Catholic Church bread in the mail

[Sophia3]

My friend just put me through a scare when he texted me a picture of what his mother in Poland sent him in the mail. (He is Catholic background but not very religious or practicing). He said it was "Catholic Church bread" and it looked like a host in a little sleeve envelope. I tried to ask him if it was consecrated, but I don't think he knew what I was talking about. I finally googled it and it is called oplatki. it is not a consecrated host (thank goodness) but it is meant to shadow receiving the Eucharist on Christmas Day. https://www.catholiccompany.com/content/Oplatki-Christmas-Tradition.cfm

[JubilateDeo]

My friend just put me through a scare when he texted me a picture of what his mother in Poland sent him in the mail. (He is Catholic background but not very religious or practicing). He said it was "Catholic Church bread" and it looked like a host in a little sleeve envelope. I tried to ask him if it was consecrated, but I don't think he knew what I was talking about. I finally googled it and it is called oplatki. it is not a consecrated host (thank goodness) but it is meant to shadow receiving the Eucharist on Christmas Day. https://www.catholiccompany.com/content/Oplatki-Christmas-Tradition.cfm

My Polish Grandpa's side of the family always did this for Christmas Eve dinner.  It's thinner than a regular communion wafer and you break a piece off, then pass it to someone else, and then everyone breaks a piece of everyone else's.

[Gardener]

Seems like a nice custom

[Sophia3]

My friend just put me through a scare when he texted me a picture of what his mother in Poland sent him in the mail. (He is Catholic background but not very religious or practicing). He said it was "Catholic Church bread" and it looked like a host in a little sleeve envelope. I tried to ask him if it was consecrated, but I don't think he knew what I was talking about. I finally googled it and it is called oplatki. it is not a consecrated host (thank goodness) but it is meant to shadow receiving the Eucharist on Christmas Day. https://www.catholiccompany.com/content/Oplatki-Christmas-Tradition.cfm

My Polish Grandpa's side of the family always did this for Christmas Eve dinner.  It's thinner than a regular communion wafer and you break a piece off, then pass it to someone else, and then everyone breaks a piece of everyone else's.

Yes, he said that he is suppose to save it for Christmas Eve and then to eat it with his relatives in Poland when they do. I thought that was kind of beautiful!

[lauermar]

I grew up with it. I'm Polish. My husband is German, never did. I have some and I'm going to do the tradition this year. I believe the bread is blessed by priests as they do with food, but not consecrated like the Eucharist.

[Perpetua]

We have always done this for Christmas. My in-laws had the exact same reaction when I brought the tradition to America

[martin88nyc]

Yes this is our polish custom.

[Chestertonian]

Sounds interesting.  apparently half of my ancestors are from poland.