Fasting before communion...again

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spectre88

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Okay I know this question has been asked many times but there is a reason I am asking again as I have a twist to my question.

I understand we are required to fast 1 hour before communion. However, is the purpose of this out of a spiritual exercise or is it because it is just flat out wrong to allow the host to be mixed in with other foods in our digestive system? Secondly, is the 1-hour a hard line or is it “flexible.”

Before anyone get upset with my question here is why I’m asking. I have been blessed to have an office that is nearby our Cathedral, which has mass at noon every day. Well, due to my work schedule I do not always know if I have time to go to mass at noon or not. See sometimes I eat lunch at my desk or in a meeting before noon then suddenly I may find that I have time to make it to mass. Then the clock watching begins. If I notice I have eaten within the hour of course, I would abstain but I got to thinking what if I find that I had eaten 50-55 minutes ago? Is that close enough to an hour? Am I just being a stickler for the rules? Or is this really the right thing to do? Please advise. Thank you and God bless.
 
spectre88 said:
Okay I know this question has been asked many times but there is a reason I am asking again as I have a twist to my question.

I understand we are required to fast 1 hour before communion. However, is the purpose of this out of a spiritual exercise or is it because it is just flat out wrong to allow the host to be mixed in with other foods in our digestive system? Secondly, is the 1-hour a hard line or is it “flexible.”

Before anyone get upset with my question here is why I’m asking. I have been blessed to have an office that is nearby our Cathedral, which has mass at noon every day. Well, due to my work schedule I do not always know if I have time to go to mass at noon or not. See sometimes I eat lunch at my desk or in a meeting before noon then suddenly I may find that I have time to make it to mass. Then the clock watching begins. If I notice I have eaten within the hour of course, I would abstain but I got to thinking what if I find that I had eaten 50-55 minutes ago? Is that close enough to an hour? Am I just being a stickler for the rules? Or is this really the right thing to do? Please advise. Thank you and God bless.
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It is one-hour fast, with no exceptions that I am aware of.

Now, receiving the Eucharist is NOT the reason why you go to Mass. You go to Mass for the purpose of going to Mass. The Eucharist is an additional boost of grace, which is a great gift. If you happen to be unable to receive because of your necessary fast, don’t feel bad about it; you still attended mass, and that’s the main thing that matters here.
 
dshix said:
It is one-hour fast, with no exceptions that I am aware of.

Now, receiving the Eucharist is NOT the reason why you go to Mass. You go to Mass for the purpose of going to Mass. The Eucharist is an additional boost of grace, which is a great gift. If you happen to be unable to receive because of your necessary fast, don’t feel bad about it; you still attended mass, and that’s the main thing that matters here.
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^^^This.
 
You must fast one hour BEFORE YOU RECEIVE COMMUNION. If Mass starts at noon, but Communion is around 12:20 or 12:30 the fast time starts at 11:20 or 11:30. I would go Mass for a week check the average time for Communion and then start your fast, every day about 5 -10mins before the hour, using that average time. It is a strict fast, not flexible, 50/55 mins doesn’t cut it. Lucky you to be able to go Mass every day so close your work! :cool:
 
dshix said:
It is one-hour fast, with no exceptions that I am aware of.

Now, receiving the Eucharist is NOT the reason why you go to Mass. You go to Mass for the purpose of going to Mass. The Eucharist is an additional boost of grace, which is a great gift. If you happen to be unable to receive because of your necessary fast, don’t feel bad about it; you still attended mass, and that’s the main thing that matters here.
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Yep. And, you can make a Spiritual Communion any time
 
Perfect, thanks for the responses everyone. I’ll try not to to feel bad if I miss communion because I’m minutes shy of meeting the fasting requirements. My prayers to all of you.
 
