Water during Mass

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emeraldocean

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I have a question regarding when/if it is ok to drink water during Mass. I am on medication that causes dry mouth to the point where I always like to have water with me through the day. Additionally, I am getting over a cold and still have a lingering cough. During Mass today I started having a terrible coughing fit, and went down to the church basement so as not to bother everyone else until it was finished. I drank a good bit of water trying to make it stop. I opted not to receive today as I wasn’t sure if it would be wrong due to having water during the course of Mass, but I just was wondering whether it actually would be ok. (I wouldn’t drink water in the actual church during Mass).

Thank you very much for any answers/information.
 
It’s no problem to drink water or take meds at any time prior to receiving Communion.

If it were me, I would not have a bottle of water and drink from it while sitting there at Mass. If I felt the need for a drink (horribly dry mouth, coughing fit) I’d slip out, go to the nearest water fountain and get a drink til all was well again.

It’s only an hour or so…I could wait that long. Only you know what you are able to handle.
 
Water and medicine don’t break the communion fast. If you need a sip of water or a cough drop it benefits both your own comfort and limits the distraction you cause for others.
 
Pax2u said:
It’s no problem to drink water or take meds at any time prior to receiving Communion.

If it were me, I would not have a bottle of water and drink from it while sitting there at Mass. If I felt the need for a drink (horribly dry mouth, coughing fit) I’d slip out, go to the nearest water fountain and get a drink til all was well again.

It’s only an hour or so…I could wait that long. Only you know what you are able to handle.
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I would rather have you sip water from a bottle discretely than to have you risk interrupting the prayerful communion of me or others at the Mass.
 
Yes I have noticed several people who bring a water bottle to Mass.
Sometimes I will in the summer because it gets very warm in our church. We don’t have ceiling fans or air conditioning.
Having a coughing fit in church is very embarrassing.
Especially when it doesn’t stop.
 
Our parish priest recently had a bad throat and had a glass of water beside him during mass and was taking a sip every now and again. I think it is better to take water with you to help a dry mouth and to help stop coughing etc and has been mentioned water does not break the communion fast. I would also think getting up to leave to take a drink would be more disturbance than taking a discreet sip of water in the pew.
 
Neofight said:
I would rather have you sip water from a bottle discretely than to have you risk interrupting the prayerful communion of me or others at the Mass.
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Gee, I wish our Masses were more like yours…the “prayerful communion” isn’t happening much in my parish! People are up and down, kids are crawling all over and making noise, people are talking…I don’t think slipping quietly out of your seat to go out and get a drink when you’re having a coughing fit is going to do much to rock the boat!

Next time I have to use the restroom halfway through Mass I’ll try not to disturb anyone…but I’m definitely getting up and going out!
 
emeraldocean said:
I have a question regarding when/if it is ok to drink water during Mass. I am on medication that causes dry mouth to the point where I always like to have water with me through the day. Additionally, I am getting over a cold and still have a lingering cough. During Mass today I started having a terrible coughing fit, and went down to the church basement so as not to bother everyone else until it was finished. I drank a good bit of water trying to make it stop. I opted not to receive today as I wasn’t sure if it would be wrong due to having water during the course of Mass, but I just was wondering whether it actually would be ok. (I wouldn’t drink water in the actual church during Mass).

Thank you very much for any answers/information.
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Water in and of itself does not break the fast. I would just make sure it isn’t flavored water.
 
Plain water is fine, and in no way breaks the Communion fast. Our music ministers, priest, and lectors often discretely sip from their water bottles. Needed medication also does not break the fast. You would have been fine to receive Jesus in the Eucharist today. Your desire not to offend Him and to keep your fast is commendable.
 
TARRAT said:
My parish actually has a water cooler in the entrance hall.
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I think that it is the norm for most American churches built after 1970 or so to have a drinking fountain in the narthex or in a covered location just outside of the door.

As to the OP’s question: As others have stated, water and medicine do not break the communion fast.

While things will vary from culture to culture and parish to parish, I think most parishioners would prefer you take a sip of water from a water bottle than have you having to excuse yourself and trying to crawl past them during Mass.

Of course if you come to Mass knowing that you have a recurring (and presumably not from a currently contagious illness) cough you might want to sit in a location where you can get out easily since water and cough drops don’t always work.
 
