Eucharistic fast

[Monica4316]

I see in Eastern Canon Law it talks about following the Communion fast of your church sui iuris… Anyone know what that is for Russian Catholics for evening Mass?

Is 6 hours ok or does it need to be from midnight?

I got permission to follow Latin calendar because I have no parish of my church… Also my Bishop is the Latin Bishop not another Eastern Bishop. I should probably check with them about Eucharistic fast… But does anyone have any info for now? Thank you!

 

[Monica4316]

For those who participated in past threads about my situation… I actually tried to transfer to being a Latin rite Catholic but this was not approved. The Chancery told me that since I live outside the territory of the Russian Catholic Church I could follow the Latin rite calendar. I did not get an indult though, as someone suggested, i was told its ok for me to follow the Latin rite…The local Latin Ordinary is my Bishop and I attend a Latin church. Eucharist fast was not specified and in CCEO it says to follow sui iuris church discipline even in other territories, but I don’t really know what the practice of the Russian Catholic Church is? For example Ukrainians have 1 hour fast. But there are no Russian Catholic Bishops to tell us. I am okay fasting from midnight for morning Mass but not sure if evening could be 6 hours… That’s how I’ve been doing it but I’m not sure.

 

[Vico]

For those who participated in past threads about my situation… I actually tried to transfer to being a Latin rite Catholic but this was not approved. The Chancery told me that since I live outside the territory of the Russian Catholic Church I could follow the Latin rite calendar. I did not get an indult though, as someone suggested, i was told its ok for me to follow the Latin rite…The local Latin Ordinary is my Bishop and I attend a Latin church. Eucharist fast was not specified and in CCEO it says to follow sui iuris church discipline even in other territories, but I don’t really know what the practice of the Russian Catholic Church is? For example Ukrainians have 1 hour fast. But there are no Russian Catholic Bishops to tell us. I am okay fasting from midnight for morning Mass but not sure if evening could be 6 hours… That’s how I’ve been doing it but I’m not sure.

Remember this old post:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=7705013&postcount=14

Interesting Russian Catholic site:
byzantinecatholic.org/

 

[Deacon_Anton]

The particulars of fasting will be subject to the directives of one’s spiritual father. That said, the only usual occasion on which a Russian Greek-Catholic might receive Holy Communion in the evening, would be when the Presanctified service, or Vesperal Liturgy of St Basil for Christmas Eve or Theophany Eve, is delayed to an evening hour (for pastoral reasons). According to the Ustav, the Presanctified would normally be served around 3pm, and the Vesperal Liturgy around 1pm (for Christmas Eve) or 11am (for Theophany Eve), with the fast kept all day up to that point. If there is a delay of the service to an evening hour, however, it is commonly understood that fasting can begin from midday or following a light lunch at the accustomed hour.

 

[Monica4316]

Deacon Anton, thank you for the information! I don’t live in an area with a Russian Catholic church. I usually attend a Latin rite parish and sometimes there’s a High Mass in the evening for a major feast day. Its always at 7 pm. I couldn’t find many resources for Russian Catholicism on this and I looked up Orthodox information thinking it would be the same… I found some fast all day for evening liturgy and some fast for 6 hours. Would a 6 hour fast for an evening Mass be appropriate for a Russian Catholic? I understand its also something that is discussed with a spiritual father but I mean in theory. It could also be a possibility to just have a light breakfast and then fast till 7. I’m just wondering what is the most typical or traditional way - I understand then the person would ask their spiritual father. Thank you!

 

[wynd]

Do you live near any Byzantine-rite Catholic church (Ukranian, Ruthenian, etc.)? They would all be more similar to each other than to the Latin rite.

 

[Deacon_Anton]

Dear Monica4316, I think I answered your question above. Fasting from midday is a common rule for receiving the Gifts in the evening.

 

[Vico]

Do you live near any Byzantine-rite Catholic church (Ukranian, Ruthenian, etc.)? They would all be more similar to each other than to the Latin rite.

Each church sui iuris may have different norms for the Eucharist fast, as a minimum. For the Byzantine USA, it is an hour minimum. The faithful may observe longer periods of course.

