How serious is it to ignore the Eucharistic fasting rules?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ceddd99
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Ceddd99

Guest
I usually go to daily Mass Monday through Friday and when I am not in mortal sin, my favorite thing to do in the whole wide world is to receive our Lord through Holy Communion. It brings immense love, light and joy to my tortured soul.

Unfortunately however, I am only able to make it to Mass right after I get off work and I work at work I am allowed to have a free lunch before I leave but I am not allowed to take any food home with me or eat at a different time. Thus I have no choice but to either forfeit my free lunches or to quit receiving Holy Communion during the week (I would still be able to receive on Sunday). I have been meaning to ask my priest about this for months now but forget every time I see him so I am asking on here. I know you are supposed to fast at least an hour before receiving Holy Communion but I just can’t help but feel like in my case the benefits of receiving outweigh the costs. Daily Communion sometimes makes me feel like the Earth is actually the Kingdom of Heaven, or perhaps I should say “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” for I believe that Jesus taught the existence of an inner kingdom, which can be reached through reception of Him in the Holy Eucharist, especially if the soul is free from grave sin and is devoted to prayer and study. Do not ignore the value of the sacrament of reconciliation in this regard.
 
The only exception to the fasting rules are those who for MEDICAL reasons must eat and those on medication, a free lunch is not an exception. If receiving the Eucharist means so much to you, then you should be able to follow the rules of the Church and sacrifice your free meal in order to receive Jesus; you can eat after Mass.
 
ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_dispositions.htm

Please see attached link, I would definitely speak to your parish priest for advice the link mentions if you are ill the fast can be 15mins, so there is circumstances when the length of the fast can be reduced. I can also see why you would not want to lose out on the free lunch as to give this up could be a burden. If it is difficult for you to time this one hour before receiving communion, perhaps Father could give you communion after mass is finished. I have seen my parish priest do this, there is no harm in asking. And Father will understand you have a good reason for asking this.

For me to get to my parish church I usually leave 30mins before the start, on a Sunday it would be difficult for me to eat within an hour receiving communion. I usually try not to eat 1 hour before the start of mass. But weekday mass is shorter so you do need to watch your timings. I am sure you have timed the last time you have eaten and when typically you would receive communion, you may just have the hour gap you require?
 
It would seem that the best thing to do is talk to God and ask for His Spirit to fill your heart. If what you are doing is from love then this is what is asked of us. Does God really care how long ago we eat food if we are receiving his total love into our heart? I like to think of God as a perfect person who just worries about our love and then details that some people, playing God, think are correct may be irrelevant to Him.
 
kdfphd said:
It would seem that the best thing to do is talk to God and ask for His Spirit to fill your heart. If what you are doing is from love then this is what is asked of us. Does God really care how long ago we eat food if we are receiving his total love into our heart? I like to think of God as a perfect person who just worries about our love and then details that some people, playing God, think are correct may be irrelevant to Him.
Click to expand...
Be careful with this. This kind of thinking is often a way to justify sin. The Church, instituted by God himself, has rules for a reason – for OUR benefit.

OP, Is there a way you can eat lunch earlier?
 
Catholic1954 said:
The only exception to the fasting rules are those who for MEDICAL reasons must eat and those on medication, a free lunch is not an exception.
Click to expand...
I heard from a nun that elderly people such as those over 60 or so, were exempt from the fast, but I don’t know if it is in fact true or not according to the rules.
 
Tomdstone said:
I heard from a nun that elderly people such as those over 60 or so, were exempt from the fast, but I don’t know if it is in fact true or not according to the rules.
Click to expand...
Those over 60 are exempt from the Lenten fast.

**
 
Re: the original poster -

It is worth knowing that the Eucharistic fast is an hour from Communion time, not an hour from the start of Mass. Usually we don’t need these exact definitions, but situations like yours make it useful to know whether it’s go or no go.

