TLM and Celiac Disease

[Brenda_V]

You have to talk to your parish Priest and see what he says. There is an option to order low gluten hosts, or recieve under wine only (although I don’t know if all Priests allow this).

However, if you are very sensitive to any ppm’s of gluten then it might be adviseable to not recieve at all.

Again, its a sensitive issue and you really need to talk to your Priest and see what he says.

I have CD and I don’t recieve at all. I think its possible for me to recieve under wine only but then you have to get or arrange for a clean chalice. And the Priest would have to be willing to pour the wine in your clean chalice and not from the first chalice that he consecrates with a portion of the wheat host.

Its complicated and it depends on how sensitive you are to gluten and also to how your Priest wants to deal with it.

Also, I want to add, that I trust my Priest, and if he says its better for me not to recieve then I trust him. He is probably right.
I normally don’t go anywhere near gluten. I don’t eat out. I don’t eat processed food. There is almost no gluten in my house (except what hubby smuggles in).
So for me to be using vessels that are not washed that have residual gluten is totally inappropriate for my illness.
The Priest would have to have a seperate chalice for me, it would have to be cleaned with soap and water. He would have to pour straight into it. (I would have to make sure that brand of wine was 100% gluten free, some aren’t). Then he would have to put that chalice aside, so that when he breaks the host particles do not go flying into the chalice…

I mean, what Priest would really want to go through all of that?

My Priest does. What he does is cover the chalice that is set aside for those of us who can not tolerate gluten before he breaks the host. As a matter of fact when we have a visiting Priest our Sacristan will explain to him the logistics and who will be receiving from the chalice (there are currently three of us in the Parish but there is one more coming up). It does help that we are a small mission Parish and it just makes it easier for Father to know who.

Let me tell you how it is done in my Parish. If any one of us is present (we usually all attend the same Mass, just worked out that way), we let the Sacristan know and he or she will put some wine in the special chalice and put it on the altar with the empty chalice, both are covered but the one used for Mass also has it’s special cover on it (sorry my brain isn’t working can’t remember what it is called). Anyway, Father uncovers the “extra chalice” during the consecration of the wine to blood, then covers it again when done. Then when all others have received, he goes back to the altar and gets that chalice to give to the three of us.

It is not that difficult. Also, our sacristans wash our chalices with soap and water when Mass is done, Father has already purified the vessels but all water used to wash the vessels is poured on the ground.

It is possible to receive Jesus in the Blood if you are celiac and making sure the proper wine is used is just one more thing you must do for our health, I honestly believe all the Priests we have come in contact with would understand (although when visiting my parents this summer, they had a different Priest for the second Sunday I was there and he looked at me funny when I bowed and then proceeded to the EMHC who had the cup, their regular Priest knew as my mom had told him).

I can also relate to your being told “it is all in your head” as I have other food allergies and have been told the same thing. It comes up every time I visit my husband’s family as one of my allergies is to tomatoes “it must be the acid”, well, no actually it isn’t the acid as I can eat other equally acidic foods and not get the same reaction as well as the fact that it doesn’t matter what form the tomato is in I get the same reaction!

I pray that you can come to a good solution to your problem. I also do understand that not all Priests are willing to go through the steps mine do.

Brenda V.

 

[Lisa44]

My Priest does. What he does is cover the chalice that is set aside for those of us who can not tolerate gluten before he breaks the host. As a matter of fact when we have a visiting Priest our Sacristan will explain to him the logistics and who will be receiving from the chalice (there are currently three of us in the Parish but there is one more coming up). It does help that we are a small mission Parish and it just makes it easier for Father to know who.

Let me tell you how it is done in my Parish. If any one of us is present (we usually all attend the same Mass, just worked out that way), we let the Sacristan know and he or she will put some wine in the special chalice and put it on the altar with the empty chalice, both are covered but the one used for Mass also has it’s special cover on it (sorry my brain isn’t working can’t remember what it is called). Anyway, Father uncovers the “extra chalice” during the consecration of the wine to blood, then covers it again when done. Then when all others have received, he goes back to the altar and gets that chalice to give to the three of us.

It is not that difficult. Also, our sacristans wash our chalices with soap and water when Mass is done, Father has already purified the vessels but all water used to wash the vessels is poured on the ground.

