Eucharistic Fast

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Sanctus

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Ok…I have a bugging question that’s been eating at me all afternoon…please humor my story:

I woke up this morning and skipped breakfast, went to go exercise and came back to my house. I got ready for class and headed off to my first class and came back home. Again, showered changed etc. I had decided that I was going to go to daily Mass today(starts at 12 noon) so I headed out around 11:10am…I took a slice of pizza with me in the car (see where this is going?) About five or six minutes later I decided that eating and driving was not the smartest thing to do so I threw it out the window (after taking a few bytes)…got to church said some prayers and in came the Deacon (appearently the our Priest was in a meeting with the Bishop today) so we started our Communion Service…now I recived communion at 12:20ish…the whole time I was wondering about the time difference between my watch and my car’s clock…turns out they’re about 5 minutes apart…so my question is–I am kind of not sure if I violated the one hour Eucharistic Fast…I was aware of it and I had kind of set 11:20 as the time that I would not recieve before since I wasn’t exactly sure of the time I stopped eating…but since there is a time difference between the two clocks and there were probably still mini-pizza particles in my mouth, does that constitute a sin? Would that sin be mortal? If not mortal should I still refrain from receiving until I can go to confession? I’m confused.

Thanks for helping me out!

God Bless,
 
This is strictly a private opinion. [It and $4 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks.]
  1. The rule says an hour, not 60 minutes or 3600 seconds. Therefore I would use what one commonly would refer to as an hour and not use a stop watch.
  2. You got caught short by the change in timing at the Church. You weren’t trying to play games with the rule.
  3. You used your best judgment to say it was an hour. Stick with that.
Bottom line: Don’t get so wrapped in the rules that you lose track of the spirit of the law. Make a good effort to obey it and move on.

If you have serious doubt do ask the priest next time you go to confession. There certainly seems insufficient intent to constitute a mortal sin.
 
If you were in real doubt, you would not receive. Right?

In this case you seem not to be guilty even of culpable carelessness. You won’t do it again.
 
Now let’s address your violation of the anti-littering statutes.

DaveBj
 
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Sanctus:
Ok…I have a bugging question that’s been eating at me all afternoon…please humor my story:

I woke up this morning and skipped breakfast, went to go exercise and came back to my house. I got ready for class and headed off to my first class and came back home. Again, showered changed etc. I had decided that I was going to go to daily Mass today(starts at 12 noon) so I headed out around 11:10am…I took a slice of pizza with me in the car (see where this is going?) About five or six minutes later I decided that eating and driving was not the smartest thing to do so I threw it out the window (after taking a few bytes)…got to church said some prayers and in came the Deacon (appearently the our Priest was in a meeting with the Bishop today) so we started our Communion Service…now I recived communion at 12:20ish…the whole time I was wondering about the time difference between my watch and my car’s clock…turns out they’re about 5 minutes apart…so my question is–I am kind of not sure if I violated the one hour Eucharistic Fast…I was aware of it and I had kind of set 11:20 as the time that I would not recieve before since I wasn’t exactly sure of the time I stopped eating…but since there is a time difference between the two clocks and there were probably still mini-pizza particles in my mouth, does that constitute a sin? Would that sin be mortal? If not mortal should I still refrain from receiving until I can go to confession? I’m confused.

Thanks for helping me out!

God Bless,
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After repenting of the littering sin I would suggest that you leave a little extra time next time you decide to go to Mass.
 
I would plan to go to confession immediately for throwing that slice of pizza out the window! It could have put someone’s eye out!
 
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DaveBj:
Now let’s address your violation of the anti-littering statutes.

DaveBj
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Not to mention wasting pizza. That’s sinful (unless it was anchovy).
 
Not to mention wasting pizza. That’s sinful (unless it was anchovy).
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Mind you I am a college student and that Pizza was not exactly what you would lable “Fresh” as a matter of fact it was “slightly” past it’s prime, but honestly I’m really at a loss as to whether I did break the fast or not and if I did was that sacralige? Should I refrain from Communion and wait to confess before I recieve again?

p.s. the pizza was a cheese pizza and I don’t believe I hit anyone in the eye…I was very responsible…got in the right lane, rolled down the right window and with a flick of the wrist the little bit of the slice left went into the forrest.
 
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Sanctus:
Ok…I have a bugging question that’s been eating at me all afternoon…please humor my story:

I woke up this morning and skipped breakfast, went to go exercise and came back to my house. I got ready for class and headed off to my first class and came back home. Again, showered changed etc. I had decided that I was going to go to daily Mass today(starts at 12 noon) so I headed out around 11:10am…I took a slice of pizza with me in the car (see where this is going?) About five or six minutes later I decided that eating and driving was not the smartest thing to do so I threw it out the window (after taking a few bytes)…got to church said some prayers and in came the Deacon (appearently the our Priest was in a meeting with the Bishop today) so we started our Communion Service…now I recived communion at 12:20ish…the whole time I was wondering about the time difference between my watch and my car’s clock…turns out they’re about 5 minutes apart…so my question is–I am kind of not sure if I violated the one hour Eucharistic Fast…I was aware of it and I had kind of set 11:20 as the time that I would not recieve before since I wasn’t exactly sure of the time I stopped eating…but since there is a time difference between the two clocks and there were probably still mini-pizza particles in my mouth, does that constitute a sin? Would that sin be mortal? If not mortal should I still refrain from receiving until I can go to confession? I’m confused.

