Low Gluten Host Option
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Low Gluten Communion Hosts at
St. Bernard’s
St. Bernard’s will begin a new and added method of offering low-gluten Communion hosts at Mass to any among us who are unable to consume the normal host because of its wheat content. The priest will have a special small container (aka “pyx”) with white low-gluten hosts attached to--but separate from--his larger bowl of regular hosts.
Those requiring the low-gluten host are asked to approach only in the priest’s Communion line in the center aisle since he will be the only minister with these.When they approach the priest, they are to point to the smaller container with the white low-gluten hosts. This is a signal to the priest to offer them the low-gluten host instead of the regular one. To avoid any cross-contamination, they might even choose to take a low-gluten host themselves from the pyx as the priest says, “The Body of Christ.”
Those wishing to continue to use their own small pyx for themselves are still welcome to do so. They need to get this personal pyx to the sacristan several minutes before the start of Mass so she can add the low-gluten host to it and bring it to the gifts table or altar. Such small pyxes are available for such personal use in the sacristy.
To be labelled “low-gluten,” a food product must have less than .02% gluten, or 20mg per 100g of food. The amount of gluten in a low-gluten host is approximately .0019 milligrams. In other words, the amount of gluten in a low-gluten host is nearly negligible. Parishioners need to consult with their doctors about the amount of gluten in the host and whether it will cause a reaction to the negligible amount of gluten.
The more susceptible communicant is free to receive Holy Communion simply by drinking from the consecrated wine in the chalice held by a Communion minister.
The Catholic Church has a technical reason for allowing only low-gluten hosts instead of gluten-free hosts for those suffering from Celiac disease or other allergies.