It is possible to receive Jesus in the Blood if you are celiac and making sure the proper wine is used is just one more thing you must do for our health, I honestly believe all the Priests we have come in contact with would understand (although when visiting my parents this summer, they had a different Priest for the second Sunday I was there and he looked at me funny when I bowed and then proceeded to the EMHC who had the cup, their regular Priest knew as my mom had told him).

I can also relate to your being told “it is all in your head” as I have other food allergies and have been told the same thing. It comes up every time I visit my husband’s family as one of my allergies is to tomatoes “it must be the acid”, well, no actually it isn’t the acid as I can eat other equally acidic foods and not get the same reaction as well as the fact that it doesn’t matter what form the tomato is in I get the same reaction!

I pray that you can come to a good solution to your problem. I also do understand that not all Priests are willing to go through the steps mine do.

Brenda V.

Hi Brenda V,
That is great. I was hoping it would be like that for me. As it turns out I am the only Celiac my Priest has come accross so he was very confused. I agree with you that it should be possible. I don’t know why the Church cannot accomodate Celiacs if the Priest is willing to go the distance.
I also wondered why my Priest didn’t want to wash the extra chalice.

I am very happy to hear that you are able to recieve the wine. I hope that I can too one day. I didn’t want to bug my Priest too much. I made suggestions and then I left the decision up to him. But in time I will bring it up again and ask again if we can wash a chalice and set it aside for me. And, covering the chalice is brilliant. I never thought of that. That way the wine is kept seperate from any particles.

Thanks again. Its good to know that it can be done.

 

[tijeras]

Would you be willing to eat rat poison and see if God saves you from its deliterious effects? Because if you have Celiac Disease then gluten is poison.

I think you might want to consider not posting miraculous stories of people you know because what you are advocating is that sick people throw caution to the wind and eat poison because someone you know does it and doesn’t get sick.

I realize you are trying to be helpful and kind but its more kind to actually try and help sick people to get better. Suggesting they eat what causes their illness, although its possible for divine intervention, is not a prudent recommendation.

I am happy you know people for whom the miraculous has become a regular occurance. They should get biopsies, and then take communion on videotape, and then get another biopsy to prove that a miracle is happening.

I believe the Catholic Church requires documentation for all miracles.

I am really surprised that people continue to post their miracle stories about Celiacs who take communion and don’t become ill and the moderators do not mind.

I think the reason the moderators allow this is because they do not understand the medical issue and the severity of it. It is well documented in medical literature that as little as 20 ppm of gluten will damage the intestines of a celiac.

However, people continue to advocate that Celiacs just bite the bullet and pray for a miracle. That is why i asked you if YOU would be willing to eat poison? If not, then you shouldn’t recommend it to others.

Ok, I say this with love, but firmness. Not to be mean, but to be FAIR to those who suffer from Celiac Disease.

Okay there now, I was just sharing some hopeful stories that might be helpful to someone. Perhaps it IS kind to share stories of hope with others? You might consider reading more carefully before reaming someone for sharing stories of God’s grace in other people’s lives. I was NOT recommending that Celiacs just “bite the bullet” and eat what is poison to them. I said in my post that “I wish it could be that way for all Celiacs”, referring to receiving the Host with no problems, the obvious inference there being an understanding that it is not that way for all Celiacs, unfortunately, and of course through no fault of their own. Though because of these stories,(and apparently as you say, there are more than just these shared on these forums) maybe other Celiacs would want to try to receive, and if they find that they can continue to receive, excellent. And if not, well at least they know. And if they don’t want to risk it, as my parents said, “God won’t be mad at you.” I don’t think I said anywhere in my post in question that this is necessarily what Celiacs should try. I’m just saying it’s working for two that I know. In fact, if you go back and reread more carefully, you’ll find that the only recommendation I DID make was to perhaps try a method described in another post on this thread, cautiously, and to offer up the suffering if nothing seems to work.

