Gluten or Alcohol Intolerance and the Reception of Holy Communion

Along with other Christians, United Methodists seek to welcome persons to the table who are physically intolerant of gluten or alcohol. The latter is not a significant issue for United Methodists as we have a practice of using the "pure unfermented juice of the grape." However, some congregations do object to the use of purple grape juice (such as Welch's) or other grape products that cause extreme staining of communion linens.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Newsletter (November 2003, Vol. XXXIV) offered guidance to the Roman Catholic Church and provided the following information on suppliers of low-gluten hosts and low-alcohol wine called "mustum."

According the Newsletter, in order for the elements for communion to be "valid matter" the host has to contain some gluten and the cup has to contain some alcohol. For United Methodists, these are not juridical matters, but along another line of reasoning, the following suppliers may be of interest to us.

Gluten Intolerance and the Reception of Holy Communion (p. 49)

The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri, have developed a true low gluten host ready for sale by January 1, 2004. The total gluten content of this product is 0.01%; its contents of unleavened wheat and water and free of additives conform to the requirements of the Code of Canon Law, canon 924.2. This low gluten content is still enough gluten to confect bread for the Eucharist. Many gluten-intolerant persons may be able to consume it, or some portion of it, but are strongly advised to check with their personal physicians in advance. This product is the only true, low-gluten altar bread known to the Secretariat and approved by use at Mass in the United States. The contact information for ordering such hosts from the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration is as follows:

Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
Altar Breads Department
31970 State Highway P
Clyde, Missouri 64432
Phone: 1-800-223-2772
E-mail: [email protected]
Sr. Rita, OSB, Manager

Alcohol Intolerance and the Reception of Holy Communion

Those who are unable to consume alcohol, whether the lay faithful, deacons or priests, may now substitute mustum for regular wine in the reception of Holy Communion with appropriate permission. "Mustum" proper to grape juice which contains no additives, is not pasteurized and has a very low alcohol content (less than 1.0%) due to the fact that the fermentation process has been arrested briefly after its start. Mustum may be stored through freezing or other means; any pasteurized grape juice product, including pasteurized mustum, is invalid matter for Mass due to the fact that the high temperatures used in such a process evaporate all of the remaining alcohol in the juice.

There are only two suppliers in the United States known to the Secretariat for the Liturgy of mustum approved for use at Mass. Their contact information is given here:

(1) Ranelle Trading/Ojai Fresh Juice Corporation
2501 Oak Hill Circle, Suite 2032
Ft. Worth, TX 76109
Phone: 877-211-7690 (toll-free)
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Mr. Mike Ranelle, President

and

(2) Mont La Salle Altar Wine Company
385 A La Fata Street
St. Helena, CA 94575
Phone: 707-963-2521
Toll-Free: 800-447-8466
Contact: Mr. James Cox, President

For additional information on these matters, see

• Wheat-Free Worship
  This article includes recipes for non-gluten bread.
• How Inclusive Is Your Communion Table?
• "This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion,"
  pages 29-31 on "The Elements." This is a paper proposed for adoption by the 2004 General Conference.

The italicized text is copyright © 2003 The Committee on Liturgy, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and is used with permission.