<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Greetings: If you are Roman Catholic (others should listen up too!) and have been avoiding Holy Communion because of the wheat thing, I've got some great news for you. The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri have low-gluten altar breads. These bread hosts are acceptable for those of us with Celiac Sprue, and are being used by celiacs now without reaction. This is probably due to the amount and type of gluten used in the hosts, which is 35% gluten and is called "tender" gluten. This gluten is reported to break down and rapidly dissolve in the stomach. As with anything, check with an informed MD, if you can find one out there. Those with CD (Sprue, wheat allergies, etc.) who have the permission of their local Ordinary may safely use these low- gluten hosts. You should talk with your local priest about this process. Also, these hosts are low-gluten and not gluten free. They do, however, thus meet the Roman Catholic Church's firm requirements of validity and liceity. Permission to use low-gluten altar breads may be granted by Ordinaries to priests and lay persons affected by CD, after presentation of a medical certificate. A copy of your letter of diagnosis will do for this. Then after your priest has ordered and received the hosts, you can present one at each Mass you attend. Simply put the host in your personal pyx and place it on the altar prior to the service. Your priest will help you establish a system. In this way your host will be separate from the wheat hosts but will be consecrated along with the rest. Your priest will collect your pyx and have it ready for you so long as you go only to him for distribution. It can all work very nicely for you once your priest is informed and involved. To purchase some of these hosts your priest can contact: Altar Bread Department Benedictine Monastery RR 1 Box 101 Clyde, Missouri 64432 1-(800)-223-2772 Sure hope this is a help to some of you. It is making a great change here, I can tell you. Not having to skip Holy Communion with my family and friends is an answer to many prayers. Jean Trocchia http:[log in to unmask]