Pipe smoking: breaks Eucharistic fast?

[Tis_Bearself]

Yeah, it’s a matter of personal taste, culture, and reasonable moderation whether smoking is nasty, or chewing betel nuts is nasty, or eating McDonald’s french fries is nasty.

 

[rightness]

I realize the dangers, but I realize also the benefits I derive from it. Pipes specifically, not cigarettes. Gross.

I don’t know that asking whether something is forbidden is an indication we already know it is. For example, I didn’t realize until a few days ago, after I’ve already received the Eucharist twice, that coffee does indeed break the Eucharistic fast. But my lack of knowledge of that didn’t tell me I already knew it was wrong.
Tobacco, smoked in a natural form not supplemented by chemical laden filters, sharpens the mind and relaxes it. G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Hillaire Belloc, and Popes Pius XI and John XXIII all smoked. It has health risks, yes, but stress related diseases have killed more than smoke. And yes, the body is a temple…and temples need incense

“In Catholicism, the pint, the pipe, and the cross can all fit together.” -G.K. Chesterton

You have to think about it this way. Why is a person’s happiness or ability to remove stress based on smoking pipes? or eating unhealthy food? or having protected sexual relations? God should be where your happiness lies, and happiness in suffering is our goal to be Christ-like. As far as I know, burnt substances are carcinogens, and they enter the lungs when smoked. Your body’s immune system does it’s best to heal the damage caused by smoking, but while the immune system does that, there can be cancers in your body that your immune system is too busy to deal with. That’s how cancer grows because we all have cancerous cells. Our immune system is just able to kill cancer, but we have to give it the best chance to do so.

Another example is children. They are extremely stressful, and people in the culture of death have decided the best way to reduce stress is to not have children at all and receive all the benefits of sex. But having children is how we’re going to find true happiness the way God intended us to, to give ourselves up for the sake of children and to find happiness in suffering.

Relativism is Satan’s weapon against us. It doesn’t matter if Popes have smoked or are fat, they probably repent their sins. If we’re using something to bring us happiness in place of God, try to avoid the temptation of making a sin okay for you because there are benefits or this person has done it. Everything should be conferred to God’s teachings, and I think His teachings on suffering is quite clear.

 

[StephenBales]

I never in the world said pipe tobacco was my substitute for God, that’s just silly. Nor did I say my happiness was based upon a pipe. Merely because something calms or relaxes you does not mean you’re finding joy outside of God or that you’re trying to replace His presence in your life with a hobby.
Nor is smoking a pipe something that can be effectively compared to relativism; if anything, you’d have to think of it in terms of tradition.

If you’re a raging Hulk without your pipe, your coffee, or a pint, yes, you have a serious problem, and are finding ultimate respite in something not fit for the task. But if you use these things for enjoyment, and not to an excess, how can one say another is sinning by enjoying the good things of the world which God made? Again, so long as their desire or use of these substances is not disordered or inordinate.

 

[CelticWarlord]

Somewhat off the topic; I’ve never smoked but love the smell of unlit tobacco. I have a brother who enjoys the occasional cigar. I’ll hold one for a while and just run it back and forth under my nose, inhaling the aroma, then put it back in the package.

 

[StephenBales]

It’s a wonderful smell. The tobaccos I have right now smell like raisins

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m the same way. I once had a pack of my boyfriend’s Marlboros because he stuck them in my purse and forgot to take them back. I liked the smell of them unlit so I would occasionally smell one. My mother found them and thought I’d taken up smoking. Apart from a couple puffs on a hookah in Jerusalem at a restaurant last year, I’ve never smoked anything in my life.

My dad used to get tobaccos that smelled like fruit or like Christmas smells for his pipes. Very nice

 

[lilypadrees]

Why would you want to engage in an addictive habit that can kill you and those around you? Jesus didn’t smoke. Neither should you.

 

[Bixby]

I couldn’t agree more about the smell.

