I am shocked and disgusted that anyone would question someone with celiac or other gluten intolerance. I first heard about celiac when a classmate was diagnosed shortly after we graduated (mid 70s). She was being evaluated for leukemia due to her severe symptoms. She sadly died young, probably as a result of her disease. In more recent years my fitness instructor had celiac and at the time there were few options. She spoke of going to an out of town wedding and literally not eating for two days. Some played pranks on her, such as one man who tricked her into drinking beer. She was sick for days.
I think unfortunately people who may have some slight intolerance have made it difficult for those who are really compromised. People start rolling their eyes when a guest starts taking about being dairy free, gluten free, blah blah blah.
It is not difficult to accommodate such issues. It seems receiving the Precious Blood from the cup is least likely to cause a problem. It is very difficult to prevent a low gluten host from being contaminated unless someone is extremely careful. As a Sacristan I may touch the regular hosts and were I to put a low gluten host into the separate pyx, there could be cross contamination.
You have done a great service to those who are unaware of the seriousness of celiac.
Thank you so much! I'm so sorry about your friend. So tragic. And absolutely unbelievable that anyone would intentionally deceive a celiac into eating gluten! What happened to your instructor is unconscionable. I agree that the trend of gluten free eating can make it difficult for celiacs, but it's not really the fault of those seeking better health. It's a good practice for all of us to simply believe others when they say they aren't well, and help them achieve their goals if it's within our ability to do so. It can also take many years for an accurate diagnosis, so even doctors have to respond to patient symptoms and continue to pursue discovery and healing. God bless you!
Thank you. The good news is my fitness instructor is happy, healthy and recently engaged. There are more options with GF food even in restaurants, grocery stores etc. My first parish had a separate line for parishioners with gluten intolerance. It’s just not that difficult. I’m truly shocked about the Seminarian, just as I was shocked by the guy who pranked my fitness instructor. This post will surely help people understand this illness more.
I go to a TLM parish relatively regularly, and they both offer low gluten hosts for those who desire them AND for one woman, they offer her the Precious Blood at the communion rail. I assume that if the other parishioners who take the low gluten hosts wanted to use the option of the Precious Blood, they would be permitted to do so without fanfare.
These parishioners simply join the end of the communion line and have never been refused to my knowledge.
The parish I was raised in had a new priest come during my teen years who was ordained late in life and he had previously battled alcoholism. They announced at every one of his Masses where the mustum would be in the church (which communion line) and they use pix with low gluten hosts as well. The person receives the pix from the Extraordinary Minister, opens it themselves and receives, to minimize contamination.
It literally never occurred to me that there would be parishes, priests and dioceses that would refuse accommodations.
That's wonderful! Thanks for sharing your experience. Many parishes are very welcoming. Sometimes it takes just one parishioner in need and one attentive pastor to make a helpful change. I think most who make accommodation difficult simply don't understand the mechanism of harm or the full teaching of the Church on substance and accidents. I'm hopeful that will continue to change for the better. :)
Melody, thanks for sharing this helpful and comprehensive guide! Our parish has several folks who receive from the chalice before the distribution of Communion begins, but I'd never seen it before our current parish. It boggles the mind that this is not a (more) common practice.
Thank you! I hope that parishes are willing to make a small adjustment in order to make this easier. I know some may believe they have no one who needs accommodation. They might be surprised by who comes forward if access is provided. So many just go along because they don't know the alternatives or don't want to make any waves.
Thank you for writing this article! We are a family of 7 with 3 celiacs, including my son. He received his First Holy Communion from the chalice only. Now he receives from the chalice even while serving at the altar regularly. Our parish is so accommodating! They announce before every weekend Mass that those needing to request accommodations can do so in the sacristy prior to Mass. In our huge parish we have over a dozen people receiving either low gluten hosts or Precious Blood only. Sometimes there are 6 individual chalices on the altar!
We’ve had good experiences requesting the Precious Blood only at parishes across the US. Only twice have they misunderstood and brought us the celebrant’s chalice, which we politely declined and made spiritual communions instead. I felt bad for one deacon who then had to consume half a chalice full! I sometimes ponder how specific to be in our request: do I say that a mere drip is enough for each of us?
Was the seminarian your son, Melody? Our celiac is the most likely of our children to have a vocation, so we’ll have to trial him on the low gluten host a few years down the road. For now, we will stick with the most cautious option available for him.
Hello Frances! Praise God that your experience has been so positive! How wonderful that your son has been treated with such kindness. I will pray today for his discernment. Yes, the seminarian was my son. I had his permission to include this part of his story.
I was horrified to read the story, and I'm even more sad to know it was your family's personal hardship. Much love and prayers for healing.
I will add that the many little humiliations I've experienced (having everyone watch me as I receive last, receive differently, or clarify my needs to a confused or frustrated extraordinary minister) have helped check my pride. Lord, help me bear them with grace!
Not meant to argue, just I am wondering about rite differences now. The Eastern rites often (for sure Byzantine, pretty sure Maronite, but I've not made a study of others) have leavened bread. Is the wheat, water, *and nothing else* requirement for the entire Church? Or is it for the Roman rite? (Understood that wheat will be necessarily part of it, so this isn't a question relating to a poss solution for those with celiac, etc. but just a theological sort of question in case you happen to know)
Hi Maria! I'm not that familiar with the Eastern rites but have heard that the difference is spiritual emphasis. East emphasizes resurrection (yeast as life) and West recalls Last Supper (Christ used unleavened bread). I've only ever had unleavened at Maronite liturgies so it seems they can do both.
