What constitutes the host?

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Justin_A

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I have been an avid catholic for most of my life and have tried to learn as much as possible.
I have been going to St.Mark for about 4 years now and have become head of the Eucharistic ministry for the 6:00pm mass. However I have now run into a problem…
They have started to distribute gluten free hosts.
I was my understanding that ONLY wheat made hosts could be used.
So what I am asking is this…

#1. Am I correct?

and

#2. Where can I find the OFFICIAL teaching from a reliable source.

A way to present and defend this point would also be helpful. I would like to try and prevent corruption in my catholic community if I can.
 
There must be at least a teeny-tiny amount of wheat to be a valid host. However, I found this from a Zenit article dated 2004:

*Recently, however, another solution has been found thanks to the patience and perseverance of two nuns, Sisters Jane Heschmeyer and Lynn Marie D’Souza, of the Benedictine convent in Clyde, Missouri. Over two years of experiments they have developed a Communion wafer that has been approved as valid material for the Eucharist by the Holy See.

With a level of gluten content of 0.01% it is safe enough for consumption by almost all celiac suffers, according to Dr. Alessio Fasano of the University of Maryland and other medical experts.

The U.S. bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy has deemed the sisters’ bread “the only true, low-gluten altar bread approved for use at Mass in the United States.” *

Perhaps your “Gluten free” hosts are not actually GF, but are the extremely low Gluten hosts mentioned above?
 
I’ll have to look into that. As far as I know at the moment they are rice. But if they contain some amount of gluten and nothing is being done against the teachings of the church then my problem is solved. Thanks!
 
there are very low gluten hosts that are prescribed for use

but if you’re concerned that it may not be valid matter, and thus not become a valid Sacrament, then you can always approach the priest before Mass, explain your condition, and ask to receive the Precious Blood
 
ConstantineTG said:
there are very low gluten hosts that are prescribed for use

but if you’re concerned that it may not be valid matter, and thus not become a valid Sacrament, then you can always approach the priest before Mass, explain your condition, and ask to receive the Precious Blood
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My problem was that I was concerned it was not a valid sacrament. But I have and always do receive the traditional host as I am an Extraordinary minister.
However being a possibly serious matter, I am not and never have been content to stand by and watch while some thing sacred is misused, or ill treated. I would consider a fake host with no gluten in it a serious misuse of the Eucharistic sacrament.
 
I see, my apologies. I did not read the entirety of your original post.

You can educate those with the condition that they can choose to receive the Precious Blood instead. And since you are head of the ministry, they can approach you before Mass so you can inform the priest to consecrate more wine.

But as mentioned in earlier posts, there are low gluten Hosts that are called gluten free. If you are still suspicious and want to make an effort, you can try tracking the source of this hosts and find out if they indeed conform to what is prescribed by the Church as valid matter for the Eucharist.
 
I plan to do just that. And there is no apology needed. Thanks for your help and advice 🙂
 
sojo said:
There must be at least a teeny-tiny amount of wheat to be a valid host.
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I think you meant “a teeny-tiny amount of” gluten. They must be all wheat.
Justin_A said:
I’ll have to look into that. As far as I know at the moment they are rice. But if they contain some amount of gluten and nothing is being done against the teachings of the church then my problem is solved. Thanks!
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Rice wafers would be invalid matter. Use of invalid matter is a pretty serious abuse of the Mass. I hope you find out this is not the case.
 
Corki said:
I think you meant “a teeny-tiny amount of” gluten. They must be all wheat.

Rice wafers would be invalid matter. Use of invalid matter is a pretty serious abuse of the Mass. I hope you find out this is not the case.
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Ok maybe I am reading things wrong. But so far I think I have gotten both answeres.
#1. It can be NEARLY gluten free, but has to have some gluten/wheat.

#2. It MUST be ALL WHEAT.

Correct me if I’m wrong on this.

If some one has a source they could point me to that has the churches actual stance on the subject that would also be very helpful.
 
Justin_A said:
Ok maybe I am reading things wrong. But so far I think I have gotten both answeres.
#1. It can be NEARLY gluten free, but has to have some gluten/wheat.

#2. It MUST be ALL WHEAT.

Correct me if I’m wrong on this.

If some one has a source they could point me to that has the churches actual stance on the subject that would also be very helpful.
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Here’s the official Vatican source on the “all wheat” part:
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.[123] 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.[124] 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.[125]
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vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html

Post #2 already gave you the source for the gluten requirement.
 
If it is of wheat, then it cannot be 100% gluten free. Maybe 99%? I’m not sure how low the gluten can go for wheat bread, but they’ve brought it to as low as possible.

