Cough Drops during mass?

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dreamingformore

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I hope this is the right place to put this.

My question is, does having cough drops during mass break the required fast to take the Eucharist?

Many people have them during the cold/flu/sinus/etc season. Some people in the choir have them often to keep their voices working (dry throat=bad singing). Obviously, you shouldn’t still have it in your mouth when you receive…
 
From canon law:

Can. 919 §1. 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.

I believe a cough drop is medicinal.
 
Cough drops are definitely medicinal, your not taking them for kicks or because your hungry.

In my view, I’d rather you take cough drops and NOT go for the communion wine. I’m glad your here at mass, but keep your cold to yourself! 😛

Remember though-this is a question a priest would be able to answer much better than us lay people.
 
We don’t do the chalice here, so no problem. 👍

Yeah- I’m going to find a way to ask priests I guess.?
 
I had a similar problem and as a brand-new Catholic, refused to take cough drops for fear they would break the Communion fast (as a result I couldn’t talk during Mass, couldn’t sing).

I was later told that a cough drop (or even gum to moisten the throat) would have been all right. But the best advice is to ask your priest.
 
Cough drops are medicine and are allowed. I’ve had coughing spells attacks during Mass without any cough drops in my purse. I coughed to the point of thinking I was going to get sick. Terrible :eek:
 
I’ve heard our priest says “gum and cough drops break the fast… only water allowed.” Which is why I asked here… I would have assumed for medical purpose was ok.
 
Some people have a very bad dry mouth, often due to certain meds that they take.

E.g., did you know that one side effect of all those bladder control medications that you see advertised on TV is dry mouth?

I have dry mouth due to meds. At times it’s painful. It’s hard to swallow sometimes. And if the mouth cracks, it can become unhealthy, as the cracks invite an infection.

Certain cough drops can help relieve dry mouth symptoms. So can certain kinds of gum.

Another reason why people eat cough drops and chew gum is to help control their urge to smoke. Even though smoking is considered a criminal act nowadays and people try to hide their habit, the fact is that some people are so addicted to smoking that being in a situation where they cannot smoke makes them extremely nervous, upset, or agitated. Having something in their mouth at least helps them to get through the Mass.

I know it sounds pathetic. But don’t condemn them unless you have suffered what they are going through. For many who don’t smoke, it’s so easy to say, “They should just quit.” Yes, they should. But it’s a lot easier to talk about than actually do. Often smoking is done as a coping mechanism, and you can’t just rip it away without replacing it with another coping mechanism.

Our bishop admonished us last week to “always assume the best about other Catholics.”

I agree with our bishop.

Yes, I know that there are people in Mass who eat candy and chew gum because they are either ignorant of or rebellious against the one-hour fast. The Holy Spirit can deal with these people in their hearts. Heaven help me if I start trying to do the Holy Spirit’s work for Him. We are only responsible for ourselves and our souls.
 
@Cat
I’m not easily sure what you (what it seems like to me) upset about. I was asking b/c I had a cough and wasn’t sure if I could have one or two before church/during church. Also, while i’m in the choir, many women tend to have them often. I was wondering if there was a rule to it- not passing any judgment, but just for me.
 
dreamingformore said:
@Cat
I’m not easily sure what you (what it seems like to me) upset about. I was asking b/c I had a cough and wasn’t sure if I could have one or two before church/during church. Also, while i’m in the choir, many women tend to have them often. I was wondering if there was a rule to it- not passing any judgment, but just for me.
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I think Cat (like me) is somewhat exasperated by what your pastor said. Medicine is certainly ALLOWED. It does not break the fast. And anyone who has had a coughing fit knows that such a cough demands immediate attention.

The problem is that those of us who have to speak and/or or sing at Mass often take preventative steps. …like taking a cough drop before we even feel the urge to cough. We know from experience what will probably happen if we don’t.

That said, there are people who pop cough drops in their mouths because it is “acceptable” candy. In that case they ARE breaking the fast. And I’m not really convinced that cough drops are the best means for choir members to sing better. Expectorants and sips of water are often better.
 
