www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Eating before Eucharist

Please know that I am not being judgemental, because some Orthodox have been given dispensation for a very teeny morning breakfast (due to low blood sugar after ten and a half to sixteen hours of not eating--if the last meal was at six the previous evening for instance) before communion, but--

I always found it hard to accept the one hour fast of modern Catholicism...and to make it even worse, I just came across this article which says the one hour does not have to be prior to the onset of the beginning of the Mass, but to the reception of the Eucharist.

So one could theoretically go out for brunch or lunch or dinner, pay, leave, get in their car, drive 15-20 minutes to church and then proceed to receive Holy Communion?!? No offense to my RC brethren, but I think that Pope Paul VI was really way off on this, and I hope that this Pope or subsequent Popes might reconsider it.

I also find that fasting from meat on Fridays during Lent is also a very, very low bar to follow. I remember my RC friends, decades ago, giving up something they enjoyed for Lent, and I think that was a good practice. (Is that practiced routinely anymore?) Infact, I know Orthodox who have their children do this, since having children (who you are lucky if they will eat anything sometimes) nutritionally restricted to the Orthodox fast is not only impossible and impractical, but also dangerous.

I will admit that, in general, the Orthodox practices are very difficult, and many Orthodox do not follow them for that reason (I used to be one of them), but on the other hand, I think that the Catholic guidelines have become way too easy. Is there any kind of movement within Catholicism to change this?

One-Hour Fast Before CommunionIssue: Does the one-hour Eucharistic fast refer to an hour prior to the reception of Holy Communion or an hour prior to the beginning of Mass?

Response: The one-hour Eucharistic fast refers to an hour prior to the reception of Holy Communion, not an hour prior to the beginning of Mass.

Discussion: The Church teaches that the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church in order to worthily prepare for Communion (Catechism, no. 1387).

Tertullian, a theologian of the early Church, taught that the Eucharist is to be taken "before all food," as a sign of its excellence. In addition to this period of fasting, it is also suggested that the faithful observe a time of silence and recollection, to "stir up joy at the coming of the Lord" (Immensae Caritatis, # 3).

Traditionally the fast prior to reception of the Eucharist began at midnight on the preceeding night. On November 21, 1964, Pope Paul VI announced that the Eucharistic fast would be reduced to one hour before Communion for both priests and the faithful.1

In accordance with this change in discipline, the 1983 Code of Canon Law prescribes:

"A person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before Holy Communion from any food and drink, except for only water and medicine" (Canon 919, §1).

The plain language of the canon says that one is to fast "one hour before Holy Communion," not one hour from the beginning of Mass. Canon 919 §3 says that the elderly, ill, and those who care for them can receive Communion even if they have eaten something within the preceding hour.

The one-hour fast is the minimum requirement. A minimum would not preclude a person fasting for a longer period of time out of personal devotion to the Lord. The language of the canon—"at least one hour"—encourages a longer fast, but does not make such a fast obligatory.

1 T. Lincoln Bouscaren and James I. O’Connor, The Canon Law Digest, vol. 6 (Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of America, 1994), 566.

The one-hour fast is indeed a fast prior to receiving communion. So one could time it just right and eat breakfast about 8 minutes before mass. Or if you have a really long Mass, you don't have to worry about it at all.

Joe

I agree that it is not much of a requirement. I think that this is one of those issues where the West gives the minimum and we can decide for ourselves how much we want to Fast. Just like only abstinence on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent and Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. We are allowed to do much more if we want and are encouraged to do so. These are just the minimums.

Reverse Oikonomia?

My son is giving up playing Legos for Lent. So we are still encouraged to give up something for Lent, even the Catechism kids.

While this could make for an interesting discussion it also runs the risk of pointing fingers, by saying someone doesn't fast enough. I wonder if the restriction was lessened because Rome wanted her people to do pious practices out of love of God rather than out of fear of punishment. For instance, I think it used to be considered a mortal sin to eat meat on Friday, but Rome dropped that language, but kept the fast on the books (don't eat meat or do a similar penance). Once the penatly was removed I think some decided that the practice could be ignored?

