Preparation of the Gifts Part 3 The Bread and Wine

ABOUT THE MASS SERIES VOL 2

THE MASS: ABOUT THE MASS ICON 

‘PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS: PART 3:THE BREAD AND WINE’.

BACKGROUND TO BREAD AND WINE USED AT MASS. 

 At the last Supper, Jesus had used unleavened bread, according to the Passover Ritual. The early Christian communities that celebrated the Last Supper not just once a year- like the feast of Passover, but every Sunday and even during the week, quite naturally used homemade bread.  This bread sometimes had the form of a crown, like a round braid or even the form of round bread.

In the 9^th century, unleavened bread was progressively substituted.   The round hosts that we know appeared towards the 12^th century, when they were cut in unleavened dough ‘in modum denarii’ in the form of coins.  The use of these wafers of bread stopped the practice of baking of the Eucharistic bread by the people, and its presentation at the altar by the congregation. 

BREAD AND WINE USED AT MASS TODAY'

So what about the hosts used today?

For many years, the hosts used at Mass since Vatican 11 in Melbourne archdiocese were made by the Blessed Sacrament Sisters, but since around 2000, they have been imported from America, with the Cistercians Monks at Tarrawarra Abbey being the supplier.  More recently, the Monks now make the hosts themselves. After they are appropriately packaged by the monks, they finally arrive in many parishes in the archdiocese by Australia Post.

There are a number of designs for the hosts, but the letters IHS monogram (meaning Jesus Christ) may be embossed on them.

The wine used at Mass is also special. It is a sweet altar wine, and it is produced and bottled with Ecclesiastical approval and complies with the regulations of Canon Law. Some parishes order it from Renmano’s in South Australia.