I am shocked and disgusted that anyone would question someone with celiac or other gluten intolerance. I first heard about celiac when a classmate was diagnosed shortly after we graduated (mid 70s). She was being evaluated for leukemia due to her severe symptoms. She sadly died young, probably as a result of her disease. In more recent years my fitness instructor had celiac and at the time there were few options. She spoke of going to an out of town wedding and literally not eating for two days. Some played pranks on her, such as one man who tricked her into drinking beer. She was sick for days.
I think unfortunately people who may have some slight intolerance have made it difficult for those who are really compromised. People start rolling their eyes when a guest starts taking about being dairy free, gluten free, blah blah blah.
It is not difficult to accommodate such issues. It seems receiving the Precious Blood from the cup is least likely to cause a problem. It is very difficult to prevent a low gluten host from being contaminated unless someone is extremely careful. As a Sacristan I may touch the regular hosts and were I to put a low gluten host into the separate pyx, there could be cross contamination.
You have done a great service to those who are unaware of the seriousness of celiac.
Thank you so much! I'm so sorry about your friend. So tragic. And absolutely unbelievable that anyone would intentionally deceive a celiac into eating gluten! What happened to your instructor is unconscionable. I agree that the trend of gluten free eating can make it difficult for celiacs, but it's not really the fault of those seeking better health. It's a good practice for all of us to simply believe others when they say they aren't well, and help them achieve their goals if it's within our ability to do so. It can also take many years for an accurate diagnosis, so even doctors have to respond to patient symptoms and continue to pursue discovery and healing. God bless you!
Thank you. The good news is my fitness instructor is happy, healthy and recently engaged. There are more options with GF food even in restaurants, grocery stores etc. My first parish had a separate line for parishioners with gluten intolerance. It’s just not that difficult. I’m truly shocked about the Seminarian, just as I was shocked by the guy who pranked my fitness instructor. This post will surely help people understand this illness more.
I go to a TLM parish relatively regularly, and they both offer low gluten hosts for those who desire them AND for one woman, they offer her the Precious Blood at the communion rail. I assume that if the other parishioners who take the low gluten hosts wanted to use the option of the Precious Blood, they would be permitted to do so without fanfare.
These parishioners simply join the end of the communion line and have never been refused to my knowledge.
The parish I was raised in had a new priest come during my teen years who was ordained late in life and he had previously battled alcoholism. They announced at every one of his Masses where the mustum would be in the church (which communion line) and they use pix with low gluten hosts as well. The person receives the pix from the Extraordinary Minister, opens it themselves and receives, to minimize contamination.
It literally never occurred to me that there would be parishes, priests and dioceses that would refuse accommodations.
That's wonderful! Thanks for sharing your experience. Many parishes are very welcoming. Sometimes it takes just one parishioner in need and one attentive pastor to make a helpful change. I think most who make accommodation difficult simply don't understand the mechanism of harm or the full teaching of the Church on substance and accidents. I'm hopeful that will continue to change for the better. :)
Melody, thanks for sharing this helpful and comprehensive guide! Our parish has several folks who receive from the chalice before the distribution of Communion begins, but I'd never seen it before our current parish. It boggles the mind that this is not a (more) common practice.
Thank you! I hope that parishes are willing to make a small adjustment in order to make this easier. I know some may believe they have no one who needs accommodation. They might be surprised by who comes forward if access is provided. So many just go along because they don't know the alternatives or don't want to make any waves.
Thank you for writing this article! We are a family of 7 with 3 celiacs, including my son. He received his First Holy Communion from the chalice only. Now he receives from the chalice even while serving at the altar regularly. Our parish is so accommodating! They announce before every weekend Mass that those needing to request accommodations can do so in the sacristy prior to Mass. In our huge parish we have over a dozen people receiving either low gluten hosts or Precious Blood only. Sometimes there are 6 individual chalices on the altar!
We’ve had good experiences requesting the Precious Blood only at parishes across the US. Only twice have they misunderstood and brought us the celebrant’s chalice, which we politely declined and made spiritual communions instead. I felt bad for one deacon who then had to consume half a chalice full! I sometimes ponder how specific to be in our request: do I say that a mere drip is enough for each of us?
Was the seminarian your son, Melody? Our celiac is the most likely of our children to have a vocation, so we’ll have to trial him on the low gluten host a few years down the road. For now, we will stick with the most cautious option available for him.
Hello Frances! Praise God that your experience has been so positive! How wonderful that your son has been treated with such kindness. I will pray today for his discernment. Yes, the seminarian was my son. I had his permission to include this part of his story.
I was horrified to read the story, and I'm even more sad to know it was your family's personal hardship. Much love and prayers for healing.
I will add that the many little humiliations I've experienced (having everyone watch me as I receive last, receive differently, or clarify my needs to a confused or frustrated extraordinary minister) have helped check my pride. Lord, help me bear them with grace!
Not meant to argue, just I am wondering about rite differences now. The Eastern rites often (for sure Byzantine, pretty sure Maronite, but I've not made a study of others) have leavened bread. Is the wheat, water, *and nothing else* requirement for the entire Church? Or is it for the Roman rite? (Understood that wheat will be necessarily part of it, so this isn't a question relating to a poss solution for those with celiac, etc. but just a theological sort of question in case you happen to know)
Maria
Hi Maria! I'm not that familiar with the Eastern rites but have heard that the difference is spiritual emphasis. East emphasizes resurrection (yeast as life) and West recalls Last Supper (Christ used unleavened bread). I've only ever had unleavened at Maronite liturgies so it seems they can do both.