Cough drops before communion?

[Galnextdoor]

I have a question. My daughter was cantoring at mass. She started to cough when she sat down and someone gave her a cough drop. She consumed it then went to communion. When she told me about it, I told her that she should not have received communion, because we are supposed to abstain from food or drink for 1 hour before receiving our Lord. She said I must be wrong because everyone else sucks on cough drops during mass. I thought that was just a typical teen response until I started noticing people popping a cough drop in their mouths and receiving communion 15 minutes later. Has the rule changed since I was a kid?

 

[CWBetts]

I will answer this with another question. Can you take couph syrup, asprin, or other medication before communion? Is this rightly “food or drink”?

 

[baltobetsy]

The Communion fast excludes water and medicine. If the cough drop was truly used to treat a cough and not simply popped habitually as if it were a mint, then it would seem to qualify as medicine.

Betsy

 

[FrDavid96]

I have a question. My daughter was cantoring at mass. She started to cough when she sat down and someone gave her a cough drop. She consumed it then went to communion. When she told me about it, I told her that she should not have received communion, because we are supposed to abstain from food or drink for 1 hour before receiving our Lord. She said I must be wrong because everyone else sucks on cough drops during mass. I thought that was just a typical teen response until I started noticing people popping a cough drop in their mouths and receiving communion 15 minutes later. Has the rule changed since I was a kid?

Water and medicine do not break the Eucharistic fast. The first 2 posters are right on the money. I would just like to add though to make sure that the cough drop is gone (one way or another) before actually receiving Communion. That might seem obvious, but it isn’t to a lot of people.

 

[Galnextdoor]

Thank you so much for your prompt replies. I didn’t know you could take medicine. I have another question that I would like an answer to if anyone knows. My son’s catechism teacher said you could chew gum before going to communion because you don’t swallow it.
I didn’t say anything, but it seems to me that even if you don’t swallow gum that it’s disrespectful to chew it during mass. To me it seems extremely irreverent to have it in your mouth when you receive communion. Is there a rule about gum?

 

[FrDavid96]

Thank you so much for your prompt replies. I didn’t know you could take medicine. I have another question that I would like an answer to if anyone knows. My son’s catechism teacher said you could chew gum before going to communion because you don’t swallow it.
I didn’t say anything, but it seems to me that even if you don’t swallow gum that it’s disrespectful to chew it during mass. To me it seems extremely irreverent to have it in your mouth when you receive communion. Is there a rule about gum?

There’s no law that specifically prohibits or allows gum.
Chewing gum before enterring the church wouldn’t be a problem.
Chewing it once inside the church is a problem (at least in the context of waiting for Mass to start, and especially during the Mass itself).
During Communion?..well, you know the answer to that one!

Could it be that the CCD teacher meant “chewing gum before you get to church” and your son just forgot to mention that part?

 

[Galnextdoor]

She said “You can’t eat or drink anything for one hour before going to communion, but gum’s okay because you don’t swallow it.” I was standing next to her when she said it to the class. Thank you so much for clarifying this for me.

 

[FrDavid96]

She said “You can’t eat or drink anything for one hour before going to communion, but gum’s okay because you don’t swallow it.” I noticed that she sometimes chews gum in church and still has it in her mouth after communion.

All I can say is that from my point-of-view, you seem to be taking seriously your obligation to teach your son the right thing to do. I think that if you realy thought it was acceptable, you wouldn’t be here asking.

Do you want to tell your son it’s OK to chew gum in church, or do you want to tell your son to be reverent and respectul at Mass? It seems you already know the answer to that.

 

[Lujack]

She said “You can’t eat or drink anything for one hour before going to communion, but gum’s okay because you don’t swallow it.” I was standing next to her when she said it to the class. Thank you so much for clarifying this for me.

That seems to me like she’s referring to the fast. Gum, I think, does not break the one hour fast, but it would certainly not be acceptable in the church.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have a question. My daughter was cantoring at mass. She started to cough when she sat down and someone gave her a cough drop. She consumed it then went to communion. When she told me about it, I told her that she should not have received communion, because we are supposed to abstain from food or drink for 1 hour before receiving our Lord. She said I must be wrong because everyone else sucks on cough drops during mass. I thought that was just a typical teen response until I started noticing people popping a cough drop in their mouths and receiving communion 15 minutes later. Has the rule changed since I was a kid?

If you need a cough drop to quell a cough or sore throat that would be acceptable. It’s not acceptable “because everyone else does”!
It must be a personal examination of conscience that determines if it was truly necessary. I have for the last week been getting a “dust ball” like feeling after speaking for more than a few minutes, and start coughing. I will have a few sugar-free lemon candies in my pocket at Mass if I need to use them.

 

[faithfulone]

While the “gum” part of gum is not food the sugar in gum is–so technically it is a food

*Technically the gum itself isn’t because you don’t eat it. But the sugar in it has a few calories, so the sugar is considered a food, unless you chew sugarless gum, and even then some sweeteners have calories. *

 

[Archangelum]

Abstaining from eating yes, but drinking? In all my old missals (going back to the 20’ties) tis clearly stated that the drinking of water was permitted at all times. In those days there was a requirement of 6 hours abstination from food before H. Communion. That was later, even before Vaticanum II, halved to 3 hours. So just imagine during warm summer time, it would be almost impossible to go 6 hours without drinking.