Thanks for helping me out!

God Bless,
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One way to avoid this situation in the future would be to train yourself to think of the Fast as one hour before Mass begins, not one hour before Holy Communion.
 
Joseph, you made a good faith effort to observe the fast. You observed your 12:20 time limit for receiving. Everything looks OK from an outsider’s point of view. What **only you know ** is your thought process at Communion time. If you were not certain that it had been less than an hour since the last bit of pizza, but you were intending to observe the fast, you’re OK. Only if you were **absolutely certain ** that your fast had not been a full hour would you be guilty of receiving Communion without fasting. What I can tell you with certainty is that the mini-pizza-particles that may have remained in your mouth were not a problem. I think it’s actually in Canon Law, or some other official document that it is permissible to swallow particles of food that remain in your mouth long after a meal without breaking the fast. The only eating and drinking that counts is that which is done in the way we normally think of as eating and drinking - placing food in your mouth or drinking purposely.

The bottom line here is that we cannot read your conscience. Know that you cannot commit a mortal sin without full knowledge and consent, which seem to be lacking here. It is debatable whether you committed a sin at all, much less a mortal sin. It all comes down to what your own conscience tells you. If it tells you that you committed a mortal sin, refrain from receiving until you’ve been to Confession. Otherwise, there’s no need to refrain. If I were you, because of your uncertainty, I would bring this up in Confession, if only to receive guidelines for the future and peace in your conscience for now. Just lay it out clearly for the priest and let him judge. That’s his job.

Betsy
 
Dear Friend

Now why wasn’t I walking by to catch that slice of pizza?!!😃

Seriously, you did nothing wrong as there was no INTENT, you have to intend clearly by seperation of will from God to commit a mortal sin. They surprised you by starting Mass early also, so…OK DON’T WORRY!

For anyone who may care to know, it is ok to take a glass of water during the hour before Mass (the deacon brought me a glass of water during Mass due to me having a bad cough once…this is perfectly ok), it is ok if you are sick, ill or caring for someone who is very young sick or ill to take a small amount of food or drink if absolutely necessary. No-one wants to have to catch the sick or ill if they faint in Mass due to a fast!! (joke)

God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa
 
Sounds like you could use a refresher course on two issues: what it takes to make a mortal sin mortal, and a little be about scrupulousity.

I am not suggesting that that you are scrupulous, but your concern should be reined in a bit.

The purpose of the fast is to make us aware of, and prepare for what we are about to do in Communion.

Most Communion services would, I would think, run more than 10 minutes before Communion ws received; so your time is fine. The fast isn’t about being 15 seconds one side or the other of the fast. It is about preparing to receive Our Lord.

Sin isn’t receiving 15 seconds too soon. It is about intentional disobedience to a Church rule. You weren’t.

And $4 will not only get you a coffee, but a realy big fancy tall type at Starbucks!
 
Can you tell me where I can find the information on fasting one hour before Mass?

I am currently working on starting an Adult Religious Ed program inbetween Masses from 9:30 am to 10:30 am which will show videos of Father Corapi, Tim Staples and Father Casey and others.

Last year we usually put snacks on the table with coffee but I want to make a simple and polite sign by the food to remind those attending the 11:00 Mass to remember the fast. I have a feeling that people may question it so I want to put on the form where they can look it up for themselves.

Any help would be appreciated.

Gail
 
I think we need to look at (as with everything) the intention behind the rule. Its not there because an hour after you fast, your mouth somehow goes ‘bing’ and becomes clean. Over the years, the fast has been changed and changed and changed.

The intention of it is so that you dont still have great big lumps of food in your mouth when receiving the blessed sacrament. An hour is the easy to remember rule so you are well safe as it were. Theoretically you could fast for only half an hour, but then its possible there may still be food and stuff in your mouth. The rule is an hour just to be on the safe side. if you’ve done 58 minues, id say thats pretty safe!!!

As for the pizza, i used to do that, until i heard a sermon by my priest on the story of Lazarus and the rich man, and now i wouldnt dream of wasting food. Search on the internet for articles on the story, it may chan ge your perspective.

Adam:)
 
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Gail:
Can you tell me where I can find the information on fasting one hour before Mass? . . . I have a feeling that people may question it so I want to put on the form where they can look it up for themselves.

Any help would be appreciated.

Gail
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Gail:

Your best reference will be to Canon Law. Here’s the quote:

“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.”

Hope that helps.
 
You could just attend mass at my church. The priest believes that the fast is an archaic idea and does not believe it is necessary to fast. One of the last things he does before mass is to finish his coffee. I encourage all of you who are blessed with good priests to not take them for granted. Praise the good priests in front of your children help them understand how to tell the good fathful priests from the not so good. Tell your good priests how grateful you are for them and please pray for the rest of us.
 
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