Fraction (religion)

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The Fraction or fractio panis (

communicants during the Eucharistic rite in some Christian
denominations.

One of four actions

It is almost universally recognized that the rite of breaking the bread is one of the four actions that make up Christian Eucharistic liturgies:[2][3][4]

  1. taking bread and wine (the offertory)
  2. giving thanks to God over the bread and wine (the consecration)
  3. breaking the bread (the fraction)
  4. distributing the bread and wine (the communion)

Western Christian

Roman Rite

pall), crucifix, and lit candle
A.
Introductory rites
Entrance
Greeting of the altar
Penitential Act
Kyrie Eleison
Gloria
Collect
B.
Liturgy of the Word
Lectionary readings
Responsorial psalm
Homily
Profession of faith
Prayer of the Faithful
C.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Preparation of the gifts
Prayer over the offerings
Eucharistic Prayer
Communion rite:
The Lord's Prayer
Rite of peace
Fraction
Reception of Communion
D. Concluding rites
Ite, missa est
Catholicism portal

In the

Agnus Dei. The Agnus Dei is "the liturgical chant which from ancient times has been sung at Mass at the time of the fractio panis, or the Breaking of the Bread, which precedes the Communion Rite of both the priest and the people".[5]

The

hosts, "when the number of those receiving Holy Communion or other pastoral needs require it".[6]

It goes on to say: "The action of the fraction or breaking of bread, which gave its name to the Eucharist in apostolic times, will bring out more clearly the force and importance of the sign of unity of all in the one bread, and of the sign of charity by the fact that the one bread is distributed among the brothers and sisters."[6]

The actual rite is described as follows by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal:

The

Christ's gesture of breaking bread at the Last Supper, which gave the entire Eucharistic Action its name in apostolic times, signifies that the many faithful are made one body (1 Cor 10:17) by receiving Communion from the one Bread of Life which is Christ, who died and rose for the salvation of the world. The fraction or breaking of bread is begun after the sign of peace and is carried out with proper reverence, though it should not be unnecessarily prolonged, nor should it be accorded undue importance. This rite is reserved to the priest and the deacon. The priest breaks the Bread and puts a piece of the host into the chalice to signify the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the work of salvation, namely, of the living and glorious Body of Jesus Christ.[7]

In speaking of the bread to be used at Mass, the General Instruction, 321 recommends that

the eucharistic bread ... be made in such a way that the priest at Mass with a congregation is able in practice to break it into parts for distribution to at least some of the faithful. Small hosts are, however, in no way ruled out when the number of those receiving Holy Communion or other pastoral needs require it. The action of the fraction or breaking of bread, which gave its name to the

apostolic times, will bring out more clearly the force and importance of the sign of unity of all in the one bread, and of the sign of charity by the fact that the one bread is distributed among the brothers and sisters.[6]

At the 2005 assembly of the

Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments sent to the presidents of episcopal conferences a letter requesting correction of excesses that had crept in regarding the sign of peace.[10]

Western Orthodox

In the restored Gallican Mass of the Western Orthodox Church, in which leavened bread is used exclusively, the fraction occurs immediately after the anaphora and prior to the Our Father with its introduction. This is slightly earlier than in other western rites, in which the fraction typically takes place at some point after the Our Father.

The method of the fraction varies from a simple breaking into pieces by hand to a more elaborate cutting with a liturgical knife known as a spear, as is commonly done in the Byzantine rite. The action is accompanied by the singing of a responsory drawn both from the Emmaus account in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 24:13-35) and a selection from the opening verses of chapter 9 of the Book of Proverbs.

Wisdom has built her house; she has founded it on her seven pillars; she has sacrificed her victims, mingled her wine, and set her table.
They recognised the Lord. Alleluia. In the breaking of the bread. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Come and eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mixed. Leave ignorance and you shall live.
They recognised the Lord. Alleluia. In the breaking of the bread. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The bread which we break is the Body of the Lord; the cup which we bless is the Blood of the Lord: a sole and unique Mystery.
They recognised the Lord. Alleluia. In the breaking of the bread. Alleluia. Alleluia.

From Septuagesima until the end of Holy Week, the alleluia is omitted, and the responsory is sung more simply to Gregorian psalm tone 2.

Anglican

In the churches of the

Fraction Anthem
may be sung or spoken during the rite.


Lutheran

Certain

Anglican churches. The host is broken in two, the priest elevates and ceremonially separates the two halves while saying "The bread that we break is a participation of the body of Christ.". The priest then brings the two halves, still elevated, back together as the congregation responds "So are we, though we are many, one body, for we all partake of the same bread.". The Pax then follows immediately after.[11]

Eastern Christian

diskos (paten) during the Divine Liturgy
.

In the

consecrated during the Epiclesis
. As part of the Liturgy of Preparation, the priest cuts the Lamb part way through crosswise into four sections from the bottom, leaving the bread united by the stamped crust on top.

At the Fraction, which follows the

diskos
(paten). On the invitation of the deacon, "Fill, Master, the holy chalice," the celebrant takes the piece with the letters "IC" and places it into the chalice saying, "The fulness of the cup, of the faith, of the Holy Spirit."

The portion with the letters "XC" is used for the communion of the clergy. The two portions "NI" and "KA" are divided into small pieces and placed in the chalice for the communion of the people. The portion "IC" is not used for communion, but is consumed by the deacon along with any other consecrated elements left over at the end of the Liturgy (see Ablution in Christianity).

Protestant Reformation

believe Christ's body to be physically present in the Eucharist. Lutherans mocked Calvinists by calling them Stuttenfressers (roll eaters).[12]

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-81468239-5
    )
  2. ISBN 978-0-81922476-7
    )
  3. ISBN 978-0-80914490-7
    ), p. 48
  4. ISBN 978-0-31329649-9
    ), p. 156
  5. ISBN 978-0-87973669-9
    ), p. 48)
  6. ^ a b c General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 321
  7. ^ General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 83
  8. ISBN 978-0-81466021-8
    ), p. 83
  9. ^ Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum caritatis, 49
  10. ^ "Text of Vatican Document on Sign of Peace at Mass" (ZENIT News Agency, 25 August 2014)
  11. ^ Missale för Svenska kyrkan [Missal of the Church of Sweden] (in Swedish). 2017. pp.275.
  12. ISBN 978-0300105070
    .

Bibliography
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