Eucharistic Bread

[tee_eff_em]

Why does the eucharist need to be unleavened?

The Latin Rite legislates that bread intended to be used for the Eucharist be unleavened. The Eastern Rites do not (or at least, not all of them do so?). So, in the Latin Rite, the bread needs be unleavened as a matter (heh) of *obedience *and to do otherwise is illicit.

(I do not know that there is definitive teaching on whether it would be invalid, however)

tee

 

[AJV]

It was a long time ago that a directive came out (sorry, I don’t have the source) that the host was to look more like bread; at the time the hosts used were very thin and off-white. That has resulted in the general use of hosts that are thicker, and generally of the color of wheat bread.

We still seem to be using the thin and off white hosts over here.

(I do not know that there is definitive teaching on whether it would be invalid, however)

I don’t think it is.

 

[mystified]

Just asking: Jesús and the 12 were celebrating the Passover. Jews to this day celebrate the Passover. Among food items in the Passover Feast is unlevened bread. Could Kosher unlevened bread (matzo) be used in the Mass?

 

[Missa_Solemnis]

We still seem to be using the thin and off white hosts over here.

I don’t think it is.

It is invalid if it is not wheat bread. But the unleavened part is purely disciplinary.

 

[Melchior]

Follow up question:

Since the wafers are not broken off of the loaf was there any theological controversy about the “one loaf” idea?

Mel

 

[boppaid]

The Latin Rite legislates that bread intended to be used for the Eucharist be unleavened. The Eastern Rites do not (or at least, not all of them do so?). So, in the Latin Rite, the bread needs be unleavened as a matter (heh) of *obedience *and to do otherwise is illicit.

(I do not know that there is definitive teaching on whether it would be invalid, however)

tee

I’m sorry. I did not word my question well. I mean, why does the church require it to be unleavened? Would it mean that God were not present if it wasn’t? I always knew it must be unleavened, but I was never taught why. Thanks!

 

[AJV]

I’m sorry. I did not word my question well. I mean, why does the church require it to be unleavened? Would it mean that God were not present if it wasn’t? I always knew it must be unleavened, but I was never taught why. Thanks!

That is what tee_eff_emm meant by invalid. Invalid = not the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. According to the Council of Florence, it is valid with either leavened or unleavened bread but priests should follow law of their Church. If a Latin priest uses leavened bread it would merely be illicit (illegal) and the priest would sin by not following the law of the Church but the Mass would be valid and it would become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.

 

[boppaid]

That is what tee_eff_emm meant by invalid. Invalid = not the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. According to the Council of Florence, it is valid with either leavened or unleavened bread but priests should follow law of their Church. If a Latin priest uses leavened bread it would merely be illicit (illegal) and the priest would sin by not following the law of the Church but the Mass would be valid and it would become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.

Thank you. That does, indeed, help some with my (lack of) understanding about it. However, I wondered WHY it needs to be unleavened. Has the Church ever stated why?

 

[axolotl]

Thank you. That does, indeed, help some with my (lack of) understanding about it. However, I wondered WHY it needs to be unleavened. Has the Church ever stated why?

Because that’s what is used at Passover. The East uses leaven to symbolize the Ressurection.

The Last Supper was a Passover meal. Jesus is also the ultimate Passover lamb.

 

[boppaid]

Because that’s what is used at Passover. The East uses leaven to symbolize the Ressurection.

The Last Supper was a Passover meal. Jesus is also the ultimate Passover lamb.

Thank you.

 

[blackrobe]

Just asking: Jesús and the 12 were celebrating the Passover. Jews to this day celebrate the Passover. Among food items in the Passover Feast is unlevened bread. Could Kosher unlevened bread (matzo) be used in the Mass?

The principle is simple: Wheat flour and water. If matzoh satisfies the principle, it is valid matter. I see flakes and crumbs as a practical limitation in this case.

JSA