Is there a way to eat your free lunch a tad earlier, or finish a tad faster, if you’re close to it being an hour but not quite? (Obviously ask permission of your employer.)

Although obviously one would like to receive Communion every day, going to Mass every day without receiving Communion is still pretty darned awesome. A spiritual Communion can be made, and you can offer up your deprivation for the sake of people who never get to receive Communion, or for people who receive it unworthily.

Re: the elderly - Tomdstone’s informant was correct about the length of the Eucharistic fast for the elderly homebound or the ill.

Here’s the English text of “Immensae Caritatis,” via EWTN.
  1. Mitigation Of The Eucharistic Fast In Favor Of The Sick And The Elderly
Click to expand...
First, it remains firm and established that one of the faithful to whom viaticum is administered in danger of death is not bound by any precept of fast.9 Also remaining in force is the concession made by Pius XII on the basis of which "the sick, even though not bedridden, may without any time limit take nonalcoholic drinks and either liquid or solid medicines before celebrating Mass and receiving communion."10
Click to expand...
As for food and drink serving as nourishment, that tradition must be preserved according to which the eucharist was to be taken “before all food,” as Tertullian says,11 as a sign of the excellence of the sacramental food.
Click to expand...
To give recognition to the dignity of the sacrament and to stir up joy at the coming of the Lord, it is well to observe a period of silence and recollection. It is a sufficient sign of devotion and respect on the part of the sick if they direct their mind for a brief period to this great mystery. The duration of the eucharistic fast, that is, of abstaining from food or alcoholic drink, is reduced to approximately a quarter of an hour for:
Click to expand...
  1. the sick in health-care facilities or at home, even if they are not bedridden;
Click to expand...
  1. the faithful of advanced years, whether they are confined to their homes because of old age or live in homes for the aged;
Click to expand...
  1. sick priests, even if not bedridden, and elderly priests, as regards both celebrating Mass and receiving communion;
Click to expand...
  1. persons caring for, as well as the family and friends of, the sick and elderly who wish to receive communion with them, whenever such persons cannot keep the one-hour fast without inconvenience.
Click to expand...
OTOH, it would seem that if you are elderly and can get to Mass okay at a time of your choosing, you are still bound by the Eucharistic fast.
 
Francis_C said:
ewtn.com/expert/answers/communion_dispositions.htm

Please see attached link, I would definitely speak to your parish priest for advice the link mentions if you are ill the fast can be 15mins, so there is circumstances when the length of the fast can be reduced. I can also see why you would not want to lose out on the free lunch as to give this up could be a burden. If it is difficult for you to time this one hour before receiving communion, perhaps Father could give you communion after mass is finished. I have seen my parish priest do this, there is no harm in asking. And Father will understand you have a good reason for asking this.

For me to get to my parish church I usually leave 30mins before the start, on a Sunday it would be difficult for me to eat within an hour receiving communion. I usually try not to eat 1 hour before the start of mass. But weekday mass is shorter so you do need to watch your timings. I am sure you have timed the last time you have eaten and when typically you would receive communion, you may just have the hour gap you require?
Click to expand...
Good advice.
 
Tomdstone said:
These elderly people over 60 are not exempt from the Eucharistic fast?
Click to expand...
Unless there’s a medical reason for having to eat within an hour of receiving the Eucharist, nope. It’s only an hour long. It’s really not that hard of a rule to follow. Most Masses are going to be an hour long anyways, so unless you’re eating a sandwich as you walk into church (or fifteen minutes before), you’re going to still be able to receive communion. 🤷
 
beleg said:
Unless there’s a medical reason for having to eat within an hour of receiving the Eucharist, nope. It’s only an hour long. It’s really not that hard of a rule to follow. Most Masses are going to be an hour long anyways, so unless you’re eating a sandwich as you walk into church (or fifteen minutes before), you’re going to still be able to receive communion. 🤷
Click to expand...
Is it a mortal sin for an elderly person to break the Eucharistic fast by drinking coffee at the Church hall before Mass and receiving communion? What should one do when one sees so many elderly people doing such at the local church?
 
