Joshua Bennett
Communion wafers are small, light-coloured wafers used in liturgical celebrations by the Catholic Church. They are unleavened and made from wheat flour and water only. In the Catholic Church, the Eucharist is represented by the Tree of Life in the Book of Revelation. The custom of using communion wafers is ancient, but not from the early Christian era. The custom of consecrating hosts began to spread during the 8th century, and by the 9th century, it was well established. Today, the majority of communion wafers are mass-produced by secular companies, rather than being made by nuns or bakers sanctioned by the church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What are communion wafers made from? | Communion wafers are made from unleavened bread (no yeast). |
| Who makes communion wafers? | Communion wafers are made by the Cavanagh Company, a family business located in Rhode Island. |
| Who uses communion wafers? | Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherans. |
| Where are communion wafers used? | Communion wafers are used during the Holy Communion ritual. |
| What do communion wafers represent? | Once blessed, communion wafers are believed to become the body of Jesus or carry his divine essence. |
| What is the history of communion wafers? | The idea that communion bread should be flat and unleavened began in French dioceses around the 7th century. |
| Are there different types of communion wafers? | Yes, there are leavened and unleavened wafers. Eastern Catholic Churches use leavened bread, while the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church use unleavened bread. |
| Are there gluten-free communion wafers? | No, the Catholic Church believes that a wafer made from grains other than wheat is not "pure" and will degrade easily. |
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What You'll Learn
- Communion wafers are made from wheat flour and water, sometimes with holy water
- They are unleavened, unlike the bread Jesus used at the Last Supper
- The custom of using wafers began in the 8th century
- The Cavanagh Company makes 3/4 of the wafers used by Catholics
- Communion wafers are inappropriate for the Lord's Supper, according to some
Communion wafers are made from wheat flour and water, sometimes with holy water
Communion wafers, also known as Communion bread, Sacred host, Eucharistic bread, or simply the host, are used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist. The bread may be either leavened or unleavened, depending on the tradition of the church in question. For instance, the Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches use leavened bread, while the Maronite Church uses unleavened bread.
The standard ingredients used to make communion wafers are wheat flour and water, with no seasoning or leavening permitted. The wafers are intended to melt in the recipient's mouth as they reflect on the sacrifices made by Jesus Christ. The use of plain wheat flour and water is also meant to symbolise humility, although some find the bland taste unappealing. In some cases, holy water may be sprinkled onto the dough before the wafers are made.
The Code of Canon Law requires that communion wafers be made from wheat flour and water only, and that they be freshly made so that there is no danger of spoiling. In Western Christianity, the host is often thin, round, and unleavened. The Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church also traditionally offer unleavened bread to symbolize the sinlessness of Christ, as leaven is symbolic of sin.
Some Christian denominations that observe holy communion have opted for other types of bread, such as unleavened pita bread, table crackers, leavened loaf bread, or even flour tortillas. There are also gluten-free varieties made from soy or potato flour. However, the symbolism of the bread as the body of Christ remains the same across denominations.
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They are unleavened, unlike the bread Jesus used at the Last Supper
Communion wafers in the Catholic Church are unleavened, which is unlike the bread Jesus used at the Last Supper. This is because, in the Bible, leaven symbolises sin. Thus, unleavened bread symbolises the sinlessness of Christ.
The custom of using unleavened communion wafers is believed to have originated in the 7th century due to a French monk named Wandregisel. The story goes that Wandregisel was unwilling to break his Advent resolution, and in the process, he discovered that compressing bread with tongs created a round, flat, and crispy wafer. This new type of bread was appreciated by monks as it was easy to store and kept for a long time. By the end of the 7th century, the idea of using flat and unleavened bread during Mass began to spread in French dioceses.
In the 8th century, the custom of consecrating hosts became more widespread. In 798, Alcuin of York supported the use of unleavened bread, emphasising its resemblance to the bread used by Jesus at the Last Supper. A few years later, St. Rabanus Maurus noted that the Old Testament forbids the use of leavened bread for sacrifices. By the 9th century, the custom was well established, with liturgical archives documenting the purchase of wafer moulds.
The use of unleavened bread for communion is not universal within Christianity. For example, the Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Lutheran Churches, and Eastern Catholic Churches use leavened bread for the Eucharist. However, the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church use unleavened bread to symbolise the sinlessness of Christ.
Today, the majority of communion wafers used in Catholic churches are mass-produced by secular companies, such as the Cavanagh Company, rather than being handmade by nuns or bakers sanctioned by the church.
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The custom of using wafers began in the 8th century
Communion wafers, also known as sacramental bread, are a part of the Christian ritual of the Eucharist. The bread may be either leavened or unleavened, depending on the tradition of the church in question. In the Catholic Church, unleavened bread is used, as it is symbolic of the sinlessness of Christ.
