40 day fast and Ash Wednesday?

[Lead_Me_Home]

Most importantly I am what one mite call a closet catholic. I am too young to convert on my own (until I graduate) so although my religious views and practices (like prayer) are catholic I am not a member or in full communion with the church. Would it be appropriate for me to fast and observe the other

It’s Lent again and as usual I start fasting. I fast for the 40 days minus the sundays. Is this appropriate (I know it is not necessary)?

I also want to know if drinking tea or other sweetened beverages permissible when fasting.

 

[DavidPalm]

Most importantly I am what one mite call a closet catholic. I am too young to convert on my own (until I graduate) so although my religious views and practices (like prayer) are catholic I am not a member or in full communion with the church. Would it be appropriate for me to fast and observe the other

It’s Lent again and as usual I start fasting. I fast for the 40 days minus the sundays. Is this appropriate (I know it is not necessary)?

I also want to know if drinking tea or other sweetened beverages permissible when fasting.

Hi LMH, glad to be starting the Lenten journey with you.

Fasting for the full forty days, minus the Sundays, is indeed a very traditional and salutary practice. I would, perhaps, urge some caution on your part due to your youth. It generally isn’t healthy for young people to fast too rigorously. So be prudent about this and if you feel that you need more nourishment, by all means take it without feeling that you have been less than pious.

As for your second question, yes it is permitted to take “nourishing” beverages without breaking the Lenten fast. Here’s St. Thomas on the matter:

Reply to Objection 2. Fasting is of two kinds [Cf. 1, ad 3]. One is the natural fast, which is requisite for receiving the Eucharist. This is broken by any kind of drink, even of water, after which it is not lawful to receive the Eucharist. The fast of the Church is another kind and is called the “fasting of the faster,” and this is not broken save by such things as the Church intended to forbid in instituting the fast. Now the Church does not intend to command abstinence from drink, for this is taken more for bodily refreshment, and digestion of the food consumed, although it nourishes somewhat. It is, however, possible to sin and lose the merit of fasting, by partaking of too much drink: as also by eating immoderately at one meal.

 

[ElizabethPH]

Hi LMH, glad to be starting the Lenten journey with you.

Fasting for the full forty days, minus the Sundays, is indeed a very traditional and salutary practice. I would, perhaps, urge some caution on your part due to your youth. It generally isn’t healthy for young people to fast too rigorously. So be prudent about this and if you feel that you need more nourishment, by all means take it without feeling that you have been less than pious.

As for your second question, yes it is permitted to take “nourishing” beverages without breaking the Lenten fast. Here’s St. Thomas on the matter:

Reply to Objection 2. Fasting is of two kinds [Cf. 1, ad 3]. One is the natural fast, which is requisite for receiving the Eucharist. The fast of the Church is another kind and is called the “fasting of the faster,” and this is not broken save by such things as the Church intended to forbid in instituting the fast. Now the Church does not intend to command abstinence from drink, for this is taken more for bodily refreshment, and digestion of the food consumed, although it nourishes somewhat. It is, however, possible to sin and lose the merit of fasting, by partaking of too much drink: as also by eating immoderately at one meal.

**“This is broken by any kind of drink, even of water, after which it is not lawful to receive the Eucharist.” **

Water does not break the Eucharistic fast. Or did I read that wrong. Perhaps back in the day it did. But now days it doesn’t; also medicines are allowed. Anyway that’s what I thought.

 

[jmcrae]

**“This is broken by any kind of drink, even of water, after which it is not lawful to receive the Eucharist.” **

Water does not break the Eucharistic fast. Or did I read that wrong. Perhaps back in the day it did. But now days it doesn’t; also medicines are allowed. Anyway that’s what I thought.

This is correct - water and medicines are fine - everything else is not. Also, the fast is for one hour before receiving Holy Communion, so if you take something by accident 45 minutes before Mass starts, you will be fine, in most cases.

 

[chrisb]

This is correct - water and medicines are fine - everything else is not. Also, the fast is for one hour before receiving Holy Communion, so if you take something by accident 45 minutes before Mass starts, you will be fine, in most cases.

Does anyone know the history of this Communion Fast and why it has been largely relaxed to the point it seems to have no real value?

 

[CapIV]

Does anyone know the history of this Communion Fast and why it has been largely relaxed to the point it seems to have no real value?

Many proper Church traditions and disciplines were relaxed since Vatican II.

Much happiness to the original poster. If you study the history of Elizabethan England, you will find that you are in good company being a “closet Catholic”.

 

[jmcrae]

Does anyone know the history of this Communion Fast and why it has been largely relaxed to the point it seems to have no real value?

The discipline of fasting has changed a lot, and has been very different at different periods in Church history, but I don’t really know the details.

 

[DavidPalm]

Water does not break the Eucharistic fast. Or did I read that wrong. Perhaps back in the day it did.

Yup, back in the day. Also back in the day they fasted for all forty days (from both food and marital relations) and cut out a lot of different food groups (these varied depending on your ethnic origins).

There have been a lot of changes since then.

 

[Phemie]

Many proper Church traditions and disciplines were relaxed since Vatican II.

The Communion fast was relaxed greatly before Vatican II. My parents remembered fasting from midnight, but that changed in 1953 when evening Masses were permitted and the fast was reduced to 3 hours with water permitted. I well recall the 3 hour fast and taking breakfast with me to Mass during Lent and Advent so that I could have it when I got to school after Mass.

 

[Volodymyr_988]

The original Fast was the Black Fast*. This is now only followed by Muslims during Ramadan.

*Christians only ate after 3 pm and ate very little (vegan style) and did this all throughout Lent.