About the Mass Series: Communion Rite Part 14

‘THE RITE OF BREAKING OF THE BREAD’.

From the historical perspective, conforming to the rite of Passover meal, Christ took bread into his hands, pronounced the prayer of praise and then broke the bread.  The Classical explanation of the breaking and sharing of the one bread is given by St. Paul: 

‘The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? (I Corinthians 10:16-7).  

Because the loaf of bread is one, we though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf’. In other words, Christ gives to all the one bread, which is His body. Just as this bread has become the body of Christ, so those who share this one bread, whatever be their diversity, becomes one body in Christ.

You will remember when I wrote about the Presentation of the Gifts previously, that the people provided the bread and wine and also at times oil, candles, wheat, grapes and other items of precious value to them for the Eucharist. It was carried to the altar by the deacons and presented to the bishop.  So the Rite of the breaking of the Bread became quite elaborate as the number of Christians increased. 

With the adoption of the unleavened bread and the small hosts in the 12^th century, the rite of the breaking of the bread became more symbolic. The priest breaks the bread over the paten, ensuring that at least some of the people receive portions from the large host broken at this time.  

Breaking of the bread before Mass destroys the significance of the symbolic gesture and is liturgically incorrect. The breaking of the bread must always be done reverently, because the bread is at this stage of the Mass already consecrated- it really is Christ (body, blood, soul and divinity).