Unleavened Bread
Unleavened bread is bread made without leaven; it belongs to Israel's Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread and, according to the ancient discipline of the Latin Church, is used as the bread for celebrating the Eucharist.
Biblical foundation
Exodus joins unleavened bread to Israel's hurried departure from slavery and commands its use during the seven-day feast. The sign belongs to remembrance of the Lord's deliverance, covenant worship, and the handing on of faith within the household.[1]
The New Testament places the Last Supper and Passion within Passover chronology and uses leaven figuratively for corruption and unleavened sincerity and truth. Figurative use does not abolish the historical bread or make leaven intrinsically evil.
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
The biblical observances are closely connected but can be named distinctly in textual and historical discussion. Jewish practice has its own continuing law and preparation; a Catholic host is not simply a piece of modern matzah transferred without liturgical regulation.
Western hosts
Latin hosts are made of wheat and water without leaven and are baked so that they remain bread and can be handled reverently. Shape, thickness, and scoring vary, while valid matter and freedom from corrupting additives remain controlling.
Latin Catholic discipline
Canon 924 requires bread of wheat alone and recently made so that there is no danger of corruption. Canon 926 directs the priest, according to the ancient tradition of the Latin Church, to use unleavened bread whenever he celebrates.
Redemptionis Sacramentum repeats that the Eucharistic bread must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made. Introducing other substances to the point that the product is no longer commonly wheat bread invalidates the matter; adding fruit, sugar, or honey is a grave abuse even where validity might not be destroyed.[2][3]
Eastern Catholic practice
Many Eastern Catholic Churches use leavened bread according to their own authentic liturgical traditions and law. Their practice is fully Catholic and yields a valid Eucharist when the proper matter, minister, form, and intention are present.
The Latin requirement is therefore a discipline of a particular church, not a dogma that leavened bread cannot be valid matter. Catholics should not use the difference as a pretext to accuse Eastern rites or to disregard the law of their own church.
Theological meaning and care
The Eucharist is valid because Christ instituted it with bread and wine and entrusted its celebration to the Church; symbolism serves that sacramental reality. Unleavened bread can express Passover, purity, and haste, while leavened Eastern bread can express the risen life of Christ without creating a different Eucharist.
Hosts must be prepared, stored, and distributed with reverence and protected from contamination and decay. Low-gluten hosts approved as valid wheat bread can serve people with certain medical needs; substances that cease to be wheat bread cannot be consecrated.[4]
From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Unleavened Bread. See Altar, Altar-Breads; Azymes; Bread, Liturgical Use of
References
- Back to citation USCCB: Exodus 13 — Biblical command and memorial meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
- Back to citation Code of Canon Law, canons 924–926 — Current Latin law on Eucharistic bread and the use of unleavened bread.
- Back to citation Redemptionis Sacramentum — Holy See instruction on valid and licit matter for the Eucharist.
- Back to citation Circular letter on bread and wine for the Eucharist — Congregation guidance on preparation, wheat content, gluten, and supervision of hosts.