Have you ever noticed that during Mass, before communion, the priest breaks of the Host and places it in the Chalice? It is important to keep in mind that in Eucharistic celebrations words and actions are not there by chance; but all have a specific purpose that have continued to develop with the passage of time in the traditions of the Church. So, what does this action mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In St Paul\u2019s letters, as well as in the Acts of the Apostles, we find that the Apostles celebrated the Paschal Mystery as commanded by Jesus by the breaking of bread (Acts 2:46; 1 Cor 10:16). Furthermore, in Luke\u2019s Gospel, we find the disciples of Emmaus recognising Jesus in the breaking of bread (Lk 24: 35). This action during the celebration of the Mass reminds us of the last supper when Jesus, with boundless love, just before dying for us on the Cross, gave himself to us in the Eucharist. The breaking of the bread symbolises the unity of those partaking from the same bread as well as Jesus\u2019 sacrificial act when he gave himself for us completely on the Cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The priest not only breaks the Host, but after the sign of peace he takes the host in his hands, breaks it on the paten, and places a small piece of the Host in the Chalice, while silently praying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
May this mingling of the Body and Blood
of our Lord Jesus Christ
bring eternal life to us who receive it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nThe small piece from the Host placed in the Chalice is called fermentum, a Latin word that means \u2018yeast\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Originally, the fermentum was a sign of Christian unity because in the early Church the Bishop of Rome concelebrated mass with the priests. Then on Sunday they would celebrate mass in their titular churches. Therefore, the Pope used to send to the surrounding churches pieces of the consecrated host, consecrated during the Mass concelebrated with the priests. We find that in the fourth century, the Council of Laodicea restricted this practice, although in the writings of Pope Innocent I (402-417) we find that the tradition of the fermentum was still present. There are some liturgical historians who also claim that, for a brief period, the priest would place two pieces of the Host in the Chalice, one piece from the Mass concelebrated with the Pope or from the local Bishop, and another piece from a Mass the same priest had previously celebrated. This last piece was placed in the Chalice to symbolise the unity between every Mass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When this tradition was no longer observed, the priests still continued to place a piece of the Host in the Chalice. Therefore, this action, when seen in its context, demonstrates the unity between the Christian faithful and the visible shepherds of the Church: the Pope together with the bishops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stop and Reflect<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n