Matters of Faith: Celiac Disease

Our parish is beginning a new catechetical program. Parishoners are being asked to send questions about their faith in to the rectory, and I have been asked to find answers for these questions, with the help of other theologically knowledgeable Catholics. I am going to post these questions and responses on the blog so you may benefit from the great questions that are being generated by our parish!

Dear Matters of Faith,

How is a person with celiac disease (intolerance to wheat) to approach Jesus in the Eucharist?

Response: There is good news and bad news for people with celiac disease. First, the “bad” news is that a valid consecration requires a host made of wheat flour and water. The only variation for the matter of the Holy Eucharist is that the wheat bread may be leavened in some Eastern Churches and rites. This is not just a matter of the Church being stubborn and set in its ways. It has to do with the fact that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist when consecration is performed in the way that He prescribed it. The Church has the obligation to preserve the Traditions that Christ gave us to follow. The use of any flour other than wheat flour, such as rice, barley, corn, or rye makes the bread invalid matter. If a priest said the words of consecration over such bread, there would be no consecration. The same is true for the wine—it must be fermented grape wine. There could be no consecration if the wine were replaced with plain grape juice or with any other liquid. However, the good news is that those who suffer from celiac disease can be accommodated in a couple of ways. I have heard about low-gluten hosts that are consumable by some people with celiac disease. Those for whom these hosts are not available, or who can't have even the slightest amount of gluten can receive communion through the chalice alone. Christ is fully present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Precious Blood, just as He is in the Sacred Body. The key is to speak to your pastor to make arrangements. Your priest would be able to tell you what accommodations are available to you. One more piece of advice: if you are the only one except for the priest receiving the Precious Blood, a separate chalice may need to be set aside for you since the priest drops a piece of the host into the chalice from which he drinks.

In the love of Christ,

Brother Thomas