How to receive only wine at Eucharist

[bluerose]

We have one parishioner in our fairly large parish who has zero-tolerance for gluten and cannot receive from the common chalice. Our priest consecrates a small amount of wine in a separate small chalice and she waits to get in line at the very end and Father will retrieve the small chalice from the altar for her to receive. Not the least bit disruptive and very little chance of confusion. She’s been doing this for years.

There’s always a way!

 

[DAML72]

We have one parishioner in our fairly large parish who has zero-tolerance for gluten and cannot receive from the common chalice. Our priest consecrates a small amount of wine in a separate small chalice and she waits to get in line at the very end and Father will retrieve the small chalice from the altar for her to receive. Not the least bit disruptive and very little chance of confusion. She’s been doing this for years.

There’s always a way!

Yes. To the OP, as a convert myself (3 years ago), I understand feeling like you might be doing something wrong or out of the ordinary and drawing attention to yourself. I’m sure whatever happened at the vigil was much more awkward and noticeable to you than anyone else. Everyone else probably thought nothing of it. Just speak to your pastor about coming up with a solution that works for you - that’s what he is there for.

Welcome home!

 

[truetofaith]

Is it really possible for the tiny amount of wheat in a small host cause someone to get sick?

If so, they can ask for half or a quarter of a host.

 

[andrewstx]

Isn’t there a small piece of the Sacred Host placed in the chalice at the fraction?

 

[InThePew]

Is it really possible for the tiny amount of wheat in a small host cause someone to get sick?

If so, they can ask for half or a quarter of a host.

Yes - in fact some people are allergic to such a degree that even low-gluten hosts, which contain a bare minimum trace of gluten aren’t an option. As for a half or quarter, besides the difficulties of breaking a host with one hand (believe me I’ve tried), depending on their level of sensitivity, the same problem would still remain

Isn’t there a small piece of the Sacred Host placed in the chalice at the fraction?

Yes there is and for someone with gluten intolerance that too can cause problems either if they consume it or simply from cross-contamination.

 

[ProVobis]

Isn’t there a small piece of the Sacred Host placed in the chalice at the fraction?

Good point. However if the chalices are consecrated separately, the Sacred Blood is no longer a homogeneous species to be distributed. This be bothersome to some but theologically should have no serious drawbacks IMO.

 

[paperwight66]

In our parish, we use four chalices at Mass. Each contains the same amount of wine before consecration. After the priest’s Communion, the chalice that he has used is taken by one of the EMHCs to give to the faithful, and other EMHCs take the unused three… So it could happen that the chalice containing the small piece ends up being offered to someone who can’t receive from it.

So are you saying that the proper practice is for the priest’s chalice to be consumed by him alone? The Archbishop seems happy with what we do, I should add, but I can understand that he wouldn’t want to rock the boat in a parish.

 

[Gorgias]

Besides which, the priest(s) and deacon(s) at the altar understand why there’s a piece of host in the chalice; imagine the reaction of the average in-the-pews Catholic – who likely knows nothing about the fraction – when he looks into the chalice and sees a small piece of host there…

 

[paperwight66]

Besides which, the priest(s) and deacon(s) at the altar understand why there’s a piece of host in the chalice; imagine the reaction of the average in-the-pews Catholic – who likely knows nothing about the fraction – when he looks into the chalice and sees a small piece of host there…

That, unfortunately, is a very good point.

I have had more than one communicant virtually shudder and hand a chalice back to me without receiving from it, for this very reason i.e. they think the contents have been contaminated by a fragment falling from someone’s mouth.

I have suggested to the clergy that the fraction be explained in a note on the newsletter or in a homily, but they don’t seem to think it worth mentioning.

I’ll try again, I think.

 

[PJM]

Hi there. Happy Easter to all! I joined the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday and received my First Communion. It was wonderful beyond words!!! The only issue was that I could only receive the wine and not the bread and even though I explained this to the Deacon before Mass, he forgot for a minute and it was a bit awkward as he was trying to hand me the bread. I understand, though, there was a lot going on that day.

My question is…Next time I receive the Eucharist, how do I let the person know that I am only receiving the precious blood and not the body? Do I say something? Do I cross my arms and receive a blessing before moving on to the blood? Or are there usually separate lines?

I pray that one day I can receive both, but for now, I just want to know how best to go about this.

Thank you in advance and God bless you!

FIRST, What is your rationale in desiring to do so.

There are available glucose-free HOST IF and when you make the priest aware if it PRIOR to Mass. The YOU need to be sitting on the side that processes up to THE Priest.

2nd One DOES receive the ENTIRE Christ it BOTH any part of the Consecrated Host as well as any portion of the Consecrated Wine.

3td the NORM is:
If only One or the other is to be received, that it be the Sacred HOST, not just the Wine.

4th If this is a TRUE necessity ?] then you would present yourself to the Minister holding the Cup of Blessings, BUT NOT the priest or minister distributing The BODY of Jesus. which ought NOT be an issue. Just present yourself for one, but not both; BUT do so ONLY if here is a TRULY valid reason for doing so.

It would be wise to discuss this with your Pastor. call and make an appointment with him to discuss it. This is NOT a decision you ought to make on your own

 

[paperwight66]

It would be wise to discuss this with your Pastor. call and make an appointment with him to discuss it. This is NOT a decision you ought to make on your own

Good heavens, the clergy you know must have a lot of spare time on their hands. I really can’t see any of the clergy in my parish having time to do this.

What is there to discuss? (Presuming that the allergy to gluten - not glucose - has been medically diagnosed).

It most certainly is a decision anyone must make on their own. We are each responsible for our own health. Our priests are not our medical advisors, especially in something like this which does not involve any moral issue.