Tomdstone said:
Is it a mortal sin for an elderly person to break the Eucharistic fast by drinking coffee at the Church hall before Mass and receiving communion? What should one do when one sees so many elderly people doing such at the local church?
Click to expand...
Well admonishing the sinner is one of the spiritual works of mercy, so I would definitely walk up to them and explain to them that they’re gonna burn if they don’t drop that coffee immediately. 😉
 
ewtn.com/expert/answers/…spositions.htm

Please see attached link, I would definitely speak to your parish priest for advice the link mentions if you are ill the fast can be 15mins, so there is circumstances when the length of the fast can be reduced. I can also see why you would not want to lose out on the free lunch as to give this up could be a burden. If it is difficult for you to time this one hour before receiving communion, perhaps Father could give you communion after mass is finished. I have seen my parish priest do this, there is no harm in asking. And Father will understand you have a good reason for asking this.

For me to get to my parish church I usually leave 30mins before the start, on a Sunday it would be difficult for me to eat within an hour receiving communion. I usually try not to eat 1 hour before the start of mass. But weekday mass is shorter so you do need to watch your timings. I am sure you have timed the last time you have eaten and when typically you would receive communion, you may just have the hour gap you require?
tawny said:
Good advice.
Click to expand...
👍
 
OK, so now 3 of us has posted the same link. 😃

The question was “how serious is it?”
It’s serious.
You cannot willfully ignore it.
The questions WE see to have for the OP is:
It is really necessary? I would assume that if the OP is working at a foodservice place, he or she is not elderly. The provisions fro the infirmed do no seem to apply.
So…
What’s the actual time frame involved?

And no, you can’t ignore it.
 
Ceddd99 said:
I usually go to daily Mass Monday through Friday and when I am not in mortal sin, my favorite thing to do in the whole wide world is to receive our Lord through Holy Communion. It brings immense love, light and joy to my tortured soul.

Unfortunately however, I am only able to make it to Mass right after I get off work and I work at work I am allowed to have a free lunch before I leave but I am not allowed to take any food home with me or eat at a different time. Thus I have no choice but to either forfeit my free lunches or to quit receiving Holy Communion during the week (I would still be able to receive on Sunday). I have been meaning to ask my priest about this for months now but forget every time I see him so I am asking on here. I know you are supposed to fast at least an hour before receiving Holy Communion but I just can’t help but feel like in my case the benefits of receiving outweigh the costs. Daily Communion sometimes makes me feel like the Earth is actually the Kingdom of Heaven, or perhaps I should say “the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” for I believe that Jesus taught the existence of an inner kingdom, which can be reached through reception of Him in the Holy Eucharist, especially if the soul is free from grave sin and is devoted to prayer and study. Do not ignore the value of the sacrament of reconciliation in this regard.
Click to expand...
Look at the bright side. You have a chance to go to Mass during your work day. That’s probably more than many posters have.

You do what you can. And because you’re doing the right thing, you’ve maximized your graces IMO.
 
meltzerboy said:
What is the big deal being “over 60” in modern society? I can understand maybe over 80 or 90, but not 60+. (How old are YOU? LOL)
Click to expand...
I am not sure, but previously lenten fasting was not required for elderly Catholics over 59 years old.
 
beleg said:
Unless there’s a medical reason for having to eat within an hour of receiving the Eucharist, nope. It’s only an hour long. It’s really not that hard of a rule to follow. Most Masses are going to be an hour long anyways, so unless you’re eating a sandwich as you walk into church (or fifteen minutes before), you’re going to still be able to receive communion. 🤷
Click to expand...
I’ve been to daily and early morning Sunday Masses that clockd in between 25-45 minutes depending on the number of people and who th celebrant is so an hour isn’t a hard and fast rule for daily Masses.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top