What is the big deal about chewing gum?

[Hoxbar]

I think Jesus said something about this type of attitude.

Matthew 7:1-5(New American Bible)
1
"Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
2
For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
3
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
4
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?
5
You hypocrite, 3 remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

Sounds to me like you need to inspect yourselves rather than judge others.

 

[dove51]

Oops. I didn’t know this broke the fast. I’ve always been terribly self-conscious about bad breath, so I often brush my teeth and chew gum in the car on the way to Mass. I won’t anymore.
Does anyone know, would liquid mouthwash like Listerine be a no-no too?

 

[notsmart]

Oops. I didn’t know this broke the fast. I’ve always been terribly self-conscious about bad breath, so I often brush my teeth and chew gum in the car on the way to Mass. I won’t anymore.
Does anyone know, would liquid mouthwash like Listerine be a no-no too?

Do you swallow it?

 

[notsmart]

There is nothing at all wrong with “chewing” gum in the manner that I do at Liturgy. Absolutely nothing.

 

[notsmart]

I don’t think this verse is applicable. No one here is judging a mans salvation. I don’t think one can be wrong for exploring the reasons why or why not some chose to do things at Mass.

I think Jesus said something about this type of attitude.

Matthew 7:1-5(New American Bible)
1
"Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
2
For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
3
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
4
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?
5
You hypocrite, 3 remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

Sounds to me like you need to inspect yourselves rather than judge others.

 

[Lujack]

Do you swallow it?

Listerines dissolve on your tongue.

 

[dove51]

Do you swallow it?

I guess not, since it’s gargled and spat out. Whew, thanks.

 

[notsmart]

I guess not, since it’s gargled and spat out. Whew, thanks.

You are safe! Just be careful when driving, I hear they set off the alcohol detectors police use. Not knowing your location, I would say this is a very remote possibility of happening no matter how you drive, but you can’t say I did not warn you.

 

[notsmart]

Listerines dissolve on your tongue.

You are talking about the “strips”. She meant the liquid stuff. You know, the old fashioned way to use mouthwash. I must be old.

 

[ElizabethPH]

The fast used to be from midnight until after Mass. It has been “lightened up” because there are many of us that cannot fast for that long without it being dangerous. All we are allowed to have is water and medicine. Unfortunately, I don’t think gum qualifies.

Canon Law says:

That seems to rule gum out. It certainly rules out mints. To keep your mouth moist, try sucking on a button, which you can tuck in your cheek when it’s time to sing. Or a tiny piece of sturdy cloth.

Blessings,

Ruthie

wait a minute gum is not food. I don’t believe in chewing gum in church either.

 

[Randistirion]

I think Jesus said something about this type of attitude.

Matthew 7:1-5(New American Bible)
1
"Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
2
For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
3
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
4
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?
5
You hypocrite, 3 remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

Sounds to me like you need to inspect yourselves rather than judge others.

 

[Randistirion]

The only time I had trouble was during the sign of peace when the priest approached me to be an EMHC. I couldn’t pull off the “nose wipe” with a tissue to get rid of my gum so I stood there and swallowed it.

 

[drno]

This topic is a great example of how we people like to stretch the rules (myself included!).

The Church says “one hour before the communion no eat/drink, only water & medicine”. But then we say “I only chew gum, I don’t swallow it”, or “I take a candy, it is a medicine for my throat”, and I bet maybe 50% of people who take the cough drop don’t really need it.

And I guess that even chewing gum or taking a cough drop can be OK, but then the question is “Where do you draw the line”? Will eventually chewing a gum become normal, and then we will argue again on something else than gum…

That is why I like to stick to the Church’s teaching. Maybe doing something is not bad, but it does stretch the line.

Another extreme example of “stretching the rules” would be abortion that is “OK” for some protestant churches. First, those churches condemned abortion. Then they said “but what if the girl gets raped” or “what if the fetus is severely deformed”. Where do you draw the line? Does Down Syndrome mean severely deformed? Or something else?

 

[happymommy]

But then we say “I only chew gum, I don’t swallow it”,

Is that I like " I smoked it, but I did not inhale!