Pax2u said:
Gee, I wish our Masses were more like yours…the “prayerful communion” isn’t happening much in my parish! People are up and down, kids are crawling all over and making noise, people are talking…I don’t think slipping quietly out of your seat to go out and get a drink when you’re having a coughing fit is going to do much to rock the boat!

Next time I have to use the restroom halfway through Mass I’ll try not to disturb anyone…but I’m definitely getting up and going out!
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Sometimes as we get older, our bladders give us a hard time hold for an hour, so, I understand.

But, I’m glad that next time, as you say, you will consider it not disturbing others. Sometimes we do things that we don’t even are disturbing to others.

I’m sorry about those at your parish not wishing to be as charitable as you. Perhaps you should discuss it with them, or pray for them.

Peace to you, also, Pax2u!
 
Neofight said:
Sometimes as we get older, our bladders give us a hard time hold for an hour, so, I understand.

But, I’m glad that next time, as you say, you will consider it not disturbing others. Sometimes we do things that we don’t even are disturbing to others.

I’m sorry about those at your parish not wishing to be as charitable as you. Perhaps you should discuss it with them, or pray for them.

Peace to you, also, Pax2u!
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Neofight, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not going to change. Still trying to recover from Christmas Eve…never experienced such a Mass in my life. People were even chatting in normal everyday voices in the Communion line!!! If I didn’t have a family I think I’d consider being a hermit 🙂
 
emeraldocean said:
I have a question regarding when/if it is ok to drink water during Mass. I am on medication that causes dry mouth to the point where I always like to have water with me through the day. Additionally, I am getting over a cold and still have a lingering cough. During Mass today I started having a terrible coughing fit, and went down to the church basement so as not to bother everyone else until it was finished. I drank a good bit of water trying to make it stop. I opted not to receive today as I wasn’t sure if it would be wrong due to having water during the course of Mass, but I just was wondering whether it actually would be ok. (I wouldn’t drink water in the actual church during Mass).

Thank you very much for any answers/information.
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Of course one may take water, medicine etc for health reasons. But, as most things this can be abused. If it is obvious or some kind of a show then I would try to make it discrete. We used to have an entire music group that had Starbucks cups filled with who knows what and sipped on them like it was some sort of big show… If they were doing it because of singing then that would be ok but this was definitely more than that.

I would also meditate on the Cross. “I thirst” has always popped into my mind when I have a 30 pound tongue at mass. If it becomes common place that for one hour you cannot be without water I would seek a medical professional. If however, it is just the occasional sip to keep a scratchy throat from causing a scene then sip away!

Just a reminder that the feast of St Blaise is coming up… Hint hint.
 
OneHolyCathAp said:
Plain water is fine, and in no way breaks the Communion fast. Our music ministers, priest, and lectors often discretely sip from their water bottles. Needed medication also does not break the fast. You would have been fine to receive Jesus in the Eucharist today. Your desire not to offend Him and to keep your fast is commendable.
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Ok thank you 🙂 I just wasn’t sure since it was in the actual Mass.
 
Hoosier_Daddy said:
Of course one may take water, medicine etc for health reasons. But, as most things this can be abused. If it is obvious or some kind of a show then I would try to make it discrete. We used to have an entire music group that had Starbucks cups filled with who knows what and sipped on them like it was some sort of big show… If they were doing it because of singing then that would be ok but this was definitely more than that.

I would also meditate on the Cross. “I thirst” has always popped into my mind when I have a 30 pound tongue at mass. If it becomes common place that for one hour you cannot be without water I would seek a medical professional. If however, it is just the occasional sip to keep a scratchy throat from causing a scene then sip away!

Just a reminder that the feast of St Blaise is coming up… Hint hint.
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Thanks 🙂 Normally even though my medicine makes my mouth dry, I can make it through Mass without a drink just fine. It was just that I was in the end part of a cold, and the coughing fit was pretty serious to the point where my eyes were watering. So I had to gulp a lot of water and it definitely would have made a scene had I stayed in the church. I also would never just sit and sip water for no reason during Mass…it’s not a concert and I don’t think it’s right to do that.

Thanks for your reply and thanks to everyone else who commented! I feel better knowing this for the future 🙂
 
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