RE: off topic....wheat..........

[Guest guest]

The Catholic Church is very specific on the components of the bread used at

communion. I learned this YEARS after receiving whole wheat and honey home

made bread at my very liberal church growing up. Technically that was

not a valid kind of bread and I didn't actually receive communion! Another

thing that had not been explained to me until college was that communion

under either kind is full communion. It's not body=consecrated host and

blood=consecrated wine which many people mistakenly think (especially small

children who are so literal.) The easiest solution would be to skip the

host and take communion only under one form from the chalice. Along with

this you could spread some education to all children that this IS full

communion.

If this were my child I would have her go in the communion line with the

other children, bow her head and receive a blessing from the priest then

move on to the chalice to take communion. But I do agree that you should

speak to the pastor and get his suggestion. It is my understanding that

any allowed communion host in the Catholic Church is a wheat product. I

may be wrong so I suggest checking that out more! In some children with

very mild allergies they may be fine, but if she is completely wheat free

and on medications, etc. it doesn't sound like a good idea to risk it!

Miche

At 05:56 PM 5/8/2006, you wrote:

>

>I hope this is not too off topic, but I e-mailed first and she said

>to ask the group...

>I teach CCD and have a little girl allergic to wheat..takes meds.

>etc...the class is making communion and we practiced the other day and she

>had the " host " and her throat was itchy etc....she is off wheat because

>she is allergic, but my question is do any of you have children that made

>communion and could not have it due to you eliminating wheat from your

>child's diet...and if so, can you please e-mail ASAP...what did your

>church do in that case? Does a little tiny piece throw everything off for

>a kid that is wheat-free. I know that this example is different as she

>does not eat wheat due to allergies?

>Thanks for your help or suggestions....kathy

>p.s. the woman in charge told her to call the new pastor to see what to

>do, but I felt awful as this is important to this little girl and I felt

>that the problem was pushed off to another to figure it out...........once

>again I should probably mind my own business, but she was my student this

>year and I just found out about the wheat allergy....thanks again

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I believe the Catholic church(I am just assuming it is Catholic) does

not allow gluten free/wheat free hosts. I remember reading some news

articles about this topic a year or so ago, celiacs battling with the

Catholic church to get gf hosts, but they would not budge.(Believe it

was in New Jersey if my memory serves me right) Our church told us at

my son's communion practices anyone with gluten sensitivity could

take the wine as an alternative,(not a great choice for a young child

in my opinion)However, an itchy throat from wheat is a much more

significant reaction to it than what is typical, and throwing off a

gf diet for other reasons. Her next exposure could be more severe. A

child on gf for attention/speech issues do not get itchy throats from

wheat, they may get a stomach ache, or loose stool/constipation,

change in behavior. Itchy is another issue altogether.

>

>

> I hope this is not too off topic, but I e-mailed first and she

said to ask the group...

> I teach CCD and have a little girl allergic to wheat..takes meds.

etc...the class is making communion and we practiced the other day

and she had the " host " and her throat was itchy etc....she is off

wheat because she is allergic, but my question is do any of you have

children that made communion and could not have it due to you

eliminating wheat from your child's diet...and if so, can you please

e-mail ASAP...what did your church do in that case? Does a little

tiny piece throw everything off for a kid that is wheat-free. I know

that this example is different as she does not eat wheat due to

allergies?

> Thanks for your help or suggestions....kathy

> p.s. the woman in charge told her to call the new pastor to see

what to do, but I felt awful as this is important to this little girl

and I felt that the problem was pushed off to another to figure it

out...........once again I should probably mind my own business, but

she was my student this year and I just found out about the wheat

allergy....thanks again

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

A wheat allergy is the same as any other food allergy. It is not

uncommon if there is an allergy for a child to say there is an itchy

throat, get a hive like rash pretty quickly....As my son is not

catholic, can't say what would be a good substitute. You could contact

Whole Foods....They are a chain that has lots of wheat free

substitutes, maybe they could offer you some advice what would be a

good stand in for the communion " host " ....

Good luck and please let us know what happens....

Selena (mom to Mark age 5.5, apraxic and allergic to eggs, soy, wheat

and milk)

[ ] off topic....wheat..........

