Child allergic to host

[cyberwolf001]

The reactions I’ve seen on this board aren’t unexpected, although I have to say I’m disappointed in the number of people who genuinely don’t seem to think such cases exist.

Your story makes a very strong statement about a spot on which the Church would have to change…

So sadly the response from many will be cover there ears and go ‘LALALALALALA!’

 

[Woodstock]

Your story makes a very strong statement about a spot on which the Church would have to change…

So sadly the response from many will be cover there ears and go ‘LALALALALALA!’

If someone were completely unable to swallow foods, would we say his IV solution can be turned into the Eucharist? There are reasons people are unable to share in the Lord’s Supper in a physical way. The Lord, through the Church, gives us other means of coming to Him. The only thing that needs to change is educating people on their response.

No one should see the struggles of a child desiring union with God and plug his ears to say la la la la la. He should help that child, with compassion and grace, to find that union he, as we all are, is called to. He isn’t going to find it in rice crackers, whether the Episcopalians or some well-meaning Catholics give it to him. Why would we feed him with lies when we could introduce him to a life in God in other ways? What needs to change is the faithful Catholics’ response, not the Church.

 

[benedictgal]

This is indeed a very sad case. However, the Church is very firm in her stance regarding the matter for the Host. As pointed out in Redemptionis Sacramentum:

[96.] The practice is reprobated whereby either unconsecrated hosts or other edible or inedible things are distributed during the celebration of Holy Mass or beforehand after the manner of Communion, contrary to the prescriptions of the liturgical books. For such a practice in no way accords with the tradition of the Roman Rite, and carries with it the danger of causing confusion among Christ’s faithful concerning the Eucharistic doctrine of the Church.

As a non-Catholic, Blessedbe, you may think that this is highly insensitive to the circumstances of the child in question. It has never been the intent of the Church to deny someone the sacraments. However, the Church is bound by sacred order to follow this very important rubric. Although a previous post suggested this, the matter for the unleavened bread the Church uses cannot be changed. It is very specific and has been so for centuries. It is one of those immovable things that cannot be touched. In fact, the rubrics make it very clear that the ingredients are very specific. The slightest deviation from the formula renders the bread invalid and illicit for use in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

As another thread member said, there is nothing that would preclude the child from making a spiritual communion. It may not sound like the best solution in the world; however, it is the only option given the child’s physical condition. He is able to receive the other sacraments, such as Confession, Confirmation, the annointing of the sick (although, if he does have the condition you described, I do not know what his reaction would be to virgin olive oil, since that is the substance used for annointings, or, even the chrism essence, which is added to the oil used for confirmation). In other words, the child is not cut off from the sacramental life of the Church.

To give him “communion” under a form that is contrary to what the Church prescribes is to make a mockery of the Blessed Sacrament and to fool the child into thinking that he is receiving Jesus. That would be a most cruel thing to do to his spiritual life. The Church cannot sanction a fabrication. Please understand that.

 

[TDiGaetano]

I’m wondering what you all think about this. Some years ago, I was a teacher in a Catholic school. I had a student with severe, life-threatening allergies. The list of foods he could eat would fit on a post-it note. Neither bread nor wine was an option for him. Needless to say, when he became old enough for his first Communion, there was a general uproar. The child’s parents requested a special host for their son so he could participate in his religion without, well, dying shortly thereafter.

Parish opinion was deeply divided. Most felt the child shouldn’t be punished just for the way he was born. Of course, others said too bad, the recipe cannot be changed. The boy had an almost saintly desire to have Communion; if you’ve ever known a child with a terminal illness who just seems wise beyond their years, you understand what I mean.

The request was refused. Eventually the family left the parish and moved away. I don’t know what became of them, but I do know their leaving was a direct result of this issue.

I’ll state upfront that although I spent several years working closely with this parish, I am not even a Christian, much less a Catholic. I’m pretty well-versed in your beliefs, but I’m sure there are things I will simply never understand. This is one of them, and I’m curious to hear what people think about it.

