The Sacrament of Eucharist
The Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Through this sacrament of initiation we participate with the whole community of believers in the Lord’s own sacrifice.
The Eucharist (from the Greek word eucharistia ‘thanksgiving’) is the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ in which he is present under the forms of bread and wine offering himself in the sacrifice of the Mass and giving himself as spiritual food to the faithful.
At the Last Supper, the Lord instituted the eucharistic sacrifice of his body and blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to the church a memorial of his death and resurrection.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.
Procedures for those with Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance
Over recent years, we have become aware of the challenges faced by those who suffer from gluten intolerance. In our parish, we have always provided for the faithful to receive consecrated, low gluten hosts. However, for those individuals incapable of tolerating even the slightest amount of gluten, it is desirable to provide another option for receiving Holy Communion.
At this time, reception from the cup of Precious Blood remains restricted to the priest celebrant and concelebrating priests. However, it is permissible to provide this access to those who cannot receive low gluten hosts. Blessed Sacrament Cathedral will provide an individual portion of the Precious Blood to those for whom the low gluten host is intolerable.
Those who wish to receive in this fashion should go to the sacristy and speak with the sacristan before Mass begins. The sacristan will include an extra cup and purficator for the individual. At communion time, the person is asked to proceed in line with the rest of the congregation. When reaching the minister, alert the minister that you are to receive from the cup. They will retrieve a cup, tell you “you are cup A (or B, etc)” and then offer the cup. Following Mass, please return to the sacristy to purify your vessel. The sacristan can show you how to do this.
Please feel free to call the parish office or speak to the priest following Mass with any questions. And as always, the low gluten host is always available. You need only ask the sacristan for it before Mass as well.