Grace Thompson
Fasting is a common practice in many religions, and Catholicism is no exception. In the Catholic Church, fasting is observed before receiving Holy Communion. This practice has ancient roots, with St. Augustine speaking of it as a nearly universal custom in the fifth century. Over the centuries, the specifics of the fast have evolved, with the 1917 Code of Canon Law requiring abstinence from food and drink from midnight before receiving Communion. Today, the canon law, specifically Canon No. 919, stipulates that individuals must fast from all food and drink except water and medicine for at least one hour before receiving the Holy Eucharist. While this is the minimum requirement, some individuals may choose to extend the duration of the fast as an act of devotion. The practice of fasting is seen as a way to pay homage to the Lord and prepare oneself spiritually for the reception of the Eucharist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fasting before communion | Required |
| Fasting after communion | Not required |
| Minimum fasting time before communion | 1 hour |
| Exceptions to the fasting rule | The elderly, the infirm, and their caregivers |
| Exceptions to the fasting rule | Priests celebrating multiple masses on the same day |
| Exceptions to the fasting rule | Medicine and water |
| Ancient fasting practices | Fasting from midnight before communion |
| Ancient fasting practices | Fasting before confession |
| Ancient fasting practices | Fasting before the Liturgy of the Word |
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What You'll Learn
Fasting before communion is required for at least one hour
Fasting before receiving Holy Communion is a long-observed practice in the Catholic Church. The current requirement, as stated in Canon Law No. 919, is to abstain from food and drink for at least one hour before receiving the Holy Eucharist, with the exception of water and medicine. This is a reduction from the 1917 Code of Canon Law, which required fasting from midnight, and the ancient practice of fasting from the previous evening's agape meal before the Eucharist.
The one-hour fast is a minimum, and some commentators recommend longer periods of fasting before receiving Communion, such as three hours. The canon's use of the phrase "at least one hour" encourages Catholics to fast for longer if they wish. The elderly, the infirm, and their caregivers are exempt from the one-hour rule and may receive the Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten within the preceding hour. Similarly, priests celebrating multiple Masses on the same day may consume food or drink before the second or third celebration, even if less than one hour has passed since their previous Holy Communion.
Fasting is considered an act of reverence and devotion, and some Catholics voluntarily extend the fast beyond the minimum requirement. While there is no requirement to fast after Communion, some Catholics voluntarily wait 10 to 15 minutes before consuming food or drink, as it is believed that this is how long the sacred species remains intact in the recipient's stomach.
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The elderly, infirm, and their caregivers are exempt from the rule
The Catholic Church requires that those receiving Holy Communion fast from food and drink beforehand. This rule has ancient origins, with evidence of universal practice as early as the Middle Ages. The 1917 Code of Canon Law mandated fasting from midnight for those attending early morning Mass.
However, the modern Church has made concessions to the challenges of contemporary life. The current requirement, as outlined in Canon No. 919, is to abstain from food and drink (excluding water and medicine) for at least one hour before Holy Communion. This is a minimum, and individuals are encouraged to fast for longer if they are able to.
The elderly, the infirm, and their caregivers are exempt from this rule and may receive the Eucharist even if they have eaten within the preceding hour. This exemption is a recognition of the unique challenges faced by these individuals, ensuring they can fully participate in the Eucharist without the same strict fasting requirements.
The one-hour rule is also relaxed for priests celebrating multiple Masses on the same day. They are permitted to consume food and drink before the second or third celebration, even if less than an hour has passed since their previous Holy Communion. This practical concession acknowledges the physical demands of their role.
While there is no requirement to fast after Communion, some Catholics voluntarily observe a period of abstinence as an act of reverence. This may include delaying consumption of any food or drink for around 15 minutes, or drinking a glass of plain water before taking nourishment.
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Medicine and water do not break the fast
The Catholic Church requires followers to fast from food and drink in preparation for Holy Communion. The 1983 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." This means that one may drink plain water or take medicine within the one-hour fasting period. The canon law also 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."
The practice of fasting before communion has a long history in the Catholic Church. By the fifth century, St. Augustine spoke of it as a nearly universal practice, and it was definitely universally practiced in the Middle Ages. In the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the fast began at midnight, and in 1953, Pope Pius XII reminded Catholics that fasting in preparation for Communion pays "due honour to our Divine Redeemer, it fosters piety." In 1957, Pope Pius XII reduced the fast to three hours, and in 1964, Pope Paul VI further reduced the fast to the current discipline of one hour.
The discipline of fasting before communion is taken very seriously by Catholics, with some commentators noting that a longer fast would help to prepare for the Liturgy of the Word and take more seriously that they are feasting on the Body of Christ. However, it is important to note that medicine and water do not break the fast. This is because medicine is not considered food, and therefore does not break the fast. Additionally, in the case of medical necessity, the obligation to fast may be dispensed as long as only the necessary amount of food is consumed.
