Leavened vs. Unleavened Bread

Non-Catholic Religions
1

My Parents’ former Presbyterian Pastor converted to Eastern Orthodoxy. They use Leavened Bread, symbolizing Christ’s rising from the dead.

Catholic Christians, however use unleavened bread for a couple of reasons. One, because Jesus used unleavened bread when he instituted the Eucharist. Second, because Jesus referenced the pride of the Jewish leaders as being puffed-up like leavened bread (Matthew 16:6, Luke 12:1, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8). Jesus humbles Himself in the Eucharist. He does not come as someone who is puffed-up, though He deserves the greatest of reverence and devotion.

Though both are beautiful in their symbolism, the Eucharist is not merely symbolic, but is truly the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, our Savior! This gift is true food and true drink (John 6:55).

Just as it is better for a baby to have his mother’s milk than it is to have something that symbolizes his mother’s milk for physical nourishment, it too is better for us to receive the real gift than something that is merely symbolic for spiritual nourishment.

Keeping with this theme of a baby, some Protestants (#notAll) will mock ancient Christians for believing in the Eucharist, but these same individuals might say (as we do) that this baby born in the manger is God, though this greatest gift to many looks like a baby.

1 Like
2
3

In all the different types of religious services that I’ve been to, I’ve ever only came across leavened bread for a Communion service once. Let’s just say I was glad that it was not consecrated by an actual priest because there were crumbs everywhere! People received “communion” by walking up to the bread which was located on a stand and ripping a piece off of the loaf and putting it their mouth. This was done at an “Emmaus Walk” retreat held at a Methodist church.

4

The Eastern Orthodox, though they use leavened bread for the Eucharist, they administer it differently than you describe in the Protestant’s merely symbolic “communion”.

From what I understand, the leavened bread and wine are mixed in the Chalice and a spoon (Κοχλιάριον in Greek) is used to drop the Body and Blood of Christ into the communicant’s mouth without ever coming into contact with the spoon, while in other Orthodox Churches, one might receive from the spoon with one’s mouth.

Are there any Eastern Rite Catholics in the forum? I wonder if they use leavened or unleavened bread, as they are Catholic, but from the Eastern tradition. It would be interesting which is used in this case.

5

Thank you for sharing the symbolism of leavened bread representing Christ having been raised from the dead. It had long struck me as odd that the Greek liturgy would favour leavened bread, but now it is more clear.

I have never participated in a Ukrainian Catholic Divine Liturgy, but it is my understanding that it is the norm for them to use leavened bread and the spoon.

What I would really be interested in differences between various Eastern liturgies. Perhaps there is even variety within particular rites.

In my limited experience with the Maronite liturgy, unleavened bread is used. Communion was given by intinction.

In my even more limited experience with the Syro-Malabar liturgy, unleavened bread was used (if I remember correctly). However, I do not remember what was done with the chalice.

(P.S. Lest I cause confusion, I should note that I am a Western priest.)

1 Like
6

I am a Western Rite Catholic. We use unleavened bread like Jesus did ; )

My Parents were Presbyterian and they use leavened bread and grape juice, but they viewed communion as merely symbolic. Fr. Edward, my Catholic Priest, used to joke that Pastor Bob (my Parents’ Pastor) was more Catholic than he was. It wasn’t long after that Pastor Bob converted to Orthodoxy and moved to another State, which is about the time my Parents left the Presbyterian Church and began attending a non-Denominational Church.

My Parents have stayed in touch with Pastor Bob and visited him a couple times (as my step-Dad and he became pretty good friends). They attended his Orthodox Church once and they said the Liturgy lasted about 2 1/2 to 3 hours long. So if your Church Family ever complains about you going five minutes over, they really do need to check themselves : )

My Wife’s Family on her Dad’s side are Lutheran and depending on the Congregation, some use leavened and some use unleavened.

I’m currently reading the writings of the Early Church Councils this Lent and I’m betting this will come up.

7

The famous Christian Rapper, Lecrae, tweeted on Jan. 22, 2022 the following:

Just did communion at home with wheat bread and apple juice. I hope this still counts. :man_shrugging:t5:

Since Protestants celebrate the counterfeit anyway, what’s the problem with using whatever you want? Other than you are making a mockery of what Christ gifted us.

But, as for me and my house, we do as Christ calls us to. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑢𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡 is the real deal; true food & true drink; the body, blood, soul & divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Many others pointed out that taking a shower is not the same as Baptism and neither is consuming snack-foods the same as Holy Communion.

If you have ever read the Didache, the author of the letter is warning a particular first or early second century Christian community about mixing a meal of fellowship with the Sacred meal of the Liturgy. Apparently some were combining the potluck with the Sacrament, which was, and is, a no-no.

Now, Lecrae might have had good intentions. Many others in the comments were defending him by saying, “It’s what’s in your heart that matters.” But, again, we believe, in the most Blessed Sacrament, that Jesus is truly present and His once-and-for-all offering of Sacrifice, re-presented to His faithful yesterday, today, and tomorrow, is very real. If Lecrae understood and believed this, he would not be making a joke of it. He would bend the knee or even prostrate himself before our Lord in this undeserving gesture of Christ’s pure Love and not just a symbolic representation of it.

I Pray that Lecrae might come to recognize the real Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Amen. ♱

8

Last spring, while visiting family, I attended mass at a parish near Salt Lake City where they offered intinction. This was administered by just the priest and deacon. They would dip the host in the chalice and place it on your tongue.

9

Jesus said, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it.” Did He mean this only for the Apostles and priests? It seems that all my life I’ve been hearing that it isn’t necessary to consume the Precious Blood. His body, blood, soul and divinity are present in either the consecrated bread or consecrated wine. And some people who have, I guess, a gluten allergy, receive the consecrated wine only. But I wonder what Jesus intended by His words.

10

I believe we were meant to receive under both species. However, Christ gave the Apostles and their successors, which we refer to as the Magisterium, the authority to loosen and to bind (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18)