An interesting tidbit regarding pipe-smoking and health can be found in the Surgeon General’s own literature: in study 1103 (I believe the widest ranging study to this day), it was found that pipe smokers who inhale (most don’t) lived, on average, just as long as non-smokers, even if they smoked ten bowlfuls a day; while those who don’t inhale actually live longer than non-smokers! Of course this was found embarrassing and was quickly shuffled out of view, but it’s there for all to see:

About this Collection | Reports of the Surgeon General - Profiles in Science Pertinent pages are 92 and 112.

So there you are! Enjoy your gentle hobby. Makes me want to go out for a puff myself…

 

[StephenBales]

There are a great many things Jesus did not do.

Jesus did not drink beers or gentlemanly cocktails, nor white wines.
Jesus did not use ibuprofen or Advil.
Jesus did not nasal decongestants.
Jesus did not eat beef, nor pork.
Jesus probably never had rich French bread, or greasy Asian noodle dishes.
Jesus did not have surgery.
Jesus did not have a hairstyle like popular modern ones.

Should we refrain from these as well?

I’m well aware of the risks, and I believe the benefits outweigh them.

“What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn’t much better than tedious disease.”
-Alexander Pope

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Not everyone who smokes, particularly those who smoke pipes and cigars, is addicted to nicotine or has a habit of smoking. My husband used to smoke a cigar a couple times a year.
It’s pretty much on the same level as having a good cocktail once in a while.

 

[Cruciferi]

Why would you want to engage in an addictive habit that can kill you and those around you?

We’ve been down this road before Lily, Pipes and Cigars aren’t the same as Cigarettes.

Jesus didn’t smoke. Neither should you.

He didn’t drink coffee either. Should I give that up? There’s conflicting reports about possible carcinogenic compounds within the beans

 

[rightness]

I never in the world said pipe tobacco was my substitute for God, that’s just silly. Nor did I say my happiness was based upon a pipe. Merely because something calms or relaxes you does not mean you’re finding joy outside of God or that you’re trying to replace His presence in your life with a hobby.
Nor is smoking a pipe something that can be effectively compared to relativism; if anything, you’d have to think of it in terms of tradition.

If you’re a raging Hulk without your pipe, your coffee, or a pint, yes, you have a serious problem, and are finding ultimate respite in something not fit for the task. But if you use these things for enjoyment, and not to an excess, how can one say another is sinning by enjoying the good things of the world which God made? Again, so long as their desire or use of these substances is not disordered or inordinate.

Then are you praying the rosary as much or more than you are smoking? Reading the Bible? Going to daily Mass? If you find smoking your pipe a necessary past time in your life, it’s already disordered because when you can’t smoke, can’t afford it, can’t buy it, your cravings will demand it in your life. If smoking is not necessary for you, then why even ask this question about smoking breaking the fast? If you can stop smoking to fast, then do so for the sake of clearing your body for God. Looking for loopholes in the Canon Law shouldn’t be your intention. God knows and wants more from you.

God created us with empathy. Just think whether it’s good to teach children to smoke, or even smoking around babies or infants. We all know it’s dangerous for their health, so why not your own?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Then are you praying the rosary as much or more than you are smoking? Reading the Bible? Going to daily Mass?

It’s preachy stuff like this that turns people OFF from enthusiastically practicing their faith and praying more, etc. Just sayin’.

StephenBales gave a reasonable response to your comment, indicating he is not addicted to his smoking, and you come back basically saying that unless he meets your personal standards of living a super holy life, including your apparent huge bias against smokers, he’s somehow deficient. Yeah, right.

Just accept the fact that some people are going to do things you personally think are not healthy, such as smoking, eating Cheetohs, etc. and it doesn’t mean they have to “make up for it” to God, presuming they are acting in moderation. We’re allowed to have some little moderate comforts in the world.

A person should be saying Rosaries and going to Mass every day because THEY THEMSELF feel that’s an important and necessary step for them to build THEIR relationship with God. Not because some other person who doesn’t like that they occasionally smoke or whatever starts trying to guilt them into it by saying, “If you smoke once in a while and ask a question about it on the forum, that means you’re putting smoking ahead of God and you’re bad and you should really look at your life and start doing all these extra prayer practices and then, only then, MAYBE, can you sometimes smoke, and furthermore you would just automatically come around to my own personal way of thinking about it which is that it is bad and you shouldn’t be doing it before Mass, even though that is just my own opinion and not any rule of the Church.”

