Fraction

The Fraction is the ceremonial act of breaking the consecrated bread during the Eucharistic rite in some Christian denominations. In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, it is accompanied by the singing or recitation of the Agnus Dei. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 83 states: "The priest breaks the Eucharistic Bread, assisted, if the case calls for it, by the deacon or a concelebrant. Christ's gesture of breaking bread at the Last... more

The Fraction is the ceremonial act of breaking the consecrated bread during the Eucharistic rite in some Christian denominations. In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, it is accompanied by the singing or recitation of the Agnus Dei. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 83 states: "The priest breaks the Eucharistic Bread, assisted, if the case calls for it, by the deacon or a concelebrant. 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... less