I have a similiar question: when I return home in the evening and want attend H. Mass, I’m always very hungry since I try to fast for 6 or if not possible 3 hours before Mass. It’s a distraction from Mass being so hungry so I managed to solve this by drinking a soda drink, it removes the hungry feeling for a while. But is that actually permitted, drinking sprite, fanta and such? I always wonder about it.

 

[Seatuck]

Abstaining from eating yes, but drinking? In all my old missals (going back to the 20’ties) tis clearly stated that the drinking of water was permitted at all times. In those days there was a requirement of 6 hours abstination from food before H. Communion. That was later, even before Vaticanum II, halved to 3 hours. So just imagine during warm summer time, it would be almost impossible to go 6 hours without drinking.

I have a similiar question: when I return home in the evening and want attend H. Mass, I’m always very hungry since I try to fast for 6 or if not possible 3 hours before Mass. It’s a distraction from Mass being so hungry so I managed to solve this by drinking a soda drink, it removes the hungry feeling for a while. But is that actually permitted, drinking sprite, fanta and such? I always wonder about it.

If you are going to have a soda it must be outside the hour fasting requirement. Water is allowed but soda, coffee etc is not allowed.You are certainly allowed to have a personal devotion of fasting for 3 hours but it is not required so if it is too difficult for you and causing you a distraction in Mass then you have a decision to make . Is that personal requirement worth being distracted during Mass?

 

[Seatuck]

While the “gum” part of gum is not food the sugar in gum is–so technically it is a food

*Technically the gum itself isn’t because you don’t eat it. But the sugar in it has a few calories, so the sugar is considered a food, unless you chew sugarless gum, and even then some sweeteners have calories. *

No , gum is not food. This is a question that has been answered by various church people before.

The problem is what do you do with the gum at communion time if you are chewing it during Mass. You better have a tissue or something to put it in. It’s also just inappropriate.

Another consideration is what about the particles of the eucharist left in the mouth immediately after chewing. It’s probably not a good idea to pop the gum back in with them.

However, that being said there are some medicinal preparations that come in gum form that would be allowed if nececssary.

jimmyakin.typepad.com/defensor_fidei/2006/03/gum_at_mass.html

 

[Archangelum]

If you are going to have a soda it must be outside the hour fasting requirement. Water is allowed but soda, coffee etc is not allowed.You are certainly allowed to have a personal devotion of fasting for 3 hours but it is not required so if it is too difficult for you and causing you a distraction in Mass then you have a decision to make . Is that personal requirement worth being distracted during Mass?

Since when did the 1 hour fasting come into work? I assume that was during or even after Vaticanum II? In any case we pray the rosary before H. Mass so even when drinking soda I am still in accordance with his new rule.

 

[faithfulone]

No , gum is not food. This is a question that has been answered by various church people before.

You are right “gum” is not a food but the sugar in the gum is

The problem is what do you do with the gum at communion time if you are chewing it during Mass. You better have a tissue or something to put it in. It’s also just inappropriate.

Another consideration is what about the particles of the eucharist left in the mouth immediately after chewing. It’s probably not a good idea to pop the gum back in with them.

I dont know I don’t chew gum I find it a disgusting habit

 

[Seatuck]

Since when did the 1 hour fasting come into work? I assume that was during or even after Vaticanum II? In any case we pray the rosary before H. Mass so even when drinking soda I am still in accordance with his new rule.

Traditionally the fast prior to reception of the Eucharist began at midnight on the preceeding night. On November 21, 1964, Pope Paul VI announced that the Eucharistic fast would be reduced to one hour before Communion for both priests and the faithful.1

In accordance with this change in discipline, the 1983 Code of Canon Law prescribes:
“A person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before Holy Communion from any food and drink, except for only water and medicine” (Canon 919, §1).

cuf.org/FaithFacts/details_view.asp?ffID=234

 

[Aramis]

Nothing by mouth save water and essential medicine, including minimal food if requisite for meds.

Traditionally, even smoking breaks fast.

 

[Cat]

This is probably another topic, but I’ve never seen it discussed.

How about sex before Communion? What was done in the past, and what’s done now?

I’m serious. This is a favorite time for me and my husband (either before or after.)

Thanks.

 

[puzzleannie]

Thank you so much for your prompt replies. I didn’t know you could take medicine. I have another question that I would like an answer to if anyone knows. My son’s catechism teacher said you could chew gum before going to communion because you don’t swallow it.
I didn’t say anything, but it seems to me that even if you don’t swallow gum that it’s disrespectful to chew it during mass. To me it seems extremely irreverent to have it in your mouth when you receive communion. Is there a rule about gum?

the rule here is NO GUM in Church. the kids learn that even before they learn to genuflect. It is enforced more firmly than the ban on liturgical dancing. If I see it, this parish (and most of the surrounding parishes) know I will approach any offending child or adult and demand their gum.