Do Catholics use leavened bread?

FireDragon76 · Apr 22, 2019

Do Catholics ever use leavened bread now days, or just the flat wafers for the Eucharist, in the Latin rite?

Not David · Apr 22, 2019

I always thought the only ones who did that were the Eastern Catholics.

Monk Brendan · Apr 22, 2019

FireDragon76 said:
Do Catholics ever use leavened bread now days, or just the flat wafers for the Eucharist, in the Latin rite?

The Byzantine Catholic churches, such as the Melkite, and some others use leavened bread all the time.

prodromos · Apr 22, 2019

Monk Brendan said:
The Byzantine Catholic churches, such as the Melkite, and some others use leavened bread all the time.

He specifically asked about the Latin rite.

prodromos · Apr 22, 2019

Code of Canon Law - IntraText

Can. 926 According to the ancient tradition of the Latin Church, the priest is to use unleavened bread in the eucharistic celebration whenever he offers it.

It is odd, however, because the ancient tradition of the Church in Rome was to use leavened bread just as the eastern Churches do, and it wasn't until the 6th-8th century that they began to change to unleavened.

FireDragon76 · Apr 22, 2019

In my own congregation, we have started to use leavened bread most of the year . It was a recent change. It is apparently very common in our religious denomination (ELCA) now days, based on videos I've seen.

I'm not sure where this trend came from. I suppose I should be asking, "Have Lutherans generally always used unleavened bread?"

I know in Episcopalianism, you generally only see this sort of thing (leavened bread) in relatively low churchmanship. Though the Episcopal church I went to, when I lived with my parents, had a wednesdays service that distributed leavened bread- I think they were doing so because it was a less traditional service and was somewhat experimental (darkened sanctuary, icons, etc.).

tz620q · Apr 23, 2019

prodromos said:
Code of Canon Law - IntraText

Can. 926 According to the ancient tradition of the Latin Church, the priest is to use unleavened bread in the eucharistic celebration whenever he offers it.

It is odd, however, because the ancient tradition of the Church in Rome was to use leavened bread just as the eastern Churches do, and it wasn't until the 6th-8th century that they began to change to unleavened.

I can see the theology behind both forms. The Roman Church changed when they started envisioning the Eucharistic meal as a continuation of the Passover meal, where unleavened matza bread would have been used. Obviously though, the Eucharist is celebrated at all times of the year, not just at Passover. So leavened bread would have traditionally been used during most of the year. I do find it odd that this was a point of contention during the Great Schism. In fact Cardinal Humbert was sent to Patriarch Michael Cerularius to talk about this very fact.

FireDragon76 · Apr 23, 2019

tz620q said:
I can see the theology behind both forms. The Roman Church changed when they started envisioning the Eucharistic meal as a continuation of the Passover meal, where unleavened matza bread would have been used. Obviously though, the Eucharist is celebrated at all times of the year, not just at Passover. So leavened bread would have traditionally been used during most of the year. I do find it odd that this was a point of contention during the Great Schism. In fact Cardinal Humbert was sent to Patriarch Michael Cerularius to talk about this very fact.

I think unleavened bread was used simply because it's less crumbly. Both churches were and are conscientious about the sacrament falling on the floor.

tz620q · Apr 23, 2019

FireDragon76 said:
I think unleavened bread was used simply because it's less crumbly. Both churches were and are conscientious about the sacrament falling on the floor.

That is a good thought. The theology might have followed the practical.

Athanasias · Apr 26, 2019

The Western Catholic Church(Latin rite) uses unleavened bread to typologically connect the eucharist to 3 Jewish types: The passover meal, and the todah sacrifices of Israel , and the bread of presence all which used unleavened bead and which foreshadowed and were fulfilled in the Holy Eucharist.

Arcangl86 · Apr 26, 2019

FireDragon76 said:
In my own congregation, we have started to use leavened bread most of the year . It was a recent change. It is apparently very common in our religious denomination (ELCA) now days, based on videos I've seen.

I'm not sure where this trend came from. I suppose I should be asking, "Have Lutherans generally always used unleavened bread?"

I know in Episcopalianism, you generally only see this sort of thing (leavened bread) in relatively low churchmanship. Though the Episcopal church I went to, when I lived with my parents, had a wednesdays service that distributed leavened bread- I think they were doing so because it was a less traditional service and was somewhat experimental (darkened sanctuary, icons, etc.).

Actually, in my experience, wafers are less common. The first prayer book actually made it explicitly clear that it was to be leavened bread, and in my experience, which is probably different than yours, it's mostly the Anglo-Catholics or the small congregations that use wafers.

FireDragon76 · May 1, 2019

tz620q said:
That is a good thought. The theology might have followed the practical.

Wafers can also be reserved as they have less moisture content, and that might have had practical significance as well.

GodsGrace101 · May 1, 2019

FireDragon76 said:
Do Catholics ever use leavened bread now days, or just the flat wafers for the Eucharist, in the Latin rite?

In the Latin Rite flat wafers are used.

~Anastasia~ · May 1, 2019

FireDragon76 said:
Wafers can also be reserved as they have less moisture content, and that might have had practical significance as well.

Prosforo keeps forever if it is stored dry, wrapped in paper or fabric until it dries, then it can be sealed in plastic (or any other kind of container or wrapping).

But it is not easy to cut if it hasn't already been.

Do Catholics use leavened bread?

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