**Particular Law for the Byzantine Catholic Church USA
** Canon 707
§2. The Eucharistic fast shall be from solids one hour before the reception of the Divine Eucharist. Medications and water may be taken anytime.
Particucular Law for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church **Can. 93 **(CCEO c. 713 §2) Concerning the preparation for participation in the Divine Eucharist through fast, prayers and other works, the faithful are to observe the norms of the liturgical books and to fast at least one hour prior to Holy Communion. Water and medicine taken prior to Holy Communion does not break the fast.

 

[Ignatius]

I see in Eastern Canon Law it talks about following the Communion fast of your church sui iuris…

The Chancery told me that since I live outside the territory of the Russian Catholic Church I could follow the Latin rite calendar. . . . . i was told its ok for me to follow the Latin rite…The local Latin Ordinary is my Bishop and I attend a Latin church. .

If you’re attending the Latin Rite Church, wouldn’t you observe their discipline with regard to the fast?

 

[angelic06]

If you’re attending the Latin Rite Church, wouldn’t you observe their discipline with regard to the fast?

Because canonically, one still remains enrolled in his or her own church, which for the OP is the Russian Catholic Church, and remains bound by its norms.

 

[Monica4316]

Because canonically, one still remains enrolled in his or her own church, which for the OP is the Russian Catholic Church, and remains bound by its norms.

Yes… I was told though by the vice Chancellor of my diocese that I’m not bound to fasts/calendar because I live outside territory of my church… He showed me a quote maybe from V2. However I did read something that Eucharistic discipline is adhered to even outside of territory and that exception might only apply to feasts and days of penance. I’m trying to follow Eastern fasts voluntarily (at times failing!) but if it there’s a situation when I can’t, it helps to remember I’m not bound by them… But I do follow the Eucharistic fast because it didn’t seem from the canon law there’s an exception for that, I don’t know, - but I’ve always done it this way so I’m used to it

 

[Vico]

Yes… I was told though by the vice Chancellor of my diocese that I’m not bound to fasts/calendar because I live outside territory of my church… He showed me a quote maybe from V2. However I did read something that Eucharistic discipline is adhered to even outside of territory and that exception might only apply to feasts and days of penance. I’m trying to follow Eastern fasts voluntarily (at times failing!) but if it there’s a situation when I can’t, it helps to remember I’m not bound by them… But I do follow the Eucharistic fast because it didn’t seem from the canon law there’s an exception for that, I don’t know, - but I’ve always done it this way so I’m used to it

You don’t have to go as far back at Vatican II for canons that apply to the eastern Catholic churches. There is the 1990 canon law (CCEO) for eastern Catholics, and also some particular law for two of the eastern Catholic sui iuris churches:
Canon 882
On the days of penance the Christian faithful are obliged to observe fast or abstinence in the manner established by the particular law of their Church sui iuris.

Canon 883

1. The Christian faithful who are outside the territorial boundaries of their own Church sui iuris can adopt fully for themselves the feast days and days of penance which are in force where they are staying.
2. In families in which the parents are enrolled in different Churches sui iuris, it is permitted to observe the norms of one or the other Church, in regard to feast days and days of penance.

Canon 707

1. The preparation of the Eucharistic bread, the prayers performed by the priests before the Divine Liturgy, the observance of the Eucharistic fast, liturgical vestments, the time and place of the celebration and other like matters must be precisely established by the norms of each Church sui iuris.
2. For a just cause and having removed any astonishment on the part of the Christian faithful, it is permissible to use the liturgical vestments and bread of another Church sui iuris.

Ukrainian Catholic Particular Law
Can. 93 (CCEO c. 713 §2) Concerning the preparation for participation in the Divine Eucharist through fast, prayers and other works, the faithful are to observe the norms of the liturgical books and to fast at least one hour prior to Holy Communion. Water and medicine taken prior to Holy Communion does not break the fast.

Byzantine Catholic Particular Law
Can. 707 §2. The Eucharistic fast shall be from solids one hour before the reception of the Divine Eucharist. Medications and water may be taken anytime.

 

[CatholicHockey7]

Others have already given good answers far more in depth than I can go. The simple rule I’ve been taught is you follow the rules of the diocese you’re in.

For example, if my home diocese places special significance on a Marian Feast which falls on Monday, but the diocese I’m visiting moves the obligation to Sunday, I’m not under an obligation to attend Mass on Monday because I’m not in a diocese which requires it.

Another way this shows up is with Vigil Masses. Different diocese have different rules as to when a Saturday evening Mass can be offered and fulfill the Sunday obligation. Some say 4:30, others 5:30.