Form, Matter, Intent

[Fr. Rob]

A fascinating discussion just got started on the most recent "Primitive Faith Question" thread, and I would like to explore it deeper here.

An example was given of table bread at the Communion being invalid. I would tend to argue that it is perhaps illicit, but not invalid, if there is absolutely no other way to get bread for the Sacrament. I have had to, in an emergency, use a slice of wheat bread to administer the Sacrament. I have no reservations about doing so when there is no other way to offer Communion.

Interestingly, I noted the following in a discussion on preparing for a mission Priest in the pre V2 days:

"You could be pressed for time. Say a missionary priest is coming to your home in a week, and you have no wine. You have ripe grapes or raisins. Make grape-must. For your clear conscience I quote "Matters Liturgical", Wuest & Mullaney, 1959, Imprimatur April 14, 1959. Page 328):

“The following substances are valid matter for consecration, but gravely illicit except in a case of real necessity: unfermented grape-must:....”
Just start the ripe grape juice fermenting for a day or so, strain it, and EUREKA, you have grape-must."

I believe that this "grape-must" is the "mustim" of the modern Latin Rite that is permitted with Ecclesiastical approbation for use by Priests who are recovering alchololics.

If unfermented "grape-must" can be used validly. . . then why not a slice of wheat bread, in a pinch?

Now, when we start talking about cinnamon/sugar rasin toast for Communion, then you'll get my validity guns going ;-)

Fr. Rob

 

[LilyLamb]

I heard about a remote jungle tribe using water (very precious commodity) served in a banana leaf cup ... and yams (also very precious "meat" to thier tribe) for their communion as there was no means of obtaining grapes or bread ...

I'm interested in knowing who set the guidelines for communion and how the bread and wine today compare to what was used during the Passover supper ....

I'm sure there's a lot of history involved here ...

 

[jukesk9]

In an emergency, if one has bread in the house but no wine, why worry about grape juice or raisins? Once the bread is consecrated, it contains the entire Body of Christ, which includes His Precious Blood. Therefore there would be no need for the Cup.

 

[LilyLamb]

that's a very interesting point, jukes

but what if there is no bread??

 

[jukesk9]

No bread=no Body. The Blood doth not containeth the Body yet the Body containeth the Blood according to Catholic and Orthodox teaching.

 

[nyj]

Originally posted by jukesk9
No bread=no Body. The Blood doth not containeth the Body yet the Body containeth the Blood according to Catholic and Orthodox teaching.

 

  

You can receive under either species and feel fully confident that you have received Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.  Which is why the Catholic Church suggests that those suffering from celiac's disease (allergy to gluten, found in wheat) partake of the Cup only.

 

However, Canon Law states that both species MUST be present in order for a consecration to occur.  (I'll reference the 1983 Canon Law when I get to my other computer).

 

[jukesk9]

Well, I stand corrected. I didn't know that the Body was also contained in the cup. Thanks.....

 

[Thunderchild]

An example was given of table bread at the Communion being invalid. I would tend to argue that it is perhaps illicit, but not invalid, if there is absolutely no other way to get bread for the Sacrament. I have had to, in an emergency, use a slice of wheat bread to administer the Sacrament. I have no reservations about doing so when there is no other way to offer Communion.

Emergencies do arise from time to time. I generally cook up a quick damper. Table bread (being leavened) seems to me to be not kosher, so to speak. A bit of flour and water with a pinch of salt added cooks up quite quickly.

As to wine - well, the local hotel has never been closed (regardless of where local has happened to be at the time.) I had never thought of the possibility that wine might not be possible to procure at short notice. ... I'll have to give that some consideration.

Nor had I previously considered (or encountered) celiac's disease. Maybe a corn-flour damper would do the job?

 

[patriarch]

Q: What ingredients can be used in making the bread that is consecrated during the Eucharist, and how does it affect the validity of the consecration if other ingredients are used?

A: In the Latin Rite of the Church the bread is to be made with wheat and water only. Nothing may be added to the recipe, and the introduction of materials such as baking powder, salt, and honey render the bread that is used illicit. In the Eastern Rites, leaven may be added to the bread.

Here is what Inestimabile Donum, the Church's most recent major statement on liturgical abuses, states:
<BLOCKQUOTE>"The bread for the celebration of the Eucharist, in accordance with the tradition of the whole Church, must be made solely of wheat, and, in accordance with the tradition proper to the Latin Church, it must be unleavened. By reason of the sign, the matter of the Eucharistic celebration 'should appear as actual food.' This is to be understood as linked to the consistency is mof the bread, and not to its form, which remains the traditional one. No other ingredients are to be added to the wheaten flour and water. The preparation of the bread requires attentive care to ensure that the product does not detract from the dignity due to the Eucharistic bread, can be broken in a dignified way, does not give rise to excessive fragments, and does not offend the sensibilities of the faithful when they eat it" (Inestimabile Donum 8).

&nbsp;And the Code of Canon Law states:
<BLOCKQUOTE>"The bread must be made of wheat alone and recently made so that there is no danger of corruption" (CIC 924:2).

This means that any admixture of any other substance renders the use of the bread for consecration automatically illicit (unlawful). Concerning the issue of what happens to the validity of the consecration (i.e., whether Transubstantiation occurs), here is what Fr. Nicholas Halligan, one of the foremost sacramental theologians in the country, has to say in his manual of sacramental theology:
<BLOCKQUOTE>"The requisite material for the celebration of the Eucharist and the confection of the sacrament is only weaten bread, recently made whereby the danger of corruption is avoided... Unleavened bread alone is to be used in the Latin Rite.
<BLOCKQUOTE>"The bread must be made from wheat, mixed with natural water, baked by the application of fire heat (including electric cooking) and substantially uncorrupted. The variety of the wheat or the region of its origin does not affect its validity, but bread made from any other grain is invalid material. Bread made with milk, wine, oil, etc., either entirely or in a notable part, is invalid material. The addition of a condiment, such as salt or sugar, is unlwaful but valid, unless added in a notable quantity. Unbaked dough or dough fried in butter or cooked in water is invalid matter; likewise bread which is corrupted substantially, but not if it has merely begun to corrupt....
<BLOCKQUOTE>"The bread must be of wheat flour and only in case of necessity a white material thrashed or crushed from wheat. It must be free from mixture with any other substance besides flour and water. It is gravely unlawful to consecrate with doubtful matter. Altar breads must be fresh or recently baked and must not be allowed to get mouldy, which condition varies with regions, climates, etc." (Nicholas Halligan, The Sacraments and Their Celebration, [New York: Alba House, 1986], 65-66).