Fracturing of Bread during consecration

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Aanon123

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When I was serving mass the other day, I noticed the priest fractured the Bread during the consecration when he said, “…He broke the bread”.

What is the church’s teaching on this? Has this been done before? This is the first time I’ve seen it happen.

Would this be illicit, but still valid?
 
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 83
  1. The Priest breaks the Eucharistic Bread, with the assistance, if the case requires, of the Deacon or a concelebrant. The gesture of breaking bread done by Christ at the Last Supper, which in apostolic times gave the entire Eucharistic Action its name, 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 for the salvation of the world died and rose again. The fraction or breaking of bread is begun after the sign of peace and is carried out with proper reverence, and should not be unnecessarily prolonged or accorded exaggerated 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 Body of Jesus Christ, living and glorious. The supplication Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) is usually sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation replying; or at least recited aloud. This invocation accompanies the fraction of the bread and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has been completed. The final time it concludes with the words grant us peace.
 
Yes, the Bread (Body) is broken at a particular point in the liturgy, as CajunJoy notes. However, that point is NOT at the consecration, when the priest is reciting, “He took the bread, broke it” (breaks bread here, continues speaking) " and gave it. . " etc., which is apparently what the OP is experiencing at Mass. I’ve been to Masses where the priest does this, so I know it can and does occur, still. All one can do is pray, really; talking, asking questions, etc. hasn’t resulted in any change (and I know that many people have raised the point), so I guess it’s in God’s hands.
 
Maximilian75 said:
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 83

The Priest breaks the Eucharistic Bread, with the assistance, if the case requires, of the Deacon or a concelebrant. The gesture of breaking bread done by Christ at the Last Supper, which in apostolic times gave the entire Eucharistic Action its name, 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 for the salvation of the world died and rose again. The fraction or breaking of bread is begun after the sign of peace and is carried out with proper reverence, and should not be unnecessarily prolonged or accorded exaggerated importance. This rite is reserved to the Priest and the Deacon.
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The question asked if I understand correctly concerns the breaking of bread while he pronounces the words of the consecration! and this is not allowed, it is done after the rite of peace. And if a priest does it during the consecration, then he did not respect the form of the sacrament
 
Aanon123 said:
When I was serving mass the other day, I noticed the priest fractured the Bread during the consecration when he said, “…He broke the bread”.

What is the church’s teaching on this?
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I’m aware of a document that specifically forbids this, although at the moment I’m not able to find it.
 
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neophyte said:
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Aanon123:
When I was serving mass the other day, I noticed the priest fractured the Bread during the consecration when he said, “…He broke the bread”.

What is the church’s teaching on this?
Click to expand...
I’m aware of a document that specifically forbids this, although at the moment I’m not able to find it.
Click to expand...
Redemptionis Sacramentum, paragraph 55.
 
Mboo said:
The question asked if I understand correctly concerns the breaking of bread while he pronounces the words of the consecration! and this is not allowed, it is done after the rite of peace. And if a priest does it during the consecration, then he did not respect the form of the sacrament
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Amen.

As an interesting historical fact, my Lutheran church body (LCMS) exists in no small part because of abuses like this.

The Prussian Union attempted to force Lutherans and Reformed Christians to use the same State-approved liturgies in the 1800s – essentially demanding Lutherans to become Reformed. It had been Reformed practice since the 1600s to break the bread during the Verba and then unceremoniously drop it into a pan as a show of disrespect intended to ‘prove’ the Real Presence didn’t exist. The State-approved liturgies required all celebrants to follow the Calvinist form.

Lutherans were outraged that they’d be forced to treat Christ’s Body so disrespectfully; after all, they had always maintained the historic practice of the church and believed in the Real Presence. And so many Lutheran pastors refused to adopt the liturgical reforms. They were defrocked, jailed, in some cases hanged when they refused to stop preaching against Calvinism, and their families left destitute. The rallying cry of the Lutherans against the Reformed State was, “lieber päbstisch, als calvinisch!” (“Rather Papist than Calvinist!”)

Anyway, some of the Lutherans fled the persecution to come to America and Australia, where they founded the LCMS and LCA, respectively.
 
