Chewing gum or brushing teeth an hour before The Eucharist

[chrismalaga]

Hi All,

Iwas just wondering, can you chew gum or brush yoour teeth an hour before mess and still recieve the eucharist or does this count as not fasting?

Regards,

Chris

 

[Phemie]

Hi All,

Iwas just wondering, can you chew gum or brush yoour teeth an hour before mess and still recieve the eucharist or does this count as not fasting?

Regards,

Chris

Fasting is for an hour before Communion, not an hour before Mass.

Toothpaste is not food so no problem there.

Gum? Well, it’s sugar/sugar substitute so might be considered to break the fast before Communion. I’d spit it out 20 minutes before going to Mass and keep track of the time to be on the safe side.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Brushing teeth before receiving Communion is fine; in fact, it is highly recommended. We owe it to Jesus out of respect to receive Him with a clean mouth (and clean hands, if you receive that way).

Gum-chewing is a different story. It is usually done because it is pleasurable (flavor, mouth sensation, chewing activity). I think in the spirit of fasting it would be good to abstain from it for an hour. (An hour before Communion is usually about fifteen minutes before Mass starts; anyone should be able to do without gum for an hour.) I’m not sure about the letter of the law; I think only water and necessary medicine are permitted. Some gum has nutritive value (sugar), but that might be splitting hairs.

The absolute worst is when people approach Communion with gum in their mouths. I think that is terribly disrespectful. (Disposing of gum under the pew ranks right up there, too. Yes, it happens.)

 

[WetCatechumen]

Brushing teeth before receiving Communion is fine; in fact, it is highly recommended. We owe it to Jesus out of respect to receive Him with a clean mouth (and clean hands, if you receive that way).

Gum-chewing is a different story. It is usually done because it is pleasurable (flavor, mouth sensation, chewing activity). I think in the spirit of fasting it would be good to abstain from it for an hour. (An hour before Communion is usually about fifteen minutes before Mass starts; anyone should be able to do without gum for an hour.) I’m not sure about the letter of the law; I think only water and necessary medicine are permitted. Some gum has nutritive value (sugar), but that might be splitting hairs.

The absolute worst is when people approach Communion with gum in their mouths. I think that is terribly disrespectful. (Disposing of gum under the pew ranks right up there, too. Yes, it happens.)

Why in the world would you receive with gum in your mouth. Some people. Also, can’t you just put it in the trash like a normal person? ugh . . .

 

[Phemie]

(Disposing of gum under the pew ranks right up there, too. Yes, it happens.)

No kidding! I did a ‘survey’ in my church a few years ago and found wads of gum stuck to approx. 30% of the pews and some pews had more than one.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Why in the world would you receive with gum in your mouth. Some people. Also, can’t you just put it in the trash like a normal person? ugh . . .

I don’t know why, but our old Irish pastor rather loudly refused someone communion when they came to him chewing gum. Problem solved!

 

[Ruthie]

One of our CAF apologists has said that gum is not food, so it can be chewed within an hour of receiving the Host.

I say:
Receiving with gum in your mouth is highly disrespectful. Wrap it and put it in your pocket or purse to dispose of later.

Sacred heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.

Ruthie

 

[Joan_M]

One of our CAF apologists has said that gum is not food, so it can be chewed within an hour of receiving the Host.

I say:
Receiving with gum in your mouth is highly disrespectful. Wrap it and put it in your pocket or purse to dispose of later.

Sacred heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.

Ruthie

Although gum is not food, insofar as one does not normally swallow it, it contains sugar or sugar substitute and flavorings which mingle with the chewer’s saliva and gets swallowed. It appears to me that this is, both technically and in fact, breaking the fast. I never chew gum, so, perhaps, I see this differently, but I cannot understand the concept that chewing gum (and swallowing the flavored saliva produced) does not break the fast.

As to receiving Jesus with gum in your mouth, well! I just cannot express my disgust with that!

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Brusing of teeth is a health thing, so that’s not breaking the fast even if you end up swallowing any of it.

Chewing gum is kind of a tricky one. I’d advise against it within an hour of receiving communion simply as a spirit of the law kind of thing. But on the same “spirit of the law” aspect, if someone simply forgot to spit out their gum until they pulled in the Church parking lot, I’d say such a person could receive without worry since chewing gum is not really the same as eating something.

Its good to put thought and effort into meeting the Church’s laws, but we should not become Pharisees about it.