It doesn’t have to be all wheat, but the mixture should be that it is still considered wheat bread. So mixing is allowed to a certain extent, especially to cater for this case.
 
ConstantineTG said:
If it is of wheat, then it cannot be 100% gluten free. Maybe 99%? I’m not sure how low the gluten can go for wheat bread, but they’ve brought it to as low as possible.

It doesn’t have to be all wheat, but the mixture should be that it is still considered wheat bread. So mixing is allowed to a certain extent, especially to cater for this case.
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Since we are talking about a Latin rite church, it is NOT allowed to add any other ingredients. Water and wheat flour - nothing else. See the RS section I posted above.
 
Corki said:
Since we are talking about a Latin rite church, it is NOT allowed to add any other ingredients. Water and wheat flour - nothing else. See the RS section I posted above.
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Of course, it came from this clause:
or if it is mixed with another substance different from wheat to such an extent that it would not commonly be considered wheat bread
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It simply tells that some mixture is allowed but that it shouldn’t change the main composition of the bread as wheat. Ordinarily it should just be wheat and water. But you cannot achieve low gluten hosts that way.
 
Is celiac disease a new illness? Did they used to have gluten free hosts in the 19th Century? I’m a bit of a sceptic of celiac disease. Catholics eat bread, muslims eat rice, and Protestants eat potatoes.
 
budgie2 said:
Is celiac disease a new illness? Did they used to have gluten free hosts in the 19th Century? I’m a bit of a sceptic of celiac disease. Catholics eat bread, muslims eat rice, and Protestants eat potatoes.
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Filipinos eat rice, and we’re 80% Catholic

It could be a new condition. Or in the past when one receives and has an allergic reaction people just say that person is a sinner and unworthy of receiving Jesus Christ 🤷

There are many new diseases and conditions that have been coming out in recent years. When I was a child, I can’t remember anyone having any peanut allergies. Everyone ate peanuts, peanut butter, candy bars with peanuts. Now there are kids who could die just by being in contact with peanuts.
 
Corki said:
Sorry, only wheat. Check out the site for the sisters who make the ultra-low gluten hosts. They explain the process.

benedictinesisters.org/bread/low_gluten.php
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Wow, thats great.

But its clear what RS is saying, that some mixing is allowed but never to an extent that you cannot call it wheat bread anymore.

I really do not know anything about making bread. But I am confident with my understanding of the language in RS which suggest some minimal mixing is allowed. Because the language suggest so.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Wow, thats great.

But its clear what RS is saying, that some mixing is allowed but never to an extent that you cannot call it wheat bread anymore.

I really do not know anything about making bread. But I am confident with my understanding of the language in RS which suggest some minimal mixing is allowed. Because the language suggest so.
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RS is saying that with some mixing of other things (fruit, honey) it could still be valid matter. As to what is licit, though, Canon 924 §2 states, “The bread must be only wheat and recently made so that there is no danger of spoiling.” I’d imagine the Holy See could grant an indult to loosen that burden in some cases, but unless that’s been done the bread must be, well, only wheat.
 
MarkThompson said:
RS is saying that with some mixing of other things (fruit, honey) it could still be valid matter. As to what is licit, though, Canon 924 §2 states, “The bread must be only wheat and recently made so that there is no danger of spoiling.” I’d imagine the Holy See could grant an indult to loosen that burden in some cases, but unless that’s been done the bread must be, well, only wheat.
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Thanks, that is what I am trying to say when I said “ordinarily”. Which means it is what is valid vs. licit. Some mixing will not invalidate the Sacrament, but will be highly illicity. But perhaps to cater to people with a special condition, as you have said, and indult could be granted. An indult cannot change what is valid or invalid, only what is licit and illicit, since beign licit deals with obedience and discipline. So by granting an indult, the priest or congregation are not going against the law of the Church. But the matter was valid to begin with. Of course such indult would only apply to those suffering the condition, and not for everyone.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Thanks, that is what I am trying to say when I said “ordinarily”. Which means it is what is valid vs. licit. Some mixing will not invalidate the Sacrament, but will be highly illicity. But perhaps to cater to people with a special condition, as you have said, and indult could be granted. An indult cannot change what is valid or invalid, only what is licit and illicit, since beign licit deals with obedience and discipline. So by granting an indult, the priest or congregation are not going against the law of the Church. But the matter was valid to begin with. Of course such indult would only apply to those suffering the condition, and not for everyone.
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This is correct, except that if an indult were granted, it could presumably say whatever the Pope felt like – including applying to people other than celiacs. I don’t know that any such indult has been given, so as far as I’m aware this is entirely hypothetical.
 
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