I hope this is not too off topic, but I e-mailed first and she

said to ask the group...

I teach CCD and have a little girl allergic to wheat..takes meds.

etc...the class is making communion and we practiced the other day and

she had the " host " and her throat was itchy etc....she is off wheat

because she is allergic, but my question is do any of you have children

that made communion and could not have it due to you eliminating wheat

from your child's diet...and if so, can you please e-mail ASAP...what

did your church do in that case? Does a little tiny piece throw

everything off for a kid that is wheat-free. I know that this example

is different as she does not eat wheat due to allergies?

Thanks for your help or suggestions....kathy

p.s. the woman in charge told her to call the new pastor to see what

to do, but I felt awful as this is important to this little girl and I

felt that the problem was pushed off to another to figure it

out...........once again I should probably mind my own business, but

she was my student this year and I just found out about the wheat

allergy....thanks again

[Guest guest]

Given I have 2 wheat allergic sons, and my (non-wheat allergic) daughter

just received 1st communion - this has come up in discussion. Our plan is to

bake our own bread, and then have it blessed, and have it given specifically

to our kids at the time. This is something you can work out with your

parish. There are so many people out there with celiac disease - it probably

will not be the first request. -

[ ] off topic....wheat..........

I hope this is not too off topic, but I e-mailed first and she said to

ask the group...

I teach CCD and have a little girl allergic to wheat..takes meds. etc...the

class is making communion and we practiced the other day and she had the

" host " and her throat was itchy etc....she is off wheat because she is

allergic, but my question is do any of you have children that made communion

and could not have it due to you eliminating wheat from your child's

diet...and if so, can you please e-mail ASAP...what did your church do in

that case? Does a little tiny piece throw everything off for a kid that is

wheat-free. I know that this example is different as she does not eat wheat

due to allergies?

Thanks for your help or suggestions....kathy

p.s. the woman in charge told her to call the new pastor to see what to do,

but I felt awful as this is important to this little girl and I felt that

the problem was pushed off to another to figure it out...........once again

I should probably mind my own business, but she was my student this year and

I just found out about the wheat allergy....thanks again

[Guest guest]

I remember (way back) in college having parties at the

rectory and trying out different host recipes. I can't

imagine that at least one of the host can't be from,

say, a rice bread or something. Please let me know

what is decided. thanks.

p.s. as an ex-CCD teacher, I applaud you. She was YOUR

student so, of course,it was YOUR business!

Oppurtunities to advocate for " our " little ones come

in all flavors!!

--- Altoonakenton@... wrote:

>

> I hope this is not too off topic, but I e-mailed

> first and she said to ask the group...

> I teach CCD and have a little girl allergic to

> wheat..takes meds. etc...the class is making

> communion and we practiced the other day and she had

> the " host " and her throat was itchy etc....she is

> off wheat because she is allergic, but my question

> is do any of you have children that made communion

> and could not have it due to you eliminating wheat

> from your child's diet...and if so, can you please

> e-mail ASAP...what did your church do in that case?

> Does a little tiny piece throw everything off for a

> kid that is wheat-free. I know that this example is

> different as she does not eat wheat due to

> allergies?

> Thanks for your help or suggestions....kathy

> p.s. the woman in charge told her to call the new

> pastor to see what to do, but I felt awful as this

> is important to this little girl and I felt that the

> problem was pushed off to another to figure it

> out...........once again I should probably mind my

> own business, but she was my student this year and I

> just found out about the wheat allergy....thanks

> again

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

A case in Brielle, NJ went as high as the Pope to get permission to replace

the wheat wafer with rice wafer.

No communion for you!

August 13, 2004 7:28 AM PST

Catholic church invalidates girl's first communion because she used a gluten

free wafer. Haley Waldman has celiac disease which prevents her from eating

wheat. It will also prevent her from receiving one of the most important

sacraments of her church. Apparently, this has happened before. According to

church canons wafers must be made only from wheat. Despite the Catholic

Church's apparent inflexibility, an extremely low gluten wafer has been

approved, but still may not be safe for some celiac sufferers.

http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/celiasprue.shtml

http://www.adoremus.org/0904CeliacDisease.html

http://www.wheat-free.org/blog/archives/45-Wheat-wafers-and-Holy-Communion.h

tml

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5762478/

http://www.livingwithout.com/feature_WheatFreeWorship.htm

http://www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/communion.html

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=1777

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/104-08122004-346938.html

It doesn't look to promising, unless the new Pope will change the Canon

Laws.