Furthermore, your rat poison analogy is a false one. We’re not talking about eating rat poison here, as rat poison has no redeeming qualities for its recipients. We’re talking about the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord and people who desperately want to be able to receive Him, and some who wanted to try even though it might harm them physically. If someone wants to risk their physical health to see if they can continue to receive the Eucharist, who are you to say they shouldn’t? Wasn’t the Church built on the faith of those willing to risk their personal health for love of Christ (i.e., martyrs?) As far as your posing the question to me personally, I would hope that yes, I would be willing to try to continue to receive after a diagnosis of Celiac disease, and I would hope that God would allow me to do so without harm to myself. And if He didn’t decide to intervene, then I would hope that I might be prudent enough to accept it and try another course by which I might receive, maybe using low-gluten hosts, or only receiving a teeny tiny piece, or only receiving the Precious Blood or some of the other suggestions on this thread. And if nothing worked, then I would hope that I could make a good spiritual communion and offer up my deprivation for the souls of those in Purgatory or other needs.

Let me reiterate, I was NOT recommending that Celiacs just “bite the bullet” and receive anyway, praying for a miracle. That would be jerkish, and if that was what I really had said, then I would have deserved your admonition.

I was just saying that for some Celiacs, it somehow works. I’m sorry to have offended you. I know this is a very serious and very difficult disease to deal with, and I hope for all the best for you as you cope with it. May God bless you and keep you.

 

[yinekka]

It must be very distressing for those of you who can’t receive the Host but remember you can always make a spiritual communion and offer up the sorrow you feel because you are unable to receive Jesus in the Host and thank Him that you can receive Him spiritually.

 

[yinekka]

You might like to check this out

abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/13/2541789.htm

 

[Lisa44]

You might like to check this out

abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/13/2541789.htm

Thanks Yinekka
Oh man, that would be AWESOME!

 

[Lisa44]

Some Celiacs are able to receive anyway. my younger brother has such severe celiac disease that he can’t be in the room if it’s in the air (like if you’re breading something). Even trace amounts make him sick for days (like, curled up in the fetal position sick, agony sick). he was diagnosed when he was 14. our parents told him that God would understand if he stopped receiving the host. He said he’d receive anyway. Doesn’t make him sick at all. Totally amazing. I have no idea why it’s this way for him. I also knew another teen who had Celiac disease (much more mild than my bro) and he could receive the host too, no problem. I wish it were like that for all Celiacs. I think it must be some sort of miracle. Those “low-gluten” hosts wouldn’t be good enough for him because even trace amounts make him very sick. So I guess there’s something else going on in this ability to receive. Sorry to hear of your predicament. I think the idea another family on here had of placing your own pyx on the altar with a low-gluten host might be a good idea if you’re okay with just a little bit. You poor thing, I’m so sorry for you. Offer up your sufferings please, because what a hard thing not to be able to receive. May God bless you abundantly for wanting so fervently to receive Him.

I know exactly what you said which was that x person is a highly sensitive Celiac who takes communion and feels no adverse effects. You said it must be a miracle. Then you name someone else for whom the miracle is also happening.

I mean no disrespect to you. But I felt obliged to inform you that testimonials of miracles are not supposed to be used here because there is no way for people to know if they are true or false.

Secondly, do you not see that you are suggesting that if one has enough FAITH, they will be able to take communion and it will not harm them.

And then you procede to tell me you feel sorry for me.

C’mon, lets be for real ok. There is charity and then there is something that is not charity that masquerades as charity.

You shouldn’t go boasting about other people’s miracles in order to make those who do not experience a miracle feel inferior. Whether you intend this or not is hard to say but it is implied in your writing.

I don’t appreciate it and I would ask that the MODERATOR enforce the rules about personal testimonies of MIRACLES.

Thanks. And you don’t have to feel sorry for me. We all have crosses to bear and there are many people who suffer MUCH more than I do.

 

[Lisa44]

. …**If someone wants to risk their physical health to see if they can continue to receive the Eucharist, who are you to say they shouldn’t? **

… As far as your posing the question to me personally, I would hope that yes, I would be willing to try to continue to receive after a diagnosis of Celiac disease,

I’m sorry, but that is a very arrogant claim. I wish you to go on your happy way and please not offer your advice to Celiacs as you do not have the disease yourself and your arrogance proceeds you. You do what you want to please God and if that means making yourself ill for him then you go for it.

As for me I have a family to take care of and I am not about to put myself in a bed ridden state to please the likes of someone like you!

I am finished conversing with you.

 

[Lisa44]

**Solicitation or offering of advice as to the diagnosis of disease, the effectiveness of medications, or the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions, modalities, and regimens is not permitted on the forums. While generally well-intentioned, it can have potentially serious reprecussions.