 

[tawny]

Thank you Deacon Jeff.

 

[InThePew]

4th If this is a TRUE necessity ?] then you would present yourself to the Minister holding the Cup of Blessings, BUT NOT the priest or minister distributing The BODY of Jesus. which ought NOT be an issue. Just present yourself for one, but not both; BUT do so ONLY if here is a TRULY valid reason for doing so.

I’m celiac (gluten intolerant) myself and I know full well that Christ is really, truly and substantially present under both species - meaning that I wasn’t missing out on anything when I received from the chalice only. Well that’s the theory at least - the reality is slightly different. I couldn’t help but feel that I was missing out on something by only receiving from the chalice - I don’t mean in the sense of not being able to do the same as everyone else but rather in the sense of something missing from my life. So while it’s easy to say “just received from the chalice only” it’s harder to actually do that.

It would be wise to discuss this with your Pastor. call and make an appointment with him to discuss it. This is NOT a decision you ought to make on your own

A communicant can receive from the chalice alone without having to seek permission each time (I’m not sure there’s a need to seek permission at all). That said, I agree that the OIP should get in touch with their Pastor because he’s responsible for the pastoral care of his parishioners and should be able to help obtain suitable hosts and make it easier for them to accommodate the OP’s needs.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

FIRST, What is your rationale in desiring to do so.

There are available glucose-free HOST IF and when you make the priest aware if it PRIOR to Mass. The YOU need to be sitting on the side that processes up to THE Priest.

2nd One DOES receive the ENTIRE Christ it BOTH any part of the Consecrated Host as well as any portion of the Consecrated Wine.

3td the NORM is:
If only One or the other is to be received, that it be the Sacred HOST, not just the Wine.

4th If this is a TRUE necessity ?] then you would present yourself to the Minister holding the Cup of Blessings, BUT NOT the priest or minister distributing The BODY of Jesus. which ought NOT be an issue. Just present yourself for one, but not both; BUT do so ONLY if here is a TRULY valid reason for doing so.

It would be wise to discuss this with your Pastor. call and make an appointment with him to discuss it. This is NOT a decision you ought to make on your own

Your advice is wrong. It is properly the communicant’s decision and they do not have to present a justifying rationale, least of all to people on the Internet.

You are saying the opposite of what Father said in #3; the deacon, also, has already given the person inquiring the correct answer and you are contradicting him as well. As a priest, I affirm what my brother priest and what the deacon have said.

Firstly, let us be perfectly clear: Altar bread does not have glucose. Glucose is entirely different from gluten.

Secondly, when there are priests and deacons on the thread who have answered the question, and correctly, I am not sure what advantage is to be gleaned by saying the opposite. It causes needless confusion.

As others have said, it is prudent to advise one’s own parish priest of one’s situation – but not on the grounds of getting his permission…one is advising him of an on-going circumstance. There is no need for the person to discuss the situation unless they need us to make a special provision, particular to them. There is certainly no need to divulge whatever the condition is…that is properly private, unless the person wishes to share it.

If Communion is being offered under both species, a communicant is free to receive from the ciborium alone, from the chalice alone – or the communicant may receive from both. That prerogative rests with the communicant.

 

[PJM]

Good heavens, the clergy you know must have a lot of spare time on their hands. I really can’t see any of the clergy in my parish having time to do this.

What is there to discuss? (Presuming that the allergy to gluten - not glucose - has been medically diagnosed).

It most certainly is a decision anyone must make on their own. We are each responsible for our own health. Our priests are not our medical advisors, especially in something like this which does not involve any moral issue.

I respectfully disagree,

What I pointed out is the NORM for such situations

Priest like US, ar to serve others.

Blessings,

Patrick

 

[twf]

In the OP’s parish, it sounds like the Chalice is regularly distributed, so there is no issue. Some people in the OP’s situation would have to meet with the priest to make special provisions. In my archdiocese (Vancouver), the chalice is never distributed in any parish I am aware of (it is possible - but I haven’t seen it, at least not in years). In my wife’s native DR I can’t remember the Chalice ever being distributed either.

 

[pamnbam]

If you are not too sensitive where you can receive from the cup after others receiving under both species also receive it, just wait your turn in line and go directly to the cup instead of receiving the host.

Some people, however, have Celiac disease and cannot receive from a contaminated cup (including the priest’s cup itself or any of the Precious Blood poured from the priest’s chalice) and in this case, you would need to be first in line to receive from the cup first, as directed above. It’s fine to just receive from the cup; you don’t get “more Jesus” by receiving from both.

It is better to just meet with your priest or deacon, who likely already has procedures in place for people just like you. They should be able to set aside your own cup or give you procedures for drinking from a non-contaminated cup. They may also offer you a low-gluten host in a pyx (small container to hold a host) that will remain separate from the rest of the hosts during Mass, but will get consecrated during the consecration. You may still need to come up first to receive, but at least you won’t need to worry about what to do anymore.

Don’t feel bad. My son still gets stares and questions from parishioners about why he goes up first. Once, an EMHC denied him the cup at Mass at a different church because he didn’t receive a host (points to poor training and we addressed that after Mass). Also, we hadn’t discussed special needs with the priest beforehand, which makes it even more important you talk to him about your needs (not saying that will happen at your church, but you never know the training EMHCs get, so it’s important). It’s the priest’s/deacons jobs to serve the people and you have just as much right to receive the Eucharist as anyone else (if you’re properly disposed, of course). No one would question someone receiving the Eucharist in a wheelchair, or having an interpreter or hearing support equipment at Mass; it’s the same right. Hopefully, as gluten-related health conditions become more prevalent, it will become a norm. Welcome to the Church!