To me, if a person has a deep and genuine desire to participate fully in their religion, an affliction outside their control should not be permitted to get in the way. It all seems incredibly unfair and to this day I still think of that little boy. I have an extremely hard time picturing Jesus saying to a child, “Sorry, you can’t partake of this sacrament because it has to be wheat.” This does not mesh at all with the image I have of Jesus Christ, or of God the loving father. In fact to me it’s more like the “soup Nazi” on Seinfeld - “No soup for you!”

I’m interested in hearing everyone’s thoughts on this.

When the bread and the wine become consecrated we believe through transubstantiation that the bread and wine become the body and blood of christ. If the child is of age and developed in the faith to recieve his first Communion then let him recieve it. Make sure the child is free of his sins through confession before he recieves the host.

Over the centuries the church has seen many miricles involving the Eucharist. The body and blood of christ will either free the child of his suffering and unite him with our Lord in heaven or it will fill him with the grace of God as it does for any Catholic who truely believes and believes in this Blessed Sacrament.

I would recommend to pray over this, but when it comes down to it only God can save us. So don’t view Communion as a piece of bread or a drop of wine, view it as the True Body and Blood of our Lord. No one who truely believes in what Christ has done and established on earth should be denied to recieve the Body and Blood of our Lord.

 

[Phemie]

I don’t see how your reply addresses the OP’s question. Yes, the bread & wine become the Body & Blood of Christ. Believing that in no way changes the fact that the incidents of bread and wine remain so that eating the Body of Christ will cause problem to those who are allergic to wheat or have Celiac disease & drinking the Blood of Christ will make you drunk if you consume a large amount or will create problems if you’re allergic to any component of wine.

That said, we can’t change the fact that wheat bread and pure grape wine must be used for the matter to be valid so the child in question has only the option of spiritual Communion.

Properly catechized parents would know that and accept the situation.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I hope they have the kid carry and EPI pen or two with them and some prednisone and some diphenhydramine.

My daughter and I have severe reactions to chemicals and EPI pen is a literal life saver. When our daughter was at any type of function she had the pen in her position.

The public schools in our district do not allow self-medication nor for the teachers to give even prescribed medication to a child. There is to be a designated medical professional that is not employed by the school that gives any medication off of the school grounds. NO EXCEPTIONS. We have one full time and one part time school nurse for the district. So a child with this kind of severe limitations would be considered for only homebound teaching or in a medical setting.

If a child has a severe food allergy and the simple solution of having them eat at a separate table in a designated area is not enough then the child is referred for homebound schooling. The school will not take on the responsibility for a simple mistake by the other children or staff.

 

[twosweetgirls]

I’ve been reading this post with much interest. BlessedBe, you are to be commended for your rational train of thought and the respectful, intelligent way you articulate yourself.

Does this child know about or go to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament? Sounds like that might be a perfect way for him to adore and spiritually “ingest” his Saviour like this! How very cool that you see the depth in this kid’s heart to know that he gets WHO the Eucharist actually is. I hope he’s able to go to Adoration.

 

[oremus]

This child could still receive communion using the new low-gluten hosts that the sisters in MO make. The 2 wheat starches that are used are so purified of the gluten (which is the protein part of wheat) that for all intents and purposes they are gluten and protein free. Yes, I know that this kid doesn’t have celiac disease, but it’s the protein in wheat that causes the reactions in both celiac disease and wheat allergy.

I have celiac disease and also severe casein allergy (protein in dairy). The only dairy product that I can use is ghee - clarified butter. All the milk solids, therefore protein, has been removed from the product.

If this kid was this reactive to wheat, then the classroom would have contained no clay, no paint, no stickers, no glue, no chapstick, no hand lotion, no handsoap, etc.

 

[GandalfTheWhite]

Well, this is a very bad situation but the fact is that matter matters in consecration and thus if someone has such an extreme allergy he can’t have a replacement. Now what to do? Well, I guess there are two option. Either let him participate or not. One one hand, what would be a better way of dying for the kid then during his first communion? On the other hand that sounds very drastic and if I had a child who suffered from such allergies I probably wouldn’t look at it this way.

