Gluten intolerant: How do you ask for blessing?

[Mrs_Sally]

There are several people with celiac disease in my parish. We do not normally distribute both species, but they receive the Precious Blood. They let the church know which Mass they will be attending either by calling ahead or checking in at the sacristy 10 minutes or so before Mass (note: not in the last 2 minutes before Mass!)

The priest then has a separate small chalice on the altar which he consecrates but does not put the fractured host into. Those receiving go up to the side of the altar and receive from that chalice.

One of the people that went on the World Youth Day piligrimage has celiac and she received this way at almost every Mass. When we had Mass with other groups and our priest did not preside, she prayed a spiritual communion.

To the OP, speak to the priest at your home parish and work out a system that he is comfortable with. When you are travelling, if you can, call the parish ahead of time and ask them how they handle communion for those with celiac. If they don’t have a method, or you can’t call ahead, pray a spiritual communion in your pew. We all receive a blessing at the end of Mass.

 

[pamnbam]

There are several people with celiac disease in my parish. We do not normally distribute both species, but they receive the Precious Blood. They let the church know which Mass they will be attending either by calling ahead or checking in at the sacristy 10 minutes or so before Mass (note: not in the last 2 minutes before Mass!)

The priest then has a separate small chalice on the altar which he consecrates but does not put the fractured host into. Those receiving go up to the side of the altar and receive from that chalice.

This is exactly how it’s done at my parish. It only takes a little prep from the priest, and the communicant is able to receive when the EMHCs line up to receive. Please inquire at your parish about this method; there is no reason you can’t receive the Precious Blood.

 

[icamay]

Some places do this others do not as you have found out. It is not a practice that is instituted by the Church. I know others with your problem and they just receive the Blood. Is there a reason you can’t do this?

If the host is in the wine, it can be enough gluten to trigger an attack for a highly sensitive celiac. Different people have different degrees of gluten intolerance.

 

[puzzleannie]

Can I receive a blessing or not? Is there a universal rule. .

no there is no universal rule because it is not part of the Mass. My suggestion would be to try it only when an express invitation is made from the pulpit as it is by no means a custom everywhere or even most places.

It is hard when traveling but by all means make sure you know the priest in your home parish knows to stock low-gluten hosts for you, or to arrange that you can receive from a chalice which has not received the faction of the host.

 

[Eric_Olsen]

I started a thread on this. I went up for a blessing one Sunday because I was not in a state of grace. The priest shoved a host in my mouth when I asked him. I went to confession the following Saturday. Father indicated, that the communion line is for just that. There is no need to ask for a blessing because everyone gets a blessing at the final one at the end of mass.

I’m gluten intolerant. I was told I could go up to communion and just ask the priest for a blessing. The first time went good. The next time I went to a deacon and he looked at me weird and said he couldn’t do that. I was embarrassed so did not return to communion for awhile. Tried it again and this priest looked at me funny too. Can I receive a blessing or not? Is there a universal rule. We travel a little bit and it is less embarrassing to not go up.