Catholic communion wafers are made from wheat flour and water, with no seasoning or leavening allowed. Some orders of nuns make hosts, which can be a source of income for their convents. Modern wafers can be embossed with religious symbols or perforated for easier dispensing. Some Christian denominations use other types of bread for holy communion, but the symbolism of the bread as the body of Christ remains.
The traditional communion wafers served at Catholic services are made from two ingredients, wheat flour and water. Indeed, during the early years of the Christian church, there was an entire ritual surrounding the process of making hosts, beginning with the sorting and cleaning of the grain. Once the grain had been properly washed and ground, only a baker licensed by the local church council could produce communion wafers in a ceremonially shielded iron-plated oven.
Eventually, some orders of nuns took it upon themselves to make hosts, which often became a source of income for their convents. The standard ingredients still remained wheat flour and water, with no seasoning or leavening allowed. The wafers were meant to melt in the recipient’s mouth as he reflected on the sacrifices made by Jesus Christ. During the Eucharistic service, together with the bread or wafers, a form of wine or natural grape juice is also served.
Modern wafers can be embossed with religious symbols or perforated for easier dispensing. Priests serving Holy Communion may need to consume larger wafers, also called wafers, than those placed on the tongues of the faithful. There are also larger sheets of wafers designed to be broken along pre-etched lines. Religious supply stores often carry different varieties of communion bread to meet the needs of different Christian denominations.
The use of wheat flour and water gives the wafers an air of humility, but some find the bland taste very unpleasant. Some Christian denominations that observe holy communion have opted for other types of bread, such as unleavened pita bread, table crackers, leavened loaf, or even flour tortillas. Some wafer makers also offer gluten-free varieties made from soy or potato flour. While the acceptance of these alternative breads may vary from denomination to denomination, the symbolism of the bread as the body of Christ still remains.
The appeal of wafers as a snack may remain elusive for many of us, but there are a number of places in the world where a form of wafer can be found alongside pretzels, corn chips, and peanuts. Because these crackers are naturally fat-free and generally free of unnatural preservatives or salt, they can be popular. Since these particular hosts have not been consecrated by the Catholic Church, their religious significance is considered nominal. Other forms of unleavened “Bible bread” can also be found in a number of grocery stores.
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