Michael Brooks
Catholics are required to fast before receiving Holy Communion, and the rules around this have changed over the centuries. The current rule, introduced by Pope Paul VI in 1964, states that Catholics must fast for at least one hour before communion, with the exception of water and medicine. This rule is mitigated for priests who celebrate multiple masses per day, the elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them. While there is no requirement to fast after communion, some Catholics choose to wait 10-15 minutes out of reverence, as this is how long the Eucharist remains intact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fasting duration | 1 hour |
| Exceptions | The elderly, the infirm, and their caregivers can receive communion even if they have eaten within the preceding hour. |
| Exceptions | Priests who celebrate multiple masses on the same day |
| Exceptions | Catholics in danger of death, including those receiving communion as part of their Last Rites |
| Exceptions | Food and drink |
| Exceptions | Water and medicine |
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What You'll Learn
The current fasting rule is one hour before Communion
The Catholic Church asks followers to fast for one hour before receiving Communion. This rule is outlined in Canon 919 of the Code of Canon Law, which states:
> "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."
The law uses the word "abstain" rather than "fast", but the meaning is the same. One may drink plain water or take medicine within the one-hour fasting period. The canon also stipulates "at least one hour", which encourages Catholics to fast for longer if they wish.
The current fasting rule is a modern concession. In the past, the fast began at midnight, and people attended early morning Masses. Over the centuries, the rules for fasting before Communion have changed. In 1957, Pope Pius XII mitigated the fast from midnight to three hours, and in 1964, Pope Paul VI further reduced the requirement to one hour. These changes aimed to encourage Catholics to receive Communion more frequently.
The one-hour fast before Communion does not apply to everyone. The Congregation of the Sacraments issued a document in 1973 clarifying that the elderly (defined as 60 years of age or older), the infirm, and those who care for them are exempt from the rule. They can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten within the preceding hour. The same applies to priests who celebrate multiple Masses on the same day.
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Water and medicine are allowed during the fast
The Catholic Church asks followers to fast for one hour before receiving Communion. This rule is outlined in Canon 919 of the Code of Canon Law, which states:
> "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."
The law uses the word "abstain" rather than "fast," but the meaning is the same. This means that Catholics can drink plain water or take medicine within the one-hour fasting period. The canon also stipulates "at least one hour," which encourages followers to fast for longer if they wish.
The current fasting rule is a modern concession. In the past, the fast began at midnight, and Catholics would attend early morning Mass. In 1957, Pope Pius XII mitigated the fast from after midnight to three hours, and in 1964, Pope Paul VI further reduced the requirement to one hour. These changes were intended to encourage Catholics to receive Communion more frequently.
The elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them are also exempt from the fasting rule and can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten within the preceding hour. The rule is also mitigated for priests who celebrate multiple Masses on the same day.
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The elderly, infirm, and their carers are exempt from the rule
Catholics are required to fast from food and drink in preparation for Holy Communion. The Code of Canon Law, no. 919, states that "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." The law uses the word "abstain" instead of "fast," but the meaning is the same. Canon law also stipulates that "at least one hour" is the minimum required fasting period, and Catholics are encouraged to fast for longer if they can.
However, the elderly, the infirm, and their carers are exempt from the one-hour fasting rule. The new canon law states that "the elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten something within the preceding hour." This exemption recognises that fasting may be difficult or impossible for some elderly and infirm individuals due to their health or circumstances. For example, an elderly person with poor health may need to eat within the hour before Mass due to dizziness or forgetfulness. Similarly, those who care for the elderly or infirm may also need to eat within the hour to maintain their strength and energy to provide proper care.
The definition of "elderly" is not universally agreed upon, and some individuals may be able to fast well into their elderly years, while others may find it difficult to do so before the age of 65. Regardless of age, it is generally accepted that fasting can provide important spiritual benefits for Catholics. As the Pope stated in his Lenten Message of February 3, 2009, fasting can "open our eyes to the situation in which so many of our brothers and sisters live" and increase our appreciation for those who constantly live in hunger.
The one-hour fasting rule before Communion is a modern concession. Historically, the fast began at midnight, and in 1957, Pope Pius XII reduced the fast to three hours. In 1964, Pope Paul VI further reduced the fast to one hour to encourage Catholics to receive Communion more frequently. While the elderly, infirm, and their carers are exempt from this rule, they are still expected to show proper respect and preparation when receiving the Holy Eucharist.
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The fast begins one hour before Communion, not Mass
The Catholic Church requires those receiving Communion to fast for one hour beforehand. This rule is outlined in Canon 919 of the Code of Canon Law, which states:
> "One who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception only of water and medicine, for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion."
This rule was introduced by Pope Paul VI in 1964, reducing the previous requirement of a three-hour fast implemented by Pope Pius XII in 1957. The one-hour fast is a modern concession, as historically the fast began at midnight, and early morning Masses were common.
The elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them are exempt from the fasting requirement, as are priests who celebrate multiple Masses in one day.
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Fasting rules have changed over the centuries
In the Middle Ages, a fast before Communion was a nearly universal practice, as noted by St. Augustine in the fifth century. The early Church Fathers, such as St. Augustine, believed that fasting before receiving the Eucharist was divinely inspired and showed proper respect for the Body and Blood of Christ.
In the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the fast began at midnight, and this rule continued until the mid-20th century. In 1953, Pope Pius XII changed the Eucharistic fast from midnight to three hours before Communion, and in 1957, he further reduced the fasting requirement to one hour. These changes were made to accommodate those who attended evening Masses and to encourage Catholics to receive Communion more frequently.
The current one-hour fast requirement was officially promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1964 and was later affirmed by the 1983 Code of Canon Law. This change was made to accommodate the increasing number of evening Masses and to make it more convenient for Catholics to receive Communion.
While the official requirement is to fast for one hour before Communion, the canon law uses the word "at least," implying that Catholics can choose to fast for longer periods if they wish to do so. Additionally, certain individuals, such as the elderly, the infirm, and their caregivers, are exempt from the one-hour fasting rule and can receive the Eucharist even if they have eaten within the preceding hour.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholics are required to fast for at least one hour before communion. However, the elderly, the infirm, and their caregivers are exempt from this rule.
Catholics are required to abstain from food and drink, except for water and medicine, during the fast.
No, the fasting rule has changed over the centuries. In the fifth century, St. Augustine mentioned that fasting before communion was a nearly universal practice. By the Middle Ages, it was universally practiced. In 1917, the Code of Canon Law stated that the fast began at midnight. In 1957, Pope Pius XII reduced the fast to three hours, and in 1964, Pope Paul VI further reduced it to one hour.
Fasting before communion is a way to pay "due honor to our Divine Redeemer" and to foster piety. It is also a time to prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Christ and to remember the sacrifice that the sacrament represents.
Yes, Catholics who are in danger of death or whose lives may be in imminent danger, such as soldiers going into battle, are dispensed from the fasting rule.
