Alcoholics, Gluten Allergies, and the Eucharist

[Rock_Happy]

You describe an allergy - something that would trigger an anaphylactic reaction, which could affect the respiratory system. Wheat allergies are very rare, and a person with an allergy of this sensitivity would probably spend his life wearing protective filters, because wheat dust (flour, etc) is commonly found in the air.

Celiac disease is not an allergy - it is a dysfunction in the body’s immune system. The immune system attacks the celia lining the walls of the small intestine. The effect of accidental exposure to wheat by a celiac are stomach cramps. There is no systemic reaction (it cannot affect the heart or respiratory system), and a celiac cannot die from eating wheat. The low-gluten hosts offered by the Benedictine Sisters are safe for celiacs.

Baptism and Eucharist are both considered “generally necessary for salvation.” There are exceptions in both cases. An alcoholic with a wheat allergy (not celiac disease) may be dispensed from his general obligation to receive Eucharist at least once a year.

Of course, this also deprives him of the Grace of the Sacrament. Is it possible for a person to receive this Grace without actually consuming either the Body or Blood?

The Church recognizes “Baptism of Desire” - whereby the Grace of water Baptism may be imparted to someone who desires it but is somehow prevented from receiving it. This is an extraordinary (ie, not ordinary) means of receiving Baptismal Grace.

Many Catholic theologians have speculated that a similar mechanism might apply to Eucharist; this idea is often called “spiritual reception” or “reception by desire.” However, to my knowledge, the Church has never formally taught such a doctrine.

Gluten reactions can be severe, and while the average allergist would tell you that an anaphylactic reaction is an allergy, and not Celiac disease, many diagnosed Celiac patients report otherwise. There is a lot which is unknown about gluten sensitivities. Symptoms can range from skin rashes, foggy thinking, dementia, difficulty breathing, gastroinstestinal problems, joint problems. There is even a form of ataxia caused by gluten damage to the brain. It is becoming more common for neurologists to send patients for a Celiac workup. The gold standard test is an endoscopy. There is a genetic test which can rule out Celiac, but not confirm it, and there is an antibody test which is quite sensitive but not conclusive, as you must be eating gluten daily for several weeks prior to the test.

A wheat allergy test is a simple blood test. Just ask and allergist for a food allergy test. Wheat is covered. You should also test for environmental allergens at the same time. Food allergies in particular can be hard to track down.

I just happened to be listening to a gastroenterologist from Harvard yesterday, who also happens to run the Celiac center in Boston. He was talking of a new diagnosis which is catching on, which is: Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. People can have very severe reactions to gluten which are not understood yet, and which do not manifest GI damage which characterizes Celiac.

I would take your friend’s assessment seriously. Even when apparently symptomless, Celiac’s may be incurring internal damage to intestines resulting in nutritional deficiency, as well as brain damage and joint damage. A recent finding is that Celiac’s who believe that they are on a gluten free diet, usually are not. Consuming gluten for a Celiac has been found to increase the incidence of early dementia significantly, though there is no apparent difference in brain structure. It is a very insidious disease. Average time to diagnosis in the US was two years before first seeing an MD with symptoms, as recently as a year ago. Awareness is growing. Estimates were around 1% of the population, but have now been increased to more than 2%. It is not known why the incidence of autoimmune disorders is on the rise.

Anyone who suspects a gluten sensitivity can test it easily. Cut out barley, wheat and rye. You should feel better within three days, and continue to improve for up to a year (if you are Celiac). Keep in mind that wheat is in many foods, including soy sauce, beer, most clear soup broths. Read the labels.

Does anyone here know how you would receive a gluten free host? If you requested it, then would each celebrant have such a host in anticipation of your arrival?

 

[Corki]

Does anyone here know how you would receive a gluten free host? If you requested it, then would each celebrant have such a host in anticipation of your arrival?

There are no completely gluen free hosts. There are some that are extremely low gluten, however. The logistics depends on the parish. I know some parishes that keep a supply. Other parishes ask the Communicant to bring their own host, sometimes in their own pyx to prevent cross contamination, to each Mass.

 

[Rock_Happy]

This is not relevant to reception of the Eucharist.

Pax,
OA

You are hilarious.

 

[Will_S]

You are hilarious.

And he is truthful.

If you attempted to “palm the bread” at my parish, you could expect to be tackled and thrown out the doors after the precious body of Our Lord was removed from your grubby palm.

 

[Corki]

And he is truthful.

If you attempted to “palm the bread” at my parish, you could expect to be tackled and thrown out the doors after the precious body of Our Lord was removed from your grubby palm.

Rambo-ushers!

 

[Orleans_Attny]

You are hilarious.

