A Question For Catholic Celiacs

[brie1120]

I'm still eating like I normally do because I haven't had my endo yet, but I got really really sick after church today. I think it might have been the Holy Communion due to the timing of it. So my question for Catholic Celiacs is this: How do you handle a gluten free diet? Do you just not take communion? Is there a special host you can request? My faith is important to me, so I'm just wondering!

[psawyer]

I understand that you can take communion in either form and it will be valid. The Host must contain wheat, but you can take only from the cup. Talk to your priest about how to arrange this at your church.

[ravenwoodglass]

It has been a long time since I went to Mass but back then we had to fast after dinner the night before. I would get ill from the host. As Peter said talk to your priest and see if they can give you just the wine, in a seperate cup from the communal chalice. The gluten-free host still contains a low level of gluten so that should be avoided. It has to by Canon Law. I know taking part in communion is important but God will understand if you don't partake.

[kareng]

I don't take the host & the gluten-free host isn't completely gluten-free its just lighter. I take a small sip of the wine. The wine counts the same as the host. But watch for the priest's cup. He puts a piece of host in his cup. Seems like the person with that cup always comes to my side of the church.

[cassP]

i havent been to catholic mass for years now- but, i always thought our catholic wafers were rice???

[kareng]

i havent been to catholic mass for years now- but, i always thought our catholic wafers were rice???

NO they are wheat. My kids thought they were made of styrofoam. The church says that Jesus used bread with wheat at the Last Supper so a host must have wheat. There are so many ways I could argue with that but the Pope's not taking my calls or Facebook friend request. So I guess we have to accept it.

[psawyer]

The Pope's not taking my calls or Facebook friend request.

Maybe you could send him an email:

benedictxvi@vatican.va

[brie1120]

I don't take the host & the gluten-free host isn't completely gluten-free its just lighter. I take a small sip of the wine. The wine counts the same as the host. But watch for the priest's cup. He puts a piece of host in his cup. Seems like the person with that cup always comes to my side of the church.

Hmm, I'll have to try and figure something out. At my parish, we only get the wafers. Only the folks who give out communion get the wine while they are waiting at the altar for their dish to give out. I cantor every other week so I could get the wine then probably. I always knew my church was weird with the no wine!

The hosts do taste an awful lot like styrofoam, though, don't they?

[Luvbeingamommy]

Interesting, I am part a diocease that doesn't do wine either, just for priests/alters, etc. The asst. preist at my church has Celiac and he said the hosts made by the Benedictine Sisters are okay, I think the gluten in them is not even measurable?? I have been taking them and done okay too. It's a bit of pain though to work it out, I just very last after the ushers and they get the little thing with the hosts in it for me.

This is what I found on their website:

"Celiac Research that showed that the 0.01% gluten content of our breads would be perfectly safe for most celiacs. The article states

The measurement cited here, 0.01%, represents 100 PPMs (parts per million). But the more important number is 37 micrograms, because it is daily exposure to gluten that counts. The best current information shows that 10 milligrams a day should be safe.

Ten milligrams is the same as 10,000 micrograms. If you divide 37 micrograms into 10,000 micrograms, you will find that you would have to eat 270 wafers every day to reach the danger point. At most, celiacs would consume one wafer per day or about 0.04% (four tenths of one percent) of the amount considered dangerous.".

They do have to be ordered but I'd def talk to your pastor.

[sweeeeet]

we have several people at my mass that are celiacs, me included. We have special communion, not entirely gluten free, according to some, but it doesn't bother me. A few years ago, we didn't have that, and my friend took a tiny crumb of the regular communion. Some did without. Others switched churches to where the safe communion was.

[SuperMolly]

For about 2 years I have just been receiving the Blood of Christ when it is offered. This weekend I decided to try the special "gluten-free" host made by the Benedictine Sisters.

I talked to the priest before Mass. He put the host in a pix (special container) on the altar and at communion time he offered me the pix. I opened it and took the Body of Christ out myself, then consumed it. I know it has a hint of gluten in it, and I am a very sensitive celiac, but I did NOT get sick!

[cap6]

I won't take the wine cause others have sipped after they take the host. Too much room for CC. I guess that it will just have to be done in my heart.

[kareng]

I won't take the wine cause others have sipped after they take the host. Too much room for CC. I guess that it will just have to be done in my heart.

Try to be at the first of the line. Your priest mught put some in a little cup for you at the altar. Ask. I always have to cut over to a different line because our side always has the one with the host in it and the whole choir first. We can't change where we sit - we always sit there!

[Jramey]

If receiving the Precious Blood is too difficult for you (for instance, if your parish does not distribute under both species or the cross-contamination is an issue), then you might want to consider asking your parish about obtaining special low-gluten hosts. The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri make them and they are Vatican-approved. :-)

You can read more here: Open Original Shared Link

God bless you,

Joslyn

I'm still eating like I normally do because I haven't had my endo yet, but I got really really sick after church today. I think it might have been the Holy Communion due to the timing of it. So my question for Catholic Celiacs is this: How do you handle a gluten free diet? Do you just not take communion? Is there a special host you can request? My faith is important to me, so I'm just wondering!