Is it rude to suck on a mint during Mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter CatholicZ09
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Drivesafe said:
At the risk of widening this question but still retaining the “rude” element…just before Mass this morning and lady was combing her hair…what is the view of self grooming in the body of the church?
Click to expand...
Well, I would assume it’s distracting to people. I mean in church, you really shouldn’t draw attention to yourself, IMO unless you are sick and have to run out of the pew because you might vomit, or something that is out of your control. If she really needs to fix her hair she can do it in the car before she goes in or can go to the bathroom.
 
CatholicZ09 said:
I thought it was just appropriate for Cantors to drink water at Mass. I also wandered this because there is this one who always has a bottle with her.
Click to expand...
It is not a question of being appropriate but allowable. Yes you can drink water and not break the fast. A cantor may need to take a drink but should do so discretely, not chugging it at the cantor stand. I do, however see people sitting in the pews taking drinks of water all during Mass. If one has an illness where it may be necessary that is the exception.
 
It is just as vulgar as chewing gum, and breaks the one hour fast rule. Brush and floss, and you should be fine.
 
Here’s what Jimmy Akin has to say…

“Incidentally, for those who may be wondering, gum does not violate the Eucharistic fast, because GUM IS NOT FOOD. Gum is one of those non-food things like mouthwash, toothpaste, medicine, throat losenges, barium solutions, and breathmints that you put in your mouth (and may even swallow) for reasons other than wanting to provide nourishment to your body. It therefore is not food and does not break the fast.”

jimmyakin.com/2006/03/gum_at_mass.html
 
daeve said:
I’m afraid I don’t know how to attach it “here” the way other people do. This is the only way I can do it without just pasting the whole thing.
Click to expand...
type out the word “here”, highlight the word “here” with your mouse then click the button that looks like a small blue ball (i think its may be a globe) with a chain link. If you just mouse over it it says “insert link”. a box should pop up where you enter the url then hit ok.

you should probably take advantage of this new knowledge quick because it will probably not apply with the impending format change.
 
One of the interesting things in seeing an eight-year-old thread come back to life is seeing the participants who are no longer here. Some good people who contributed a lot!
 
My mother used to suck on a mint during Mass because otherwise she was probably going to (a) pass out and/or (b) have a coughing fit. It didn’t break her fast because she was upwards of 75 years old at the time.

If you’re doing it because you’re worried about your breath, not because you have blood sugar issues or throat problems, then I’d suggest just using mouthwash before you go out to Mass instead. And don’t breathe at people.
 
CatholicZ09 said:
Okay, so I kinda get worried if my breath smells, so I like to suck on a few little Altoids. Is this rude?
Click to expand...
You say you worry about your breath smelling… you probably need to get that checked out so you don’t worry. It can’t be very pleasant to have to worry about such a thing. It’s possible you are worrying for nothing.

You’ve been told you can’t suck a mint. I wonder if you could use a breath spray before going into mass? then perhaps you could relax and just enjoy the mass without any worries.
 
Newbie2 said:
If your breath stinks 😉 or you have a sore or dry throat, no problemo. There are better times to quaff a mint, though.

**As far as breaking the pre-Eucharist fast, I think it’s a bit over the top to suggest that a mint does so, but that’s a different discussion, what constitutes the “fast”. ** That being said, brushing your teeth or Listerine before mass should take of it, or waiting until after your reception of the Eucharist would be far more appropriate.

Rude? Probably not. Respectful towards what you’re about to receive? Probably not.
Click to expand...
Actually that does break the fast. No ambiguity there.

However, provided the person does not receive Communion nothing wrong with sucking on a mint.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top