All the best,

Joanne

[Guest guest]

My son has celiac disease and is extremely sensitive. Celiacs cannot

have any GLUTEN which is in wheat, but also barley, oats, rye, spelt

kamut. My son also cannot have any dairy or soy. (Many celiacs are

also lactose intolerant). I have spoken to our parish Priest as well

as family Priests and the difficulty is in the host. In order to

meet the requirements of the Church, the host needs to contain wheat

as it did at the last suppoer. As a catholic, you can receive

communion in two ways, one is by the host, the other is from wine. I

don't believe wine contains gluten. My son has not received his Holy

Communion as of yet, but I believe the alternative is to receive wine.

I hope this is helpful.

Leigh

[Guest guest]

My grandson and I also have celiac disease. The problem with just receiving the

wine is

that you still need the cooperation of the priest to make sure that he receives

the

consecrated wine, but not any that people have dipped hosts into (intinction)

including the

priest, which is often done as part of the rite (some priest break the priest's

host, put one

part into the wine, and then lift it out with the other part of the host, I

think this has a

symbolic basis which is probably OT here).

Gluten is extremely soluble in alcohol. In fact some definitions of gluten are

" the wheat

protein that is alcohol-soluble). Just a word to let you know.

Peace,

Kathy E.

Kathleen_E@...

>

> My son has celiac disease and is extremely sensitive. Celiacs cannot

> have any GLUTEN which is in wheat, but also barley, oats, rye, spelt

> kamut. My son also cannot have any dairy or soy. (Many celiacs are

> also lactose intolerant). I have spoken to our parish Priest as well

> as family Priests and the difficulty is in the host. In order to

> meet the requirements of the Church, the host needs to contain wheat

> as it did at the last suppoer. As a catholic, you can receive

> communion in two ways, one is by the host, the other is from wine. I

> don't believe wine contains gluten. My son has not received his Holy

> Communion as of yet, but I believe the alternative is to receive wine.

>

> I hope this is helpful.

>

> Leigh

>

[Guest guest]

Very sad indeed if this is true! Looks like the don't worry about it -

we'll work around it response I got may not be true. I will be looking into

this further. -

RE: [ ] off topic....wheat..........

A case in Brielle, NJ went as high as the Pope to get permission to replace

the wheat wafer with rice wafer.

No communion for you!

August 13, 2004 7:28 AM PST

Catholic church invalidates girl's first communion because she used a gluten

free wafer. Haley Waldman has celiac disease which prevents her from eating

wheat. It will also prevent her from receiving one of the most important

sacraments of her church. Apparently, this has happened before. According to

church canons wafers must be made only from wheat. Despite the Catholic

Church's apparent inflexibility, an extremely low gluten wafer has been

approved, but still may not be safe for some celiac sufferers.

http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/celiasprue.shtml

http://www.adoremus.org/0904CeliacDisease.html

http://www.wheat-free.org/blog/archives/45-Wheat-wafers-and-Holy-Communion.h

tml

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5762478/

http://www.livingwithout.com/feature_WheatFreeWorship.htm

http://www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/communion.html

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=1777

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/104-08122004-346938.html

It doesn't look to promising, unless the new Pope will change the Canon

Laws.

All the best,

Joanne

[Guest guest]

When I was a kid in Catholic school we had a religion teacher who

had us plan, organize and conduct our own masses with the priest who

actually gave the homily we picked out and blessed the host we

made. One child would be in charge of different part of the

planning each week and one of the tasks was baking the host, which

was some sort of wheat cracker recipe (if memory serves it had honey

too). It was fun, and they were pretty yummy (you could snack on

them before they were blessed because technically they were still

just crackers until the priest blessed them). Though I'm Catholic,

I'm pretty appalled that the Church would get so stuck on individual

ingredients of the host, thereby excluding people who can't tolerate

those ingredients. It isn't like wheat is necessary to the

sacrament if the priest is transforming the host into the body of

Christ. I know this is a bit off topic, but that's just my opinion.

