One hour fast before receiving the Eucharist

[OrangeFalcon]

**Hi everyone! Could anyone clarify whether this was a mortal sin or not?
In my university there is mass on at 1.05 p.m. Last Friday morning in the university I had an exam. My friends and I then went for something to eat in the college canteen and I had soup. I finished eating at around 12.25 p.m. I then went to the mass. When the Eucharist was distributed, it was 1.20 p.m. This would mean that I had only been fasting for 55 minutes and not the prescribed one hour. I have received the Eucharist since then because I didn’t think it was a mortal sin, but I’m very worried now that what I did may have been gravely disrespectful to Christ. Could anyone clarify what the Church’s stance on this is?
Thanks. **

 

[billcu1]

**Hi everyone! Could anyone clarify whether this was a mortal sin or not?
In my university there is mass on at 1.05 p.m. Last Friday morning in the university I had an exam. My friends and I then went for something to eat in the college canteen and I had soup. I finished eating at around 12.25 p.m. I then went to the mass. When the Eucharist was distributed, it was 1.20 p.m. This would mean that I had only been fasting for 55 minutes and not the prescribed one hour. I have received the Eucharist since then because I didn’t think it was a mortal sin, but I’m very worried now that what I did may have been gravely disrespectful to Christ. Could anyone clarify what the Church’s stance on this is?
Thanks. **

I don’t know whether or not that’s a mortal sin or not. I highly doubt it. Other than yourself (and me of course) I haven’t talked to anyone that’s been aware of that rule. I thought I was one of the few people that was aware of it.

 

[Joe_5859]

One hour means one hour. So in the future, you need to keep that in mind and refrain from receiving in those cases.

You made a prudential judgment and did what you thought was best. So that could potentially diminish the degree of “full knowledge” that would make the sin mortal. I would encourage you to simply bring it up during Confession and receive further guidance from the priest in the matter.

 

[aemcpa]

**Hi everyone! Could anyone clarify whether this was a mortal sin or not?
In my university there is mass on at 1.05 p.m. Last Friday morning in the university I had an exam. My friends and I then went for something to eat in the college canteen and I had soup. I finished eating at around 12.25 p.m. I then went to the mass. When the Eucharist was distributed, it was 1.20 p.m. This would mean that I had only been fasting for 55 minutes and not the prescribed one hour. I have received the Eucharist since then because I didn’t think it was a mortal sin, but I’m very worried now that what I did may have been gravely disrespectful to Christ. Could anyone clarify what the Church’s stance on this is?
Thanks. **

The one hour fast is a matter of church law (and one, I would add, that every Catholic with even a basic catechesis should be aware of, post #2 notwithstanding). Observance of this law is a serious obligation since it relates to respect and reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament.

For a matter of “around five minutes” (and one never knows if a clock was off by a couple of minutes here or there), I doubt it was a mortal sin. If in doubt, you’re allowed to confess venial sin. Try not to cut it so close next time - I try to stick to an hour before the beginning of Mass to be safe. Or just don’t receive if you know it’s going to be less than an hour between your meal and Communion.

 

[altms]

If memory serves me right, my confirmation teacher some 13 years ago taught us that the hour wasn’t mandatory. However I might be wrong there. I’ve still always strictly adhered to the hour rule regardless. How? Since mass is always in the morning (8.30), I don’t have my breakfast till I return.

My advice is also not to cut it so fine next time. Is that a sin though? I honestly don’t know.

 

[FrancisBenedict]

In my personal opinion:

the hour is to show proper respect for the Eucharist

but Christ is compassionate, fed the hungry and taught about the spirit rather than the letter of the law.

In my opinion Christ would give you only compassion over this little worry.

Obviously do your best to keep it in the future.

 

[Joe_5859]

The one hour fast is not optional.

Here is the relevant portion of the Code of Canon Law, which binds all Catholics past the age of reason:

Can. 919 §1. A person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from any food and drink, except for only water and medicine.

§2. A priest who celebrates the Most Holy Eucharist two or three times on the same day can take something before the second or third celebration even if there is less than one hour between them.

§3. The elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten something within the preceding hour.

Yes, many people do not know of the rule or have been misinformed. One often cannot be held culpable for such things. But it is an obligation for all Catholics and one the Church expects us to hold to. And once you know, you can be held culpable.

Really, the requirement is incredibly minimal. Except in cases like the OP who is on a college campus and going to daily Mass, one most often would have to be eating on the way to Mass to violate the fast.

 

[aemcpa]

Really, the requirement is incredibly minimal. Except in cases like the OP who is on a college campus and going to daily Mass, one most often would have to be eating on the way to Mass to violate the fast.

Actually, most daily Masses in my experience last only 20-30 minutes. On Sunday at my parish, however, you could be eating during the first reading and still be OK.

 

[Joe_5859]

Actually, most daily Masses in my experience last only 20-30 minutes. On Sunday at my parish, however, you could be eating during the first reading and still be OK.

True. It depends on how long the Mass is, how long it takes to travel to Mass and how early you get there. Daily Mass around my area tends to go 35-40 minutes, so we’re a little longer than average. So even at daily Mass, it is usually pretty difficult for me to break the fast.