It is not inherently wrong to mix the Eucharist with normal food. The disciples seem to have done this at the Last Supper, after all. The mandatory Eucharistic fast is a disciplinary matter. At the same time not knowing whether or not you will attend mass is not, in my judgement, an excuse for not keeping the Eucharistic fast. If you think you might be attending mass, then don’t eat anything an hour before the time you would be receiving communion.
 
marty1818 said:
It is a strict 1 hour fast.
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No big issue for most folks, then.

I am old enough to remember the nothing after midnight rule, which could seem tough to a 6-7 year old who was to recieve the Blessed Sacrament at 6pm Mass. 🙂

We had things more austere in those days - cue the Monty Python ‘4 Yorkshiremen’ sketch:

youtu.be/Xe1a1wHxTyo
 
dshix said:
It is one-hour fast, with no exceptions that I am aware of.

Now, receiving the Eucharist is NOT the reason why you go to Mass. You go to Mass for the purpose of going to Mass. The Eucharist is an additional boost of grace, which is a great gift. If you happen to be unable to receive because of your necessary fast, don’t feel bad about it; you still attended mass, and that’s the main thing that matters here.
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There is a medical exception for those who for whatever reason cannot fast according to Church rules.

For example, I am a brittle diabetic, and subject to many swings in my blood glucose level. There are times when I have to eat within that 1 hour time frame.

There are other conditions that would apply also I am sure.

I also believe the Church also says that the fast applies to those between 14 and 59.
 
twopekinguys said:
I also believe the Church also says that the fast applies to those between 14 and 59.
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You are confusing the penitential fasting of Lent with the preparatory fasting of the Eucharistic fast.

The Eucharistic fast applies to everyone who will be receiving Holy Communion.
 
spectre88 said:
Okay I know this question has been asked many times but there is a reason I am asking again as I have a twist to my question.

I understand we are required to fast 1 hour before communion. However, is the purpose of this out of a spiritual exercise or is it because it is just flat out wrong to allow the host to be mixed in with other foods in our digestive system? Secondly, is the 1-hour a hard line or is it “flexible.”

Before anyone get upset with my question here is why I’m asking. I have been blessed to have an office that is nearby our Cathedral, which has mass at noon every day. Well, due to my work schedule I do not always know if I have time to go to mass at noon or not. See sometimes I eat lunch at my desk or in a meeting before noon then suddenly I may find that I have time to make it to mass. Then the clock watching begins. If I notice I have eaten within the hour of course, I would abstain but I got to thinking what if I find that I had eaten 50-55 minutes ago? Is that close enough to an hour? Am I just being a stickler for the rules? Or is this really the right thing to do? Please advise. Thank you and God bless.
Click to expand...
First of all, one hour is not enough time for all the food in the stomach to empty, so the Eucharist is going to mix with undigested food anyway. Secondly, once it dissolves in the gastric juices, it is no longer the Eucharist. And yes, the fast is a strict one hour, unless there is a medical reason not to. Also, the one hour time is for the time you receive Communion, not the time Mass begins.
 
spectre88 said:
Okay I know this question has been asked many times but there is a reason I am asking again as I have a twist to my question.

I understand we are required to fast 1 hour before communion. However, is the purpose of this out of a spiritual exercise or is it because it is just flat out wrong to allow the host to be mixed in with other foods in our digestive system? Secondly, is the 1-hour a hard line or is it “flexible.”

Before anyone get upset with my question here is why I’m asking. I have been blessed to have an office that is nearby our Cathedral, which has mass at noon every day. Well, due to my work schedule I do not always know if I have time to go to mass at noon or not. See sometimes I eat lunch at my desk or in a meeting before noon then suddenly I may find that I have time to make it to mass. Then the clock watching begins. If I notice I have eaten within the hour of course, I would abstain but I got to thinking what if I find that I had eaten 50-55 minutes ago? Is that close enough to an hour? Am I just being a stickler for the rules? Or is this really the right thing to do? Please advise. Thank you and God bless.
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I think Our Lord would prefer you to still partake at His table if you came in under 50-55 minutes rather than not. That is my opinion. I don’t believe our Faith is governed by strict timelines but rather by the intentions in our hearts. That is my opinion and I’m sure many will disagree.
 
