Until 8 p.m. includes Twin Cities area

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Gluten has become verboten in some circles, but there is no way around it for Catholics receiving Holy Communion; a recent church directive emphatically states that the wafer known as the host must contain gluten.


The reminder comes at "the request of Pope Francis" in the form of a 

At one time, it was religious communities that were charged with making the wafer for celebrating the Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion, said Cardinal Robert Sarah in the letter. But today the bread can come from less-certain origins, especially online.

A Google search reveals several "gluten-free" wafers for purchase. But according to the church's guidelines, "Hosts that are completely gluten-free are invalid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist." The bread must be "purely of wheat."


For the estimated one percent of the population with celiac disease, eating gluten — a protein found in grains such as wheat — causes 

But the church directive does leave some wiggle room for them.

Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

 of Clyde, Mo., come in. After a decade of work, they came up with a Vatican-approved wafer, using wheat starch and water. It contains just .001 percent gluten, an amount low enough for most celiac sufferers, General Counselor Sister Ruth Starman told NPR.


They sell about 15,000 breads per week, Starman said, some internationally. And while there are other organizations selling low-gluten wafers, Starman said they are the only religious producers.

"It was a privilege for our community," Starman said of developing wafers for people who had previously been unable to have them.


"We believe Communion is the actual body of Christ and that's the center point of our liturgy as Catholics — being able to receive Jesus," Starman said.  Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Health

Religion and Faith

The bread used for celebrating the Eucharist must contain some gluten, said the Vatican, but there is still a way for many celiac sufferers to receive the sacrament.

Gluten-free host a no-go, says pope

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox