Friday, August 20
Hosts without wheat?
This story from New Jersey is a real life application of a hilarious/heretical conversation that Dan, Emily, Andy and I had late one night last spring (sorry Matt, the consequences of being in Rome). The basic question was, what exactly is required, in terms of ingredients, for a host to be validly consecrated? We concluded that flour and water are necessary, and that there cannot be too many additives as to change the constitution of the bread; i.e., some salt is ok, but not too much. The catch here is that wheat flour is required: no rye, barley, oat or anything else.
As for solving the Haley's problem, I think the diocese's solution of a low-wheat host or simply receiving the Blood is the best way to go about it. After all, no one has a right to receive the Eucharist under both species, even though the Hussites insisted that's the only way to go about it. The important thing to remember is that there is no difference between the Body and the Blood of Christ as He is fully present in each. It's not as if the Body is one part of Christ and the Blood another, and they both perform different functions. Rather, each one fully unites us with God. So it really shouldn't make a difference if one receives only one species. Certainly the girl might feel awkward and different since she's the only kid who can't receive both species, but that's not much to write home about.
This story from New Jersey is a real life application of a hilarious/heretical conversation that Dan, Emily, Andy and I had late one night last spring (sorry Matt, the consequences of being in Rome). The basic question was, what exactly is required, in terms of ingredients, for a host to be validly consecrated? We concluded that flour and water are necessary, and that there cannot be too many additives as to change the constitution of the bread; i.e., some salt is ok, but not too much. The catch here is that wheat flour is required: no rye, barley, oat or anything else.
As for solving the Haley's problem, I think the diocese's solution of a low-wheat host or simply receiving the Blood is the best way to go about it. After all, no one has a right to receive the Eucharist under both species, even though the Hussites insisted that's the only way to go about it. The important thing to remember is that there is no difference between the Body and the Blood of Christ as He is fully present in each. It's not as if the Body is one part of Christ and the Blood another, and they both perform different functions. Rather, each one fully unites us with God. So it really shouldn't make a difference if one receives only one species. Certainly the girl might feel awkward and different since she's the only kid who can't receive both species, but that's not much to write home about.
![[SMMMHDH]](http://www.mgilleland.com/music/smmmhdh.png){kind=small}