Dear ByzBob,

If you read my entire post you will see that I am definitely not fingerpointing. As a Moderator, I would not allow that, and I don't think any of our posters are of the ilk to do that.

Infact, the point of my post was that I asked a question at the end of it which has not been answered yet. (Maybe Logos-Alexis will as he knows alot about traditional Catholic movements).

As for the reason behind the change, you make a good point, but I also wonder if it had to do with being able to easily attend any one of many weekly Masses (to fulfill one's obligation), and also the emphasis on communing at every Mass. For the record, I think that having Masses available all week is very nice. However, I think they should be attended in addition to Sunday...I love when I can attend a Liturgy or service mid-week as well as Sunday. I feel that it is needed to keep one's spiritual life and emphasis on an even keel.

Perhaps someone who remembers the pre-Vatican II days can tell me if that makes sense? How often did you commune then? How did you prepare? Did you attend Sunday Mass primarily instead of other Masses?

In Christ,
Alice

P.S. Dr. Eric: Good for your son! Legos are one of the best toys around...so creative and mentally stimulating while also being fun and also time consuming enough to keep the kids busy for enough time to give mom and dad a break! I have saved all the Legos we have collected over the years, so that if I ever have grandchildren, they will have them to play with!
I once gave up chocolate for Lent, and it was just as difficult and felt as sacrificial to do for the forty some days as this Orthodox fast is...trust me!

Dear Alice:

Roman Catholics attend daily Masses NOT to fulfil their Sunday and/or Holy Day obligation! It never was nor will it ever be.

We attend daily Masses (or any day of the week) in addition to attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation.

Attendance in daily Massses is never a substitute for attending Mass on Sundays and/or Holy Days of obligation!

Amado

Sorry Amado,

That is what some of my friends (RC) have told me, because their children were in sports on Sundays, so they said their obligation was filled by going during the week. HEY--what do I know?!?! I am just an ignorant Orthodox!

Please don't be upset with me. I was misinformed.

Thanks for your clarification.

Let's all read each other's posts clearly so as not to assume the other is judging. Thanks.

In Christ,
Alice

Dear Alice:

I never assumed you were judgmental. It was just to correct a misinformation.

Perhaps, your RC friends could have meant that their children have attended with them the evening Saturday Mass (the Mass of Anticipation) which takes care of their Sunday obligation?

(I respect you both as a poster and a Moderator!)

Amado

Dear Alice,

I did not mean to imply that you were pointing fingers, only that the topic potentially could devolve to that level. I'm wondering if the anticipated Liturgy on Saturday was a factor in the discipline changing too? When would you start the fast if you were going to go Saturday night? Noon? I would be interested in a perspective of someone that was around prior to the changes, and what the reasons given at the time were?

I think that I found my answer to 'why' online. It seems that my theory was not too far off:


Eucharistic Fast

In addition to the fasts mentioned above, Roman Catholics must also observe the Eucharistic Fast, which involves taking nothing but water and medicines into the body for some time before receiving the The Eucharist or Communion or The Lord's Supper, is the rite that Christianity perform in fulfillment of Jesus' instruction, recorded in the New Testament, to do in memory of him .

The ancient practice was to fast from midnight until Mass that day, but as Masses after noon and in the evening became common, this was soon modified to fasting for three hours. Current law requires one hour of Eucharistic Fast.

This is how we do it in the traditional Orthodox church.

Church Rules for Confession and Holy Communion
by Archpriest Gregory Naumenko


"If thou desirest, O man, to eat the Body of the Master, approach with fear, lest thou be burnt; for It is fire."

"Behold, I approach the Divine Communion. O Creator, let me not be burnt by communicating, for Thou art Fire, consuming the unworthy."

Those who desire to partake of Confession and Commune of the Holy Mysteries must prepare properly according to the rules instituted by the Holy Orthodox Church. Namely:

1. Those who desire to Commune on Sunday, must begin preparation from the previous Monday by at least being continually conscious of the fact that they are preparing to partake of the Most-precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Explanation: In the 32nd chapter of the Typicon (book of Church rules) we find the following rule concerning this: "When one desires to commune of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, it is most proper for him/her to keep properly the entire previous week; to remain in fasting, prayer and complete sobriety from the previous Monday; and then with fear and great reverence accept the Most-precious Mysteries.
2. Fast according to the rules of the Church.

