Gluton free host?

[Lance]

If this has been discussed I apologize. I am an Extraordinary Minister, last week I was acting as the leader of the EMs which we call Service Minister. A lady brought a host to me in a plastic baggie and said her daughter was gluton intollerent and would I put the host in a pix and place it on the alter, she said that is the way they do it at 7am mass, we were at a later mass. I was uncertain what to do so I took the host from her and took it to Father, he said to bring it up when I brought the cups for the Precious Blood and place it on the alter. I told him that I was almost certain that gluton free is not the correct form for the host, he said it was OK so I did it. I did not want to argue with him in the narthex just before mass. When the little girl came up I gave it to her. My question is what should I have done, I am about 95% certain that gluton free host should not be used. What should I do in the future. Should I bring this to the attention of the bishop?

 

[Karin]

Oh boy…is their a reason this person could of not recieved the chalice instead?
Ans since when can you supply your own hosts for communion?

 

[Sparky]

If this has been discussed I apologize. I am an Extraordinary Minister, last week I was acting as the leader of the EMs which we call Service Minister. A lady brought a host to me in a plastic baggie and said her daughter was gluton intollerent and would I put the host in a pix and place it on the alter, she said that is the way they do it at 7am mass, we were at a later mass. I was uncertain what to do so I took the host from her and took it to Father, he said to bring it up when I brought the cups for the Precious Blood and place it on the alter. I told him that I was almost certain that gluton free is not the correct form for the host, he said it was OK so I did it. I did not want to argue with him in the narthex just before mass. When the little girl came up I gave it to her. My question is what should I have done, I am about 95% certain that gluton free host should not be used. What should I do in the future. Should I bring this to the attention of the bishop?

There are hosts that are mostly gluten free, but not entirely. You might want to make sure it wasn’t one of those, because those are okay. They have enough gluten to make them proper matter, but not enough to effect those with cyliac disease.

Is there any reason why the girl doesn’t just receive the cup?
–Ann

 

[Lance]

There are hosts that are mostly gluten free, but not entirely. You might want to make sure it wasn’t one of those, because those are okay. They have enough gluten to make them proper matter, but not enough to effect those with cyliac disease.

Is there any reason why the girl doesn’t just receive the cup?
–Ann

I don’t know why she did not receive the cup. I noticed that she did not receive it after she got the host, I am reluctant to call it the Euchrist even though it may well have been. I do plan to bring this up at our next EM meeting, but that is not for 5 or 6 months, so we are clear on how it is to be handled.

I also just realized I posted this in the wrong thread so if the Mods want to move it they should feel free to do so.

 

[I_A]

I know for certain that low gluten hosts are acceptable. I don’t think gluten free hosts are acceptable.

usccb.org/liturgy/innews/1103.shtml

 

[Rawb]

There is an extremely orthodox woman at my parish who has cyliac’s (sp?) disease. She’s in the choir, so I’ve seen her go up before everyone else (while the priest is administering to the Extrodinary Ministers and recieve her special host. She told us about it once, it contains a very miniscule amount of gluten, enough to be consecrated but to not affect her.

The danger of the cup (she said) is that sometimes bit of someone else’s host may remain on the brim or mix with the blood (I think she said that, maybe this is wrong…) and that it could cause a reaction in her.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Did the woman say that it was gluton free? What I would want to verify with the priest is whether it was low-gluten or gluen-free. Also, did he supply the family with the hosts or did they acquire them somewhere else. That’s one thing that would concern me; if hosts are not provided and stored by the church there is no guarantee that gluten-free hosts have been substituted by a well-meaning parent.

 

[Karin]

Also, did he supply the family with the hosts or did they acquire them somewhere else. That’s one thing that would concern me; if hosts are not provided and stored by the church there is no guarantee that gluten-free hosts have been substituted by a well-meaning parent.

Exactly…**since when did we start bringing our own hosts to Mass? **

 

[Brenda_V]

There are other dangers for the celiac in receiving from the precious blood than a piece of regular host on the cup - some lipsticks have wheat in them and even though you wipe the cup off some might remain.