Mount_Carmel said:
No big issue for most folks, then.

I am old enough to remember the nothing after midnight rule, which could seem tough to a 6-7 year old who was to recieve the Blessed Sacrament at 6pm Mass. 🙂

We had things more austere in those days - cue the Monty Python ‘4 Yorkshiremen’ sketch:

youtu.be/Xe1a1wHxTyo
Click to expand...
OMG I still remember the nothing by mouth after midnight days and my being a young person then and going to bed at 8:00 it meant nothing til after Sunday Mass. We had to attend the 9:00 Mass to sit with all our classmates (plus us girls had to wear a head covering). The fasting didn’t actually bother me too much at that age although it would now I’m an older person. Actually, the most bother was the head covering because no matter what, it was never quite suitable enough for the nuns! Those were the days and I’m glad they are gone, ha ha!
 
mayogirl25 said:
I think Our Lord would prefer you to still partake at His table if you came in under 50-55 minutes rather than not. That is my opinion. I don’t believe our Faith is governed by strict timelines but rather by the intentions in our hearts. That is my opinion and I’m sure many will disagree.
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Opinions on this matter are irrelevant when we teach others the discipline of our faith.
The Church does govern and she has clarified the rule on fasting. We are all expected to obey both the letter of the law and the spirit of the law before receiving our Lord in Holy Communion.

The letter of the law is spelled out in the Church’s Canon Law.

Canon 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.

§2. A priest who celebrates the Most Holy Eucharist two or three times on the same day can take something before the second or third celebration even if there is less than one hour between them.

§3. The elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten something within the preceding hour.

The spirit of the law is to allow fasting to prepare ourselves properly before receiving the Blessed Sacrament. We are to be conscious about our spiritual hunger and worthiness to receive. There are examples in the Scriptures of individuals fasting to prepare themselves to receive the action of God, like Moses fasting and praying on the mountain before receiving the Ten Commandments.

The Eucharistic fast seeks to provoke a physical hunger to remind us of our spiritual hunger and the insufficiency of the world’s food.
dymphnaroad.blogspot.com/2007/05/beautiful-explanation-of-why-we-need-to.html
 
1ke said:
You are confusing the penitential fasting of Lent with the preparatory fasting of the Eucharistic fast.

The Eucharistic fast applies to everyone who will be receiving Holy Communion.
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This seems to confirm the over 59 exception for the Eucharistic fast. (bolding mine)

“Second, those who are elderly (at least 60 years of age) or sick as well as their caretakers can receive Communion even if a full hour fast has not been fulfilled. For example, people in the hospital are not in control of their own schedule and may be eating or have just finished eating when visited by the priest or Eucharistic minister. Therefore, the period of fast before receiving Holy Communion is reduced to “approximately one quarter of an hour” for those who are sick at home or at a medical facility, those elderly confined to home or a nursing home, and those who care for these people and who are unable conveniently to observe the fast** (“Immensae Caritatis,” 1973).”**
 
twopekinguys said:
This seems to confirm the over 59 exception for the Eucharistic fast. (bolding mine)

“Second, those who are elderly (at least 60 years of age) or sick as well as their caretakers can receive Communion even if a full hour fast has not been fulfilled. For example, people in the hospital are not in control of their own schedule and may be eating or have just finished eating when visited by the priest or Eucharistic minister. Therefore, the period of fast before receiving Holy Communion is reduced to “approximately one quarter of an hour” for those who are sick at home or at a medical facility, those elderly confined to home or a nursing home, and those who care for these people and who are unable conveniently to observe the fast** (“Immensae Caritatis,” 1973).”**
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That’s not for those who are healthy, but for those who are sick and those confined to a nursing home where meals may well interfere with the fast. I’ll be 60 in a few months and there is absolutely no reason for me not to fast for Communion. Even in his mid-80s my father was keeping that fast. That changed when he went to the hospital for several months before he died.
 
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