Eucharistic Fast

[blaskoman]

I try to observe the 1 hour rule before receiving Communion. Is it a mortal sin to receive Communion without observing the hour fast, when broken with full knowledge? thx

 

[nicolep]

Done intentionally, yes. Accidentally (realizing afterward you hadn’t fasted for an hour), no.

 

[Pro_Domina]

Done intentionally, yes. Accidentally (realizing afterward you hadn’t fasted for an hour), no.

That is way too authoritive.

That is one of the most disputed things EVER!!! Even the most scrupulous priests say it is not a grave sin, the most hippie ones say that it is…

EVER!!!

 

[jacie]

What do you think one should do when you’re not totally sure if you made it a full hour? Sometimes I bring a cup of coffee or an Atkins shake in the car in the morning, and by the time I get to Mass, I’m not always sure exactly when I took that last sip? Would you err on the side of abstaining from Communion, or go ahead and say “close enough”?

Also would like your opinion on whether, when faced with a choice, it is better to attend a weekday mass knowing you cannot receive because you forgot to observe the fast, or instead go to adoration for a while?

A thilrd little dillemma, when I catch my daughter with gum in her mouth on the way in to church, should I keep her from going to communion? It’s possible she’s had it in her mouth for some time and there’s not been any flavor for a while, but keeping her from communion might make her appreciate it more?

 

[blaskoman]

since joining this site I find myself become more scrupulous. Dont know exactly if having such a trait is completely beneficial. One can take ones scrupulosity to extremes as well…I am hoping that should I be 5 to 10 minutes short of the hour needed, that I will not be in sin should I then receive.

Im sure that young children are held to a much less stringent standard than adults in this regard. I have a few nieces and one nephew who nibble constantly. To tell a 10 or 7 year old that they cant eat prior to Mass, you’ll then get a rush of tears and screaming.

 

[jacie]

I agree over-scrupulosity is not good, but at the same time I want to instill some sense of respect in my kids for the sacrament they are receiving. Maybe the gum thing is not a big enough deal (unless they do it often), but one day my son was giving me a hard time about not wanting to go to church, and not wanting to be Catholic when he grew up because he didn’t want to have to go to church every week, how boring it was, etc, etc. So I told him if he felt that way, he should not be going to communion anymore, but he still had to go to church with us. It kind of stopped him in his tracks a little, and he got a serious look on his face. When it came time for communion, I reminded him again not to go if he still didn’t believe and didn’t want to be Catholic. He sat for a moment while we were lining up, then suddenly decided to join us. I hope it made an impression.

 

[T700]

since joining this site I find myself become more scrupulous. Dont know exactly if having such a trait is completely beneficial. One can take ones scrupulosity to extremes as well…I am hoping that should I be 5 to 10 minutes short of the hour needed, that I will not be in sin should I then receive.

Im sure that young children are held to a much less stringent standard than adults in this regard. I have a few nieces and one nephew who nibble constantly. To tell a 10 or 7 year old that they cant eat prior to Mass, you’ll then get a rush of tears and screaming.

I suspect I’ll be blasted for this, but I strongly feel that for a normal, healthy, child of ten (or even seven), not “nibbling” for 60 minutes is a fully obtainable goal. If they cannot do so, it seems much more likely to be a parenting problem than anything connected with their age.

Paul

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

I suspect I’ll be blasted for this, but I strongly feel that for a normal, healthy, child of ten (or even seven), not “nibbling” for 60 minutes is a fully obtainable goal. If they cannot do so, it seems much more likely to be a parenting problem than anything connected their age.

Paul

I agree. To add to that, unless someone has a medical problem or the church building is located in the Sahara Desert, people should be able to survive an hour without imbibing from a water bottle.

 

[btnewgent]

I suspect I’ll be blasted for this, but I strongly feel that for a normal, healthy, child of ten (or even seven), not “nibbling” for 60 minutes is a fully obtainable goal. If they cannot do so, it seems much more likely to be a parenting problem than anything connected with their age.

Paul

I agree completely Paul. I also think we adults should be able to easily do the hour without cutting it so close that we have to worry about it. I say if you are in doubt don’t receive. I try to cut myself off of everything but water a half-hour before mass starts. The way mass goes at my parish this is plenty off time.

