Q. How should the priest break the celebrant’s host at Mass?
A. Interesting question. Thank you for asking it. For additional context, the questioner asked why a priest runs his fingers down one-half of the celebrant’s host after breaking it in half.
The likely answer is that the priest does this action in order to make sure that there are no loose particles of the Blessed Sacrament that could fall prior to his consuming the Eucharist. I have seen many priests do this. While it is not called for, it is neither prohibited. That is, a priest can do this if he wishes.
If one is a close observer of the Mass, one will see priests do things that are neither prescribed (called for) nor prohibited, for example making multiples signs of the cross over the chalice. The priest is bound to pray the Mass according to the rubrics found in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (the large book on the altar, which outlines the celebration of the Eucharist).
There are two documents that outline the way Mass should be celebrated in almost all circumstances. They are the post-conciliar liturgical document Inter Oeumenici signed by St. Pope Paul VI in 1964 and the General Instructions of the Roman Missal. It is a good practice to celebrate Mass just as outlined in the GIRM.
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