> >

> >I hope this is not too off topic, but I e-mailed first and

she said

> >to ask the group...

> >I teach CCD and have a little girl allergic to wheat..takes meds.

> >etc...the class is making communion and we practiced the other

day and she

> >had the " host " and her throat was itchy etc....she is off wheat

because

> >she is allergic, but my question is do any of you have children

that made

> >communion and could not have it due to you eliminating wheat from

your

> >child's diet...and if so, can you please e-mail ASAP...what did

your

> >church do in that case? Does a little tiny piece throw

everything off for

> >a kid that is wheat-free. I know that this example is different

as she

> >does not eat wheat due to allergies?

> >Thanks for your help or suggestions....kathy

> >p.s. the woman in charge told her to call the new pastor to see

what to

> >do, but I felt awful as this is important to this little girl and

I felt

> >that the problem was pushed off to another to figure it

out...........once

> >again I should probably mind my own business, but she was my

student this

> >year and I just found out about the wheat allergy....thanks again

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Statement by the National Conference of Catholic bishops on the use of low

gluten hosts at Mass

In the November 2003

BCL Newsletter...

The Use of Mustum and Low-Gluten Hosts at Mass

The Secretariat for the Liturgy has increasingly received from bishops and

pastors inquiries regarding priests, deacons and the faithful who are unable

to consume consecrated wheat hosts or consecrated wine at Mass. Over the

last twenty years, both the Congregation for Divine Worship and the

Discipline of the Sacraments and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the

Faith have frequently addressed the special needs of such people in their

reception of Holy Communion. As recently as June 19,1995 (Prot.N. 89/78)

Cardinal ph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of

the Faith, wrote to all presidents of Episcopal Conferences regarding the

use of mustum and low-gluten hosts for priests, deacons and the faithful in

the celebration of Mass.

On July 24, 2003 (Prot.N. 98/78-17498), Cardinal Ratzinger again took up the

topic of the use of mustum and low-gluten hosts at Mass in a second letter,

also addressed to the presidents of Episcopal Conferences and included below

for our readers. In it the Prefect restates essential Church teaching

regarding valid matter for the Eucharist, and lays out new norms for the use

of mustum and low-gluten hosts. Pastors and the faithful are reminded that

for bread to be valid matter for the Eucharist, it must be made solely of

wheat; contain enough gluten to effect the confection of bread; be free of

foreign materials and unaffected by any preparation or baking methods which

would alter its nature. The amount of gluten necessary for validity in such

bread is not determined by minimum percentage or weight, though hosts which

have no gluten are considered invalid matter for Mass. In the Roman Rite,

the bread prepared for the Eucharist must also be unleavened.

In the same letter, the Prefect also restates that mustum is grape juice in

which fermentation has begun, but has been suspended with the result that

its alcohol content does not reach the levels found in most table wines. The

process used for the suspension of fermentation must not alter the nature of

the juice in any way. As with gluten in bread, so also the amount of alcohol

needed for validity in mustum is not determined by a minimum percentage or

weight. As well, pasteurized grape juice in which all alcohol has been

evaporated through high temperature preparations is invalid matter for Mass.

The balance of Cardinal Ratzinger's letter regards the conditions under

which low-gluten hosts and mustum may be used by different groups. There are

two regulations of significance for the lay faithful, in particular. The

first is that the lay faithful who are not able to receive Holy Communion at

all under the species of bread, even of low-gluten hosts, may indeed receive

Holy Communion under the species of wine only. The Bishops' Committee on the

Liturgy has earlier reminded pastors (BCL Newsletter, April-May,2000) of the

right of the faithful under the law (CIC, canon 843) to receive Holy

Communion, even if only the Precious Blood, and regardless of whether the

Precious Blood is offered to the rest of the faithful present at a given

celebration of Mass.

The second regulation of note regards the granting of permission for the use

of low-gluten hosts and mustum by priests, deacons or the lay faithful. In

his previous letter, Cardinal Ratzinger had stated that only the Holy See

itself, through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of

the Sacraments, could give permission for the lay faithful to use mustum.

