Ed. note: Along the lines of Fr. Eckardt's Why? booklet explaining the parts of the liturgy, the Gottesdienst Online editors will be posting, in serialized fashion, explanations of words related to Christian worship - especially those of obscure derivation.
Host
Once the wafer or loaf has been consecrated in a celebration of the Lord's Supper it is referred to as the host (beforehand it is altar bread, or simply bread). This term can be confusing to modern ears - perhaps calling to mind the relationship between parasite and host: as if the bread "plays host" to the Body of Christ; as if it were infected with the Body of our Lord.
In reality the latter usage (about host and parasite) derives from Latin hospes (guest-friend; Greek
Obviously, the development of host from hostia in the Latin speaking West is entangled with Medieval theories of the Mass as a sacrifice offered up by the priest. Nevertheless, the term has widespread use in Lutheran liturgical books down to the present day. Therefore, an evangelical understanding should be given to the term: what was once and for all sacrificed at Calvary is in reality upon the paten and in the mouths of all who receive this host. Indeed, an even stronger usage displayed in many Lutheran liturgical books (E.g. LSB p. 199) follows the example of the Small Catechism in simply referring to the host solely as the body of Christ.
+HRC
I am TOTALLY digging that really large host.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I have a question: is that picture from a Lutheran church? I have never seen a Lutheran use a large host like that; only seen it in RC parishes.
That's our own Rev. Fr. David Petersen from Redeemer - Fort Wayne. I know of a few other Lutheran parishes that use a "priest's host" - about 2 3/8" - for the elevation. If I'm not mistaken, pictured here is a 5 1/8" from Cavanaugh Altar Bread company - it breaks into 24 pieces. At my first parish, in the Chicago area, we used these as well.
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How fascinating. I wonder why they're making a come back? I'll assume because of the reintroduction (or return, I should say) of the practice of Elevation.
ReplyDeleteI almost forgot to add! This guy takes his vestments seriously. I forget the name of the little napkin thing around his left (our right looking at the picture) arm, but I've only ever seen those used in REALLY traditional Catholic Masses. Like, uber traditional.
ReplyDeleteThat little napkin thing is called a maniple, which I also have, and have received from Fr. Curtis's mother whose company makes them.
ReplyDeletePerhaps this could be the subject of a future liturgical etymology seminar in this cyber-space.
A maniple! Thanks you for reminding me Father.
ReplyDeletei hear way too often people referring to the body of christ as the "hosts". how awful is that! there is but one lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world... not multiple lambs!
ReplyDeleteWe used the large host (similar to the one shown) at my last congregation. I liked to sit close to the front so I could partake from the one bread. Similar to using a common cup, the common host is shared among the communicants. As the words of institution state, "Our Lord Jesus Christ...took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples..."
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