Using bread and wine as grace at home meals
            QUESTION from Paul on April 15, 2004

As I understand the church history, the sacrament of communion was
origionally practiced (by the first generation of christians) at the dinner
table in the home. Is it licit to revive this tradition as a meathod of
saying grace over the evening meal? By (il)licit I mean would the church
view it as demeaning to the Eucharist in church.
God be with you,
Paul


             ANSWER by Mr. Jacob L. Slavek on April 21, 2004

Dear Paul,

If you would like to develop some sort of devotional ritual in your home giving thanks for your daily bread using bread and wine, I really wouldn't see a problem.

However though you absolutely must NOT mimic the Mass in anyway, any layperson (or priest) must not make a reference to the bread being the Body of Christ or attempt to "consecrate" it during such a ceremony. To do so would be terribly sacrilegious and scandalous.

Mr. Slavek


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