Michael Brooks
Communion wafers are used during Catholic mass to represent the body of Christ. They are thin, unleavened wafers made from wheat flour and water. The use of unleavened bread is meant to symbolise the Last Supper, which occurred during Passover, when Jesus would have eaten unleavened bread. The wafers are also easier to store than regular bread and less likely to crumble. The custom of using communion wafers began in the 8th century and became the norm for Catholicism by the 9th century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shape | Thin, round, and unleavened |
| Ingredients | Wheat flour, water, oil, and salt |
| Manufacture | Made by nuns, monks, and bakers, but now also by large manufacturers like The Cavanagh Company |
| Purpose | To symbolise the sinlessness of Christ and the roots of the Eucharist in the Passover |
| Storage | Easier to store than bread due to longer shelf life |
| Distribution | Distributed by hand, but some churches use mechanical wafer dispensers or "pillow packs" |
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What You'll Learn
Communion wafers are used to prevent crumbs
Communion wafers are used in the Catholic Church to symbolise the bread used by Jesus at the Last Supper, which was unleavened bread in keeping with the Passover tradition. The use of wafers also serves a practical purpose, as they are less likely to break or crumble, thus preventing crumbs.
The custom of using communion wafers instead of ordinary bread began in the early centuries of the church, when priests would consecrate ordinary leavened loaves and distribute them in small chunks to the faithful. However, the monks found that these chunks of bread were extremely crumbly, and small fragments could be accidentally dispersed. To avoid this, they switched to a single-portion format, resulting in the small, round wafers that are now commonly used during Communion.
The use of unleavened bread for Communion is also symbolic, as leaven is considered to represent sin in the Bible. By using unleavened bread, the church emphasises the sinlessness of Christ. This belief is held by the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, as well as some Lutheran and Anglican churches.
The thin and circular shape of communion wafers is also practical, as it makes them easier to store and less likely to spoil. The Cavanagh Company, a family-owned business in Rhode Island, manufactures communion wafers for over 3/4 of Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, and Lutheran churches in the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. Their wafers are made by machines and promoted as "untouched by human hands," which is believed to preserve the sanctity of the product.
While the use of communion wafers is traditional and symbolic, it is also influenced by practical considerations such as storage, spoilage, and the prevention of crumbs. The use of wafers instead of ordinary bread allows for easier distribution and ensures that the sacred nature of the Communion ritual is maintained.
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Wafers are made from unleavened bread
The Catholic Church uses unleavened bread, or communion wafers, during the Eucharist to symbolise the bread used by Jesus at the Last Supper, which was unleavened as it was a Passover meal. Unleavened bread is also used to symbolise the Jewish heritage of Jesus and the Passover/Passover Lamb.
The custom of using communion wafers began in the early centuries of the church, when priests would consecrate ordinary leavened loaves, which were then distributed to the faithful in small chunks. Over time, the custom of using unleavened wafers spread, with Alcuin of York speaking in their favour in 798, and St. Rabanus Maurus pointing out in the 9th century that the Old Testament explicitly forbids the use of leavened bread for sacrifices.
Communion wafers are made from unleavened bread, typically consisting of wheat flour and water, and sometimes oil and salt. The Code of Canon Law requires that hosts be made from wheat flour and water only, and recently made to avoid spoilage. The thin, round shape of the wafers is also practical, as they are less likely to break or crumble, and they are easier to store than regular bread.
The Cavanagh Company, a family business located in Rhode Island, manufactures communion wafers for over 3/4 of Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, and Lutheran churches in the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. Historically, the right to make communion wafers was restricted to certain bakers and nuns, but today, the production of communion wafers has become less specialised, with large manufacturers producing them.
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The use of unleavened bread is linked to the Last Supper
The Catholic Church uses unleavened bread, or communion wafers, during the Eucharist to symbolise the bread used by Jesus during the Last Supper. The Gospels state that Jesus "took bread" at the Last Supper, which would have been unleavened as it was a Passover meal. Unleavened bread is also used to emphasise the relationship between the sacrifice of Christ and the Passover Lamb.
The use of unleavened bread during the Eucharist is also linked to the Old Testament, which explicitly forbids the use of leavened bread for sacrifices. In addition, the Catholic Church teaches that every visible particle of the host is fully Jesus' body, blood, soul, and divinity, so unleavened bread reduces the risk of crumbs.
The custom of using communion wafers began in the 8th century and became widespread in the 9th century. The wafers were created by compressing bread between tongs to form a round, flat shape that was easy to store and less likely to crumble. The thin, circular shape of the wafers is also practical for distribution during the Eucharist.
While the Catholic Church uses unleavened bread, some Eastern Churches use leavened bread to symbolise the risen Christ.
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Leavened bread is symbolic of the risen Christ
The use of unleavened bread or wafers in the Catholic Church is deeply rooted in the belief that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with unleavened bread during the Passover, as leavened bread was forbidden by the Old Testament for sacrifices. The use of unleavened wafers is also practical, as they are less likely to crumble and can be easily stored, preventing spoilage.
However, it is important to note that the Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Lutheran Churches, and Eastern Catholic Churches use leavened bread for the Eucharist. They view the sacramental bread as the Resurrected Christ. The use of leavened bread in these churches is symbolic of the risen Christ.
The Eastern churches' practice of using leavened bread is based on the belief that leaven represents sin, and by using leavened bread, they are acknowledging the resurrection and ascension of Christ, who was without sin. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the Armenian Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, which traditionally offer unleavened bread, do so to symbolize the sinlessness of Christ.
The Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church, provide further insight into the symbolism of leavened bread. They use leavened bread for the prosphora, which translates to "offering." The act of adding Holy Malka to the leavened bread in the Syro-Malabar Church may also hold symbolic significance.
While the specific reasons for the use of leavened bread in Eastern Catholic Churches are not explicitly stated, it is clear that this practice holds profound theological and symbolic value, representing the risen Christ and acknowledging His sinlessness through the use of leaven, which is symbolic of sin.
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The wafer's shape is for convenience
The Catholic Church uses unleavened bread, or communion wafers, during the Eucharist. This is because the Last Supper, which is commemorated during the Eucharist, is believed to have occurred during the Passover, where unleavened bread is eaten.
The communion wafers are thin and circular, which is a shape that is convenient for several reasons. Firstly, the wafers are less likely to break or crumble, which is important as the wafers are meant to symbolise the Body of Christ. Secondly, the wafers are easier to store than regular bread as they do not go mouldy as quickly. Finally, the small size of the wafers means that they can be easily distributed to large groups of worshippers.
The use of communion wafers in the Catholic Church can be traced back to the 7th century when French monks began to prefer flat and unleavened bread. However, it was not until the 9th century that the custom became widespread, with ecclesiastical archives documenting the purchase of wafer moulds.
The Cavanagh Company, a family business located in Rhode Island, currently manufactures over 3/4 of the communion wafers used by Roman Catholic, Episcopalian and Lutheran churches in the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. The company promotes its wafers as being "untouched by human hands," which is believed to preserve the sanctity of the product.
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Frequently asked questions
Communion wafers are made from wheat flour and water. Some recipes also include oil and salt.
Communion wafers are unleavened, which is important as the Last Supper—where Jesus "took bread"—is thought to have been a Passover meal, where only unleavened bread would have been eaten. The use of unleavened wafers also serves a practical purpose, as they are less likely to crumble and can be easily stored.
Historically, communion wafers were made by nuns or specially selected bakers. Today, they are often mass-produced by large manufacturers, such as The Cavanagh Company, which supplies 3/4 of the communion wafers used by Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, and Lutheran churches in the US, Canada, England, and Australia.
