Elements and Parts of the Mass
C-liturgy of the Eucharist
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
83. The priest breaks the Eucharistic bread. This gesture of Christ at the Last Supper, which in apostolic times gave the entire Eucharistic action its name signifies that in sharing in the one bread of life which is Christ, who died and rose for the salvation of the world, the many faithful are made one body (1Cor. 1, 17). The breaking of the Eucharistic bread is begun after the sign of peace, and is carried out with reverence. Nor should it be unnecessarily prolonged or its importance overemphasized. The rite is reserved to the piest and the deacon.
Then the priest drops a small piece of the consecrated bread into the chalice. During the breaking of the bread, the Lamb of God is, as a rule, sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation responding; otherwise, it is at least recited aloud. This invocation accompanies the breaking of the bread and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the conclusion of the rite. The final repetition concludes with the words; Grant us peace.
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