No eating before mass rule - true or false?

[Saint_Andrew]

Hello

I stick to hour before Mass, so that I get into a good routine.
I think back in the 1950’s was it 3 hours before communion.

God Bless
Saint Andrew.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

carol marie:

Is there a rule that says we should abstain from eating before mass? Someone mentioned this but it was never discussed in my RCIA class. Is this true and what’s the reason behind it? Thanks

No there is no rule requiring a person to abstain from eating before Mass. There is a rule however if you intend to receive Holy Communion to abstain from food and drink except water for one hour before receiving Holy Communion during Mass or outside of Mass. This does not apply to the aged or ill and those who are directly caring for them. You can attend Mass and not receive Communion!

 

[patg]

DJJG:

Chewing Gum also breaks you fast, so if you plan on receiving Holy Communion, get that gum out of you mouth as well.

:yup:

That’s getting a little picky, isn’t it? You had better not drink water then either, unless it’s distilled and you know exactly what’s in it - better screen it for bacteria too. And no smoking either - no telling what you’re swallowing there. Maybe the Lord would like the fresher breath gum provides…

The only real problem with gum is what to do with it at communion…maybe that’s why it is a no-no?

 

[tuopaolo]

Sir Knight:

No, I am not mistaken. There are six Rites or “traditions” within the Catholic faith / Church (with a captial ‘C’). Within those six rites are 22 “rescensions” or churches (with a little ‘c’).

The 22 ritual Churches can be denoted by Church with an upper case “C.” One shouldn’t go by lower case or upper case usage to determine whether a ritual Church or the universal Church is being talked about. Even a diocese which constitutes a local Church can be denoted by Church with an upper case “C.”

 

[m134e5]

patg:

That’s getting a little picky, isn’t it? You had better not drink water then either, unless it’s distilled and you know exactly what’s in it - better screen it for bacteria too. And no smoking either - no telling what you’re swallowing there. Maybe the Lord would like the fresher breath gum provides…

The only real problem with gum is what to do with it at communion…maybe that’s why it is a no-no?

I would say smoking breaks the fast- it’s also offensive to others who have to sit next to you at Mass- you wouldn’t go to mass after working out with no deoderant and not bothering to shower first- walking in reeking like cigarette smoke is the same concept. I don’t think anyone should smoke- it is a disgusting habit, but if they must, they should at least do it before they get ready to go to Mass, and clean themselves up before they go (and don’t light up on the church steps on the way out either).

 

[TobyLue]

My understanding is that chewing gum does not break the fast because it is flavored saliva that you are swallowing. However, it is disrespectful to present yourself at communion with jaws moving up and down and blowing bubbles and popping the gum. Where is the reverence?

 

[Kendall]

The fast should obviously be observed, but think about it - unless you’re snacking in the car on the way to Mass, it’s almost impossible to break this rule. This is a farce. Show some reverence and fast for a meaningful period.

 

[Ric]

Affirmed:

The law of the Latin rite says that we must abstain from everything except for water and medication for 1 hour prior to recieving Holy Communion.

Why?

 

[Affirmed]

Because we would not wantthe body and blood of Christ to mix with food. And because fasting even for an hour puts us in a better mindset to recieve.

 

[Ric]

Affirmed:

Because we would not wantthe body and blood of Christ to mix with food. And because fasting even for an hour puts us in a better mindset to recieve.

Well if that’s the case, one would need to fast for far more than one hour! It usally takes +/- three hours for all food to pass through one’s stomach. :twocents:

 

[Spooky7272]

TobyLue:

My understanding is that chewing gum does not break the fast because it is flavored saliva that you are swallowing. However, it is disrespectful to present yourself at communion with jaws moving up and down and blowing bubbles and popping the gum. Where is the reverence?

Chewing gum does indeed break the fast. A preist once made a comment about this and gave those chewing gum a dispensation(?) this one time, but he said he won’t in the future. This was right after a sermon about the importance of going to Confession (Way to go, Fr. Gerald!)

 

[Exporter]

I have read every post on this thread. Most of the posts told me that the poster is trying to avoid any sacrifice. It seems that most are wanting to avoid the long-standing rule of fasting before recieving the Eucharist. But I guess that can be expected from those who were instructed after 1972.

