Celiac Disease and Communion

Have you ever wondered why some people skip the Communion line that leads to the consecrated host and go straight to the line with the chalice? It’s quite likely that person has a form of celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

This is a digestive disorder that results in damage to the small intestine when one consumes foods with gluten. Estimates indicate that about 1% of Americans have celiac disease, and I expect that most of us know someone with this disorder.

A person with celiac disease cannot eat any type of bread, which means they cannot consume a typical Communion host made from wheat. Some must even avoid the priest’s chalice,

as the priest will often add a small piece of the fractionated host to his chalice.

I have a very good friend with celiac disease. Over the years, we’ve learned what she can and cannot eat. In a classic God wink, her husband loves all types of bread, but as a sign of his love, he abstains from bread every Friday and all during Lent.

Canon law notes that a member of the faithful who cannot receive Holy Communion under the species of bread may receive Holy Communion under the species of wine, only.

Theologically, Jesus is the same under both species. In the case where one cannot consume the Communion host, receiving the precious blood alone is a valid Communion.

The same is true for those who choose not to partake or who, for some reason, cannot partake of the Precious Blood and choose to only receive the Body of Christ. The Catholic Church has specific guidelines techniques and teachings related to people who are unable to consume normal bread or wine.

Some churches consecrate a small number of gluten-free hosts, but this is rare

and we do not normally do this in our parish. So if a visitor asks you about gluten-free hosts for Communion, please let them know that we do not normally consecrate gluten-free hosts at our parish, but they can safely receive from any of the chalices other than the priest chalice.

Saint Theresa, pray for us.