Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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BREAD (liturgical use)

1. An element in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Christian liturgy. It is made of wheaten flour, either unleavened, as in the Latin Rite, or leavened, in the other rites of the Catholic Church; 2. a symbol of union, when two loaves are presented to the celebrant at the Offertory of the Mass, while celebrating the canonization of a saint or the consecration of a bishop, or when bread blessed at the Offertory is distributed to the people for consumption at home; 3. a symbol of sacrifice when bread brought by the faithful is blessed at the sunday parochial Mass.