Low gluten hosts?

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SAHmommy

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Does anyone here have experience using the low gluten hosts made by the Benedictine Sisters? Both my younger son and I have celiac disease and can not eat wheat. This has been an impediment to my returning to the church. I know this host is approved by the Vatican, but I was wondering if other celiacs or people with gluten intolerence have symptoms after receiving these host in communion. I was also wondering if priests are open to working with you on this issue? Thanks!

SAHmommy
 
I have no experience with this type of Host but can tell you that if you speak with the Priest prior to Mass he can indeed give you just the cup, or if the Parish you choose to attend has just the cup, you just get in that line and receive that way.

Please, do not let your celiac be an impediment to your returning to the Church. Go to Confession and make yourself right with God and go to Mass.

Also, if you are extremely sensitive to wheat you may need to talk to the Priest before Mass anyway to make sure he consecrates some of the wine without the body put in.

We have a young lady (mid-school age now) who must have Celiac because, unless she is serving, she talks to the Priest before Mass and then gets at the end of the Communion line so he can give her the cup.

I am highly sensitive to wheat but not celiac so tend to watch these things. I can receive the regular Host as it is not enough wheat to make a difference.

Brenda V.
 
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SAHmommy:
I know this host is approved by the Vatican, but I was wondering if other celiacs or people with gluten intolerence have symptoms after receiving these host in communion. I was also wondering if priests are open to working with you on this issue? Thanks!

SAHmommy
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My suggestion would be to write to the Benedictine community that manufactures the hosts and ask them for a complete run-down of the ingredients, and the percentages of each. Then, I’d meet with my doctor to discuss the possibility of using these hosts during Mass.

My understanding is that only those with the most serious reaction to gluten cannot use these specific hosts. Most others can use them with no serious side-effects.
 
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SAHmommy:
Does anyone here have experience using the low gluten hosts made by the Benedictine Sisters? Both my younger son and I have celiac disease and can not eat wheat. This has been an impediment to my returning to the church. I know this host is approved by the Vatican, but I was wondering if other celiacs or people with gluten intolerence have symptoms after receiving these host in communion. I was also wondering if priests are open to working with you on this issue? Thanks!

SAHmommy
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You can simply receive the cup. If the cup is not available, I’m sure you can make arrangements with the pastor for it to be so. There is no impediment. When you receive either the Body or the Blood of Christ you are receiving both.
 
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muledog:
My suggestion would be to write to the Benedictine community that manufactures the hosts and ask them for a complete run-down of the ingredients, and the percentages of each. Then, I’d meet with my doctor to discuss the possibility of using these hosts during Mass.

My understanding is that only those with the most serious reaction to gluten cannot use these specific hosts. Most others can use them with no serious side-effects.
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This is also what I would do. Thankfully, I am not Celiac and do not have any reaction to wheat. In fact, I prefer wheat bread over white! 👍 😛
 
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SAHmommy:
Does anyone here have experience using the low gluten hosts made by the Benedictine Sisters? Both my younger son and I have celiac disease and can not eat wheat. This has been an impediment to my returning to the church. I know this host is approved by the Vatican, but I was wondering if other celiacs or people with gluten intolerence have symptoms after receiving these host in communion. I was also wondering if priests are open to working with you on this issue? Thanks!

SAHmommy
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No, I am not celiac, but I personally know the sisters who make them (really hits home the “which earth has given and human hands have made” bit of the offertory), and they would be very willing to discuss it with you. As far as I know, they are virtually gluten-free (like <0.01%), but for scientific reasons (couldn’t measure it any more precisely) and for canonical reasons (has to have “some” gluten in it to be wheat) they are classified as low gluten. Go to their website, call them up, and get a sample to try under your doctor’s supervision. Ask to talk to Sr. Lynn - she make headlines a couple of years ago when she helped discover the recipe - and she’s a sweetie.

benedictinesisters.org/altarbread/orderform.html

A lot of people will also advise you to “just take the Precious Blood”, which is also fine. But, as you are probably well aware, some people have problems with this depending on their sensitivity to gluten because:

1.) The priest drops a little host particle in the chalice.
2.) Hands/lips of other communicants may transfer gluten onto you.
3.) Some people also have a known cross-allergy to certain wines.

Most priests should work with you, but you will probably need to tell them what you need them to do. You might just buy your own, clean, uncontaminated pyx, place your own hosts in it, and have it brought to the altar separate from the regular hosts (maybe from a credence table). You then work with them as to the best timing and handling for the reception of communion.
 
You don’t need to consume an entire host. One tiny crumb is the same as a big host. I remember hearing a talk on this subject, and the researchers never found any patient who was unable to receive a small crumb of host (possibly the low-gluten variety, can’t remember now). Talk with your priest–maybe you’re not the only parishoners with this problem.

Good luck 🙂
 
Low gluten still contains gluten if you have severe sensitivity you will still have a problem. If you try low gluten hosts there is no need to consume an entire host just a small particle will do. My office optician has celiac and was advised not to consume the host or even small amounts of wine.
 
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