Ignoring One Hour Fast=Mortal Sin?

[kage_ar]

Please, ask your Priest if it is grave matter to receive the Eucharist in an unworthy manner. The determination of mortal sin requires all three conditions to be met - it is clear to me that unworthy reception is grave matter. It may or may not be mortal sin, that is between the person and his confessor.

The CCC is states

**1387 **To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church. Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.

The Bishops statement is unavaliable on the internet right now, but, if you google “USCCB guidelines for reception of holy communion” you can find them.

And Scripture is clear about the danger of unworthy reception of Holy Communion:

1 Cor chapter 11:

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. 12 28 A person should examine himself, 13 and so eat the bread and drink the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment 14 on himself. 30 That is why many among you are ill and infirm, and a considerable number are dying. 31 If we discerned ourselves, we would not be under judgment; 32 but since we are judged by (the) Lord, we are being disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that your meetings may not result in judgment. The other matters I shall set in order when I come.

 

[tcraig]

Think of it this way…to deliberately break the fast (“done with full intent”) is disobeying the Church Discipline, and thus disobeying God. It’s similar to a child who deliberately does something you tell them not to, because they don’t care about your rules. No matter how small the act, it’s gravely insulting because their very intention is to devalue the parent’s authority. It’s not, say, eating the cookie before lunch that’s so grave in such a case; it’s the silent proclamation that “Your authority is no big deal to me.” We do the same thing to the Church (and thus to God who gaver Her the authority) when we break the fast “with full intent,” quite regardless of how bad the action itself would or wouldn’t be without the Church discipline in place.

Very nice explanation.