I wasn’t trying to be pithy. The Episcopal communion that you describe bears only a shadowy and superficial resemblance to something lost through schism. And the actions you describe are not relevant to a Catholic because they belie the truth of the Eucharist and if a Catholic attempted those acts he or she would commit a grave abuse.

You words describe the difference without even intending it:

You partake of bread and wine.

I don’t.

Pax,
OA

 

[BellsSmells]

The issue of alcoholics being able to receive the Precious Blood can also be addressed by the use of mustum.

Consider the following quote regarding it (and low-gluten hosts):

“In recent years, the use of low-gluten hosts and mustum has become an option for those suffering from gluten or alcohol intolerance. Both low-gluten hosts and mustum possess valid matter. Low-gluten hosts are hosts that have a sufficient amount of gluten to obtain the confection of the bread and are free from any other additions or substituted ingredients. They must be prepared in a manner that does not alter the nature of the bread’s substance. Mustum is grape juice that has a very low alcohol content (less than 1.0%). It is either fresh or preserved by methods that suspend its fermentation without altering its nature (for example, freezing). As with the low-gluten hosts, it must not contain any additives. (See Vatican Protocol No. 98/78-17498 and the Nov. 2003 BCL Newsletter.) Through these alternatives, the Church seeks to aid the faithful in participating in the life of the Church.”

Source: Holy Communion for Catholics Suffering from Celiac Sprue Disease, Alcoholism, or Other Related Diseases.

With such options, valid Communion is available even in the rare case of an alcoholic (or someone with an alcohol intolerance) who also has a dangerous wheat allergy. Such people could elect not to receive the Host but instead consume the Precious Blood with which mustum was utilized). For such a person to be excluded from the Eucharist, he would have to be in a health situation that absolutely prohibited both the miniscule amount of alcohol and the miniscule amount of gluten available in these options. I know this is not a medical impossibility, but I think we could consider it an extreme rarity.

Mustum is prescribed for alcoholic priests so they can celebrate the Mass, not for alcoholic laity so they may receive under both kinds. However you make a great point. In the extreme scenario that the OP paints, I suspect a layperson would be given permission by their bishop to use mustem and receive only under the species of the Precious Blood which is allowed by canon law with good reason.

 

[Rock_Happy]

I wasn’t trying to be pithy. The Episcopal communion that you describe bears only a shadowy and superficial resemblance to something lost through schism. And the actions you describe are not relevant to a Catholic because they belie the truth of the Eucharist and if a Catholic attempted those acts he or she would commit a grave abuse.

You words describe the difference without even intending it:

You partake of bread and wine.

I don’t.

Pax,
OA

I meant that you made an irrelevant post about relevancy. I thought it was humorous, particularly from an atty. Obviously Catholics are often condescending about their faith. In some cases, they expect to be respected while they disrespect other faiths, and then wonder why they are not respected for that position.

But the point of this post is how can a celiac alcoholic partake of communion. The question was not what your opinion is on the sacraments of other Christian communities. So, your post struck me as an irrelevant post about relevancy, particularly considering the source.

 

[Rock_Happy]

Rambo-ushers!

Sounds like a very welcoming congregation. No wonder the Catholic Church is shrinking as a percentage of the population. At current rates it will be at less than 1% of it’s current foothold within my lifetime. Who knows if that will happen, but it would be a rather sad end to a 2,000+ year history.

It is really the topic of another thread, but as a person who was raised in the Catholic Church, and has some affection for it still, I wonder if there is any hope for its survival. The trends are ominous.

 

[Rock_Happy]

There are no completely gluten free hosts. There are some that are extremely low gluten, however. The logistics depends on the parish. I know some parishes that keep a supply. Other parishes ask the Communicant to bring their own host, sometimes in their own pyx to prevent cross contamination, to each Mass.

Yes… I thought that it was a requirement that the host contain gluten. There is a threshold which is used for food certification. Because it is an immune response, and sensitivity varies by individual, I guess each individual would have to try it and find out. Hopefully no explosive gastrointestinal issues immediately after communion. That usually takes 10-30 minutes for the extremely sensitive. The reaction rate can depend on how finely the flour is ground. Soy sauce, for example, often evokes a strong and nearly immediate immune response because it is liquid and absorbed so quickly. The rapidity of the reaction, and its severity depends on a number of factors. But one of the hazards of a gluten reaction is that even if the patient is unaware of the reaction, there can be internal damage. For example, osteoporosis can be caused by gluten sensitivity. The immune system attacks the small intestine which results in nutrient mal-absorption. One of the more common types is calcium. Your small intestine absorbs differing nutrients at different points, so depending on the location of damage, you may experience very specific and narrow nutrient deficiencies. It is a difficult risk/benefit calculation for the celiac who wants to live a normal life.

