Fasting For Under And Hour

[Totus Tuus]

JMJ + FC


I don't mean to be scrupulous but this has been bothering me for a while. If one fasts for say, 58 minutes before receiving Holy Communion, and knows for certain that it was 58 minutes and not 60, is that person guilty of breaking the fast?

Thanks

Lauren

[cappie]

The Eucharistic fast is part of our interior preparation for receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. The Eucharistic fast, in particular, assists us to focus our minds and hearts on the great gift of God we are about to receive. It is out of reverence for the sacred Body and Blood of the Lord that we fast for the prescribed time before receiving the Eucharist.

In order to help Catholics to participate as fully as they can in the Eucharist, the Church wants as many as possible to receive the Blessed Sacrament, and that is why the requirement to fast from midnight was amended.

The revised Code of Canon Law states "a person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before Holy Communion of any food and drink except for only water and medicine" (Canon §919).

Note that the fast is computed from the time one is to receive Communion and not from the beginning of Mass. Moreover, the fast is not required for the elderly or for those who are ill.

Those who, because of illness, are receiving the Blessed Eucharist in their homes are exempt from the Eucharistic fast, as are those who are caring for them.

It is easy to see that the Church wants to facilitate the reception of Communion while at the same time reminding us of the need for preparation and reverence through fasting.

As to your particular question....in my opinion it is sometimes difficult to compute exactly the time of Holy Communion. As a rule I would encourage people to fast for 0ne hour BEFORE Mass to be on the safe side. If someone was to fast thinking that Holy Communion was going to be 45 mins into the celebration of Mass and it was 43 minutes then the [b]intention to fast for the hour would be sufficient. [/b]