Permission for priests, deacons and the lay faithful to use low-gluten hosts

was under the competence of the local Ordinary. However, in the July 24,

2003 letter, permission for priests, deacons or the lay faithful without

distinction to use mustum or low-gluten hosts is now within the competence

of the local Ordinary. The authority to permit the lay faithful to use

mustum and low-gluten hosts in the reception of Holy Communion may be

delegated to pastors under CIC (Codes Iuris Canonicis), canon 137.1. This

provision will relieve Ordinaries of the burden of processing what could be

many such requests. Medical certification of a condition justifying the use

of mustum or low-gluten hosts for Holy Communion is no longer required. Such

permission, once granted, stands for as long as the condition persists which

occasioned the request for the original permission.

As a final note, it is important to recall that through the doctrine of

concomitance the Church teaches that under either species of bread or wine,

the whole of Christ is received (cf. General Instruction of the Roman

Missal, no.282; Catechism of the Catholic Church, no.1390; Council of Trent,

session 21, Doctrina de communione sub utraque specie et parvulorum, 16 July

1562, chapters 1-3: Denzinger -Schonmetzer, 1725-1729). In view of this

important belief, the faithful may be encouraged to approach their pastors,

seeking the special permissions required for Holy Communion under the

species of wine alone, or by the use of either mustum or low-gluten hosts,

and to be confident in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist they

receive.

Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith

July 24, 2003 Prot. 89/78-174 98

Your Excellency

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has been for many years

studying how to resolve the difficulties that some of the faithful encounter

in receiving Holy Communion when for various serious reasons they are unable

to consume normal bread or wine.

A number of documents on this question have been issued in the past in the

interest of offering Pastors uniform and sure direction (Congregation for

Doctrine of the Faith, Rescriptum, .15 December 1980, in Leges Eccleside,

6/4819, 8095-8096; De celebrantis communione, 29 October 1982, in AAS 74,

1982, 1298-1299; Lettera ai Presidenti delle. Conferenze Episcopali, 19 June

1995, in Notitiae 31, 1995: 608-610).

In light of the experience of recent years, it has been deemed necessary at

this time to return to the topic, taking up the above-mentioned documents

and clarifying them wherever necessary.

A. The use of gluten-free hosts and mustum

1. Hosts that are completely gluten-free are invalid matter for the

celebration of the Eucharist.

2. Low-gluten hosts (partially gluten-free) are valid matter, provided they

contain a sufficient amount of gluten to obtain the confection of bread

without the addition of foreign materials and without the use of procedures

that would alter the nature of bread.

3. Mustum, which is grape juice that is either fresh or-preserved by methods

that-suspend its fermentation without altering its nature (for example,

freezing), is valid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist.

B. Communion under one species or with a minimal amount of wine

1. A layperson affected by celiac disease, who is not able to receive,

Communion- under the species of bread, including low-gluten hosts, may

receive Communion under the species of wine only.

2. A priest 'unable to receive Communion under the species of bread,

including low-gluten hosts, when taking part in a concelebration, may with

the permission of the Ordinary receive Communion under the species of wine

only.

3. A priest unable to ingest even a minimal amount of wine, who finds

himself in a situation where it, is difficult to obtain or store mustum,

when taking part in a concelebration, may with the permission of the

Ordinary receive Communion under the species of bread only.

4. If a priest is able to take wine, but only a very small amount, when he

is the sole celebrant, the remaining species of wine may be consumed by a

layperson participating in that celebration of the Eucharist.

C. Common Norms

1. The Ordinary is competent to give permission for an individual priest or

layperson to use low-gluten hosts or mustum. for the celebration of the

Eucharist. Permission can be granted habitually, for as long as the

situation continues which occasioned the granting of permission.

2. When the principal celebrant at a concelebration has permission to use

mustum, a chalice of normal wine is to be prepared for the concelebrants. In

like manner, when he has permission to use low-gluten hosts, normal hosts

are to be provided for the concelebrants.

3. A priest unable to receive Communion under the species of bread,

including low-gluten hosts, may not celebrate the Eucharist individually,

nor may he preside at a concelebration.

4. Given the centrality of the celebration of the Eucharist in the life of a

priest, one must proceed with great caution before admitting to Holy Orders

those candidates unable to ingest gluten or alcohol without serious harm.