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Thanks for bringing this up this subject. Honestly, while directing my back is to the action at the altar at times, especially during the sung Lamb of God, even knowing that the fraction should take place during that time. I have not noticed when the bread is actually broken by all priests. I’ll be watching this weekend for sure and see if all priests follow the directive. I can only recall priests showing the unbroken host to all before saying, “Take this…”
 
The sound of breaking - of the Eucharist - is my least favorit part of the mass.
I know Jesus had no broken bones - but I always think of his bloody sacrifice - at that particular moment.
As a side note - I do secretly consider it an honer whenever the Priest -
passes to me - a broken piece - instead of the regular consecrated wafer.
 
Hi. The church document REDEMPTIONIS SACRAMENTUM from the Congregation for Divine worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is absolutely explicit on this one in chapter 2. " [55.] In some places there has existed an abuse by which the Priest breaks the host at the time of the consecration in the Holy Mass. This abuse is contrary to the tradition of the Church. It is reprobated and is to be corrected with haste."
 
As you probably read, you and me both! Even when facing the altar, at times my eyes are closed or my head tilted down like you. We’ll have to share notes Monday!
 
Seagull said:
The sound of breaking - of the Eucharist - is my least favorit part of the mass.

I know Jesus had no broken bones - but I always think of his bloody sacrifice - at that particular moment.

As a side note - I do secretly consider it an honer whenever the Priest -

passes to me - a broken piece - instead of the regular consecrated wafer.
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It’s interesting how everyone sees and hears some things differently. During the narrative, “Jesus took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying…” You hear and visualize breaking of bones; I hear and see Jesus breaking (a common loaf of bread) and sharing love. Perhaps think of that next time or whatever visual you want in the action at the Last Supper. Yeah, me too, I like it when I get a sliver of the actual host the priest was using during consecration.
 
Got ya beat this weekend Joy. My norm is 3 choral groups per weekend, plus tomorrow 2 First Eucharist Masses also. Out of the 5, there will be some repeat priests, but I’ll try to remember. My mind is on the Mass itself, the music and its cues, the action taken place, clicking to the next projection slide, sound system feedback; holding the “keys” to to many things.

With that said, I appreciate those in other ministries, especially Lectors/Readers. It is something I cannot do! I don’t like it even when an usher comes to me and says announce that a red Ford, license no. 12345, has its lights on! I freak! I stumble over the words even if they are written out! LOL! I have to do it sometimes, for the sake of my ministry and hope for the best.
 
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What the OP describes is a serious liturgical abuse. The bread is not to be broken during the consecration. Others have posted the relevant documents above. Why this abuse continues in some places after being specifically forbidden is a mystery to me. I have seen it done myself, though not for probably about 10 years or so when I was in college.
 
tseleehw said:
What the OP describes is a serious liturgical abuse. The bread is not to be broken during the consecration. Others have posted the relevant documents above. Why this abuse continues in some places after being specifically forbidden is a mystery to me. I have seen it done myself, though not for probably about 10 years or so when I was in college
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Not sure if you are a parishioner or in ministry. As part of ministry for almost 36 years now, same church, same position, part time with a full time job for most of the years, you see many priests come and go, visitors from the states and from other countries. Yes, this is liturgical abuse, but not as serious as some things I have seen over the years. This is just one example of so many. Some older priests forget or refuse to change what they have been doing for so many years.
 
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At my mass - for years - the church is deathly quiet.
I have never heard any singing - as the bread was broken.
 
When I’m teaching catechumens in my parish’s RCIA program, I make sure to talk to them about the Fraction Rite. Without knowing that this happens, or that there’s supposed to be a piece of the Eucharist in one chalice, it’s possible that, if the priest distributes to the congregation from that chalice (and he hasn’t consumed the piece of the Eucharist in the chalice himself), then they’ll look down in the chalice and see that piece floating there.

And, I never want them to be grossed out, if they don’t know what has happened and they therefore reach the wrong conclusion. 🤢 😉 😇
 
At mass today the Priest said,
“ Lord, I’m not worthy you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed “

Then. The breaking of the bread.

There was no singing. No song being sung. None of that.
I think of my soul…actually being healed…
and then the snap of the bread is heard.
Usually about five crunch sounding snaps.
 
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