What is the role of bread in the sacrament of the Eucharist?
The sacrament of the Eucharist, sometimes referred to as Holy Communion, is steeped in tradition.
One such tradition concerns the bread used during the administration of the sacrament. The bread used during the Eucharist may be referred to as “the host,” and not all denominations within the Christian church use the same type of bread.
For example, in the western Catholic church, a thin, round wafer made of unleavened bread is used during the Eucharist, while the Orthodox church and the Eastern-rite Roman Catholic churches use leavened bread. Protestant churches may use leavened or unleavened bread for their hosts.
Only practicing Orthodox Christians in good standing with the church may bake the bread used for the Eucharist within the Orthodox church. Nuns, priests or congregants once bore the responsibility of making the bread for the Eucharist in the Catholic church, but many Catholic churches now get their bread from bakeries.
For Christians, the Eucharist is more than just bread. While denominations within the Christian church may differ in regard to their beliefs, all Christians believe Christ is present in the Eucharist in one way or another. For example, Catholics believe in transubstantiation, the process before the administration of the Eucharist during which the bread and wine are transformed into Jesus Christ himself.
For Christians, the Eucharist is more than just bread. While denominations within the Christian church may differ in regard to their beliefs, all Christians believe Christ is present in the Eucharist in one way or another.