It is worth noting that the canon stipulates "at least one hour," which is meant to encourage Catholics to go beyond the legal limit and prepare themselves for Holy Communion by fasting for a longer period of time. While some may interpret this as a recommendation to fast for longer than one hour, others may simply view it as a suggestion to refrain from eating or drinking anything other than water or taking medicine during the one-hour fasting period.
In conclusion, medicine and water do not break the fast according to Catholic fasting rules for communion. This is supported by canon law, which specifically states that water and medicine are exempt from the fasting requirements. Additionally, in cases of medical necessity, the obligation to fast may be waived as long as only the necessary amount of food is consumed.
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There is no requirement to fast after communion
While there are fasting rules for Catholic Communion, there is no requirement to fast after communion. However, some books recommend that individuals refrain from eating or drinking for about 15 minutes after receiving communion, as an act of reverence. This is about as long as the sacred species remains intact. In some cultures, it is customary to drink a glass of plain water before consuming any other nourishment after communion. These acts are considered praiseworthy expressions of reverence but are not mandatory.
The discipline of fasting before communion has a long history in the Catholic Church. By the fifth century, St. Augustine spoke of fasting before communion as a nearly universal practice. During the Middle Ages, this practice was universally followed. The 1917 Code of Canon Law stated that the fast should begin at midnight, even though early morning masses were common.
Over time, the rules around fasting have evolved to accommodate modern lifestyles. In 1953, Pope Pius XII addressed the challenges posed by the pace of modern life and the shortage of clergy, expressing a desire to make it easier for people to attend mass and receive communion. As a result, the current norm is to fast for at least one hour before communion, as per Canon No. 919. This fast includes abstaining from all food and drink, except for water and medicine.
The elderly, the infirm, and their caregivers are exempt from the one-hour fasting rule. Additionally, priests who celebrate multiple masses on the same day are allowed to consume something before the second or third celebration, even if less than an hour has passed. While the current requirement is for a one-hour fast, some commentators believe that a longer fast, such as three hours, would help emphasize the significance of the Eucharist.
In summary, while there is no mandatory fasting period after Catholic Communion, individuals may choose to observe voluntary acts of reverence, such as waiting 15 minutes before consuming any food or drink. The primary focus of the Catholic Church's regulations is on the fasting period before communion, which is currently set at a minimum of one hour.
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The pre-communion fast is an ancient Catholic practice
The pre-Communion fast is an ancient practice in the Catholic Church. During the first centuries of the Church, an agape meal preceded the Eucharist, so there was no fast before Communion. However, by the fifth century, St. Augustine spoke of fasting as a nearly universal practice, believing it to be divinely inspired. There is evidence that a fast was universally practiced in the Middle Ages. In the early 20th century, the fast began at midnight, and Catholics were more aware of the need to go to Confession before receiving Holy Communion. In 1953, Pope Pius XII, in his Apostolic Constitution Christus Dominus, reminded Catholics that fasting in preparation for Communion pays "due honor to our Divine Redeemer, it fosters piety."
The discipline of fasting before communion has a long history. In his 1953 Apostolic Constitution, Pope Pius XII stated that "from the very earliest time, the custom was observed of administering the Eucharist to the faithful who were fasting." By the end of the fourth century, fasting was prescribed by many councils for those celebrating the Eucharistic Sacrifice. The canon law of 1917 required fasting from midnight before receiving Communion, which was typically celebrated during early morning Masses.
The current norm for fasting before Communion is outlined in Canon No. 919: "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 one hour before Holy Communion." This canon law uses the word "abstain" instead of "fast," but the meaning is the same. While the minimum fasting period is one hour, individuals are encouraged to fast for a longer duration to prepare themselves adequately for Holy Communion. The elderly, the infirm, and their caregivers are exempt from this rule and can receive the Holy Eucharist even if they have eaten within the preceding hour.
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Frequently asked questions
Fasting before communion is an ancient practice in the Catholic Church. By the 5th century, St. Augustine spoke about it as a nearly universal practice. In the Middle Ages, the fast began at midnight before early morning masses. In 1953, Pope Pius XII reminded Catholics that fasting in preparation for communion pays "due honour to our Divine Redeemer, it fosters piety".
The current norm is to fast for at least one hour before communion. This is a modern concession, as the 1917 Code of Canon Law stated that the fast began at midnight. Some believe that a longer fast of three hours would be more appropriate.
Only water and medicine are allowed to be consumed during the fast.
The elderly, the infirm, and those who care for them are exempt from the fasting requirement. Additionally, priests who celebrate multiple masses on the same day may consume something before the second or third celebration if less than one hour has passed.
There is no requirement for fasting after communion. However, it is recommended to not eat or drink for 10 to 15 minutes after receiving communion, and some cultures follow the pious practice of drinking a glass of plain water before taking any nourishment.