Whether the matter at issue involves recognized, experimental, or unproven therapeutic modalities, matters relative to diagnosis and treatment of both physical and emotional disorders are very individualized and cannot be safely generalized to a description on the internet of an individual’s symptoms, circumstances, or situation. Additionally, there is a clear-cut risk involved in accepting, relying, or acting on the expressed opinions of those who either lack relevant professional qualifications and credentials, or whose claims to such cannot be validated. Similarly, the experience or response of others in what appears to be a similar or identical set of circumstances is not an accurate measure of its applicability to someone else’s situation.

Effectively monitoring such threads is neither practical nor realistic. Tolerating them could cause a poster, relying on proferred advice, to take steps that might mitigate symptomatology, rather than seek out a diagnostician and validate the presence or absence of treatable pathology. That risk is both legally and morally unacceptable.

Persons in need of medical or psychiatric advice are advised to consult their primary care provider, or another reputable practitioner in the appropriate specialty, and work with them to establish a diagnosis and plan of treatment.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. **

From Forum Rules

 

[Catholic_Dude]

I’m sorry, but that is a very arrogant claim. I wish you to go on your happy way and please not offer your advice to Celiacs as you do not have the disease yourself and your arrogance proceeds you. You do what you want to please God and if that means making yourself ill for him then you go for it.

As for me I have a family to take care of and I am not about to put myself in a bed ridden state to please the likes of someone like you!

I am finished conversing with you.

This is a VERY touchy subject, and it’s downright cruel and uncharitable for people to put out “advice” for others who have CD on the ease of going ahead and receiving. It is as bad as laughing at someone who is dealing with this Cross in their life.

Those who have CD, my heart goes out to them, and I respect their personal decision either way.

Personally - given a correct understanding of the Eucharist you know that only the Substance is TransSUBSTANtiated (while the ‘accidental qualities’ remain the same)* - thus I believe it’s best to make a spiritual communion (or just the Blood), and only -maybe- receive the Body on very special occasions. If low-gluten hosts are available, and it works for you, obviously take that route.

*This is why you can still get drunk from the Blood (as well as ingest any germs that enter the Chalice), as well as suffer the effects of the Body (such as gluten).]

 

[paul_c]

I have a very serious case of Celiac disease. Although I have been on a very rigouros Gluten Free diet for over 6 years, I still have GI distress every day. I am exceptionally sensitive to Gluten.

I presented this dilemma to my pastor and he offered the same two solutions recommended by the UCCB:

when available, drink from the chalice (we have the eucharist in both species for daily mass but not for Sunday mass - the argument is that there are too many people to plan for at sunday mass so they only offer it in one species to avoid having too much left over for the eucharistic ministers to drink)

When the chalice is not available, do a spiritual communion.

I have been content to follow that.

 

[Faith_at_Large]

My son has Celiac disease and with the recent Swine Flu outbreak, even our mainstream local church only offers the host for communion to the faithful. It is a problem for us as in Canada, the Canadian Celiac Association has found that even the low gluten hosts that are acceptable to the Catholic Church are not safe for Celiacs.

As mentioned earlier in this thread, even if there are no symptoms, any gluten from wheat, barley, rye, triticale or their derivatives, will still cause damage and this can lead to serious health issues in the long run.

Fortunately, Catholics are only required to receive once per year at Easter time, and as such a low-gluten host once per year should only be a minor issue.

Once my local church returns to normal practice, my son should be able to receive from the chalice - even in this case, he must be first to drink as once another person who has received the host and then drinks from the cup, the cup becomes cross-contaminated and no longer safe for my son.

 

[Brenda_V]

My son has Celiac disease and with the recent Swine Flu outbreak, even our mainstream local church only offers the host for communion to the faithful. It is a problem for us as in Canada, the Canadian Celiac Association has found that even the low gluten hosts that are acceptable to the Catholic Church are not safe for Celiacs.

As mentioned earlier in this thread, even if there are no symptoms, any gluten from wheat, barley, rye, triticale or their derivatives, will still cause damage and this can lead to serious health issues in the long run.

Fortunately, Catholics are only required to receive once per year at Easter time, and as such a low-gluten host once per year should only be a minor issue.

Once my local church returns to normal practice, my son should be able to receive from the chalice - even in this case, he must be first to drink as once another person who has received the host and then drinks from the cup, the cup becomes cross-contaminated and no longer safe for my son.

