Dad receives Eucharist with chewing gum in his mouth; what should I do?

[CatholicZ09]

So, I was leaving Mass today with my father, and while we were walking to the car, he spit chewing gum out. I said, “You did not just receive Holy Communion with chewing gum in your mouth.” He said, “Yeah, what’s the big deal?” I was thinking, “Big deal?! You greet Jesus Christ with chewing gum in your mouth?” He told me that he stuck the gum under his tongue while receiving, and I said that it was still unacceptable. He told me that he’s done this all his life when going to Mass. I was appalled. I find it really disrespectful to be chewing gum while receiving Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. What can I do that will make him stop? I know I can’t do much, but it really bothers me how he finds it okay to do this.

 

[Servant_of_God]

Be careful in this situation!

Remember that he is your father. You could pray for him. Also, make sure he understands that he did not just receive a rather dry wafer, but the BODY OF CHRIST, real and incarnate! He could of (and probably did!) get particles on the gum, and when he spat it out, Christ’s Body was also spat onto the pavement.

Make sure he understands this, but explain in a loving way.

 

[JGMendes4049]

So, I was leaving Mass today with my father, and while we were walking to the car, he spit chewing gum out. I said, “You did not just receive Holy Communion with chewing gum in your mouth.” He said, “Yeah, what’s the big deal?” I was thinking, “Big deal?! You greet Jesus Christ with chewing gum in your mouth?” He told me that he stuck the gum under his tongue while receiving, and I said that it was still unacceptable. He told me that he’s done this all his life when going to Mass. I was appalled. I find it really disrespectful to be chewing gum while receiving Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. What can I do that will make him stop? I know I can’t do much, but it really bothers me how he finds it okay to do this.

Also, gum is food for the purposes of the Communion fast.

 

[Gorgias]

Also, gum is food for the purposes of the Communion fast.

It is? Do you have a reference for this?

Thanks!

G.

 

[triumphguy]

There’s a woman in her 50’s at my parish who chews all through mass (as do her kids), and she goes up to communion chewing. Now the parish priest has preached about the proper respect due the Eucharist, and told the congregation explicitly that chewing gum breaks the fast, but she continues. I feel very offended by this, but I have a problem. I’m not very good at confronting people in a gentle way when I’m angry. I can seem quite aggressive (I’m big and rather intimidating, and quite direct) so instead of confronting her and potentially scaring her away from mass I conceal my personal feelings and offer them up in reparation to Jesus.

 

[CATHOLIC_BIKER]

It is? Do you have a reference for this?

Thanks!

G.

I don’t have a reference but isn’t the one hour fast limited to water or medicine only? I understand you shouldn’t chew gum or even have a cigarette.

 

[po18guy]

As Jesus taught the elders in the Temple, teach your father also, but in a respectful manner. Ask your priest for a little backup here.

 

[TimothyH]

There’s a woman in her 50’s at my parish who chews all through mass (as do her kids), and she goes up to communion chewing. Now the parish priest has preached about the proper respect due the Eucharist, and told the congregation explicitly that chewing gum breaks the fast, but she continues. I feel very offended by this, but I have a problem. I’m not very good at confronting people in a gentle way when I’m angry. I can seem quite aggressive (I’m big and rather intimidating, and quite direct) so instead of confronting her and potentially scaring her away from mass I conceal my personal feelings and offer them up in reparation to Jesus.

I am occasionally an Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

When we were trained, Father told us explicitly that if we thought someone was chewing gum, that we should ask them, and if they are, we should politely tell them that they may not recieve because they have not kept the fast.

This is the only time we are allowed to refuse anyone. Maybe you should volunteer to be an EMHC, then you could get some revenge.

-Tim-

 

[anp1215]

I don’t have a reference but isn’t the one hour fast limited to water or medicine only? I understand you shouldn’t chew gum or even have a cigarette.

I thought so but Michelle Arnold says no

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=141897

 

[domandcarols]

I am occasionally an Extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

When we were trained, Father told us explicitly that if we thought someone was chewing gum, that we should ask them, and if they are, we should politely tell them that they may not recieve because they have not kept the fast.

