In the absence of any unleavened bread

[DexUK]

Hypothetical scenario…

If a priest was in a situation where Mass was required of him but he couldn’t get hold of any unleavened bread, would he be permitted to use leavened bread instead?

The reason I ask is that I was thinking about priests who might be in captivity for some reason but through no fault of their own - those who were being persecuted, thrown into concentration camps, etc… In such situations their captors might not give them any unleavened bread with which to confect the Eucharist, but there might be ordinary bread to hand… so, in that instance, would the priest be able to confect a valid Eucharist if he used it as the only thing available?

 

[SonCatcher]

Valid, yes. Licit, no. He would also need wine.

I am not aware of a situation where a priest is “required” to celebrate Mass, however.

He could celebrate a Liturgy of the Word in the absence of materials needed for Mass.

 

[DexUK]

Suppose the priest was unjustly imprisoned with other Catholics? I’m pretty sure it must have happened in the history of the world…

 

[SonCatcher]

It has happened. I have heard of cases where the prisoners would squeeze a few drops from available grapes (extremely new wine - aka mustum - not grape juice as it is not pasteurized). However, I haven’t (yet) heard of a case where leavened bread was used in such situations.

 

[TarkanAttila]

I believe Maximilian Kolbe celebrated the Eucharist in Auschwitz:

Maximilian was so convinced of the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the believer that he did not allow the sick or prisoners at Auschwitz to be deprived of this great consolation and help. While in Japan he went daily to bring communion to a confrere in hospital, and while in the prison camps he risked severe punishments for the sole purpose of guaranteeing the Eucharistic presence to those who were imprisoned together with him. He did his very best to bring the Eucharistic Jesus to his friars and the faithful, certain that they could find in him the basic necessities for responding to the call to holiness.

consecration.com/default.aspx?id=261

How much unleavened bread and wine could there be at Auschwitz?

Besides, Easterners use leavened bread as a custom. It’s not diminishing of Christ for Latins to use leavened bread in extraordinary circumstances.

 

[SonCatcher]

I believe Maximilian Kolbe celebrated the Eucharist in Auschwitz:

consecration.com/default.aspx?id=261

How much unleavened bread and wine could there be at Auschwitz?

Besides, Easterners use leavened bread as a custom. It’s not diminishing of Christ for Latins to use leavened bread in extraordinary circumstances.

Of course. Thank you.

St. Kolbe’s conscience required him to celebrate Mass. If a well-formed conscience is contrary to canon law (but, naturally, not contrary to doctrine) then conscience wins.

 

[Zekariya]

Of course. Thank you.

St. Kolbe’s conscience required him to celebrate Mass. If a well-formed conscience is contrary to canon law (but, naturally, not contrary to doctrine) then conscience wins.

After an extended period of time without It, the Eucharist is the must be validly though illicitly celebrated even in bad times (like in Auschwitz). The Eucharist is the Medicine of Immortality.

“…being under the guidance of the Comforter, in obedience to the bishop and the presbytery with an undivided mind, breaking one and the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality, and the antidote which prevents us from dying, but a cleansing remedy driving away evil, that we should live in God through Jesus Christ.” - St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians, XX. (c. 105 A.D.)