Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Holy Day Of Obligation - Ash Wednesday

penguin

By penguin
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted

So it's Ash Wednesday, and as much as I'm an admitted CEO (Christmas and Easter Only) Catholic, I do try to observe the big days of obligation. It's my plan to go to mass today, but I can't take communion, right? There's wheat in the wafers?

And fasting? Am I required to fast? I have some trouble with hypoglycemia, I've fasted before OK, but I don't know how my body is going to react since gluten free.

Any thoughts on this? I think the priest in my parish is probably busy today...

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Lollie Enthusiast
Lollie
Posted

I have had this type of discussion already! Search for communion. I think you might find the past lines interesting and helpful.

Your right that you can't take the wafer. It is most definantly wheat- depending on how your parish does it, you might be able to take the wine only....if they do not dip the wafers. But, on the bright side, you can get your ashes....free of gluten! :D HaHa!!!!!! About fasting, that's a little tricky but from what I understand, you chose a fast of something....not everything, ie no meat.

Hopefully some others will post, but that is what I know! I hope that it helps you!

Have a blessed day!

Lollie

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
So it's Ash Wednesday, and as much as I'm an admitted CEO (Christmas and Easter Only) Catholic, I do try to observe the big days of obligation. It's my plan to go to mass today, but I can't take communion, right? There's wheat in the wafers?

And fasting? Am I required to fast? I have some trouble with hypoglycemia, I've fasted before OK, but I don't know how my body is going to react since gluten free.

Any thoughts on this? I think the priest in my parish is probably busy today...

If you are not recieving communion you are not required to fast. The fast is intended to keep you 'pure' until you had recieved the host - if my memory for catachism is correct. I am assuming you are catholic and as the other poster said the wafer is not safe for you. You may want to contact your parish priest on another day and see if they accept a gluten-free alternative but if you do a search for communion like the other poster said you may find your answers. I would go to the service anyway if I wanted to, personally I believe God understands.

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted
  • Author

I've been fasting and I feel sick, in spite of the protein shake I'm drinking. I think I fall into the sick category for now, which means I'm not subject to fasting, either.

On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday you're supposed to fast all day, with one modest meal with no meat.

On normal mass days, you are supposed to fast until communion.

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

All the ins and outs of fasting are here--

Open Original Shared Link

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted
  • Author

I found this on a blog out there in cyberspace:

In the end, taking any form of communion at all is a grave risk to his health. I can only imagine what the Last Supper would have been like if one of the Apostles had Celiac’s Disease.

“Do this in memory of Me.”

“But Lord, I can’t eat wheat. It makes me flatulent at best, and at worst it perforates my intestines.”

“Well James, I’m afraid you just don’t get any. Now go take your rice crackers and play with the Buddhists instead. Even the Protestants won’t touch that stuff.”

“Um, Jesus, any chance we could get a dispensation for goose barnacles during Lent?”

“Sure thing, man. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.“

“So goose barnacles are okay?”

“Completely. And puffins too. And capybaras, and if you happen to live in Ireland…”

Pretty much.

Here's a link to that: Open Original Shared Link disease=1

Susan123 Rookie
Susan123
Posted

These are the rules from my church. If you are under 17 or over 50 something you don't have to fast. If you fall in the age range fasting is 2 small meals and one regular meal no snacking in between.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


killernj13 Enthusiast
killernj13
Posted

I always thought if you had a medical condition which could be affected by fasting you were obsolved from doing it. Isn't that the reason they but an age limit on it. I think we fall under that category. Again, this is everyone's own personal decision.

lorka150 Collaborator
lorka150
Posted

Somewhat of a sidenote:

My Polish family breaks communion and says a prayer before dinner every Christmas Eve. This year, I was very sad that it wasn't going to happen.

Anyway, so I baked up nine gingerbread men, labelled them per person, and we broke those instead. A little silly, maybe, but a new tradition that we all loved.

It is the prayer that is important, anyway.

debmidge Rising Star
debmidge
Posted

I think I also understood the fasting rules - that if you have a medical condition where fasting would interfere with your health, whether blood sugar or any other disease you are exempt.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

if you opt to try fasting, make sure to 'wean' down your carbs before hand - have plenty of protein and fat the days before, and no single meals high in carbs. but I do believe there are medical 'exemptions' to the fast.