The fact that the mom had the host is not to me a bad thing. You can purchase unconsecrated hosts from many sources. Remember they are only pieces of bread until they are consecrated! Your Priest knew about them so he must know about them and that they are probably the low-gluten kind that the family purchased special for the child (it makes it really easy for them to travel if they have their own unconsecrated hosts). So, supplying your own unconsecrated host for Communion is to me a proper and good solution for the person with Celiac or who is more sensitive to wheat than I am (I can tolerate one host a week).

Chances are she said “gluten free” because it is easier for most to understand what they mean. I know when I go to the restaurant I tell the wait-person that I am allergic to tomatoes and wheat (I am allergic to tomatoes but only highly sensitive to wheat) and I will get my special request done right.

If you are still uncomfortable with this ask your Priest about it - he can set your mind at ease.

Brenda V.

 

[jemfinch]

If I remember correctly, the priest also rubs his fingers over the cup prior to distributing it, lest any host fall from his fingers to the floor.

(At least, I’ve seen some do it )

Jeremy

 

[puzzleannie]

If , I am about 95% certain that gluton free host should not be used. What should I do in the future. Should I bring this to the attention of the bishop?

why are you sure? there is an approved host for people with this intolerance, and it sounds like both the mother and the priest are aware of it and have handled the problem admirably. I don’t see why the parish should not supply the hosts, why it is left up to the parent, but it is up to the priest to make this judgement, not the EMHC. Why do you assume the priest is allowing invalid matter to be used?

 

[jemfinch]

why are you sure?

Because the wafer must be wheat, and wheat always contains gluten.

there is an approved host for people with this intolerance,

It’s low-gluten, not gluten-free, though.

Jeremy

 

[Lance]

why are you sure? there is an approved host for people with this intolerance, and it sounds like both the mother and the priest are aware of it and have handled the problem admirably. I don’t see why the parish should not supply the hosts, why it is left up to the parent, but it is up to the priest to make this judgement, not the EMHC. Why do you assume the priest is allowing invalid matter to be used?

Because she said gluton free, not low gluton. As another poster said, she could have said gluton free just for simplicity. Even if it was gluton free I was not absolutly certain that it was invalid and wanted to see what you people thought before pursuing the matter. I agree it is up to the priest to make the call on the spot, that’s why I did what he asked me to do. It’s just that if he is wrong I would like to bring it to his attention. As I said the parish did not supply this host, she brought it from home. I have no idea where she got it.

I think I will bring it up with our Director of Liturgy. Then she could publish some parish guidlines for both the EMs and the rest of the parish, then we will all be ‘singing from the same page’.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

What makes this seem fishy to me is that this person approached an EMHC. If this is a known issue then shouldn’t she have approached the priest?

It is the priests job to place items on the altar and to do the consecration, not the EMHC.

Something just doesn’t seem right here.

Rather than waiting for the EMHC meeting I would take it right to the pastor now.

 

[puzzleannie]

I agree it is up to the priest to make the call on the spot, that’s why I did what he asked me to do. It’s just that if he is wrong I would like to bring it to his attention. As I said the parish did not supply this host, she brought it from home. I have no idea where she got it.
.

i am missing something, i thought you said you did bring it up to the priest and he made a decision. Why didn’t you ask for further clarification right after Mass, and suggest that the priest inform all EMHCs about this family and their situation, and what arrangement has been made, so there will be no further confusion, and possible embarrasment to the mother if she is indeed “following the rules” set up by the priest. I don’t understand why you have to ask us for permission to discuss this with the priest.

 

[gelsbern]

Exactly…**since when did we start bringing our own hosts to Mass? **

Actually in the primitive Church Everyone brought their own bread, we still see a remnant of this today when the gifts are brought to the altar.

In the regards to them bringing in a host in a pyx and such, I think this is one of the best solutions I have heard of for those with the disease. It takes the burden to remember that special host off of father, and seems like it can be done discretely enough to not cause a big disturbance.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

What makes this seem fishy to me is that this person approached an EMHC. If this is a known issue then shouldn’t she have approached the priest?

