An individual with celiac disease can not eat wheat, barley, rye or oats or any of their
derivatives and maintain good health.
When a Roman Catholic receives the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, they
recognize that they are receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. This is called the
Doctrine of Transubstantiation.
Except for the “low–gluten” wafer, the Doctrine Paper released by the Vatican
and affirmed (accepted) by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is
not new information but clarification. According to the Doctrine Paper, the Body
and Blood of Christ can be received in any one of 3 forms:
1. The traditional wheat host.
2. The “low–gluten” wheat host which is available from
Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
Altar Breads Department
31970 State Highway P
Clyde, MO 64432
1–800–223–2772
3. Wine only.
If option 2. is chosen, the “low–gluten” wheat host, in order to be practical and
avoid cross contamination, should be kept separate from other wheat hosts,
probably by keeping it in a pyx (a container usually used to hold the Consecrated
Host when taking it to the sick), and be consecrated in the regular part of the
Mass.
If option 3. is chosen, the Sacrament is complete. You do not need to receive a
consecrated Host of any kind. The Risen Lord is completely present in either
form or both.
Remember, when you are diagnosed as a Celiac, it is a DIET FOR LIFE
containing no wheat, barley, rye or contaminated oats.
From CSA Library Series
If you desire more information, use these websites:
1. The Vatican in Rome
NOTE: If this link does not work from here, copy the address
into your
browser and GO. The apparent blank
spaces in the address
are in fact underlines ( _ )
while the line between
redemptionis and
sacramentum is in fact a hyphen (-).
Or,
go to www.vatican.va; choose your language;
and search
for “redemptionis sacramentum”. The
3rd last search item
should be “year of the
Eucharist”. About 2/3 of the way
down the page
under “Other Documents”, the 3rd item is
the
document “Redemptionis Sacramentum”. The document
is a Preamble, eight Chapters and a Conclusion.
2. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
NOTE: If this link does not work from here, copy the address into your
browser and GO.
Or, go to www.usccb.org and search for “celiac
sprue”.
The first item should be “A Short Introduction
to Holy
Communion and Celiac Sprue Disease” from
the Committee
on the Liturgy. It is in Q & A format.
Regarding other denominations: You must find out from each denomination what
they require.
Consult your pastor.
[Anecdotally, a woman was having a terrible ascerbation of Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH). It stopped when she no longer received bread at her church
service.] |
