the community in those cases where communion is distributed under both species). Next there is the issue of sensitivity to gluten. Since nobody can really say how sensitive any particular celiac is means that this is a decision that will have to be reached between the patient and his or her doctor. Certainly receiving a portion of a normal host or receiving communion from the priests chalice represent an unnecessary risk to a celiacs health. The low-gluten host presents another alternative. It would be not quite as safe as receiving the Precious Blood alone but a plausible alternative if ones doctor agreed. Drawbacks to using the low-gluten host include the necessity of using a pyx for communion and relying on the priest to remember to distribute the pyx at the appropriate time. The long term health issues related to the consumption of the low-gluten host are not known. Catholic celiacs should consider using only a half or a quarter of the low-gluten host for communion in order to further reduce the gluten content. Parents considering using this host for their celiac childs communion might wish to consider the mixed message using this altar bread may send to the child, namely that some gluten is sometimes okay. Finally the Catholic hierarchy offers this alternative to celiac disease sufferers: making a spiritual communion. Spiritual communion is an asking of Our Blessed Lord to enter into ones heart since at that moment when one isnt able to receive Him Sacramentally. The Church says that the value of this practice is that the graces received may be as great as -- or greater than -- those received by some people in the actual Sacrament.