Ignoring One Hour Fast=Mortal Sin?

[jmjconder]

I had read in a CAF post a while back that intentionally failing to keep the one hour fast prior to receiving Holy Communion is a mortal sin.

Since reading that I have been searching for supporting material stating this is true. The examination of conscience I use by Fr. Robert Altier does not mention this as one of the mortal sins.

Can anyone assist me here? If this is a mortal sin where in our Church teachings is that explained?

 

[theistgal]

I had read in a CAF post a while back that intentionally failing to keep the one hour fast prior to receiving Holy Communion is a mortal sin.

Since reading that I have been searching for supporting material stating this is true. The examination of conscience I use by Fr. Robert Altier does not mention this as one of the mortal sins.

Can anyone assist me here? If this is a mortal sin where in our Church teachings is that explained?

I don’t have any specific quotes, but just common sense would tell you that if the Church tells you to do something (like fast for one hour before receiving Holy Communion), and you say, “Ha ha, Church, I’m gonna eat a big hot dog and then go to Communion anyway, and there’s nothing you can do about it, nyah nyah!” … well, what do you think that would be?

 

[kage_ar]

If you are in the US, the USCCB guidelines:

usccb.org/dpp/Eucharist.pdf

From the CCC:

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1387

[1387](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1387.htm’) To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church.220 Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.

 

[kage_ar]

To recieve the Eucharist in an unworthy manner is listed as grave matter in many places and exams of conscience.

scborromeo.org/confess.htm

If you are to break the fast and still recieve, that is an unworthy reception. Unworthy reception is grave matter which may be mortal sin.

 

[JPUSC]

Well, I believe the rule is one hour before Communion. So, if you are at Mass from the beginning, then an hour would have passed until Communion.

I am guessing you are talking about eating before Mass, because you can’t very well be eating in the pew, unless if it was a cough drop or something.

If you did eat something during Mass, like a power bar, because your health was endangered, then I don’t think it would be a mortal sin.

 

[theistgal]

And if you can’t go for an hour without eating, you may want to consult your nearest physician.

 

[JPUSC]

And if you can’t go for an hour without eating, you may want to consult your nearest physician.

LOL, there could be a cases of someone having skipped meals and almost fainting or someone who needs to eat because of blood glucose problems.

 

[theistgal]

LOL, there could be a cases of someone having skipped meals and almost fainting or someone who needs to eat because of blood glucose problems.

True - and the Church almost always allows generous exceptions to her fasting rules for people with health issues like that.

However, I don’t think the OP was asking about that type of situation. Note the key words “intentionally failing”. Intention is a big component to any mortal sin.

 

[JPUSC]

Well if the OP was intentionally going to eat in the middle of Mass for no good reason, then he/she would get a lot of weird stares unless he/she was under the age of 10, haha.

 

[Corki]

I had read in a CAF post a while back that intentionally failing to keep the one hour fast prior to receiving Holy Communion is a mortal sin.

Since reading that I have been searching for supporting material stating this is true. The examination of conscience I use by Fr. Robert Altier does not mention this as one of the mortal sins.

Can anyone assist me here? If this is a mortal sin where in our Church teachings is that explained?

I don’t have a citation but in general any deliberate disobedience of a Precept of the Church is gravely sinful. I am not familiar with Fr. Altier’s EOC but most of the EOCs run through the 10 Commandments and the precepts of the Church. One of the precepts of the Church is to follow the current directions regarding fast and abstinance. As always, “mortal” is contingent on the three conditions (grave matter, full knowledge, full consent).

 

[jmjconder]

scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a3.htm#1387

[1387](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/1387.htm’) To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church.220 Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.

I know this will appear like I am an uneducated Catholic ~ I always knew that I could not receive Holy Communion in an unworthy state…however I always assumed it meant spiritually. Never did I attribute that statement to mean that when I mindlessly took that sip of coffee right before I headed out the door for daily Mass I placed myselfe in an unworthy state to receive Holy Communion.

Whenever that happened (and not very often) I have thought that to be a minor state and ask God’s forgivenss several times during Mass before I would receive Holy Communion…now am I to understand that I have sinned mortally? Am I to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation to confess these times before I receive Holy Communion again tomorrow or this w/end?

Now that I know ~ it will never happen again…however…how do I reconcile for the past times?

Thank you all!

 

[JPUSC]

You can mention it in Confession, but if you did not have full knowledge of its gravity at the time, then it doesn’t meet the qualifications for a mortal sin.

