Celiac disease is estimated to affect one in two hundred people in Spain. This makes it one of the most frequent digestive diseases. The symptoms are very variable, from totally asymptomatic to severe diarrhea with pain and weight loss due to not absorbing the nutrients normally. The only treatment that exists is to avoid gluten, the substance that causes the disease. Unfortunately it is present in many cereals and especially in wheat.
This disease has been increasing in recent years. The Church, as a loving mother, tries to give ways not to separate the affected people from communion. We must consider the so-called matter of the Eucharist . Matter is the physical elements of the sacrament, in this case wheat bread and grape wine. They are the same elements that Jesus Christ used in the Last Supper. And gluten is a part so typical of bread that gluten-free bread forms or "bread for coeliacs" are considered invalid to consecrate. There are two solutions available.
Bread with low gluten content
Low-gluten forms are accepted as a matter for the Eucharist. They are obtained by means of procedures that do not denature the bread and that do not add foreign substances. There are also wheat strains that can be used (such as Triticum spp. Or Cerestar) because they have lower levels of gluten. They will not affect the health but they will allow the baking that is an indispensable condition. Regarding the confusion that occurred a few years ago, it has been repeated by numerous channels that gluten-free bread is not a possible alternative.
Communion under the Eucharistic species of wine
It will be enough for the assistant to request it before the mass to the minister. The priests have to take care of a series of considerations so as not to contaminate the cup of celiacs. This chalice will be different from the main one of the Eucharist. A purifier for the exclusive use of celiac will also be used.
The Episcopal Liturgy Commission asks the ministers to act with delicacy and without demanding greater explanations from those who come to ask for communion under the species of wine. He also urges to try at Masses with children that the celiac feel respected and appreciated by other children, seeing the solution as something natural.
Priests and seminarians
In the case of priests with celiac disease they are not allowed to celebrate if they can not communicate with low-gluten hosts. In the event that they are concelebrating they are allowed communion under the sole species of wine with the permission of the ordinary. Regarding the seminarians with this problem it is the bishop's competence to determine their suitability. His ordination is not expressly forbidden, but the bishop's caution is requested.