It is the priests job to place items on the altar and to do the consecration, not the EMHC.

Something just doesn’t seem right here.

Rather than waiting for the EMHC meeting I would take it right to the pastor now.

Right, the EMHC should’ve dragged the woman by the ear in front of the priest to explain herself.

 

[Brenda_V]

What makes this seem fishy to me is that this person approached an EMHC. If this is a known issue then shouldn’t she have approached the priest?

It is the priests job to place items on the altar and to do the consecration, not the EMHC.

Something just doesn’t seem right here.

Rather than waiting for the EMHC meeting I would take it right to the pastor now.

Not to me - the Priest knew about it (apparently) and he wanted the unconsecrated low-gluten host place in the pyx with the other unconsecrated hosts to be brought up to the altar at the appropriate time. If the EMHC is the one setting this table up then the EMHC is the one who should be given the special host to place it where it belongs. (I may have read this info. wrong though)

I agree that perhaps the rest of the EMHC’s who might be involved in this need to be made aware of the special needs so they don’t end up in the same situation the OP was put in. I don’t think it needs to be announced to all the ministries - how would you like it if the entire Parish knew you had high blood pressure or diabetes or whatever?

I do agree that this should be addressed sooner rather than later and you should talk directly to the Priest as he seems to know what is going on. Of course, if this isn’t one of those special very low gluten hosts then the family needs to be put in contact with the Convent of Nuns who make them so they can get them. Maybe they even have a special imprint on them from the baking process so any Priest any where will know that it is valid matter and the celiac person can then carry an unconsecrated host with them when on vacation.

I do understand the OP’s concern as not that long ago a little girl was given a rice cracker as her First Communion host - not valid matter at all and her Bishop said she hadn’t made her First Communion at all! This made national news but in this instance the mom was so unreasonable.

So, OP call your Parish office and ask the Priest out right what he knows about the host. Bring up that instance about the girl and rice crackers if you must and let him know that you do know of the existance of a very low gluten host that is valid matter and you really wanted to make sure that is what it was and then let him know that he needs to make sure all those who may need to know about this families situation know.

Brenda V.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

If this has been discussed I apologize. I am an Extraordinary Minister, last week I was acting as the leader of the EMs which we call Service Minister. A lady brought a host to me in a plastic baggie and said her daughter was gluton intollerent and would I put the host in a pix and place it on the alter, she said that is the way they do it at 7am mass, we were at a later mass. I was uncertain what to do so I took the host from her and took it to Father, he said to bring it up when I brought the cups for the Precious Blood and place it on the alter. I told him that I was almost certain that gluton free is not the correct form for the host, he said it was OK so I did it. I did not want to argue with him in the narthex just before mass. When the little girl came up I gave it to her. My question is what should I have done, I am about 95% certain that gluton free host should not be used. What should I do in the future. Should I bring this to the attention of the bishop?

Placing it in a pyx and giving it to Father when the gifts are presented is correct (you cannot place it on the altar yourself). Only the priest or deacon may place or remove anything from the altar.

I believe what she gave you is a “Low Gluten” host. (0.1%) It is really Fathers responsibility to insure the source of the Host and it’s validity as proper matter.

If it is truly Gluten free than it is invalid matter. I would think that the parish would order a box of these LGH and keep them on a top shelf away from the other hosts. Taking hosts from people who present them is a questionable practice.

 

[Lance]

i am missing something, i thought you said you did bring it up to the priest and he made a decision. Why didn’t you ask for further clarification right after Mass, and suggest that the priest inform all EMHCs about this family and their situation, and what arrangement has been made, so there will be no further confusion, and possible embarrasment to the mother if she is indeed “following the rules” set up by the priest. I don’t understand why you have to ask us for permission to discuss this with the priest.

He left immediately after mass so I had no chance to talk to him. I don’t need permission, I was just not 100% sure that gluton free host are not allowed, since I started this thread I have spoken with our Director of Liturgy who said she would discuss it with the pastor and send out guidelines for all EMs to follow. She was uncertain if the host was valid or not and if not the pastor will talk to the family about it.