Valid Matter for the Eucharist

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I know that bread made from flour milled from wheat must be used. I know too that unleavened bread is required for liceity but that while leavened bread is illicit it is valid matter. Does it matter which species, sub-species, varieties or cultivars of wheat are used? What is the minimum quantity of gluten required for the bread to be valid matter?

Red, rosé, and white wine may all be used as valid matter. Does it matter which species, sub-species, varieties or cultivars of grapes are used? What is the minimum alcohol (ethanol) content permitted, expressed as a volume?

With regards to the above I am referring to the Latin (Roman) Catholic Church.
 
The requirement is that the hosts be made from wheat only, but not that they be whole-wheat. Just as the germ can be removed to make white-flour hosts, the gluten may also be removed without ruining the identity that the hosts are wheaten.

The problem is that the hosts must be made from wheat only, and getting all of the gluten out can be problematic. There are hosts available which are less than 0.01% gluten; they just cannot tell exactly how much less. There is a discussion of this and information on where to obtain the hosts at this web page:
catholicceliacs.org/Options.html

Likewise, when the priest is alcoholic, mustum can be used (wine in which fermentation was arrested very early, so that there is very little alcohol present).

The requirement is that the wine not be corrupt, made of grapes (i.e., the fruit of Vitis vinifera). Generally, the alcohol content is that arrived at by natural fermentation, but a lower-proof (weak) wine can be fortified so that a bottle will not go bad before it is all used. Brandy or alcohol made from grapes is all that may be added to keep a weak wine from going bad; the total alcohol content after fortification may not exceed 18% by volume.

wdtprs.com/blog/2011/03/quaeritur-what-sort-of-wine-is-valid-for-mass/

There was a private communication back in the '20s asking if wine made from grapes treated with sulphurous anhydride or with potassium bisulphite could be used. The answer was in the affirmative. At any rate, modern vintners of sacramental wine sometimes use grapes treated with sulfites, as well. Other than that, altar wines may not be adulterated.
 
Josephite said:
I know that bread made from flour milled from wheat must be used. I know too that unleavened bread is required for liceity but that while leavened bread is illicit it is valid matter. Does it matter which species, sub-species, varieties or cultivars of wheat are used? What is the minimum quantity of gluten required for the bread to be valid matter?

Red, rosé, and white wine may all be used as valid matter. Does it matter which species, sub-species, varieties or cultivars of grapes are used? What is the minimum alcohol (ethanol) content permitted, expressed as a volume?

With regards to the above I am referring to the Latin (Roman) Catholic Church.
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As to the question of wheat, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia:
[N]ot every kind of flour is allowed for validity, such, e.g., as is ground from rye, oats, barley, Indian corn or maize, though these are all botanically classified as grain (frumentum), On the other hand, the different varieties of wheat (as spelt, amel-corn, etc.) are valid, inasmuch as they can be proved botanically to be genuine wheat.
 
Please be at ease.

You’re getting caught up in scrupulosity.

Just accept the church’s teaching because she know what is valid and illicit.

Be at peace.

God bless.

Brother Justin, OP
 
Bro_Justin said:
You’re getting caught up in scrupulosity.
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I am not being scrupulous. When I go to Mass I never think to question whether vaild matter is being used. I asked this question out of interest, not scrupulosity. It might have been appropriate to enquire about my motives rather than to have made that assumption.

Regards, Josephite:)
 
Bro_Justin said:
Just accept the church’s teaching because she know what is valid and illicit.
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Good afternoon Brother,

Our pastor a few years back would make his own bread for the Eucharist. I was listening to John Corapi’s show one day and he was talking about a parish that had been making their bread for the Eucharist also. This parish had been worshipping pieces of bread for about 5 years because the recipe for it contained bizarre ingredients for the Eucharist: sugar, raisins, peanut butter, etc. Are there any regulations from the Church on how homemade bread must be made?
 
ajpirc said:
Good afternoon Brother,

Our pastor a few years back would make his own bread for the Eucharist. I was listening to John Corapi’s show one day and he was talking about a parish that had been making their bread for the Eucharist also. This parish had been worshipping pieces of bread for about 5 years because the recipe for it contained bizarre ingredients for the Eucharist: sugar, raisins, peanut butter, etc. Are there any regulations from the Church on how homemade bread must be made?
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That would still be valid matter for the Eucharist. Redemptionis Sacramentum states:
48. The bread used in the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition. It follows therefore that bread made from another substance, even if it is grain, or if it is mixed with another substance different from wheat to such an extent that it would not commonly be considered wheat bread, does not constitute valid matter for confecting the Sacrifice and the Eucharistic Sacrament. It is a grave abuse to introduce other substances, such as fruit or sugar or honey, into the bread for confecting the Eucharist. Hosts should obviously be made by those who are not only distinguished by their integrity, but also skilled in making them and furnished with suitable tools.
So, it’s an abuse, but as long as the matter would still commonly be considered wheat bread it is valid.

