Question about dispension of 1 hour fast before Mass

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ericka1701

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To even ask my question, I have to give a bit of history. I am a recovering anorexic and bulimic, from the time I was 13-18… had about 4 years of recovery, and this past Febuary or March I had a relapse… It’s been about 5 months since I was actively engaged in… um, bad eating patterns. However, I’ve noticed that within the past few weeks that I have started, in very small ways, with the bad habits again. It’s not a full relapse in any shape or form, but I know one is coming soon if I don’t stop it right now (and I’m really trying my best to not relapse… If I may say so, it’s hell on earth)…

Now, onto my question. Would this be a valid reason for a dispension of the 1 hour requirement of fasting before Mass (and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday fast)? I’m not asking this to try to get out of the requirement at all, and I usually do follow it (although there have been a few times I’ve withheld from taking the Eucharist because I have eaten within the hour). I know that one hour of not eating is not a very long time, but any types of rules attached to food leads me into temptation, so to speak.

Thanks to everyone in advanced for answering this question for me!

God Bless!
Ericka
 
ericka1701 said:
To even ask my question, I have to give a bit of history. I am a recovering anorexic and bulimic, from the time I was 13-18… had about 4 years of recovery, and this past Febuary or March I had a relapse… It’s been about 5 months since I was actively engaged in… um, bad eating patterns. However, I’ve noticed that within the past few weeks that I have started, in very small ways, with the bad habits again. It’s not a full relapse in any shape or form, but I know one is coming soon if I don’t stop it right now (and I’m really trying my best to not relapse… If I may say so, it’s hell on earth)…

Now, onto my question. Would this be a valid reason for a dispension of the 1 hour requirement of fasting before Mass (and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday fast)? I’m not asking this to try to get out of the requirement at all, and I usually do follow it (although there have been a few times I’ve withheld from taking the Eucharist because I have eaten within the hour). I know that one hour of not eating is not a very long time, but any types of rules attached to food leads me into temptation, so to speak.

Thanks to everyone in advanced for answering this question for me!

God Bless!
Ericka
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In your case it is a medical/health matter. By all means EAT!
 
if you have a medical condition for which fast and/or abstinence would not be advisable, you are not bound by this discipline. You only need your own prudential judgment, or advice of a doctor or other therapist. Working on these issues as you are doing is already giving you and opportunity for discipline and penance so you probably don’t need to look for another penance. I am diabetic, so not bound by fasting rules, and the discipline of my very strict diet and other therapies is all the penance I can handle right now. God bless you.
 
I would take it up with your confessor or any priest. You may be able to get a dispensation from fasting.
 
I’m borderline hypoglycemic and I used to fast from the night before going to Mass… Until the time I blacked out in the line to receive Communion, when I was attending the Latin Mass at a convent chapel and the good Sisters’ infirmarian had to revive me. I’d say if you have any kind of pre-existing medical condition relating to eating, then you are automatically dispensed from the total fast before Mass.
 
Your medical condition would releave you from the fast. I thought the rule was that anyone who can, should fast for one hour before receiving Communion, not before going to Mass. If it is before receiving Communion it’s usually pretty easy. It’s usually best to arrive ten or fifteen minutes before Mass begins. So if you finish eating something half an hour before leaving your house, drive 10 minutes to the church and get there 10 minutes before Mass begins, you’ve already fasted for 50 minutes! Now, isn’t that easy?
 
Thanks again to everyone for their answers!!! I am scheduling a spiritual direction session for some other issues, but I will also bring that up just to double confirm it. Ah, I’ve never really liked taking the easy way out, it seems, though. Just a week after I had knee surgery, I ended up kneeling (for the first time in over 6 weeks) and paid for it dearly the next couple of days. I just wish I knew when to stop! :rolleyes:

God Bless!
Ericka
 
puzzleannie said:
if you have a medical condition for which fast and/or abstinence would not be advisable, you are not bound by this discipline. You only need your own prudential judgment, or advice of a doctor or other therapist. Working on these issues as you are doing is already giving you and opportunity for discipline and penance so you probably don’t need to look for another penance. I am diabetic, so not bound by fasting rules, and the discipline of my very strict diet and other therapies is all the penance I can handle right now. God bless you.
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I was recently diagnosed diabetic. I have been regarding the 1 hour as not long enough to be a problem with my diabetes, however, we go to the 8am Mass and if I don’t get up in time, I don’t have time to eat before the 1 hour deadline, making my fast from the night before, rather than just 1 hour.

Just to confirm, am I correct in understanding that this one-hour fast, as well as Lenten fasting etc, is dispensed in the case of diabetes or similar illness? Is it automatic or should I ask my priest?
 
Certainly if not eating makes a medical condition worse, the 1 hour fast would not apply.

If you feel that you could have fasted and did not, then don’t go to communion.

We aren’t required to go to communion everytime we go to mass. You can pray during that time and have a spiritual communion if you like.
 
Linda_Marie said:
I
Just to confirm, am I correct in understanding that this one-hour fast, as well as Lenten fasting etc, is dispensed in the case of diabetes or similar illness? Is it automatic or should I ask my priest?
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your own prudential judgement is enough, you probably know by experience what you can and cannot do. If it makes you feel better, ask your priest, but it is not required. The entire reason abstinence and fasting discipline was progressively eased in the last century was to avoid the inherent damage of the type of scrupulosity that can arise when we make these questions an occasion of anxiety. That is exactly what OP knows she wants to avoid, and she has excellent reasons. you will probably end up fasting most of the time before communion, but come to recognize situations where you must eat, usually when your usual schedule has been upset, then you may eat and go to communion. but don’t take my word for it. If it in any way causes anxiety for you, ask your priest.
 
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