 

[Aramis]

Is that I like " I smoked it, but I did not inhale!

yes!

 

[mercygate]

if it were up to me (it’s not, but I can dream) I would hand offenders a card which reads “chewing gum is prohibited in this church. you are invited to join the confirmation class in their service project this Saturday, namely 4 hours of scraping dried gum off the bottom of the pews if you have a problem with this directive”.

Hey! I have often thought that gum-scraping would be an OUTSTANDING Lenten service project for our confirmation classes. But I know that if I suggest it somebody will get all twisted up about how dangerous it would be for the kids to be lying on their backs on the floor TOUCHING all that NASTY stuff.

I can see it now: Goggles, rubber gloves, N95 masks . . . Makes me smile just to think of it.

And just imagine the moral lesson: Other people’s “sins” affect other people . . .

 

[mercygate]

I think Jesus said something about this type of attitude.

Matthew 7:1-5(New American Bible)
1
"Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
2
For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
3
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
4
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?
5
You hypocrite, 3 remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

Sounds to me like you need to inspect yourselves rather than judge others.

I’ll take my chances.

 

[lizaanne]

There is nothing at all wrong with “chewing” gum in the manner that I do at Liturgy. Absolutely nothing. In fact it helps me keep the fast while allowing me to sing because I’m not consuming the sugar and everything else that comes with cough drops. It’s also in no way a distraction.

[No, cough drops would not be considered “medicine” in my case (I’m not ill) so they would not be allowed and thus would be a violation of the fast.]

Somewhere along the way some have been taught to believe that discreetly chewing gum is always wrong while sucking on candy (cough drops) is OK. That makes me chuckle more than anything else.

The rest of your comments are personal emotions and tangents that have absolutely nothing to do with what I have posted.

Yo folks - not only is this person now banned for some reason, they are also not Catholic according to the profile. My assumption is that listing “Christian” is not the same as stating flat out that you are Catholic - and yes I do know that Catholics are Christians too.

So - whatever this person chooses to do at their “Liturgy” is entirely up to them - they are not receiving the Body of Christ, so outside of the pure rudeness factor, it makes little difference.

~Liza

 

[jmcrae]

Apryl, I dont think Newbie was saying he/she could not wait that long. In fact, what he/she said would mean that one has not had anything by the time holy communion is distributed if you really think about it.
He/she was just saying the One Hour thing, was not like it had to be 60 minutes for some theological reason. It was for a reminder.

One hour is 60 minutes long. What does it mean, “not like it had to be 60 minutes for some theological reason”

The original fast was from the previous midnight. Then, it was shortened to three hours. Then, it was shortened to one hour. Now, people are saying, it doesn’t have to be one hour exactly. Where is the cut-off line? Is it still an hour if it’s 59 minutes? Is it still an hour if it’s only 50 minutes?

How about, stop eating, get rid of your gum, and brush your teeth, etc. within the 20 minute period just before the start of the one hour fast. That way, even if Holy Communion starts five minutes earlier than you were expecting, you can still receive without feeling “scrupulous” or checking your watch to see whether it’s actually been a whole hour.

 

[mercygate]

One hour is 60 minutes long. What does it mean, “not like it had to be 60 minutes for some theological reason”

The original fast was from the previous midnight. Then, it was shortened to three hours. Then, it was shortened to one hour. Now, people are saying, it doesn’t have to be one hour exactly. Where is the cut-off line? Is it still an hour if it’s 59 minutes? Is it still an hour if it’s only 50 minutes?

How about, stop eating, get rid of your gum, and brush your teeth, etc. within the 20 minute period just before the start of the one hour fast. That way, even if Holy Communion starts five minutes earlier than you were expecting, you can still receive without feeling “scrupulous” or checking your watch to see whether it’s actually been a whole hour.

The rule is ridiculously easy. One hour before you consume the Eucharist. Not even one hour before Mass begins. This makes about 45 minutes of “fasting” for a Sunday Mass. I think people blow it off because it seems so trivial.