ChristinaTherese Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 So, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do when I see others in the Catholic Cadre on campus here eating just before Mass, and probably intending to receive the Eucharist. I mean, they were presumably taught that they're supposed to fast for an hour before Mass, but they don't seem to care. Or at least not all of them do. Should I say something? I doubt it would do much to change anything, and I don't really want to go being obnoxious/judgmental, but ought I to say something just in case? And if so, what would I even say? These people were raised Catholic but at least the one who made me think of this today is more nominal. She knows she's supposed to go to Mass every Sunday too, I'm sure, but doesn't. What would you guys do in my shoes? (What I did was just sit there and think maybe I should say something but I didn't know what so I just stayed quiet.) (And an aside about the cadre: We're going to have next to nobody in the fall, because we have quite a few seniors graduating, and the two of us who will be a junior and a senior want to study abroad. There might be sophomores and freshmen... I sure hope there are. But we'll come back from Europe to a different group. Oh, and the grad student and prof will be around when they can. And we have a few profs who show up for Mass. But anyway, that's not what I'm asking about.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotreDame Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 They totally did this at one school I went to... I mentioned it to one person... "hey, how do you fit in lunch with a mass at noon and still maintain the fast?" They said "I try to eat quickly before, I think God understands." I tried not to look shocked and just moved on. I sympathize with the priests that have to deal with this.... Glad I'm just a layperson when dealing with this subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazeingstar Posted February 13, 2014 Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) My fiancee says it's an hour before receiving the Eucharist, so he often has a snack a half hour before Mass. He is a grazer, if he's doing anything besides programing without eating he gets cranky, so I haven't bothered to break out cannon law to correct him. Given that I'm diagnosed hypoglycemic, I usually eat an hour before, as that was the way I was raised. We both wait a half hour after, which I don't know why we both do, but we do. Edited February 13, 2014 by blazeingstar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristinaTherese Posted February 13, 2014 Author Share Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Well, I was told by an FSSP priest that it is an hour before receiving the Eucharist, so I think your fiancee is right about that. ETA: Um, you mentioned canon law. What does it say exactly? (I could probably find it easily enough though if you don't want to hunt it up.) Edited February 13, 2014 by Christina Thérèse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicCid Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Relevant Canon from the Code: Can. 919 §1 Whoever is to receive the blessed Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before holy communion from all food and drink, with the sole exception of water and medicine. §2 A priest who, on the same day, celebrates the blessed Eucharist twice or three times may consume something before the second or third celebration, even though there is not an hour's interval. §3 The elderly and those who are suffering from some illness, as well as those who care for them, may receive the blessed Eucharist even if within the preceding hour they have consumed something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Unless you're good friends with them, I wouldn't say anything to them. They may not know, and if they don't, then it's certainly forgiven at the penitential rite. I might talk to your priest about this, let him know that you notice that it seems like a lot students don't know about the hour fast, or don't abide by it. Then let him do something about it if he feels it necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazeingstar Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 So it is an hour before communion NOT before Mass. Unless you're speaking of Daily Mass or hitting up a buffet in the vestibule, you're probably AoK as Mass is an hour long and communion is not until it's nearly done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartermia Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 I always say 30 minutes before mass starts because that is just about the right time with my priest homilies for it to be an hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 So, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do when I see others in the Catholic Cadre on campus here eating just before Mass, and probably intending to receive the Eucharist. I mean, they were presumably taught that they're supposed to fast for an hour before Mass, but they don't seem to care. Or at least not all of them do. Should I say something? I doubt it would do much to change anything, and I don't really want to go being obnoxious/judgmental, but ought I to say something just in case? And if so, what would I even say? These people were raised Catholic but at least the one who made me think of this today is more nominal. She knows she's supposed to go to Mass every Sunday too, I'm sure, but doesn't. What would you guys do in my shoes? (What I did was just sit there and think maybe I should say something but I didn't know what so I just stayed quiet.) (And an aside about the cadre: We're going to have next to nobody in the fall, because we have quite a few seniors graduating, and the two of us who will be a junior and a senior want to study abroad. There might be sophomores and freshmen... I sure hope there are. But we'll come back from Europe to a different group. Oh, and the grad student and prof will be around when they can. And we have a few profs who show up for Mass. But anyway, that's not what I'm asking about.) This is a common misconception. There isn't an hour fast before the Mass, there's an hour fast before receiving the Eucharist. You could technically finish eating twenty minutes before Mass and still not break the Fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 This is a common misconception. There isn't an hour fast before the Mass, there's an hour fast before receiving the Eucharist. You could technically finish eating twenty minutes before Mass and still not break the Fast. Which is kind of sad, if you ask me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eliakim Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 And what happens if one says, "Thanks for pointing that canon law out, but I'll keep grazing, thaaanks..." Answer: Mortal sin. That's the magisterium for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicCid Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 And what happens if one says, "Thanks for pointing that canon law out, but I'll keep grazing, thaaanks..." Answer: Mortal sin. That's the magisterium for you. Actually, that's man for you. The Canon exists for a simple reason, is based in both Scripture and Tradition, and, really, is the laxest it has ever been so as to encourage frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist. To ignore it would seem to state that one doesn't actually understand the Canon or simply does not care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazeingstar Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Which is kind of sad, if you ask me... Sad that it's not more than an hour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Sad that it's not more than an hour? I think the previous three hours would be preferable. What kind of fast is it if you can complete it by accident? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eliakim Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Actually, that's man for you. The Canon exists for a simple reason, is based in both Scripture and Tradition, and, really, is the laxest it has ever been so as to encourage frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist. To ignore it would seem to state that one doesn't actually understand the Canon or simply does not care. Does that bother any other intellectually curious person on this Phat site that continuing to willfully graze is a mortal sin which unless confessed sends one to hell for all eternity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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