 

[btnewgent]

I agree. To add to that, unless someone has a medical problem or the church building is located in the Sahara Desert, people should be able to survive an hour without imbibing from a water bottle.

Canon law states, “One who is to receive the most Holy Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception only of water and medicine, for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion” (CIC 919 §1).

Based on this I have always believed water was permissible.

 

[bbentrup]

Some random thoughts:

In order to be mortal, one condition is serious matter. I don’t know if this sin has been considered serious or not, but since it requires disobedience that further sin would make it serious, and thus a mortal sin with full will and knowledge.

Jacie, if you’re not sure, there is no guilt attached to that sin, but you might want to work on the imperfection of lack of prudence, i.e. try to be firmer in checking the clock and/or making a 90 minute fast for yourself to cover close calls.

Regarding, your 2nd question - daily mass without reception vs. adoration, I doubt that could ever be definitively stated which is preferable in all circumstances, but I will note you can certainly participate in adoration at daily mass.

Regarding gum chewing - JPII said (although I’m not going to find my reference for this, sorry) that eating/drinking is meant in the everyday use of the word. Thus, gum chewing, he said, does not go against the fast, although it is certainly irreverent during mass and should be refrained from for that reason (I imagine swallowing gum would break the fast). Similar is brushing teeth or using mouthwash.

The hour-fast should be upheld for children. The pope had the option of using a 55 minute fast or a 30 minute fast for children but did not do so. Who are we to decide what is permissible? If a child has a true problem with this, it might be considered ‘medicine’ and thus it wouldn’t go against the fast (check this out with your doctor and priest), or this might be something your priest can dispense you/child from - I’m not sure. If the priest can dispense you from mass attendance obligations for serious reasons, he can probably dispense people from fasting obligations, but again, ask your priest.

The hour-long fast is one of the few Church-required penances we still have left, We should be grateful for this chance to remind ourselves of how much we owe to our Lord and God.

 

[nicolep]

I go to Mass everyday. It took some work to remember (maybe a week or two) to fast for an hour. Everyday at 4:15, I switch to water. I don’t typically eat at that time of day so that isn’t so much of an issue. The Church really asks very little of us. For me, fasting for an hour before receiving Christ in the Eucharist is a small task. I think a lot of mortal sins depend on the person. If you go into it thinking it’s a mortal sin and you’re not a scrupulous person, it probably is one. I’ve heard some people say “close to an hour” is sufficient. For me, it’s not. For all intents and purposes, it’s really a half an hour. It usually takes a half an hour to get to Holy Communion for daily Mass. So, a half an hour before Mass, I choose to fast. I don’t eat or drink anything during, anyway. My suggestion is to consult your conscience. By asking the question, it leads me to believe you feel it’s wrong.

As far as becoming more scrupulous since joining here, I had that feeling at first. It goes away some over time. Please remember that this forum is a sorce of information. No one here knows everything and cannot replace a good catechist or priest.

 

[A.Pelliccio]

It’s like why bother? When should fasting include " not eating in church", because sometimes you could eat in the car and on the walk to Church and still fit into the “fast requirements”. This is all just disciplines being loosed to meet modern expectations. The old fast midnight on should still be the goal.

This is not about individuals and private practices but really, how much are we asking of our selves for an hour?

 

[nicolep]

It’s like why bother? When should fasting include " not eating in church", because sometimes you could eat in the car and on the walk to Church and still fit into the “fast requirements”. This is all just disciplines being loosed to meet modern expectations. The old fast midnight on should still be the goal.

This is not about individuals and private practices but really, how much are we asking of our selves for an hour?

Because the requirement is an hour. Anything in addition is a personal penance/devoution. I can’t really fast at midnight for Mass at 5:30 pm! It is very easy for an hour though. Posts like these, while good natured I believe, contribute to the increased scrupulosity of the forums. We all know that an hour is the minimum requirement.

 

[Pro_Domina]

If you feel flavor than something has gone down your throat.

Gum releases substances (to be generic) other than water that go down.

That breaks the fast.

But the most important aspect is what that represents.