The custom of using wafers, or unleavened bread, began in the 8th century. It was in the 700s that a French monk named Wandregisel died. By the end of that century, the idea that the bread consecrated during Mass should be flat and unleavened began to take hold in French dioceses. This was likely influenced by the belief that leavened bread was forbidden for sacrifices in the Old Testament, as well as the fact that unleavened bread was a symbol of the Passover and the Last Supper.
While Wandregisel is often credited with the invention of communion wafers, it is more likely that they were invented by his contemporaries who lived in the same area. These monks used tongs to compress the bread, making it round and flat, and resulting in a crispy wafer. This new type of bread was appreciated for its long shelf life and ease of storage. Within a few years, the use of communion wafers had spread throughout Catholicism.
Today, the Catholic Church continues to use unleavened wafers for the Eucharist, believing that through the Words of Institution, the substance of the bread is changed into the Body of Christ, a process known as transubstantiation. The Church also specifies that the wafers must contain gluten, as wafers made from grains other than wheat are considered impure and less durable.
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The Cavanagh Company makes 3/4 of the wafers used by Catholics
Communion wafers, also known as sacramental bread, are unleavened wafers used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist. In Catholic theology, the wafer symbolises the Body of Christ, and the process of transubstantiation is believed to convert the substance of the bread into Christ's body.
The Cavanagh Company, a family business located in Greenville, Rhode Island, is the primary producer of communion wafers, supplying Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, and Lutheran churches in the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. The company was established in 1943 when a Jesuit priest, Reverend Peter Dolan, approached inventor John Cavanagh Sr. and his son John, seeking assistance for nuns who were baking communion wafers with outdated equipment. John Cavanagh Sr. modified equipment such as waffle irons, humidifiers, mixers, and cutters, to improve the wafer-making process.
Over time, the Cavanagh Company expanded its operations and now represents the largest supplier of altar bread and communion wafers globally. The company has adapted to the changing preferences of the Catholic Church, such as the shift towards thicker wafers that more closely resemble bread after the Second Vatican Council in 1962. The Cavanagh Company's wafers are "untouched by human hands," as they are made entirely by machines, which is promoted as preserving the sanctity of the product.
The company faces unique challenges in producing altar breads, requiring special dampening techniques to prevent crumbling. They have also expanded their client base to include Episcopalian and Lutheran churches by developing packaging machines that meet the specifications of these denominations. The Cavanagh Company's success is notable, even amidst a decline in church attendance, and it continues to be a profitable enterprise, supplying communion wafers to a significant portion of the Catholic Church worldwide.
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Communion wafers are inappropriate for the Lord's Supper, according to some
Communion wafers are considered inappropriate for the Lord's Supper by some, who argue that ordinary bread is the proper element for the sacrament. This view holds that the breaking of bread is a necessary ceremony that signifies the confirmation of faith and the body of Christ being broken for us. It is believed that the use of unleavened bread during the Last Supper, as a symbol of the Passover, sets a precedent for the type of bread used in communion.
However, critics of communion wafers argue that they are not the same as the bread used by Jesus during the Last Supper. They believe that the custom of using small, light-colored wafers is not ancient and did not originate in the early Christian era. Initially, priests consecrated ordinary leavened loaves, which were then distributed in small chunks. The custom of using communion wafers is believed to have originated in the 7th century due to the French monk Wandregisel, who is credited with discovering that bread could be made flat and unleavened.
The use of communion wafers has also faced criticism due to their resemblance to coins, which some believe is inappropriate for a place of prayer. The small, round shape of the wafers has been likened to low-value coins, and some argue that this shape is more suited to a money-changer's counter than a sacred setting. However, this criticism has been reinterpreted positively, with theologians such as Honorius of Autun suggesting that the comparison is symbolic, as the name of God is imprinted on the hosts just as the name of a reigning king is on coins.
Additionally, some argue that the use of communion wafers obscures the mystery of the sacrament and that proper and genuine bread for eating would more forcefully represent Christ as a food for our souls. This view emphasizes that the sacrament should not be obscured and that the use of ordinary bread is more in line with the ancient Christian ritus fractionis, or breaking of bread.
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Frequently asked questions
Communion wafers are used to represent the unleavened bread that Jesus consumed at the Last Supper. Leavened bread symbolises sin, so unleavened bread symbolises the sinlessness of Christ.
Communion wafers are made from wheat flour and water. Sometimes, holy water may be used in place of regular water.
Communion wafers are often made by nuns, monks, or bakers sanctioned by the church. However, in recent times, large manufacturers such as The Cavanagh Company have started to produce communion wafers en masse.
Consecrated hosts are kept in the tabernacle, except during a special ceremony from Holy Thursday to Good Friday. Unconsecrated hosts are stored in the sacristy.
Communion wafers are seen as inappropriate for the Lord's Supper by some, as ordinary bread is considered to be the proper element for the sacrament.
