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It is my contention that communion wafers or pre-divided morsels of bread are not only spurious, but a violation of the Heidelberg Catechism for those who follow it.
Consider question 75 as rendered in the United Church Press 400th anniversary edition:
"The bread that we break"
75. How are you reminded and assured in the holy Supper that you participate in the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross and in all his benefits?
75. How are you reminded and assured in the holy Supper that you participate in the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross and in all his benefits?
In this way: Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread, and to drink of this cup in remembrance of him. He has thereby promised that his body was offered and broken on the cross for me, and his blood was shed for me, as surely as I see with my eyes that the bread of the Lord is broken for me, and that the cup is shared with me. Also, he has promised that he himself as certainly feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life with his crucified body and shed blood as I receive from the hand of the minister and actually taste the bread and the cup of the Lord which are given to me as sure signs of the body and blood of Christ.
Parsing
Parsing
We see three instances of the word "bread".
The first commands the supper in general, and therefore does not refer to a certain loaf at a certain time and place. It still refers to the singular bread, as in, each communion meal is assumed to feature one loaf. The term "bread" refers to the element and not to the singular true body of Christ, to which it is compared in sentence 2.
The second mention refers to a single bread actually broken in the presence of the catechumen. This is a certain loaf.
The third mention is the very same bread that was broken, received from the hand of the minister, and actually tasted by the catechumen.
Due Diligence
Due Diligence
The Tercentenary Edition was published with German, Latin and English in parallel. All versions are provided below.
1563 German
1563 German
Also, daß Christus mir vn̄ allen glaubigen von diesem gebrochnen brod zu essen, vnd von diesem Kelch zu trincken befohlen hat, vnd darbey verheissen, Erstlich daß sein leib so gewiß für mich am Creutz geopffert vnd gebrochen, vnd sein blut für mich vergossen sey, so gewiß ich mit augen sehe, daß das brod des HERRN mir gebrochen, vnd der Kelch mir mitgetheilet wird. Vnd zum andern, daß er selbst meine seel mit seinem gecreutzigten leib vnd vergossnen blut so gewiß zum ewigen leben speise vn̄ trencke, als ich auß der hand des Dieners empfange, vnd leiblich niesse das brod vnd den Kelch des HERRN, welche mir als gewisse warzeichen des leibs vnd bluts Christi gegeben werden.
Latin
Latin
Quod Christus me atque omnes fideles de hoc fracto pane edere, et de poculo distributo bibere jussit, in sui memoriam, additis his promissis: Primum, corpus suum non minus certo pro me in cruce oblatum ac fractum, sanguinemque suum pro me fusum esse, quam oculis cerno panem Domini mihi frangi, et poculum mihi communicari; deinde, animam meam non minus certo ipsius corpore quod pro nobis crucifixum, et sanguine qui pro nobis fusus est, ad vitam æternam ab ipso pasci, quam panem et vinum, symbola corporis et sanguinis Domini e manu ministri accepta, ore corporis percipio.
Modern German
Modern German
Also, daß Christus mir und allen Gläubigen von diesem gebrochenen Brot zu essen, und von diesem Kelch zu trinken befohlen hat, und dabei verheißen: Erstlich, daß sein Leib so gewiß für mich am Kreuz geopfert und gebrochen, und sein Blut für mich vergossen sei, so gewiß ich mit Augen sehe, daß das Brot des Herrn mir gebrochen, und der Kelch mir mitgetheilet wird; und zum Andern, daß Er selbst meine Seele mit seinem gekreuzigten Leib und vergossenen Blut so gewiß zum ewigen Leben speise und tränke, als ich aus der Hand des Dieners empfange und leiblich genieße das Brot und den Kelch des Herrn, welche mir als gewisse Wahrzeichen des Leibes und Bluts Christi gegeben werden.
1863 English
1863 English
Thus; that Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread, and to drink of this cup, and has joined therewith these promises: First, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me, and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me, and the cup communicated to me; and further, that, with His crucified body and shed blood, He Himself feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, as certainly as I receive from the hand of the minister, and taste with my mouth, the bread and cup of the Lord, which are given me as certain tokens of the body and blood of Christ.
Grammar
Grammar
The English term "bread" is uncountable, or a "mass noun." Technically, an English speaker doesn't say "a bread," we say "a loaf of bread."
The corresponding terms in German and Latin have "Count-Mass Flexibility", like the English words "cake" and "coffee." You may have "coffee" or "a coffee."
In our catechism answer, the German (brod / Brot) and Latin (pane / panem) words are always singular. The authors deliberately chose not to use the very common plural forms (Brote or panes). The noun is singular from start to finish. This is accomplished in English with the definite article, the bread.
You do not actually need to track this point on translation, because context dictates that we are dealing with one sacramental loaf.
The Simple Point
The Simple Point
The very same loaf of bread broken is the one tasted by the catechumen.
"I see with my eyes that the bread of the Lord is broken for me"
"I receive from the hand of the minister and actually taste the bread"
Which bread? The one broken, the singular communion loaf each Lord's Supper meal
One cup communion follows for all the same reasons.
"Loaf"
"Loaf"
To avoid this ambiguity, many Bible translations use the term "loaf" instead of "bread" in 1 Cor 17:
Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
Since there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
It would be good to follow this precedent in our translation of the catechism.
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