Fraction (religion)

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The Fraction is the ceremonial act of breaking the consecrated bread during the Eucharistic rite in some Christian denominations.

Western Christian

Roman Catholic

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 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."

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 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."

Anglican

In the churches of the Anglican Communion, the rite is similar to that practised in the Roman Catholic Church, and consists of the priest breaking the Host in half and making an exclamation, such as, "We break this bread to share in the body of Christ", and the faithful making a response, such as, "Though we are many we are one body, because we all share in one bread" The response may change during certain liturgical seasons, or according to the rite being celebrated. A Fraction Anthem may be sung or spoken during the rite.

Eastern Christian

the Lamb and particles as they are placed on the diskos (paten) during the Divine Liturgy.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine rite, leavened bread is used for the Eucharist. The round loaves, or prosphora, are stamped so that a Greek cross is in the center, with the letters "IC XC NI-KA" (Greek for "Jesus Christ conquers") occupying the quarters formed by the cross' arms. The square portion occupied by this stamp, the "Lamb", is cut out before the Divine Liturgy during the preparatory rite and is the only part 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 Lord's Prayer and the Elevation, the celebrant breaks the Lamb into four portions along the cuts already made, as he says the words: "Broken and divided is the Lamb of God, which is broken and not disunited, which is ever eaten and never consumed, but sanctifieth those that partake thereof." He then arranges the four pieces crosswise on the edge of 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).

v t e Order of Mass in the Roman Rite

Forms	Pre-Tridentine Mass Tridentine Mass extraordinary form Mass of Paul VI

Types	Low Mass Missa Cantata Solemn Mass Pontifical High Mass Papal Mass Ritual Masses Chapter and Conventual Mass Coronation Mass Nuptial Mass Red Mass Requiem Mass sine populo Votive Mass

Order of Mass	Pre-Mass: Vesting prayers in the sacristy Asperges me Vidi aquam in Eastertide Liturgy of the Word: Sign of the Cross Psalm 43 Entrance Antiphon Penitential Rite Confiteor / Kyrie Gloria Dominus vobiscum Collect Oremus First Reading Responsorial Psalm or Gradual Epistle Alleluia Gospel verse / sequence Gospel Homily Credo Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed or Apostles' Creed General Intercessions Liturgy of the Eucharist: Offertory Orate fratres / prayer over the gifts Preface Sursum corda / Sanctus / Hosanna Eucharistic Prayer/Canon of the Mass oblation / epiclesis / Words of Institution / elevation / anamnesis texts & rubrics Roman Canon History Eucharistic Prayer II Eucharistic Prayer IV Memorial Acclamation Lord's Prayer embolism / doxology Pax Sign of peace Agnus Dei Fraction Holy Communion Communion antiphon Ablutions Postcommunion Dismissal Ite, missa est / Benedicamus Domino Last Gospel Post-Mass: Leonine prayers Recessional hymn

Participants	Acolyte Altar server female Bishop Boat boy Cantor Choir Crucifer Deacon Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion Laity Eucharistic Congress Lector Priest Subdeacon Usher

Parts of the Sanctuary / Altar	Altar crucifix Altar rails Ambo Communion bench Credence table Kneeler Lavabo Misericord Piscina Tabernacle

Altar cloths	Altar linens Antependium Burse Chalice veil Corporal Lavabo towel Pall Purificator

Candles and lamps	Altar candle Altar candlestick Paschal candle Sanctuary lamp Triple candlestick Votive candle

Liturgical objects	Altar bell Aspergillum Censer Chalice Ciborium Collection basket Cruet Flabellum Funghellino Holy water Incense use Manuterge Paten Processional cross Pyx Sacramental bread wafer Sacramental wine (or must) Thurible Water

Liturgical books of the Roman Rite	Ceremonial of Bishops Gospel Book Graduale Lectionary Roman Missal

Vestments (pontifical)	Alb Amice Chasuble Dalmatic Episcopal sandals Liturgical colours Headcover Humeral veil Pallium Stole Surplice Tunicle Vimpa

Liturgical year (Roman Calendar)	Advent Christmastide Ordinary Time Septuagesima Lent Passiontide Holy Week Paschal Triduum Eastertide Ascensiontide

Eucharistic discipline	Abstemius Anima Christi Concelebration Church etiquette Closed Communion Communion and the developmentally disabled Communion under both kinds Denial of Communion Canon 915 Eucharistic fast First Communion Frequent Communion Genuflection Host desecration Infant communion Intinction Reserved sacrament Thanksgiving after Communion Viaticum

Eucharistic theology	Body and Blood of Christ Corpus Christi (feast) Crucifixion of Jesus and substitutionary atonement Epiousios Grace ex opere operato In persona Christi Historical roots of Catholic Eucharistic theology Koinonia Last Supper Mirae Caritatis Mysterium Fidei (encyclical) Origin of the Eucharist Real presence Transubstantiation Year of the Eucharist

Regulations and concepts	Ad orientem & versus populum Calendar of saints Canon law Code of Rubrics Commemoration Ecclesiastical Latin General Instruction of the Roman Missal Holy day of obligation Intercession of saints Ordinary & propers Pro multis Sunday Lord's Day Vernacular

Related	Agape feast Catholic liturgy Christian prayer effects of prayer Congregation for Divine Worship Council of Trent Ecclesia de Eucharistia Eucharistic adoration & benediction Dominicae Cenae / Holy Hour Eucharistic miracle Fermentum Fourth Council of the Lateran Gelineau psalmody Gregorian chant History of the Roman Canon Lex orandi, lex credendi Liturgical Movement Liturgical reforms of Pope Pius XII Mediator Dei Missale Romanum (apostolic constitution) Pope Paul VI Roman Catholic theology Sacraments of the Catholic Church Second Vatican Council Sacrosanctum Concilium Tridentine Mass Summorum Pontificum Tra le sollecitudini

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