If you read my post on this subject you will see that only those of us who can not eat gluten have our own cup. In my parish there are three of us and we all police ourselves as in we don’t receive if we are sick so as not to share the germs with each other. My Parish also only shares the precious Blood at daily Mass not Sunday Mass. There will be another in about two years and then one more in about three or four years - for some reason our little Mission Parish is getting all the ones allergic to gluten or who have celiac disease (there is a difference ). Ask your Priest if your son can have his own Chalice - this avoids ever so many issues from the lipstick/chapsticks that have wheat in them to the, mmm, how to put this delicately, backwash?

Brenda V.

 

[zaramarie81]

There are very low gluten hosts that your parish might purchase for the use of their parishioners with celiac disease.

FWIW, I know some elderly Catholics who, although they attend an Ordinary Form Mass, will not receive from the chalice. Although it’s allowed, they simply are not comfortable with that. At least one I know receives Communion only at Christmas and Easter and puts up with the pain that results from regular hosts. I have to let her daughter know that low-gluten hosts could be used.

As someone who has Celiac’s, I just wanted to jump in here. “Low-gluten” may not work. The prevailing medical consensus today is no gluten… ever. Celiac’s is believed to be an autoimmune disorder that is triggered with any exposure to gluten… even a crumb. It can take months for a Celiac’s body to fully recover from exposure to gluten, and regular exposure can be devastating in the long-term. Doctors tell patients even if they don’t have immediate reactions, to avoid gluten at all costs because of the possible long-term disabilities that can arise later in life. (I would not receive even at Christmas and Easter).

Now, I do not attend the TLM Mass, but I do attend a very beautiful Novus Ordo Mass that includes Latin, etc. In my case, I have notified the priest, deacons, etc., and they know to have at least one chalice available at every Mass (including daily) that is free of co-mingling. I would think any priest would be willing to accommodate a person with Celiac’s and would understand that it’s a special circumstance. I used to attend Mass in NY… again, it was not TLM, but very traditional, and they did not offer the chalice regularly. When the priest knew I was coming, he would have me approach the altar rail after everyone else had received the Host, and I would receive from the chalice.

 

[zaramarie81]

Would you be willing to eat rat poison and see if God saves you from its deliterious effects? Because if you have Celiac Disease then gluten is poison.

I think you might want to consider not posting miraculous stories of people you know because what you are advocating is that sick people throw caution to the wind and eat poison because someone you know does it and doesn’t get sick.

I realize you are trying to be helpful and kind but its more kind to actually try and help sick people to get better. Suggesting they eat what causes their illness, although its possible for divine intervention, is not a prudent recommendation.

I am happy you know people for whom the miraculous has become a regular occurance. They should get biopsies, and then take communion on videotape, and then get another biopsy to prove that a miracle is happening.

I believe the Catholic Church requires documentation for all miracles.

I am really surprised that people continue to post their miracle stories about Celiacs who take communion and don’t become ill and the moderators do not mind.

I think the reason the moderators allow this is because they do not understand the medical issue and the severity of it. It is well documented in medical literature that as little as 20 ppm of gluten will damage the intestines of a celiac.

However, people continue to advocate that Celiacs just bite the bullet and pray for a miracle. That is why i asked you if YOU would be willing to eat poison? If not, then you shouldn’t recommend it to others.

Ok, I say this with love, but firmness. Not to be mean, but to be FAIR to those who suffer from Celiac Disease.

I personally don’t find this story terribly offensive. My only concern is that this boy make sure he is not having a reaction because sometimes reactions don’t have recognizable symptoms. But other than that… that’s great if he experiences such a miracle. I agree with you though in that I would never recommend that a Celiac receive and just “trust God.” In most cases, Celiac’s cannot receive.

 

[zaramarie81]

Okay there now, I was just sharing some hopeful stories that might be helpful to someone. Perhaps it IS kind to share stories of hope with others? You might consider reading more carefully before reaming someone for sharing stories of God’s grace in other people’s lives. I was NOT recommending that Celiacs just “bite the bullet” and eat what is poison to them. I said in my post that “I wish it could be that way for all Celiacs”, referring to receiving the Host with no problems, the obvious inference there being an understanding that it is not that way for all Celiacs, unfortunately, and of course through no fault of their own. Though because of these stories,(and apparently as you say, there are more than just these shared on these forums) maybe other Celiacs would want to try to receive, and if they find that they can continue to receive, excellent. And if not, well at least they know. And if they don’t want to risk it, as my parents said, “God won’t be mad at you.” I don’t think I said anywhere in my post in question that this is necessarily what Celiacs should try. I’m just saying it’s working for two that I know. In fact, if you go back and reread more carefully, you’ll find that the only recommendation I DID make was to perhaps try a method described in another post on this thread, cautiously, and to offer up the suffering if nothing seems to work.