5. Attention should be paid to medical advances in the area of celiac

disease and alcoholisn-4 and encouragement given to the production of hosts

with a minimal amount of gluten and of unaltered mustum.

6. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith enjoys competence over the

doctrinal aspects of this question, while disciplinary matters are the

competence of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the

Sacraments.

7. Concerned Episcopal Conferences shall report to the Congregation for

Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, at the time of their ad

Limina visit, regarding the application of these norms as well as any new

developments in this area.

Asking you to kindly communicate the contents of this letter to the members

of your Episcopal Conference, with fraternal regards and prayerful best

wishes, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

ph Cardinal Ratzinger

Prefect

Chart on the Use of Mustum, Low-Gluten Hosts or Wine Alone at Mass

by Priests, Deacons and the Lay Faithful

The following chart, developed by the Secretariat for the Liturgy, provides

a ready reference for identifying the options for the reception of Holy

Communion under the forms of mustum, low-gluten hosts or wine alone by

priests, deacons and the lay faithful afflicted with gluten and/or alcohol

intolerance. As indicated below, priests should note the ways in which a

condition of gluten or alcohol intolerance may affect not only their

reception of Holy Communion, but also their roles as celebrants and

concelebrants. Priests are reminded that the permission of their Ordinary is

required for the alterations in their roles as celebrants or concelebrants

described in the chart below. Deacons and the lay faithful must seek

individual permissions, as noted above, for the use of low-gluten hosts or

mustum.

# Options for those who suffer from gluten intolerance Options for those

who suffer from alcohol intolerance Options for those who suffer from both

gluten and alcohol intolerance

1 Deacons and Lay Faithful -may receive a small amount of a

regular host; or

-may use a low-gluten host; or

-may receive under the form of wine only. -may receive a small amount under

the form of wine; or

-may receive under the form of bread only; or

-may use mustum. -may take a small amount of a regular host; or

-may take a small amount under the form of wine; or

-may use a low-gluten host and mustum.

2 Priest as Sole Celebrant *

*The priest celebrant must always receive Holy Communion under both

forms. -may take a small amount of a regular host; or

-may use a low-gluten host.Otherwise, he may not celebrate Eucharist

individually. -may take a small amount under the form of wine; or

-may use mustum.

* If the priest is able to take only a small amount of wine, then what

remains may be consumed by a layperson. -may take a small amount of a

regular host and may take a small amount under the form of wine; or

-may use a low-gluten host and mustum.

Otherwise, he may not celebrate Eucharist individually.

3 Priest as Principal Celebrant at a Concelebrated

Mass*

*The priest celebrant must always receive Holy Communion under both

forms. -may take a small amount of a regular host; or

-may use a low-gluten host for himself alone. Other concelebrants should

consume regular hosts.

Otherwise, he may not preside at concelebration. -may take a small amount

under the form of wine; or

-may use mustum for himself alone. Other concelebrants should use regular

wine. -may take a small amount of a regular host and may take a small amount

under the form of wine; or

-may use a low- gluten host and mustum for himself alone. Other

concelebrants should use regular bread and wine.

Otherwise, he may not preside at concelebration.

4 Priest as Concelebrant -may take a small amount of a regular host; or

-may use a low-gluten host; or

-if unable to use a low-gluten host, then may receive under the form of wine

only. -may take a small amount under the form of wine; or

-may use mustum; or

-if mustum is not available, then may receive under the form of bread

only. -may take a small amount of a regular host; or

-may take a small amount under the form of wine; or

-may use a low-gluten host and/or mustum.

Resources for Those with Gluten and/or Alcohol Intolerance

Introduction

In recent years, pastors across the United States have received numerous

questions from those afflicted with various manifestations of gluten

intolerance, such as Celiac-Sprue disease, as well as alcohol intolerance in

relation to the reception of Holy Communion. Many gluten intolerant suffers

are unable to ingest wheat flour commonly used in the preparation of

communion wafers in the United States. As well, those who suffer from some

form of alcohol intolerance are likewise restricted from receiving the

Precious Blood as it is now offered at the Liturgy. An active dialogue with

experts on both these conditions, as well as with various dicasteries of the

Holy See, has now resulted in several new developments relative to the

reception of Holy Communion for those with these conditions.

