Pre-Mass fasting

[mwkoechig]

My nephew was about to attend a 10:00 a.m. Mass and decided to have something to eat at around 9:15 a.m. He said he still could receive communion since it would be at least an hour before he received. I said he should simply observe the fast beginning one hour before the start of the Mass. Any enlightenment here would be appreciated as would a better explanation than I am able to give as to why we fast prior to Mass. Thank you.

 

[StatCrux]

This has been discussed in the “Ask an Apologist” forum. Your nephew is correct. Here is the link:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=139978

 

[1ke]

He said he still could receive communion since it would be at least an hour before he received.

He is correct.

I said he should simply observe the fast beginning one hour before the start of the Mass.

You can suggest that this is a good practice but you cannot frame it in a way that implies he is doing something wrong because he is not.

Any enlightenment here would be appreciated as would a better explanation than I am able to give as to why we fast prior to Mass. Thank you.

“One hour before the start of Mass” is not the requirement as enumerated in Canon Law. The canon states:

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.

 

[IrishAm]

And, now, you must be sure to let your nephew know you checked into it and HE WAS RIGHT. He will love you for it.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My nephew was about to attend a 10:00 a.m. Mass and decided to have something to eat at around 9:15 a.m. He said he still could receive communion since it would be at least an hour before he received. I said he should simply observe the fast beginning one hour before the start of the Mass. Any enlightenment here would be appreciated as would a better explanation than I am able to give as to why we fast prior to Mass. Thank you.

It is one hour before receiving Holy Communion. However a good practice is one hour brfore Mass begins so that we are not counting minutes?