This is the only time we are allowed to refuse anyone. ****Maybe you should volunteer to be an EMHC, then you could get some revenge.

-Tim-

LOL

 

[Joan_M]

I thought so but Michelle Arnold says no

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=141897

Yes, but Michelle Arnold is not infallible. True, we do not actually eat chewing gum, but, as far as I know, all chewing has flavorings in it and we release that flavor into our mouth as the saliva moistens it and we swallow that flavored saliva.

Even if it is not breaking the Eucharistic fast (and I believe that it certainly does break it), it is totally irreverent to be like a cow chewing a cud during Mass and going up to Communion.

Perhaps someone might have never been told this, but any adult with any kind of manners should know that it is not polite to be chewing gum while - for example - participating in a management meeting, or while meeting a VIP, much less being in Church to worship God and to receive Jesus.

The OP certainly needs to be respectful of his/her father, but perhaps could ask him if he would be chewing gum if he was meeting the President of the US. If the answer is “yes”, well I think any more would be just talking to a wall!

 

[paperwight66]

I have to smile at the irony of this thread, given that all other complaints I’ve read about chewing-gum in church have related to teenagers and children. I don’t think we’ve ever had a young person objecting to an adult’s irreverent behaviour before!

 

[anp1215]

Yes, but Michelle Arnold is not infallible. True, we do not actually eat chewing gum, but, as far as I know, all chewing has flavorings in it and we release that flavor into our mouth as the saliva moistens it and we swallow that flavored saliva.

Even if it is not breaking the Eucharistic fast (and I believe that it certainly does break it), it is totally irreverent to be like a cow chewing a cud during Mass and going up to Communion.

Perhaps someone might have never been told this, but any adult with any kind of manners should know that it is not polite to be chewing gum while - for example - participating in a management meeting, or while meeting a VIP, much less being in Church to worship God and to receive Jesus.

The OP certainly needs to be respectful of his/her father, but perhaps could ask him if he would be chewing gum if he was meeting the President of the US. If the answer is “yes”, well I think any more would be just talking to a wall!

I, nor Michelle Arnold, ever said that it would be polite or appropriate to chew gum while, or immediately before, receiving the Eucharist. However, the Eucharistic fast applies to food, and gum is not food. Inappropriate, yes, breaking the fast, no.

It could well be said that while chewing gum does not violate the letter of the law (no food for one hour), it may very well violate the spirit of the law (preparing ourselves for Holy Communion).

Of course Michelle Arnold is not infallible. She is, however, a professional apologist, and knows a great deal about Catholicism. I tend to hold her (and all of the other apologist’s) opinions in high regard.

 

[triumphguy]

What is fasting: it’s refraining from something in order to grow in discipline and prepare ourselves.

What is the point of the fast before communion? To prepare our hearts and minds in order to to physically receive the Lord in a respectful way.

Even if chewing gum is not eating food in a legalistic sense, chewing gum in mass is not fasting in the sense of preparing oneself.

The thought of receiving the Eucharist with the taste of spearmint on my tongue, and a wadge in my cheek seems anathema to me!

 

[ProVobis]

Perhaps someone might have never been told this, but any adult with any kind of manners should know that it is not polite to be chewing gum while - for example - participating in a management meeting, or while meeting a VIP, much less being in Church to worship God and to receive Jesus.

Many chew gum to refresh their breath or clean their teeth. There’s nothing wrong about being self-conscious about your breath. It’s certainly welcome during long meetings, to say the least. People offer gum to one another all the time.

That said, some people can look very obnoxious while chewing gum. That is certainly not wanted. And I wouldn’t chew gum before communion, though I hesitate to say anything during the exchange of peace.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Many chew gum to refresh their breath or clean their teeth. There’s nothing wrong about being self-conscious about your breath. It’s certainly welcome during long meetings, to say the least. People offer gum to one another all the time.

I brush my teeth and use mouthwash to refresh my breath, but I don’t do it during Mass. In my parish, if someone approaches Holy Communion who is obviously chewing gum, they receive a blessing only.