Those who look at the laws of God with a desire to sin but doesn’t (that is a sin in itself) and wants to learn about the laws so he can know up to what point he can have pleasure without sinning, instead of making moral theology and the laws of the Church a study of Virtue. A typical thing I’ve seen by many thread starters.

Plus, chewing gum in front of others is so low class.

 

[jacie]

Yes, you are all so right - we should make every effort to please God out of love for Him, and not be focusing on what we can “get away with”. But what I’m talking about are those occasions during the week I have when I didn’t plan on going to Mass, but sometimes find myself there with the time available (I drive my kids to Catholic school in the morning, and there is a Mass about 1/2 hour after I drop them off). With my ever-changing schedule and the morning rush to get the kids ready, I don’t always plan ahead on attending Mass, and I usually have a cup of coffee or Atkins shake in the car with me for my breakfast. Sometimes my tennis game gets cancelled at the last minute and I find myself with unexpected time. Or I’m just not thinking ahead with the sometimes-herculean effort required to get my kids ready and out the door. I just though it would be interesting to hear other good Catholic’s opinions on these minor little dilemmas I find myself pondering on these occasions.

Also, I’m not just asking about the letter of the law, but what you feel the Spirit would lead you to do on these occasions, since my spirit antenna doesn’t seem to be giving me a clear signal on these occasions.

 

[nicolep]

Yes, you are all so right - we should make every effort to please God out of love for Him, and not be focusing on what we can “get away with”. But what I’m talking about are those occasions during the week I have when I didn’t plan on going to Mass, but sometimes find myself there with the time available (I drive my kids to Catholic school in the morning, and there is a Mass about 1/2 hour after I drop them off). With my ever-changing schedule and the morning rush to get the kids ready, I don’t always plan ahead on attending Mass, and I usually have a cup of coffee or Atkins shake in the car with me for my breakfast. Sometimes my tennis game gets cancelled at the last minute and I find myself with unexpected time. Or I’m just not thinking ahead with the sometimes-herculean effort required to get my kids ready and out the door. I just though it would be interesting to hear other good Catholic’s opinions on these minor little dilemmas I find myself pondering on these occasions.

Also, I’m not just asking about the letter of the law, but what you feel the Spirit would lead you to do on these occasions, since my spirit antenna doesn’t seem to be giving me a clear signal on these occasions.

Some people are more hard-nosed than others. I personally feel that if I don’t make the full hour, I should not receive.

 

[blaskoman]

It is not my aim to come across as belittling the importance of Eucharistic reception. I simply find it unbelievable that God would hold a pious person to account if from time to time, he did not observe the 1 hr. fast. Would God quibble about someone being 10-15 minutes too short of a proper fast. It seems that this particular proscribed fast is changable–one poster mentioned that there used to be a fast from midnight to the reception. At that time, am I to believe that had someone ate something 2 to 3 hours prior to having received communion would have been a mortal sin, whereas to do the same now, would be ok because you didnt break the hour rule!!!

 

[JimG]

I suspect I’ll be blasted for this, but I strongly feel that for a normal, healthy, child of ten (or even seven), not “nibbling” for 60 minutes is a fully obtainable goal.

At the age of ten I was in 5th grade, the second child in a family of five. Every child past the age of reason in those days, was required to fast from the previous midnight from food and water, before receiving communion. Since we were all doing it, nobody complained; it was not seen as a particular hardship.

That said, the current requirement is one hour before receiving. The Church doesn’t require us to carry a stopwatch. Think of it as a moral hour rather than a scientific hour. We don’t have to measure the milliseconds under pain of sin.

 

[JimG]

It seems that this particular proscribed fast is changable–one poster mentioned that there used to be a fast from midnight to the reception. At that time, am I to believe that had someone ate something 2 to 3 hours prior to having received communion would have been a mortal sin, whereas to do the same now, would be ok because you didnt break the hour rule!!!

Actually yes, it would have been a mortal sin to deliberately receive after breaking the fast. Most people kept the fast with no problem, but if you took a drink of water or nibbled something between midnight and Mass, the solution was simple: don’t receive communion.

The same applies now. I said previously that you don’t have to measure milliseconds. But if you break the fast by 10 or 15 minutes (out of 60!), the solution is simple: don’t receive communion. Respect is due the sacrament.