All I can say is that God is merciful and I strongly believe that he would give the child many graces in order for him to join the communion of saints even if he would never consumed the Eucharist.

 

[Corki]

The public schools in our district do not allow self-medication nor for the teachers to give even prescribed medication to a child. There is to be a designated medical professional that is not employed by the school that gives any medication off of the school grounds. NO EXCEPTIONS. We have one full time and one part time school nurse for the district. So a child with this kind of severe limitations would be considered for only homebound teaching or in a medical setting.

At the risk of going OT, this is very sad. I was recently involved in helping a school prepare summary documents for staff. In our district, self-medication and/or teacher administration are also prohibited but epi-pens and asthma inhalers were specifically exempted from the prohibition (with proper medical documentation, of course). Sometimes school districts do not seem to exhibit common sense.

I had a cousin who had to attend school in a medical setting school. I don’t know why those aren’t more prevalent. They are a much more social setting than home bound care and more cost effective too.

 

[THurifer2]

At the risk of going OT, this is very sad. I was recently involved in helping a school prepare summary documents for staff. In our district, self-medication and/or teacher administration are also prohibited but epi-pens and asthma inhalers were specifically exempted from the prohibition (with proper medical documentation, of course). Sometimes school districts do not seem to exhibit common sense.

I had a cousin who had to attend school in a medical setting school. I don’t know why those aren’t more prevalent. They are a much more social setting than home bound care and more cost effective too.

Two words Parochial School

 

[Phemie]

Two words Parochial School

Fine and dandy where they exist but not everyone has access to such.

 

[Newbie2]

Are there gluten-free hosts available?

In our parish we have a couple of people who cannot take the host, but fortunately can take the cup.

Now if we could only get all of our EMEs to not frown on these people taking only from the cup…

 

[Phemie]

Are there gluten-free hosts available?

In our parish we have a couple of people who cannot take the host, but fortunately can take the cup.

Now if we could only get all of our EMEs to not frown on these people taking only from the cup…

Gluten-free hosts are not valid matter.

There are low-gluten hosts but if this child is as allergic as stated by the OP those would not be suitable.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I do wonder about the “catholic” school that hires non-christians. When I taught in a faith based school I had to be of the same faith or one compatible with them. In fact we had to sign a contract that stated our beliefs and that when not teaching we were still bound to the rules of the church.

 

[Newbie2]

Gluten-free hosts are not valid matter.

There are low-gluten hosts but if this child is as allergic as stated by the OP those would not be suitable.

So there are no gluten-free wheat hosts available, then?

It’s my understanding that it’s possible, thought difficult, to remove gluten from wheat. Perhaps it’s not commercially available?

 

[iamrefreshed]

I can’t recall the whole list. I remember that he could have pork, lamb, rice and peas. I think the rest were fruits. But specific ones (and grapes not among them).

Where would you have the church draw the line on what could be used as host? I’d be interested to hear your recommendation.

 

[Phemie]

So there are no gluten-free wheat hosts available, then?

It’s my understanding that it’s possible, thought difficult, to remove gluten from wheat. Perhaps it’s not commercially available?

There ARE gluten-free hosts available, unfortunately they are not valid matter so can’t be used in the Catholic Church.

 

[neophyte]

Exactly. I suggest no human who is allergic enough to require a 911 call after his arm came in contact with cracker crumbs could be educated in a typical classroom setting with 20+ other kids.

An elementary school in a town near me had a kid whose peanut allergy was so severe that if the wrapper of a peanut butter cracker were in the room, he’d go into anaphylactic shock from the fumes. They had to ban all outside food from the building.

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

An elementary school in a town near me had a kid whose peanut allergy was so severe that if the wrapper of a peanut butter cracker were in the room, he’d go into anaphylactic shock from the fumes. They had to ban all outside food from the building.

WHAT DID THE POOR KIDS EAT FOR LUNCH THEN??
What did the poor kid do if classmates ate peanuts for breakfast and did not brush their teeth??
I can tell you I would of had an issue with this ruling as would my kids!