In Roman Catholic moral theology, a mortal sin, as distinct from a venial sin, must meet all of the following conditions:

1. its subject must be a grave (or serious) matter;
2. it must be committed with full knowledge, both of the sin and of the gravity of the offense (though nobody is deemed to be ignorant of the moral law, embedded into the consciences of every human being);
3. it must be committed with deliberate and complete consent, enough for it to have been a personal decision to commit the sin.

 

[Seatuck]

I had read in a CAF post a while back that intentionally failing to keep the one hour fast prior to receiving Holy Communion is a mortal sin.

Since reading that I have been searching for supporting material stating this is true. The examination of conscience I use by Fr. Robert Altier does not mention this as one of the mortal sins.

Can anyone assist me here? If this is a mortal sin where in our Church teachings is that explained?

It is our moral duty to observe the laws of the church.

Examinations of Concience are written as a guide. They are never expected to cover every sin possible. I try switch back and forth between several to get different perspectives.

 

[jmcrae]

Well, I believe the rule is one hour before Communion. So, if you are at Mass from the beginning, then an hour would have passed until Communion.

You guys must have really long homilies.

Around here, at a daily Mass, Holy Communion usually occurs after 15 minutes, and if it’s a regular Sunday Mass, it’s somewhere between half an hour and 45 minutes.

 

[jmjconder]

I must ask for prayers on this subject. I will admit that it is diffcult to wrap my mind around the fact that the one hour fast rest on the same plane as other mortal sins like murder, stealing, abortion, adultery…which I have no doubt in my mind mortally wound my relationship with God. I am struggling holding the one hour fast as a mortal wound. I have no trouble saying it is sinful - I am struggling with the fact it mortally wounds my relationship with God just as a murder or abortion would ~ that I am having a real hard time with…please pray for God to bring this from my head to my heart.

 

[jmcrae]

I must ask for prayers on this subject. I will admit that it is diffcult to wrap my mind around the fact that the one hour fast rest on the same plane as other mortal sins like murder, stealing, abortion, adultery…which I have no doubt in my mind mortally wound my relationship with God. I am struggling holding the one hour fast as a mortal wound. I have no trouble saying it is sinful - I am struggling with the fact it mortally wounds my relationship with God just as a murder or abortion would ~ that I am having a real hard time with…please pray for God to bring this from my head to my heart.

Our insides need to be just as clean as our outsides, and as our souls, when we receive Him. That’s why we wait at least an hour - so that everything has a chance to digest, first.

 

[Lujack]

Our insides need to be just as clean as our outsides, and as our souls, when we receive Him. That’s why we wait at least an hour - so that everything has a chance to digest, first.

That doesn’t make it a mortal sin, though. I would think that saying “Screw it, I need a bagel” and eating before mass would be a mortal sin, but I would imagine that breaking the fast by accident is not a mortal sin. Full knowledge and consent is required for a mortal sin, and I think going blank and drinking a cup of coffee in the car would merely be a venial sin.

You can’t sin mortally on accident, can you?

 

[jmjconder]

That doesn’t make it a mortal sin, though. I would think that saying “Screw it, I need a bagel” and eating before mass would be a mortal sin, but I would imagine that breaking the fast by accident is not a mortal sin. Full knowledge and consent is required for a mortal sin, and I think going blank and drinking a cup of coffee in the car would merely be a venial sin.

You can’t sin mortally on accident, can you?

I am not trying to excuse my morning behavior…however I have a chronic health problem and there are mornings that I wake up in a complete fog from not having slept well that night. Knowing I am not clear headed nor alert I do take that extra sip of coffee before heading out the door for daily Mass. Now that I know that is a mortal sin I will refrain from receiving Holy Communion.

I am praying that I can understand how that would destroy my relationship with God just as other obvious mortal sins do. That is the part that I will pray hard to fully understand…because right now I do not see them (one hour fast vs. murder/abortion/stealing etc…) as equally mortally sinful acts.

 

[baltobetsy]

Two things. First, I once confessed this as a mortal sin and was told by the priest, a very strict, orthodox and reliable priest, that it was not a mortal sin and that I should not have stopped receiving Communion after I did it.

Second, my reasoning for thinking it was a mortal sin was this: it’s a sin that involves Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist - a matter of direct disrespect to Him.

But, since this priest told me it was not a mortal sin, that’s what I’m going with. However, I am still very careful to observe the fast.

Betsy

 

[RLT]

You guys must have really long homilies.

Around here, at a daily Mass, Holy Communion usually occurs after 15 minutes, and if it’s a regular Sunday Mass, it’s somewhere between half an hour and 45 minutes.

I was thinking the same thing thing. I experience the same time frame you mentioned for daily and regular Sunday Masses.