The Eucharistic Fast
In Anticipation….
Don’t we all miss the Eucharist? Well, as we anticipate our return, let me capture the essentials of the Eucharistic Fast.
According to Canon 919 of the Code of Canon Law, “One who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception of water and medicine, for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion.”
Note that the fast is before communion and not the Mass as is sometimes confused, though it can be practiced.
Why is it essential? The fast before receiving Holy Communion produces a physical hunger and thirst for the Lord, which in turn augments the spiritual hunger and thirst we ought to have.
According to St Augustine, “…it fosters piety also; and hence it can help to increase in us those most salutary fruits of holiness ...”
Are there exceptions to this rule? Yes, there are; First, if a priest celebrates more than one Mass on the same day, as oftentimes happens on Sunday, he is only bound to the one-hour fast before the first Mass.
The other exception occurs with those who are aged or sick as well as their caretakers. They can receive Communion even if a full hour fast has not been fulfilled.
There are some other few things to note; Fr. William Saunders, professor of catechetics and theology at Notre Dame Graduate School in Alexandria points out that while we do not want to be sloppy, we do not want to be scrupulous.
The goodness of receiving Holy Communion supersedes the precise “hour of fast” if there is doubt.
Also as Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum points out, the hour’s fast is from all edible food and drink other than water, taken by mouth and swallowed.
Munching gum would not disrupt the fast but swallowing the juices and flavors released in the process certainly would.
Is there some history of this practice? Well, it’s been in the church’s practice since the fourth century but has undergone modifications in keeping with various times, habits of common living, and society.
One burning question might be; how do we carry out the Eucharistic fast while participating in digitally celebrated Masses from our homes?
Perhaps, if we are not in the exempted groups and are not being lax or scrupulous, we can mimic the practice of the one hour fast especially if we have set times we attend digitally celebrated masses.
Want some more dose of Catholic teaching, check out these links below.
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