 

[Cruciferi]

Then are you praying the rosary as much or more than you are smoking? Reading the Bible? Going to daily Mass?

And just how much time should be devoted to these? Those of us that work and have obligations spend significantly more time doing other things besides saying rosaries, reading the Bible, and going to Mass.

If you find smoking your pipe a necessary past time in your life, it’s already disordered because when you can’t smoke, can’t afford it, can’t buy it, your cravings will demand it in your life.

You obviously don’t understand Pipes and Cigars. They’re NOT the same as cigarettes.

Looking for loopholes in the Canon Law shouldn’t be your intention.

Read the Catechism concerning Alcohol and Tobacco.

God created us with empathy. Just think whether it’s good to teach children to smoke, or even smoking around babies or infants.

How’d the children get involved?

 

[StephenBales]

As a matter of fact, I just finished my morning prayers, which always includes the Rosary. So, as I only smoke a pipe once every 2-3 days or so, yes, I pray more than I smoke. I also read Scripture often, and do go to daily Mass when I can. Do I fit your criteria? But, this is not about personal piety! For if smoking was a grave sin, no amount of piety would make up for it, except perhaps as penance after confession.

I wasn’t looking for loopholes in Canon Law, I was looking for the straight up definition in Canon Law concerning Eucharistic fasts. Did I ever indicate I was hoping to get around anything? If so, I apologize for being unclear.

God knows and wants more from you.

So I’m basically Jonah not going to Nineveh because I enjoy a pipe. Got it.

The rest of your answer was simply silly, and I think I’m done defending something that has neither been condemned nor even attacked by the Magisterium of our Holy Church.

God bless you

 

[StephenBales]

intense nodding
I have a mild addiction to coffee, much, much stronger than whatever urge I have to smoke. Now that I’ve finished my morning prayers, I’m already into my daily 1-2 morning cups

 

[StephenBales]

Yep. I’m a senior in high school about to get out. Even living just a half hour south of Austin, I see five times the number of vapers almost daily at school. Only reason they aren’t so obnoxious about it is because they’ll get caught

 

[Cruciferi]

I’m already into my daily 1-2 morning cups

This is what I drink

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It lasts me a few days…

 

[StephenBales]

Oh, this is the stuff in our house:
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Delicious!

 

[rightness]

It’s preachy stuff like this that turns people OFF from enthusiastically practicing their faith and praying more, etc. Just sayin’.

… (shorten for word limit)

The disciplines of the Church are bare minimum to what we should be doing as Catholics. Relativism creeps in our hearts and tells us “God is okay if I don’t go to Church this weekend”. When you say “in my opinion”, have you ever ask what’s God’s opinion? Each one of us are called to do that because we should all be seeking to be working with God.

For example, just before Ash Wednesday, a person could eat a giant buffet meal all the way up to 12am. Is that person truly being observant of the meaning of the practice of fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday? I don’t think so, and neither do I think when a person smokes during his time of fasting.

And just how much time should be devoted to these? Those of us that work and have obligations spend significantly more time doing other things besides saying rosaries, reading the Bible, and going to Mass.

Again, being relativistic. Just because other types of smoking are less dangerous to the health doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous. I brought up children to try and reach into the empathy ingrain into us to show the dangers of any kind of smoking, even the very sight of smoking can cause a children’s habit to want to do it later in their lives.

The OP says he’s doing a 12 hour fast. He wants to go beyond what the Catechism suggest. He’s already doing a devotion to be more prepared for the Eucharist. I’m just telling him that if he’s looking for loopholes in the Canon Law to engage in other recreational activities that are against the nature of fasting, then what’s the point of fasting for 12 hours? Fasting is a time of meditation, prayer, and self-reflection in order to prepare ourselves to receive Jesus with a clear conscience.