Can choir members sip tea during Mass?

[LighthouseRon]

As a choir member I would like to know if it is permitted to sip tea or some other warm drink to help “lubricate” one’s voice when singing at Mass as part of the choir? Warm water helps but not as well as the tea.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

As long as you are discreet about it so as not to scandalize the congregation, yes. However, tea does break the Communion fast, so you would not be able to receive Communion at that Mass unless the tea was sipped at least an hour before receiving Communion. If you are not able to go to another Mass during the weekend and desire to receive Communion at the Mass during which you sing, then you’ll have to make do with the warm water because water is the only liquid that does not break the fast.