Before Vatican II we did not injest food nor drink after midnight if we were going to recieve the Eucharist. I drink coffee so it was a sacrifice to forgo that cup of coffee, so we went to early Mass.

Ask yourselves is it a small thing to offer that little sacrifice of a short fast before you recieve? Quibling about fasting for one hour before Mass starts or when you recieve seems to me to be child like.

 

[John_Higgins]

Explorer:

Before Vatican II we did not injest food nor drink after midnight if we were going to recieve the Eucharist. I drink coffee so it was a sacrifice to forgo that cup of coffee.

When we were instructed in 1958, it was three hours. I’ll find when it changed, but the three hours was not a Vat II change.

John

 

[Cleindian44]

I knew the rule. I make it a point not to eat at least 1 hour before the Eucharist, not even a breath mint! Since Vatican I was before my time, I was not familiar with the protocol that it established. However, I am subconsciously complying with it since normally after 8P, I don’t eat anything until the next day anyway.

But once Mass is over, get outta the way!

 

[kage_ar]

Why??

Because it is the reverent thing to do

Because it is the law

Because you have more room for do-nuts in the Parish Hall after Mass

 

[steve99]

My understanding is that chewing gum doesn’t break the fast provided you start it early enough. I believe the rule of one hour is from when the food enters your mouth. I think this is to answer the stupid queries like what if there is bit of food between my teeth that comes loose just before communiuon and I swallow it?

One point though - the disciples didn’t fast before the Last Supper!:whacky:
Whoa - light blue touch paper and stand back.

 

[Orientale_Lumen]

Exporter:

I have read every post on this thread. Most of the posts told me that the poster is trying to avoid any sacrifice. It seems that most are wanting to avoid the long-standing rule of fasting before recieving the Eucharist. But I guess that can be expected from those who were instructed after 1972.

Before Vatican II we did not injest food nor drink after midnight if we were going to recieve the Eucharist. I drink coffee so it was a sacrifice to forgo that cup of coffee, so we went to early Mass.

Ask yourselves is it a small thing to offer that little sacrifice of a short fast before you recieve? Quibling about fasting for one hour before Mass starts or when you recieve seems to me to be child like.

This is just another aspect of people’s attitude towards God and worship. When does the one hour (a minimum, BTW) start? How much of the Mass do I have to attend for it to ‘count’? etc.

People, take a look at what the Lord has given us! From the time of Moses we have been told “Keep holy the Lord’s day”. Note, it say day, not hour. In return we offer bare minimums, and when it is convenient for us.

Reverance has been lost, along with an understanding of what we do and why. Instead things have been simplified, dumbed down and made ‘relevant’ (read: world changing Church, not the other way around).

Pray.

 

[tuopaolo]

Smoking doesn’t break the fast.

It might be both physically and spiritually beneficial to not smoke before Mass though.

It is not a sin to eat food one hour before the distribution (note I said distribution, not reception) of Holy Communion at a Mass because there is generally no obligation to receive Holy Communion (apart from the Easter duty which is only once a year). But even if you are not going to receive Holy Communion (for whatever reason), it may still be spiritually beneficial to fast.

If you do eat food right before Mass for whatever reason, that doesn’t prevent you from going to Mass. It only prevents you from receiving Holy Communion. You still receive grace through the Mass even if you don’t receive Holy Communion.

Most today recommend frequent reception of Holy Communion.

 

[steve99]

carol marie:

Is there a rule that says we should abstain from eating before mass? Someone mentioned this but it was never discussed in my RCIA class. Is this true and what’s the reason behind it? Thanks

I don’t think anyone has answered the second part of this question as to what is the reason behind the rule. In 1Cor 11:34 Paul suggests they eat at home before Mass, so why this rule now?

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Orientale Lumen:

This is just another aspect of people’s attitude towards God and worship. When does the one hour (a minimum, BTW) start? How much of the Mass do I have to attend for it to ‘count’? etc.

People, take a look at what the Lord has given us! From the time of Moses we have been told “Keep holy the Lord’s day”. Note, it say day, not hour. In return we offer bare minimums, and when it is convenient for us.

Reverance has been lost, along with an understanding of what we do and why. Instead things have been simplified, dumbed down and made ‘relevant’ (read: world changing Church, not the other way around).

Pray.

This bout of indignation is unecessary. A simple question was asked and it is being answered.

Scott