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Joe_Kelley
Guest
Also few went to Communion each week - hence the requirement to receive once a year. When they did receive, they often went to an early mass that week.
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mullenpm
Guest
Lily M, I did mention that I don’t fast from midnight when I go to the Vigil Mass on Saturday evening. That would be an unnecessary penance. I did get a chuckle when you said that you almost fainted from heat exhaustion.
I also have a problem with the heat and when I was a child we had to go to Mass every morning before school. In the winter I always wore a snow suit (does anyone remember what that is) with a hood attached. Half way through Mass every morning I would get so hot I would take off my jacket - which also meant the hood. I was always in trouble with the good, holy sisters for having my head uncovered.
Joe Kelley, I disagree with you about people in the old days not going to communion. At my church the altar rail was crowded and the priest made many trips back and forth (unless there was a second priest to take half of the altar rail (no EMHC’s in those days). And, as a matter of fact, we made frequent confessions in those days (recommended once a week or every two weeks) and I still do. The once a year is more geared toward the current crop of Catholics, as I found out on several other threads about confession, because many believe that even the once a year is not necessary if one has not committed a grave sin. They are in error, I sincerely believe.
I also have a problem with the heat and when I was a child we had to go to Mass every morning before school. In the winter I always wore a snow suit (does anyone remember what that is) with a hood attached. Half way through Mass every morning I would get so hot I would take off my jacket - which also meant the hood. I was always in trouble with the good, holy sisters for having my head uncovered.
Joe Kelley, I disagree with you about people in the old days not going to communion. At my church the altar rail was crowded and the priest made many trips back and forth (unless there was a second priest to take half of the altar rail (no EMHC’s in those days). And, as a matter of fact, we made frequent confessions in those days (recommended once a week or every two weeks) and I still do. The once a year is more geared toward the current crop of Catholics, as I found out on several other threads about confession, because many believe that even the once a year is not necessary if one has not committed a grave sin. They are in error, I sincerely believe.
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Frosty
Guest
Before the 12 hour fast was lifted, there was a real concern about the numbers of people receiving Communion at Mass on Sundays. I have numerous books and pamphlets published in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s from Worship, Paulist Press, Orate Fratres, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine etc that we used for study and discussion purposes in my Sodality and high school religion classes. In everyone of those books, on the topic of the liturgy, the authours (all priests) devoted many pages to the Eucharist and the fact that comparitively so few would regularly receive Communion. Especially at the later Masses on Sundays. Many reasons were put forth and the midnight fast was one of them. However, even after the fast was reduced to 3 hours in 1953 ( long before Masses were allowed to be said after noon, by the way) the numbers regularly receiving Communion did not increase that much. The consensus opinion was that a great many Catholics did not fully understand what the Mass truly was all about or else they would not hesitate to receive each and every time they had the chance, unless they were in the state of mortal sin. Apathy and ignorance were words commonly used. Since these books and pamphlets came from different countries, not just the U.S. and Canada, one can assume that the problem was widespread and not merely confined to a certain region .
I was too young to really remember the midnight fast but I do remember, after the fasting rule was changed, at the last Mass on Sundays ( which was at 10:30am) a good part of the congregation not going up for Communion. Three hours meant to us exactly that–three hours before Mass. Since I and my siblings were not early risers, in effect we did observe the midnight fast.
I admit that I don’t understand why there is so much apparent confusion as to when the current one hour fast begins. I know that Canon Law states one hour before receiving the Eucharist but the whole idea of trying to determine beforehand just when Communion will begin at any given Mass just doesn’t sit right with me. For me and most of the people I know, one hour means one hour before Mass. If Mass begins at 11:00am, the fast begins at 10:00am, not 10:15 or 10:35 or what-have -you. I wonder if when the current Canon Law was written the Church foresaw such legalistic nit-picking!
I was too young to really remember the midnight fast but I do remember, after the fasting rule was changed, at the last Mass on Sundays ( which was at 10:30am) a good part of the congregation not going up for Communion. Three hours meant to us exactly that–three hours before Mass. Since I and my siblings were not early risers, in effect we did observe the midnight fast.
I admit that I don’t understand why there is so much apparent confusion as to when the current one hour fast begins. I know that Canon Law states one hour before receiving the Eucharist but the whole idea of trying to determine beforehand just when Communion will begin at any given Mass just doesn’t sit right with me. For me and most of the people I know, one hour means one hour before Mass. If Mass begins at 11:00am, the fast begins at 10:00am, not 10:15 or 10:35 or what-have -you. I wonder if when the current Canon Law was written the Church foresaw such legalistic nit-picking!
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adrift
Guest
Not only was the fast once from midnight it included water. At leasts that is what my mother said.
What was the fast when there was a midnight mass?
What was the fast when there was a midnight mass?
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
From midnight; hence its popularity.
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