What is the big deal about chewing gum?

[Tantum_ergo]

Back in the day, the nuns taught us this rhyme,

“The gum-chewing girl and the cud-chewing cow
Are strangely alike and yet different somehow.
And what is the difference? Ah yes, I see now . …
The intelligent look on the face of the cow.”

I’m over 50 and I still don’t like chewing gum all those years later!

 

[Apryl]

Then, there is also the cultural weight. Well-brought-up people do NOT chew gum in public. (I’m wearing my flak vest, so I’m ready for the responses). Really well-brought-up (healthy) people don’t chew gum in private either.

I think that’s a big part of why it bothers me. My father taught me that gum chewing should never be seen or heard. If I failed on either count, the gum came out!

I see people chewing gum and it irritates me. Why do I have to see you doing that? I had a teacher in Middle School who said that we looked like cows chewing cud when chewing gum. I didn’t want to have that look.

Today, I do chew gum. Usually, when every one else around me is chewing… or when I just want something really sweet. Still, I don’t want to be ‘caught’ chewing.

But ‘caught’ or not, God sees me. I’m in His house. This is about Him.

As an active person in my church, and because I want my church to be a Holy and Sacred Place, I insist that people who come into my church treated as both Holy and Sacred. You don’t need gum on either count.

I also don’t agree with shorts and dirty jerseys, and other things that I could never have been allowed into my Aunt’s house wearing. This is my Father’s House.

Why do people need to chew gum? Again, there are other ways to curb whatever is going on for that one hour. Very very few people have any real medical need to have anything other than the Holy Eucharist for an hour. You have to eat? Eat earlier, and go from there. What’s so hard? I don’t get it!

 

[Apryl]

The difficulty is a culture barrier. Those who “mean no disrespect” simply CANNOT understand that the objectionable practice IS disrespectful or objectionable. They do not and CANNOT understand it. Moreover they tend to think that anybody who DOES find it disrespectful and objectionable is simply a stuffy, old-fashioned, priggish, hoity-toity, holier-than-thou jackass. AND “judgmental.” (I plead guilty.)

That would be me. I’m front and center.

BTW: You forgot ‘judgemental’!

 

[ericka1701]

“Moderns” are very weak indeed, it seems. I don’t do the hour before receiving mass… I do an hour before service even starts, so if it is early, I don’t have to check my watch and worry. It is difficult at times, expecially when I wake up late Sunday morning (mass is 9:30 here), but Jesus suffered so much and died for us. Is it really that much to ask for us to withhold from food for an hour or so before receiving Him?

As far as chewing gum, I don’t usually chew gum unless I have a sore throat or bad heart burn (not sure why, but it helps). Even then, I do my best to not smack my lips together or even open my mouth while it’s in there. Lipsmackers are the WORST!!!

God Bless!

Ericka

 

[mercygate]

“Moderns” are very weak indeed, it seems. I don’t do the hour before receiving mass… I do an hour before service even starts, so if it is early, I don’t have to check my watch and worry. It is difficult at times, expecially when I wake up late Sunday morning (mass is 9:30 here), but Jesus suffered so much and died for us. Is it really that much to ask for us to withhold from food for an hour or so before receiving Him?

As far as chewing gum, I don’t usually chew gum unless I have a sore throat or bad heart burn (not sure why, but it helps). Even then, I do my best to not smack my lips together or even open my mouth while it’s in there. Lipsmackers are the WORST!!!

God Bless!

Ericka

One reason I’m uppity about gum chewing is that whenever I have done it, I have been a perfect tongue-clacking, lip-smacking, jaw-grinding BEAST. And don’tcha just LOVE the bubble cracking trick?

 

[ElizabethPH]

One reason I’m uppity about gum chewing is that whenever I have done it, I have been a perfect tongue-clacking, lip-smacking, jaw-grinding BEAST. And don’tcha just LOVE the bubble cracking trick?

I can see yours and everyone’s point. I do not smack or crack my gum nor do I chew it in church; I am aware that it breaks the fast. It’s a pretty bad habit I must admit, but not as bad a habit as smoking. after reading this thread mayhaps I’ll give it up…no promises though

 

[Apryl]

One reason I’m uppity about gum chewing is that whenever I have done it, I have been a perfect tongue-clacking, lip-smacking, jaw-grinding BEAST. And don’tcha just LOVE the bubble cracking trick?

OT:

I have gotten to a point now that if I’m doing business, and the person offering the service is popping the gum, I will leave whatever I’m doing right there.

I don’t know that it gets any message to them, but I will not choose to spend my money where someone is smacking.

… now, last week, I took a bus trip with the people from work, and the bus driver was popping his gum… but I left that alone, since he was driving over night. Still, my eyes were wobbly from the sound!

 

[Methodi]

I “chew” gum during liturgies. A piece I pop into my mouth right after brushing my teeth some 90 minutes before liturgies. I do it because it allows me to sing while being steeped in incense smoke and in no way does it break the fasting rule.

I would surely hope no one notices. I very discreetly and silently bite down on the gum perhaps once every 30 seconds to keep the saliva flowing. Of course I discreetly remove it into a tissue (via a pseudo nose wipe) which is then placed in my pocket before I get in line for communion.

If anyone does notice they are spending too much time watching me and not what’s taking place upon the ambo or altar and that’s their problem to work out.

I chew gum too, I do the same as you. There are some reasons that people may have to pop a mint in their mouth or chew gum. I dont consider that eating.I remove my gum before receiving

 

[ericka1701]

One reason I’m uppity about gum chewing is that whenever I have done it, I have been a perfect tongue-clacking, lip-smacking, jaw-grinding BEAST. And don’tcha just LOVE the bubble cracking trick?

It makes me shudder just to think of bubble cracking… I have a few intolerances when it comes to sounds, and bubble cracking is the WORST! That’s usually when my wrath comes out, but that’s another topic.

God Bless!

Ericka

 

[Lujack]

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.

I think the meaning here is that there is no particular reason that the Church has declared the feast to be an hour long. The hour does not fulfill a biblical command, or some moral principle. Instead, it serves a pastoral purpose of reminding the communicant of the holiness and importance of Communion.

 

[Apryl]

I think the meaning here is that there is no particular reason that the Church has declared the feast to be an hour long. The hour does not fulfill a biblical command, or some moral principle. Instead, it serves a pastoral purpose of reminding the communicant of the holiness and importance of Communion.

Good point!

[Edited]

… but seriously: what better way to remind yourself of the importance of the sacrament you are receiving than to just not put gum in your mouth until AFTER you have received Communion?

[Edited]

 

[Lujack]

Good point!

[Edited]

… but seriously: what better way to remind yourself of the importance of the sacrament you are receiving than to just not put gum in your mouth until AFTER you have received Communion?

[Edited]

I don’t. I didn’t make any comment on that. That was my first post in the thread. I don’t see where you’d jump to that conclusion.

All I was doing was defending the first person who noted that there was no particular reason for the fast to be one hour long; the Church could make it any length they want it to be, longer or shorter, as long as they feel it fulfills that purpose. [Edited]