Corinthians ( 11:27 ) and fasting after communion

[Stephentlig]

Hi folks, I was reading St.John Chrysostoms commentaries albeit homilies upon this scriptural passage, Its not a long commentarie, but from what I got from it was, first of all we all know that to approach the Lord unworthily ( I.e receive with Mortal sin on our souls ) is the main bulk of the Scriptural passage. However what else I got from it was it appears to me at the moment, that when we do approach the Eucharist that we are not to think of ourselves as unworthy of the Lords Body, after we say ‘‘Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.’’ for if we do, we are profaning/offending God. a third thing that I got from the Homily of St.John Chrys was that we should fast after we receive communion also, is this binding? or is it St.Johns request or suggestion that it would be a pious act to do?

I will copy and paste the short Homily now for you all to read and get back to me. It’s a passage I’ve struggled with for quite some time, because each time I go to receive our Lord I often say after receiving how unworthy I am of his Body, and I’m saying it with the idea that I’m being humble, but if I am saying it and not knowing I’m offending God then that would worry me, and I’d love it if someone could put my Heart and mind to rest on it.

Here is the link to the Homily newadvent.org/fathers/220127.htm

 

[Aramis]

You really need to put St. John’s commentaries into context; applying them directly to the Roman Liturgy is like trying to apply Ben Franklin’s advice on politics to modern Parliamentary Procedure… you can do so, but it will lead you to some odd conclusions.

That whole page, BTW, is one homily.

St John is railing in this one against excess, not nourishment of the body. Against a feast when breaking the Eucharistic fast, but not against eating a sustaining meal.

In short, After Liturgy, yes, go eat, but don’t go party.

 

[Stephentlig]

You really need to put St. John’s commentaries into context; applying them directly to the Roman Liturgy is like trying to apply Ben Franklin’s advice on politics to modern Parliamentary Procedure… you can do so, but it will lead you to some odd conclusions.

That whole page, BTW, is one homily.

St John is railing in this one against excess, not nourishment of the body. Against a feast when breaking the Eucharistic fast, but not against eating a sustaining meal.

In short, After Liturgy, yes, go eat, but don’t go party.

Thank you Aramis, I didnt think of that. What about the Unworthy bit? in St.Johns Homily somewhere he talks about us being worthy on reception of the Eucharist, is this true? am I reading him right?

Pax Christi
Stephen <3

 

[japhy]

… that we should fast after we receive communion also, is this binding? or is it St.Johns request or suggestion that it would be a pious act to do?

“What then? Ought we to fast after receiving?” I say not this, neither do I use any compulsion. This indeed were well: however, I do not enforce this, but I exhort you not to feast to excess.
That’s your answer. St. John was not requiring a post-Eucharist fast, but he was exhorting (strongly encouraging) the people not to follow the Eucharist with worldly feasting.

 

[ProVobis]

If I remember correctly, when the midnight and 3-hr fasts were in effect, there was also a 15-minute fast after communion. Enough time for full digestion, I believe.

 

[japhy]

If I remember correctly, when the midnight and 3-hr fasts were in effect, there was also a 15-minute fast after communion. Enough time for full digestion, I believe.

If only there were a rule about fasting from cigarette-smoking immediately after Mass too.

 

[Aramis]

If I remember correctly, when the midnight and 3-hr fasts were in effect, there was also a 15-minute fast after communion. Enough time for full digestion, I believe.

Heck, in the Byantine DL, that’s not even going to get to the end of the dismissal in many places… it’s a non-issue!

Now, some Roman parishes might be already out the door by 15 minutes…

 

[rad314]

Fr. Heribert Jone, in “Moral Theology” #509, says that, without an urgent reason, eating within five or eight minutes after receiving Communion is irreverent and a venial sin.

 

[At_Trent]

Aren’t we still supposed to wait 15 minutes after receiving before taking food or drink ?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Heck, in the Byantine DL, that’s not even going to get to the end of the dismissal in many places… it’s a non-issue!

Now, some Roman parishes might be already out the door by 15 minutes…

In addition, in certain Byzantine traditions there are blessed food (bread, wine and water) that can be taken immediately after receiving Communion with the purpose that the Eucharist is fully consumed.

 

[ProVobis]

Aren’t we still supposed to wait 15 minutes after receiving before taking food or drink ?

Under the older rules, we were supposed to fast for 15 minutes after. They removed this requirement altogether, so technically you can take that breath mint right after you swallow the Host.

 

[At_Trent]

Under the older rules, we were supposed to fast for 15 minutes after. They removed this requirement altogether, so technically you can take that breath mint right after you swallow the Host.

Doesn’t surprise me they removed it. I’ll stick with the old way.