Jnkmnky Collaborator
Jnkmnky
Posted

Ash wednesday is not a holy day of obligation. Fasting is not a commandment, just tradition. I am really having problems with the Catholic church lately. I can't stand all the hoops they put up for us to jump through. If you want to follow all of the rules, then do your best. If not, don't imagine God's up there checking off all the "disappointing" things you fail to do that arise from Catholic Tradition. It's really so sad that the leadership of the Catholic church has it's members so nervous about "failing" all these traditions.

Lollie Enthusiast
Lollie
Posted

I just wanted to add my own interpretation:

I believe that all of this is symbolic, I know that isn't particularly Catholic.....

I think that what the importance of communion is the REMEMBERENCE part, not the bread or the wine. The importance of the day Ash wednesday, is the rememberence of what the ashes represent. The importance of the fast is that everytime you think of food, or what evere you have given up, you remember the great price Christ gave for us. It's all about remeberence. That's my thoughts!

Lollie

Jen H Contributor
Jen H
Posted

Hi ChelsE,

I think you need to do what feels comfortable for you. I have fasted in the past, but due to various health issues, I don't fast now. I know that sacrifice is part of the Lenten season, so I hope God will understand my choice. I just show my sacrifices in other ways.

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted
  • Author

I decided not to fast today, I was feeling too sick to do it. My blood sugar doesn't handle it well.

Yeah, I forgot it's not a day of obligation.

The communion thing is wigging me out, I'm going to have to talk to a priest about it. :unsure:

Thanks everybody!

NikkiLynn Newbie
NikkiLynn
Posted

About not taking the wafer. A lot of the local catholic churches around me have been offering gluten-free rice wafers. You have to call or contact them before going though. Here is a link to a website that one of the churches sent me about the gluten-free wafers.

Open Original Shared Link

Jnkmnky Collaborator
Jnkmnky
Posted
About not taking the wafer. A lot of the local catholic churches around me have been offering gluten-free rice wafers. You have to call or contact them before going though. Here is a link to a website that one of the churches sent me about the gluten-free wafers.

Open Original Shared Link

These aren't gluten free. They're low gluten. Great link though. Thanks. I printed it out for my priest if this is the route we go. Has anyone found a study that confirms no villi damage as a result of consuming these hosts? I'd love to see a study where a low gluten host consumer was biopsied and showed no villi damage. Thanks.

Deaconron Newbie
Deaconron
Posted
So it's Ash Wednesday, and as much as I'm an admitted CEO (Christmas and Easter Only) Catholic, I do try to observe the big days of obligation. It's my plan to go to mass today, but I can't take communion, right? There's wheat in the wafers?

And fasting? Am I required to fast? I have some trouble with hypoglycemia, I've fasted before OK, but I don't know how my body is going to react since gluten free.

Any thoughts on this? I think the priest in my parish is probably busy today...

CheleE,

I would like to commend you for your concern about taking communion even though it be only three times a year. The option I recommend, the one I use is to receive only from the cup - the precious blood - this has been working for me for the past two years. Our Archbishop told me that he has a friend, who is a bishop who also has celiac so they are aware of the problem and he and the other bishops and priests understand. I would most certainly talk to your pastor about your concerns and I am sure that he will understand and encourage you, as I do, to attend Mass regularly.

penguin Community Regular
penguin
Posted
  • Author
CheleE,

I would like to commend you for your concern about taking communion even though it be only three times a year. The option I recommend, the one I use is to receive only from the cup - the precious blood - this has been working for me for the past two years. Our Archbishop told me that he has a friend, who is a bishop who also has celiac so they are aware of the problem and he and the other bishops and priests understand. I would most certainly talk to your pastor about your concerns and I am sure that he will understand and encourage you, as I do, to attend Mass regularly.

I do go to church more than what I say, but I'm not the regular attendee I should be. Trying to go regularly opens up a whole other can of worms that I just can't deal with right now. I'm glad the Church will understand about the wafers. Thanks for your help :)

teankerbell Apprentice
teankerbell
Posted

I thought the same thing that Killrn said, if you have a med. condition, you are absolved from having to follow it. Call the rectory to be sure.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,329
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    klkarius
    Newest Member
    klkarius
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.