 

[Corki]

Sounds like a very welcoming congregation. No wonder the Catholic Church is shrinking as a percentage of the population. At current rates it will be at less than 1% of it’s current foothold within my lifetime. Who knows if that will happen, but it would be a rather sad end to a 2,000+ year history.

It is really the topic of another thread, but as a person who was raised in the Catholic Church, and has some affection for it still, I wonder if there is any hope for its survival. The trends are ominous.

You would be surprised. Defending the Eucharist against desecration sends a powerful message to all about our belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This is a trend in the right direction.

 

[ConstantineTG]

In the Byzantine Rite we use a spoon to administer the Eucharist to a layperson. With the spoon you can give a very tiny amount of the Precious Blood that even babies can receive this way. Perhaps alcoholics who can’t take wheat should come to a Byzantine parish and receive this way?

 

[Rock_Happy]

You would be surprised. Defending the Eucharist against desecration sends a powerful message to all about our belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This is a trend in the right direction.

Defending the Eucharist… explain why it needs to be defended, please. Sounds like weakness and insecurity to me. So, please clarify.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Yes… I thought that it was a requirement that the host contain gluten. There is a threshold which is used for food certification. Because it is an immune response, and sensitivity varies by individual, I guess each individual would have to try it and find out. Hopefully no explosive gastrointestinal issues immediately after communion. That usually takes 10-30 minutes for the extremely sensitive. The reaction rate can depend on how finely the flour is ground. Soy sauce, for example, often evokes a strong and nearly immediate immune response because it is liquid and absorbed so quickly. The rapidity of the reaction, and its severity depends on a number of factors. But one of the hazards of a gluten reaction is that even if the patient is unaware of the reaction, there can be internal damage. For example, osteoporosis can be caused by gluten sensitivity. The immune system attacks the small intestine which results in nutrient mal-absorption. One of the more common types is calcium. Your small intestine absorbs differing nutrients at different points, so depending on the location of damage, you may experience very specific and narrow nutrient deficiencies. It is a difficult risk/benefit calculation for the celiac who wants to live a normal life.

The Benedictine sisters worked for YEARS to come up with a way to provide a low-gluten host that would pass all the requirements to be consecrated. At one point when I called them they had given up on the attempt, and I was very downhearted. But they persevered, and eventually they did succeed in producing a very low-gluten host which has enough valid matter to be consecrated. It is also a low enough amount not to cause any reactions for even very sensitive celiacs.

Low gluten altar bread

I know more than one celiac who takes Communion every week, and gets her antibodies tested at least once a year, and she has had no rise in her antibodies since she began receiving this host.

The Sisters were hit with a severe storm on August 18th and their altar bread production has been affected. Please support them if you can, if you know anyone who uses the LG hosts. They are an amazing blessing for people with celiac disease.

 

[LittleSoldier]

My Episcopal church will let you request gluten free bread for communion. I am not quite sure how that would work during the actual service, as there are two lines for communion. I am gluten intolerant, but not alcoholic. I just palm the bread and drink the wine, otherwise it can be awkward. One pastor knows that I skip the bread.

I understand why an alcoholic would not want to drink alcohol, and I respect that. However, I also don’t think that wetting the lips with wine is intoxicating. In the case of gluten, just a few crumbs can evoke an immune response.

You “palm the bread and drink the wine, otherwise it can be awkward.”

This is a very sad statement and shows that an understanding of Holy Communion is completely lacking. You see, Catholics can’t “palm the bread and drink the wine,” no matter how awkward it would be. That is because the bread is no longer bread but the Body of Jesus and the wine is no longer wine but His precious Blood, spilled for our sins and to open the gates of heaven for us.

If, in the Episcopal Church, the faithful eat bread and drink wine they are certainly not partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ.

And that makes me very sad.

What would anger me is that anyone would knowingly wad up the Body of Christ in his/her palm and then dispose of it as trash. I realize that you are not doing this as you stated you palm bread. But I have heard of this happening in a Catholic Church where sometimes the Blessed Host is found in an envelope in one of the pews. And it has been going on for months.

Is my post relevant to this thread? Absolutely. Showing respect to God is always relevant.

I don’t know what else to say here. I’m just overwhelmed.

 

[theowarner]

I also don’t think that wetting the lips with wine is intoxicating.

Certainly not intoxicating, but alcoholics can experience an almost painful anxiety around alcohol, exacerbated by the scent and taste of alcohol. No alcoholic should feel any pressure to expose himself to alcohol, even in the Eucharist.