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ukdal1
Guest
As a new Catholic I was just wondering, is the fast before communion strictly TLM or is it universal? Having asked that, why is there a fast? Thanks for the help!!! God bless.
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brotherhrolf
Guest
No. The fast before Communion is a universal one hour. When I grew up before Vatican II it was three hours (after 1957) and prior to that it was 12 hours. One hour is the rule for both the NO and TLM today. Personal piety may call for some to observe the old strictures but one hour is the norm.
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Genesis315
Guest
As with most mandatory fasts, penances and other precepts, the Church provides us the bare minimum. You are free to do more. For example, we only have to go to confession once a year or receive communion once a year, but you should really do it more often! 
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true_believer
Guest
As others have already said, the fast before recieving the Eucharist is one hour no matter what type of a mass you attend.
As to the reason behind the fast, I am not completely sure, but I think it is in order to uphold the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist. You shouldn’t take in something as sacred as Jesus’ body and blood as if it were just any other meal. So we fast an hour beforehand so that the Eucharist is not just mixed in with other meals we have previously eaten. Again, I don’t know how accurate this is, but this is what I have been told before. If anyone else knows anything different, please tell me.
Hope this helps.
As to the reason behind the fast, I am not completely sure, but I think it is in order to uphold the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist. You shouldn’t take in something as sacred as Jesus’ body and blood as if it were just any other meal. So we fast an hour beforehand so that the Eucharist is not just mixed in with other meals we have previously eaten. Again, I don’t know how accurate this is, but this is what I have been told before. If anyone else knows anything different, please tell me.
Hope this helps.
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