Gluten Intolerance and the Reception of Holy Communion

Those who suffer from gluten intolerance, especially that form of it known

as " Celiac Sprue " disease, may each react differently to varying amounts of

gluten contained in wheat bread and other products. Medical opinion on the

best treatment for such people varies greatly. While many doctors advise

patients with this condition to adopt a totally gluten-free diet, others

merely restrict gluten intake.

As a result, the common advice given to many Celiac Sprue and

gluten-intolerant patients is to receive only the Precious Blood at Holy

Communion. However, additional concerns can emerge when the Precious Blood

has been " contaminated " with gluten at the co-mingling rite. As a result,

the administration of the Precious Blood - whether under the form of wine or

of mustum - to persons with these conditions must carefully take into

account the need to avoid any mixing of the sacred species at the altar or a

communion station.

Prior to now, the only low-gluten hosts available to parishes in the United

States were from European suppliers. The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual

Adoration in Clyde, Missouri, have developed a true low gluten host ready

for sale by January 1, 2004. The total gluten content of this product is

0.01%; its contents of unleavened wheat and water and free of additives

conform to the requirements of the Code of Canon Law, canon 924.2. This low

gluten content is still enough gluten to confect bread for the Eucharist.

Many gluten-intolerant persons may be able to consume it, or some portion of

it, but are strongly advised to check with their personal physicians in

advance. This product is the only true, low-gluten altar bread known to the

Secretariat and approved for use at Mass in the United States. The contact

information for ordering such hosts from the Benedictine Sisters of

Perpetual Adoration is as follows:

Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

Altar Breads Department

31970 State Highway P

Clyde, Missouri 64432

Phone:1-800-223-2772

e-mail: altarbreads@...

Sr. Rita, OSB, Manager

Alcohol Intolerance and the Reception of Holy Communion

Those who are unable to consume alcohol, whether the lay faithful, deacons

or priests, may now substitute mustum for regular wine in the reception of

Holy Communion with appropriate permission. " Mustum " proper is grape juice

which contains no additives, is not pasteurized and has a very low alcohol

content (less than 1.0%) due to the fact that the fermentation process has

been arrested briefly after its start. Mustum may be stored through freezing

or other means; any pasteurized grape juice product, including pasteurized

mustum, is invalid matter for Mass due to the fact that the high

temperatures used in such a process evaporate all of the remaining alcohol

in the juice.

There are only two suppliers in the United States known to the Secretariat

for the Liturgy of mustum approved for use at Mass. Their contact

information is given here:

(1) Ranelle Trading/Ojai Fresh Juice Corporation

2501 Oak Hill Circle, Suite 2032

Ft. Worth, TX 76109

Phone: 877-211-7690 (toll free)

E-mail: mike@...

Contact: Mr. Mike Ranelle, President

and

(2) Mont La Salle Altar Wine Company

385 A La Fata Street

St. Helena, Ca. 94575

Phone: 707-963-2521

Toll Free: 800-447-8466

Contact: Mr. , President

_______________

Committee on the Liturgy

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3060

May 11, 2004 Copyright C by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Home

RE: [ ] off topic....wheat..........

A case in Brielle, NJ went as high as the Pope to get permission to replace

the wheat wafer with rice wafer.

No communion for you!

August 13, 2004 7:28 AM PST

Catholic church invalidates girl's first communion because she used a gluten

free wafer. Haley Waldman has celiac disease which prevents her from eating

wheat. It will also prevent her from receiving one of the most important

sacraments of her church. Apparently, this has happened before. According to

church canons wafers must be made only from wheat. Despite the Catholic

Church's apparent inflexibility, an extremely low gluten wafer has been

approved, but still may not be safe for some celiac sufferers.

http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/celiasprue.shtml

http://www.adoremus.org/0904CeliacDisease.html

http://www.wheat-free.org/blog/archives/45-Wheat-wafers-and-Holy-Communion.h

tml

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5762478/

http://www.livingwithout.com/feature_WheatFreeWorship.htm

http://www.enabling.org/ia/celiac/communion.html

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=1777

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/104-08122004-346938.html

It doesn't look to promising, unless the new Pope will change the Canon

Laws.

All the best,

Joanne