Fasting before daily Mass

[comebacktome]

I try to take my kids to daily Mass, which is at 9am here. During the school year my kids are up and fed plenty early, so we have no issues. However, I’ve discovered over this summer that as my kids are up late (I really don’t enforce any bedtime during the summer months, they are likely to sleep rather late. As I write this my kids are having breakfast, and it’s likely they’ll still be eating at the start of the 1 hour fast. For the older kids the answer should clearly be that I organize myself and wake them just a bit earlier, or they wait to eat. But, the 7 y/o I feel a little badly for. Would you let them eat within the fast for daily Mass, and kind of explain the “spirit of the law” as opposed to the “letter of the law” being the reason we’re not abiding by the fast?
Do you ever struggle with “the rules”, and how to follow them when you’re trying to do “more” than the minimum? I mean, kids really don’t understand the magnitude of what’s happening, and it really takes all of my effort (and theirs) to get them to Mass each day.
(name removed by moderator)ut?

 

[tee_eff_em]

I try to take my kids to daily Mass, which is at 9am here. During the school year my kids are up and fed plenty early, so we have no issues. However, I’ve discovered over this summer that as my kids are up late (I really don’t enforce any bedtime during the summer months, they are likely to sleep rather late. As I write this my kids are having breakfast, and it’s likely they’ll still be eating at the start of the 1 hour fast. For the older kids the answer should clearly be that I organize myself and wake them just a bit earlier, or they wait to eat. But, the 7 y/o I feel a little badly for. Would you let them eat within the fast for daily Mass, and kind of explain the “spirit of the law” as opposed to the “letter of the law” being the reason we’re not abiding by the fast?

What fast are you speaking of?

There is no legislated fast before Mass.

There is a legislated fast before receiving Communion.

Teach your children to make a Spiritual Communion if they cannot receive, whether for having not kept the fast or for other reasons. And teach them that they still receive graces from the Mass, as they are disposed, even if they cannot receive Communion.

:twocents:
tee

 

[Brenda_V]

tee is right, if they are still eating I would say 1/2 an hour before Mass starts then there is some concern because that would put you all really close to the 1 hr. before Communion - I personally have a hard time with that for a weekday Mass and not because I don’t get up early enough, it is timing of some meds, eating and Mass time that comes into play. I must eat before I go though so if I find it is too close to Communion time from when I have finished eating I don’t go, simple as that. Sunday is easier for me to work the 1 hr. fast in especially during the school year because I teach CCD right before Mass.

In other words, don’t worry about it but do teach them about the 1 hr. before communion and when not to go!

Brenda V.

 

[lifeisbeautiful]

What fast are you speaking of?

There is no legislated fast before Mass.

There is a legislated fast before receiving Communion.

Teach your children to make a Spiritual Communion if they cannot receive, whether for having not kept the fast or for other reasons. And teach them that they still receive graces from the Mass, as they are disposed, even if they cannot receive Communion.

:twocents:
tee

From Canon Law:

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.

§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.

We are not required to receive Communion every time we go to Mass, but we required to fast every time we receive Communion (with the exceptions clearly stated above). The whole idea of the “spirit of the law” vs “letter of the law” here is incorrect, and can be really harmful if applied to many of the Church’s teachings. There is a law, and it needs to be followed.

With that said, kuddos to you for taking your kids to daily Mass! They are getting many graces and benefits that one may not be able to perceive at this point, but are there.

 

[NTOT]

I try to take my kids to daily Mass, which is at 9am here. During the school year my kids are up and fed plenty early, so we have no issues. However, I’ve discovered over this summer that as my kids are up late (I really don’t enforce any bedtime during the summer months, they are likely to sleep rather late. As I write this my kids are having breakfast, and it’s likely they’ll still be eating at the start of the 1 hour fast. For the older kids the answer should clearly be that I organize myself and wake them just a bit earlier, or they wait to eat. But, the 7 y/o I feel a little badly for. Would you let them eat within the fast for daily Mass, and kind of explain the “spirit of the law” as opposed to the “letter of the law” being the reason we’re not abiding by the fast?
Do you ever struggle with “the rules”, and how to follow them when you’re trying to do “more” than the minimum? I mean, kids really don’t understand the magnitude of what’s happening, and it really takes all of my effort (and theirs) to get them to Mass each day.
(name removed by moderator)ut?

Do not take the chance of committing a sin by receiving Communion while ignoring Church laws. That would pretty much defeat the purpose of receiving Communion while at the same time committing a sacrilige. You have to decide what is more important if constrained by time, bodily food or Holy Eucharist, but it can’t be both. Or take measures to ensure that one makes the required time available. Remember that a spiritual Communion suffices when unable to receive physically.

 

[PhilotheaZ]

Most weekday Masses last about a half hour. That would put Communion at about 9:20 (adjust if it is different at your church). So your goal should be (minimally) to finish breakfast at 8:20. I think that is doable!

If the little one is a slow eater, he could have a healthy snack around 8:00 and something more substantial after Mass.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I try to take my kids to daily Mass, which is at 9am here. During the school year my kids are up and fed plenty early, so we have no issues. However, I’ve discovered over this summer that as my kids are up late (I really don’t enforce any bedtime during the summer months, they are likely to sleep rather late. As I write this my kids are having breakfast, and it’s likely they’ll still be eating at the start of the 1 hour fast. For the older kids the answer should clearly be that I organize myself and wake them just a bit earlier, or they wait to eat. But, the 7 y/o I feel a little badly for. Would you let them eat within the fast for daily Mass, and kind of explain the “spirit of the law” as opposed to the “letter of the law” being the reason we’re not abiding by the fast?
Do you ever struggle with “the rules”, and how to follow them when you’re trying to do “more” than the minimum? I mean, kids really don’t understand the magnitude of what’s happening, and it really takes all of my effort (and theirs) to get them to Mass each day.
(name removed by moderator)ut?

Forget about this idea of “spirit of the law” vs “letter of the law”. It’s one hour before receiving Holy Communion period. Attendance at daily Mass is not an obligation, nor is receiving Holy Communion at every Mass you attend.

 

[acadian]

My kids have come with me to 6:30 Mass on occassion, which is followed by me dropping them off at school at 7:00. They could either bring something to eat in the car after Mass on the way to school or just refrain from receiving communion if they ate before leaving home. There was no way they would ever be up early enough to be finished eating by 5:45 or so.