Catholics With Celiac Disease Can Receive The Precious Blood

By Stacy Lamorte, NOLA Catholic Parenting

About two years ago I made the decision to see a doctor about chronic stomachaches. They had been occurring for about nine months on and off and were getting progressively worse.

I got very alarmed, though, when I realized I had lost about 10 pounds unintentionally. My first thought in writing was that this is a public service announcement to parents: Please take time to take care of yourself; don’t put your health off!

I know that if this had been one of my children with the stomachaches, I would have had them to the doctor in no time. After much ado, my doctor reported to me that I had celiac disease. He gave me literature, websites, and a referral to a dietitian because he said this would take some time and lots of resources to get used to my new way of life.

When there is a diagnosis like this in a family, it affects the entire family. We switched to essentially an all gluten-free diet at home (save things like Oreos and Goldfish, which I would never begrudge my children). My husband and children have sacrificed so much for my well-being, and I am so grateful to them. My parents and sisters, friends and in-laws have been so supportive, as well, taking care not to include gluten in family dinners when we eat together.  It has been a life-changing diagnosis, but certainly not as difficult as it must have been years ago.

I did not, however, expect that it would affect my prayer life.

You may call me naïve (I certainly did!), but I felt like I could still receive holy Communion and it would not affect my levels because my thought process was: “How could receiving the Body of Christ HARM me in any way?” Well, after six months of cutting out gluten everywhere but Sunday Mass, my numbers were still elevated. I felt ostracized, angry and resentful that this was happening.

That was when I called my pastor, and he informed me that I could receive the “full body and blood of Christ” through just receiving from the chalice. He said he could provide a mostly gluten-free host for me at Mass (there must be a small amount of wheat in a host to be considered “bread” to be blessed).  While I haven’t tried this yet, it makes me feel happy to know that I have that option.

My new, gluten-free life is getting easier and easier, and I am feeling much better.  My skin is acne-free now, my joint pain is better, I have more energy, and my foggy-headedness has cleared!

These were all symptoms I didn’t even realize I was having until they dissipated. It has also brought me closer to God, and I don’t take receiving Communion for granted anymore. If you are a Catholic with Celiac, would you let us know how you have coped with this and how it has affected your family and faith?

Stacy Glynn LaMorte is a wife and mother of three children. She is a work-from-home mom who is a fitness professional and does bookkeeping part-time. She loves being with her family, traveling, exercising, reading, photography and gardening.

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