Furthermore, your rat poison analogy is a false one. We’re not talking about eating rat poison here, as rat poison has no redeeming qualities for its recipients. We’re talking about the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord and people who desperately want to be able to receive Him, and some who wanted to try even though it might harm them physically. If someone wants to risk their physical health to see if they can continue to receive the Eucharist, who are you to say they shouldn’t? Wasn’t the Church built on the faith of those willing to risk their personal health for love of Christ (i.e., martyrs?) As far as your posing the question to me personally, I would hope that yes, I would be willing to try to continue to receive after a diagnosis of Celiac disease, and I would hope that God would allow me to do so without harm to myself. And if He didn’t decide to intervene, then I would hope that I might be prudent enough to accept it and try another course by which I might receive, maybe using low-gluten hosts, or only receiving a teeny tiny piece, or only receiving the Precious Blood or some of the other suggestions on this thread. And if nothing worked, then I would hope that I could make a good spiritual communion and offer up my deprivation for the souls of those in Purgatory or other needs.

Let me reiterate, I was NOT recommending that Celiacs just “bite the bullet” and receive anyway, praying for a miracle. That would be jerkish, and if that was what I really had said, then I would have deserved your admonition.

I was just saying that for some Celiacs, it somehow works. I’m sorry to have offended you. I know this is a very serious and very difficult disease to deal with, and I hope for all the best for you as you cope with it. May God bless you and keep you.

Actually, the way some physicians describe the effects of gluten on the body is to liken it to rat poison (that analogy did not originate here!). The body basically interprets gluten as poison and it has a similar effect as poison. Obviously, Christ’s Body is not really poison, but to a Celiac, the gluten present in the Host is. I did appreciate your story though!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[zaramarie81]

If you read my post on this subject you will see that only those of us who can not eat gluten have our own cup. In my parish there are three of us and we all police ourselves as in we don’t receive if we are sick so as not to share the germs with each other. My Parish also only shares the precious Blood at daily Mass not Sunday Mass. There will be another in about two years and then one more in about three or four years - for some reason our little Mission Parish is getting all the ones allergic to gluten or who have celiac disease (there is a difference ). Ask your Priest if your son can have his own Chalice - this avoids ever so many issues from the lipstick/chapsticks that have wheat in them to the, mmm, how to put this delicately, backwash?

Brenda V.

Faith at Large - I am surprised your son is able to receive once a year. I’ve read that it can take months… up to six months… for the body to fully heal after exposure to gluten for some Celiacs. Everyone is different, but I personally avoid all exposure. Perhaps having a separate chalice would be ideal… my parish, like Brenda’s parish, also has a separate chalice.

 

[jayk15]

I’m worried about something. The priest obviously touches the host during consecration and the distribution of communion. So there are traces of glutten on his hands. His hands touches the extra chalice to distribute the Precious Blood to the people with celiac. So some of the glutten is transferred from his hands to the chalice. The person with celiac then takes the chalice with the traces of glutten from the priest. So the traces of glutten from that chalice is transferred to the celiac persons hands. So if that glutten comes from the hands to the mouth(by eating something later) then there is a problem.

 

[paul_c]

I want you all to recognize that a spiritual communion meets teh once per year eucharistic requirement. You are not expected to injure yourself to take the host.

 

[SHEZ]

I spoke with my priest and he has agreed that if I by the GF hosts it would be acceptable. I bring a GF communion wafer with me each Sunday and drop it in the bowl. It is then brought up during the offeratory and consecrated. It physically looks different so my priest is able to keep track of it. I then have to receive from him. There are three parishoners that now partake in this manner. You can by from Energ Foods @www.ener-g.com Speak to your priest first as not all parishes are able to accommodate. When my Priest is on vacation I do not receive since it’s too difficult to coordinate.