BTW, the regulation for how to make bread for the Eucharist is as follows: the bread must be made of wheaten flour and water.
 
ajpirc said:
…Are there any regulations from the Church on how homemade bread must be made?
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There is no regulation that laypersons may not make it or that the bread be purchased from an approved purveyor, but you do have to know what you’re doing and be trustworthy to do what is required. It is up to the presider with the responsibility to safeguard the Mass to discern whether you can be put in that position of trust, but you are responsible to do serious self-examination as to whether you have the expertise, too. As it is put in Redemptionis Sacramentum: “Hosts should obviously be made by those who are not only distinguisher by their integrity, but also skilled in making them and furnished with suitable tools.”

The bread must be made of wheat flour and water only, that’s it. No yeast, no salt, no oil, no eggs, no sugar: not even a little bit! My understanding is that plain sparkling water is allowed, and does not render the bread “leavened”. The water does not have to be distilled, provided that it is plain old potable water. You will find many recipes on the internet that follow the guidelines.

While it is no great feat to make unleavened bread, it takes a certain amount of skill to make unleavened bread that does not shatter to produce lots of tiny pieces when it is broken! (There has to be at least one host that is broken for the fractionation.) Unleavened bread is also notorious for becoming stale quickly. These things have to be taken into account, too.

Overall, making eucharistic bread is like making vestments or altar frontals. If you have the skill to do a very good job and an attitude which will make it edifying for you, then there is no reason not to do it. Conversely, if you don’t have the skill, the proper ingredients, or the proper tools to make something as satisfactory as what is commercially available, it is not enough that you would find the project edifying! If in doubt, leave it to the experts.
 
Josephite said:
I know that bread made from flour milled from wheat must be used. I know too that unleavened bread is required for liceity but that while leavened bread is illicit it is valid matter. Does it matter which species, sub-species, varieties or cultivars of wheat are used? What is the minimum quantity of gluten required for the bread to be valid matter?

Red, rosé, and white wine may all be used as valid matter. Does it matter which species, sub-species, varieties or cultivars of grapes are used? What is the minimum alcohol (ethanol) content permitted, expressed as a volume?

With regards to the above I am referring to the Latin (Roman) Catholic Church.
Click to expand...
What is valid is valid throughout the entire Church. Its only a matter of licitey when you discuss particular Rites.

I don’t think there’s any requirements of what you listed. As long as the bread is made mostly of wheat, and the wine is made of grapes with no preservatives, then its valid matter. Leavened bread may licitley be used in the Latin Rite if Mass must absolutely be celebrated and there is no access to unleavened bread.
 
ajpirc said:
Good afternoon Brother,

Our pastor a few years back would make his own bread for the Eucharist. I was listening to John Corapi’s show one day and he was talking about a parish that had been making their bread for the Eucharist also. This parish had been worshipping pieces of bread for about 5 years because the recipe for it contained bizarre ingredients for the Eucharist: sugar, raisins, peanut butter, etc. Are there any regulations from the Church on how homemade bread must be made?
Click to expand...
Sugar and raisins will not invalidate the matter. As long as the bread is recognizable as wheat bread, then it is valid. It is illicit though under normal circumstances. I don’t know about peanut butter, although I don’t think that will invalidate the Eucharist as well as the peanut butter would not mix in with the bread. I could be wrong. I just started making my own bread at home and haven’t tried mixing peanut butter in, but my guess is as long as you can see the wheat bread separate from the peanut butter, its valid (but very illicit).
 
Dear Mark,

What you posted was very appaling.

As you may know, the Communion was invalid and illicit; I do not comprehend why the people didn’t share this with the bishop.

I know if our bishop was told this, that pastor would have his faculties removed immediately!!!

Do you know if this priest still is a priest.

Mark, I have to tell you this is one of the utmost and ridiculous things I have ever heard of.

Not to be judging, but perhaps there is something mentally ] wrong with this priest.

As I purported to you, this priest should be taken his faculties away and go back kto the lay -state.

He couldn’t be in his right mind do do such a sacreligious thing.

Thanks for sharing, Mark, and I do not understand why the parishioners didn’t report this.

God bless.

Brother Justin, OP
 
Bro_Justin said:
Dear Mark,

What you posted was very appaling.

As you may know, the Communion was invalid and illicit; I do not comprehend why the people didn’t share this with the bishop.
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Are you talking to me? I was responding to a post by Josephite, and pointing out why, although gravely illicit, the matter for the Eucharist is valid so long as it is what would commonly be described as wheat bread, even if it contains fruit, spices, or whatever.
 
I think he meant me. You, Mark, posted a quote from my story and he probably thought the quote was part of your words in the post.
 
ConstantineTG said:
What is valid is valid throughout the entire Church. Its only a matter of licitey when you discuss particular Rites.
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I was talking about the Latin Church, not a rite. On this forum it ought to be implicit that questions are about the Latin Church, but I just wanted to make it clear in my OP hence the last sentence therein.
ConstantineTG said:
I don’t think there’s any requirements of what you listed.
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I was asking a question rather than stating what was required.
ConstantineTG said:
As long as the bread is made mostly of wheat, and the wine is made of grapes with no preservatives, then its valid matter.
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I know and that’s what I was saying.
ConstantineTG said:
Leavened bread may licitley be used in the Latin Rite if Mass must absolutely be celebrated and there is no access to unleavened bread.
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I know the use of leavened bread is valid matter in the Latin Church’s rites but I’m quite certain it’s use is illicit.
 
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