1st Holy Communion--Wheat Wafer Only?

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GoodSamaritan:
A story about an 8 year old girl who is deathly allergic to gluten, which is in wheat. Her First COmmunion was invalidated because she did not take a wheat wafer–is this legalism at its’ worst?
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“Legalism”? No.

In order to be valid, the bread used for the Eucharist must be made of only wheat and water.

Roman Catholic tradition also calls for unleavened bread, however, if leaven is used, the Eucharist is only illict, not invalid (and, our Eastern Catholic and Orthodox brethern do use leavened wheat bread for their Communion).

If a priest attempts to use anything other than wheat bread, then the validation of the Eucharist according to the Church cannot objectively happen – no matter how much the priest/recepient may intend it or how clearly the priest says the words of Consecration (the requirements for a valid sacrament are proper matter, proper form, and proper intent–the lack of any one of those means that the sacrament is no longer valid)

This is not legalism on the part of the Church, but the Church’s recognition that the Church does not have the authority to change the matter required for the confection of the sacrament. Jesus used bread and wine – the Church does not feel it has the authority to change this.

If the Church were not strict about this, you would find all sorts of abuses going on, such as attempted consecration of pizza or grape juice. :rolleyes:

Those who suffer from disease or intolerance towards gluten (found in wheat) are able to either partake A) only of the Precious Blood (the complete reality of the Eucharist is present in both the Host and Cup – only one is required to receive Communion) or B) through the use of low-gluten hosts, wheat hosts that are specially manufactured in order to be able to be tolerated and still ok to use under Church law.

In the case in NJ that you are referring to, the mother was offered both of these options and refused! Her daughter could have only received of the Precious Blood and been perfectly fine. Instead, another priest contacted her and offered to do it instead, in defiance of Church teaching :mad: and tried to consecrate a rice wafer – something that is not in the wheat family and is therefore not only illict, but completely invalid. Therefore – the Church has ruled that the child’s Communion was invalid and other arrangements will have to be made (ie, she will either have to only receive the Precious Blood or receive Communion with a consecrated approved low-gluten host.)

Hope this helps,

+veritas+
 
I have chatted with non-Catholics who have insisted that they, too, celebrate the Lord’s Last Supper with a Eucharist. One has said that his own mother consecrates the species in their home. Another has said that he and his buddies did so using ~ yes, pizza and coca-cola. Both of these individuals were entirely sincere in their beliefs that “their” holy communion was just as valid as the one the Catholics practice, having only a duly ordained priest utter the words of Consecration over very specific matter. Yes, they see our Faith as ‘legalistic.’
But without following these laws, soon, anything goes.
And they believe that their “sacrifice” was just as pleasing to the Lord as the Catholic Eucharist (if not, moreso.) :nope:
 
Why is CBS News so preoccupied with this story? Did anyone check out the link that our friend GoodSamaritan posted when posing the question? The other stories, mostly negative reflections of the Catholic Church, have caused me to question the motives of the news organization.

GoodSamaritan, the answer to your question is that this unfortunate girl did not have her Sacrament taken away from her. The Diocese of Trenton did not invalidate her First Holy Communion; it announced that it was never valid.

The Eucharist can also be taken in the form of the Blood of Christ (wine). Does her medical condition prohibit her from taking the Eucharist in this form? Also, it is not required that she take a complete Host, a small fraction is valid Communion. Can she not take just the smallest portion? When I take Communion to the sick at our local hospital the staff in the intensive-care-unit allow me to give even the sickest patients, those that normally prohibit taking anything via mouth, the smallest portion of the Host.
 
I can’t believe anybody would consider the secular media as being valid reporting 🙂

This comes up every year lately and should be considered church bashing. The are so many alternatives that it seems a waste of tine reiterating them every year.

Where were all these wheat people ten years ago ?
Where is the documentation that she is so sensitive that she will fall into a coma and die if she consumes a recognizable flake of a low
glutton host once a week or month ?
Is she sensitive to wine also.

This is blown way out of proportion again this year.
 
Bud Stewart:
Why is CBS News so preoccupied with this story? Did anyone check out the link that our friend GoodSamaritan posted when posing the question? The other stories, mostly negative reflections of the Catholic Church, have caused me to question the motives of the news organization.
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COngratulations, Bud. 🙂

In truth, the scales are removed from your eyes, and you are seeing reality. Yes, the media does have a motive.

Sensationalism over truth.
 
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