Explanation: During the entire Great Lent and Dormition Fast, we do not partake of meat, eggs, milk and fish. (Fish is only allowed on the days of Annunciation and Palm Sunday and on Transfiguration during Dormition Fast). During the entire Nativity Fast and Apostles Fast, we do not partake of meat, eggs, milk. It is allowable to lessen the Fast only: in the case of severe illness, for small children, the feeble and elderly, for those with child or feeding an infant.
3. Be present at and attentively participate in the evening services before the day of Holy Communion.

Explanation: Communion of the Most-pure Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is the highest form of communication with the Lord God. Communing is the completion, the culmination of our communion with God. If a person comes to the Chalice not having gone through the podvig of prayer through which he or she comes nearer to God; if he/she does not go through a process of ever increasing interaction with God; then this leap, as it were, from noncommunion to the ultimate level of communion (i.e. Holy Communion), is too drastic. That person is unworthy at that point for the acceptance of the Body and Blood of the Lord, and the Gifts for that person become "Fire, consuming the unworthy." In other words, for such a person, Communion brings not healing, but rather harm. This is why it is necessary to be at the Divine Services preceding Holy Communion, for they are one of the most important forms of interaction with God open to us, and thus an important component of our preparation.
4. Those (age 7 and older) preparing for Communion MUST receive Holy Confession before partaking of Holy Communion. This is best done at the time designated for Confession on the schedule. This is usually in the evening, prior to the evening service. Those who cannot come for the time scheduled can, as an exception, come to confession following the evening service. Confession in the morning, before Liturgy, is allowable only as an extreme exception for those who can not come in the evening because of the condition of their health or for some other justified important reason.

Explanation: Since we must be in church on the eve of Holy Communion (see Number 3 above), it is wise for us to partake of confession at that time. In the evening there is no hurry; one can calmly and thoughtfully lay out one's thoughts. In the morning, the priest is busy with the Holy Proskomede, there is little time, and Confession becomes hurried, incomplete. Only extreme need is cause enough to pull the priest away from proskomede for morning confession.
5. Read at home all the prescribed preparatory prayers out of the prayer book. [Pages cited are from the Fourth Edition - Revised 1986 of the Jordanville Prayer Book. Those who do not own a prayer book can purchase it at our parish kiosk.]

Explanation: One must definitely read The Order of Preparation for Holy Communion, which is found on pages 332-378 in the prayer book. Those who have not read these prayers should not partake of Holy Communion. The following should also be read before Holy Communion:
Supplicatory Canon to our Lord Jesus Christ (p. 218)
Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos (p. 233)
Canon to the Guardian Angel (p. 249)
An Akathist, either:
Akathist to our Sweetest Lord Jesus Christ (p.265), or
Akathist to our Most Holy Lady Theotokos (p.290).
The canons may be read together: The Canons for Holy Communion.

6. Ask forgiveness and reconcile yourself with everyone with whom you have had an argument, misunderstanding or any deterioration in relationship. By taking Communion without full reconciliation with everyone we do ourselves great harm.

Explanation: The Church exhorts us to be in peace with everyone through the following words which are written in the prayers preparing us for Holy Communion: "If thou desirest, O man, to eat the Body of the Master, Approach with fear, lest thou be burnt; for It is fire. And when thou drinkest the Divine Blood unto communion, First be reconciled to them that have grieved thee, then dare to eat the Mystical Food."
7. One must approach the Mysteries without having eaten or drunk anything from midnight on.

Explanation: We prepare ourselves with fasting for the partaking of the Holy Gifts. The final period before Communion we intensify our abstention and eat and drink nothing. Those who cannot do without certain medication may take it with Holy Water that morning, but only if this is absolutely necessary. Small children may eat before Communion in the morning. The sick (for example, diabetics) and those who are weak can receive a blessing from their spiritual father (priest) to eat a small amount the morning of Communion.
8. In the morning, one must come before the beginning of the service, respectfully venerate the icons, light candles, find a spot to stand and be prepared for the beginning of the reading of the Hours. One must listen attentively to the Hours and then the Divine Liturgy.

