (grant us peace).