A communion wafer is a small, round piece of unleavened bread used when a church serves Communion, the Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper. In Catholic churches it is called a host; in many Protestant churches it is simply a wafer or a cracker passed in trays or along a row of worshipers.
What is a communion wafer made of?
Most wafers are baked from wheat flour and water without yeast, which is why they are unleavened. Catholic hosts must be made of wheat flour and water, and commercial wafers often add salt or oil for texture. Gluten-free wafers, made from rice or other grains, are sold for churches serving people with celiac disease or wheat allergies. The word "wafer" comes through Old French gaufre, a thin cake or waffle.
Most are about the size of a quarter. Churches buy them in sealed trays or boxes, and some bake their own bread. Catholic parishes often order hosts from a Catholic bakery or have approved volunteers make them.
Which churches use communion wafers?
Catholic, Anglican, Episcopalian, and many Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches serve round wafers for the Eucharist. Baptist congregations and other simple Protestant churches often call it a "cracker" and serve it with juice in individual cups. Eastern Orthodox churches do not use wafers: they use prosphora, a loaf of leavened bread from which a square piece is cut during the liturgy.
What happens during the service?
In a Catholic Mass, the priest holds up the host during the consecration prayer, then breaks it and gives each communicant a piece. Catholics believe the bread becomes the Body of Christ, a change they call transubstantiation, so they treat the consecrated host with reverence. Other churches describe the bread differently in their teaching about the real presence of Christ.
In Protestant services, a leader reads words such as "This is my body, which is for you" (1 Corinthians 11:24, KJV), breaks the bread, and invites the congregation to come forward. Some churches hand each person a piece directly; others pass trays down a row. Elders, deacons, or volunteers often serve. The article on Communion, Eucharist, or Lord's Supper compares the traditions.
Can a visitor take communion?
Usually. In most Protestant churches, any visitor may receive the bread and cup, and many congregations practice open communion, while some churches restrict the Lord's Supper to their own members. Catholic parishes invite non-Catholic visitors who are properly disposed to receive the sacrament. Orthodox churches usually receive only those baptized in the Orthodox faith.
What to expect when you receive it
Communion wafers are usually not pre-portioned. The server places one wafer in your open hand, palm up, or kneels to give it on your tongue, depending on the church. The cup may be grape juice or wine, served in individual cups. If you cannot eat wheat, ask the church in advance about gluten-free wafers. The guide to going to church for the first time explains other parts of the service.