Ah… I guess I took it as irritation towards -me- for asking. I think the idea my priest might have is that it’s not a necessary medicine and unless you absolutely need it, don’t take it…? I’m guessing totally here- not sure. I didn’t have any just in case (b/c I posted right before I went to church.) But yeah, I think the medicine thing makes sense. I might talk to him about it since I heard what he said second hand (from a reliable source, but still) and ask what he meant by it.
 
dreamingformore said:
I hope this is the right place to put this.

My question is, does having cough drops during mass break the required fast to take the Eucharist?

Many people have them during the cold/flu/sinus/etc season. Some people in the choir have them often to keep their voices working (dry throat=bad singing). Obviously, you shouldn’t still have it in your mouth when you receive…
Click to expand...
It’s unnecessary for church choirs to pass around a bowl of cough drops before Mass like it’s candy (and considering how bad many church choirs are, a cough drop isn’t going to make a bit of difference if all they can do is screech anyway).

I’m not sure having a cough drop during Mass breaks the fast, since it’s technically medicine. People should still try to take them outside of Mass though for the sake of courtesy (people don’t want to smell them, hear their wrappers opening, or find the ones you drop on the floor). Taking cough drops out of habit, instead of out of real necessity may break the fast though.
 
“It’s unnecessary for church choirs to pass around a bowl of cough drops before Mass like it’s candy (and considering how bad many church choirs are, a cough drop isn’t going to make a bit of difference if all they can do is screech anyway).”

I think your post was rude and uncalled for.

Firstly, I did NOT say they “pass it like candy.”

Secondly, we sound good.

I’m pretty ticked.
 
m134e5 said:
It’s unnecessary for church choirs to pass around a bowl of cough drops before Mass like it’s candy (and considering how bad many church choirs are, a cough drop isn’t going to make a bit of difference if all they can do is screech anyway).
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Do you assist in singing or do you just insult those that serve?
 
dreamingformore said:
I’ve heard our priest says “gum and cough drops break the fast… only water allowed.” Which is why I asked here… I would have assumed for medical purpose was ok.
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Well, you were right. You have the canon law up there. I have seen two different priest do this out of necessity to continue Mass.
 
pnewton said:
Do you assist in singing or do you just insult those that serve?
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I was wondering about them myself.

I can’t click on any conversation here, it seems, without feeling totally disillusioned with the Catholic religion.😦
 
I really don’t mean to be rude, but can’t you go an hour without a cough drop? Make sure you get plenty of water before you head to church.

If you have such a bad cold or your allergies are acting up so badly that you’d cough through the entirety of Mass, perhaps you should stay home that day?

Again, not trying to be rude, just trying to figure out how other’s heads work, I guess…
 
HCC said:
I really don’t mean to be rude, but can’t you go an hour without a cough drop? Make sure you get plenty of water before you head to church.

If you have such a bad cold or your allergies are acting up so badly that you’d cough through the entirety of Mass, perhaps you should stay home that day?

Again, not trying to be rude, just trying to figure out how other’s heads work, I guess…
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I’m not even sure how to answer this. So I’ll just come right out and answer and try not to be rude

The answer to your question is NO.

The meds that I take make my mouth dry all the time, including during Mass times. Same for others who suffer from dry mouth–it doesn’t just go away at Mass time. I don’t usually need cough drops, but others with worse dry mouth than I DO need lubrication of their throats to avoid discomfort and coughing.

And why should someone with allergies stay home from Mass? Allergies are not contagious, and a person who is suffering from an allergy attack is no more annoying in Mass than a crying, fussing child, or a person who wears an oxgyen tank (beep beep beep), or an old lady who sighs with every breath due to COPD. Should all THOSE people stay home, too, since they are unable to keep their noise to themselves?

I suggest that in the future, you give people the benefit of the doubt. Until you yourself are walking in their skin (and their throat), assume that they are taking the cough drop because they are uncomfortable and trying to stop themselves from coughing.

Yes, as I said earlier, I’m sure that there are some people who are mainlining cough drops during Mass out of boredom, not because they have dry mouth, and yes, these people are breaking the fast.

But who are you or I to pronounce judgement upon any of our neighbors at Mass? Just assume the best. Even a young teenager might have an allergy problem, or be on mouth-drying meds, or be recovering from a cold, or have a chronic condition (e.g., a deviated septum) that makes them cough often unless they keep their throat moist. Just assume the best of everyone at Mass.
 
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