Fasting before communion question

[Kathrin]

If I eat or drink something more than an hour before communion, but still have the taste in my mouth less than an hour before, would that be against the communion fast? Like, say, I ahd a cup of coffee and I touch my teeth with my tongue and I still taste the coffee and then of course I’ll have to swallow - would that be considered still be drinking coffee?

(This is the current situation that made me post this. I probably won’t get an answer before I go to daily mass today. Since I tend to be scrupulous I hope it’s ok to tell myself I can go to communion…)

Other times I suddenly felt something in my mouth that was between my teeth.

Is there any law about things like that?

Kathrin

 

[hilde_the_dog]

My first reaction was that you might be scrupulous. Brush your teeth and tongue after that cup of coffee and dont’t worry about because now it will taste like toothpaste. Or use mouthwash both would be considered (preventative) medicine and not food.

Nor do I consider food that is caught between your teeth food.

It all comes down to your intentions. Did you intend to violate the precept? If you accdentally break the precept it is not a mortal/grave sin by definition.

 

[baltobetsy]

Actually the law on the Communion fast is very specific. Sorry, I don’t have a reference, but I do remember reading that it only applies to what you actually PUT into your mouth during the hour before you receive. If there is something stuck in your teeth or otherwise remaining in your mouth from before the hour, it is not considered eating or drinking and does not break the fast.

Betsy

 

[paperwight]

It all comes down to your intentions. Did you intend to violate the precept? If you accdentally break the precept it is not a mortal/grave sin by definition.

And remember the whole purpose of the fast. It;s not to punish us or to make us anxious. It’s to help us call to mind what we are about to do, to be aware and properly prepare for the Gift.

If you ARE remembering what the fast is actually for, that is to say, remembering that in an hour’s time you are hoping to receive Holy Communion, you have kept the fast. It’s to help us, not to be a burden for its own sake. God loves us and sees our intentions. To Him, time is nothing.

 

[Kathrin]

Actually the law on the Communion fast is very specific. Sorry, I don’t have a reference, but I do remember reading that it only applies to what you actually PUT into your mouth during the hour before you receive. If there is something stuck in your teeth or otherwise remaining in your mouth from before the hour, it is not considered eating or drinking and does not break the fast.

Betsy

That’s what I was hoping was the case. It makes sense too, because otherwise it can get very blurry…

Thanks!

And the others for their replies too.

Kathrin

 

[MusicMan]

Yeah. What they all said. They said it best.