Explanation: The Hours are a part of the cycle of services. They are also an important part of the process of preparation for Holy Communion for the same reason as was written in the explanation of Number 3 above.
9. Men are forbidden to come to Communion (and at all times inside the church) with their heads covered according to the strict edict of Apostle Paul. Women are forbidden to come to Communion (and at all times inside the church) with their heads uncovered according to the strict edict of Apostle Paul.

Explanation: The Church follows the instruction of Apostle Paul who says in Corinthians 11:4,5: Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth and prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head.
10. No one should take Holy Communion (or even come to Church) with lipstick on.

Explanation: Besides the fact that such practice is not fit for God's Church, how many pages of our church Holy Gospel have been ruined by kissing with painted lips. How many of the Church vessels, cross, spoon have been treated the same way. Look at our icons at the end of a service. They are covered with lipstick. Even the Holy Shroud, the Body of Christ in the tomb Who suffered for us, has been tainted with lipstick.
11. After Holy Communion one must stay and listen to the Thanksgiving Prayers after Holy Communion or to diligently read them at home in the prayer book.

Explanation: In Holy Communion we receive a great gift from God. We express our gratitude for God's great act of mercy through these thanksgiving prayers.
12. At the end of the service, the ones who took Communion carefully listen to the thanksgiving prayers and do not come up to venerate the Cross with everyone else. When the thanksgiving prayers are over, the Cross is brought out to them for veneration. At that time, when one kisses the Cross, it is not customary to kiss the priest's hand.

Explanation: The people who have not taken Holy Communion come up to the Cross immediately and receive a piece of Antidorion, as a consolation that they were unable to take Holy Communion at this Liturgy. The communers, without interruption, listen to the thanksgiving prayers and then venerate the Cross, since they have partaken of the True Gifts and have no need to receive the Antidorion ("instead-of-the-gifts"). We kiss the priest's hand because he imparts Christ's blessing to us. Following Holy Communion we contain Christ Himself, we have joined ourselves to Christ and therefore do not kiss the priest's hand at that time.
13. Following Holy Communion we piously return home, retain a prayerful peaceful calm, do good works and exert all our efforts not to return to the sins from which we have been cleansed.

Alice wrote:


Many of us "traditionalists" are making the switch to the earlier practices. I Fasted (1 regular meal and 2 meatless snacks that don't make one meal if added) on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. I also abstained from all warm blooded meat (the only kind I can stomach except for alligator, rattlesnake, yellow fin tuna, and shark) on Wednesday and Friday.

It will take at least until my generation is dead for all this mess to be straightened out. My son will get to experience a resurgence of Catholicism (how ever prevalent it may be) after my generation is gone.

In the old days, as I am told, every priest had to say Mass before noon. Therefore, there were multiple altars and many different low Masses said during the day. Mass usually was early in the morning as well.

Thanks, Dr. Eric, I did not know that.

I definitely see where the intention and the spirit of Vatican II was a good one: make church going easier, more accesible, less formal, and the Eucharist more important...

It was a noble and honorable experiment of change implimented by utmost spiritual intentions.

It is too bad that it was not carried out correctly or misunderstood and toyed with at times, or perhaps the times are just such today that people once again want more tradition, more strictness, and more formality in their worship experience?

For what it is worth, I have thoroughly enjoyed (in a spiritual sense) well done Novus Ordo Masses, and found nothing wrong with them... but I have generally enjoyed them in the context of traditional architecture (St. Patrick's Cathedral). Maybe what went wrong is that *too* much freedom was given after a tradition of great strictness, and too much was changed by not only changing the Liturgy, but also by altering the awesome and reverend beauty of the traditional Gothic architectures, interiors, statuary, candles, etc., in which the Holy Mass takes place...

In Christ,
Alice

I think the first problem to address in this area is the extremely low percentage of Roman Catholics who go to confession. If they won't go there, they're probably not going to be too concerned with not eating before receiving the Eucharist.