To work for the proper implementation of canon law is to play an extraordinarily

constructive role in continuing the redemptive mission of Christ. Pope John Paul II

Please support

CanonLaw.info

16 nov 2022

Research links

Directory of Writings

Related

This page

was recently reorganized

E. Peters, wbp

Extending the Communion fast

Overview

The one-hour 'fast' presently required for the reception of holy Communion is an exercise in rank legalism that provides little or no spiritual benefit to would-be recipients of the Eucharist and, in fact, often distracts from the preparation appropriate to the reverent reception of the most august Sacrament. The Communion fast should be restored to the three-hour period set down by Pope Pius XII.

Law

1983 CIC 0919. § 1. Sanctissimam Eucharistiam recepturus per spatium saltem unius horae ante sacram communionem abstineat a quocumque cibo et potu, excepta tantummodo aqua atque medicina. § 2. Sacerdos, qui eadem die bis aut ter sanctissimam Eucharistiam celebrat, aliquid sumere potest ante secundam aut tertiam celebrationem, etiamsi non intercesserit spatium unius horae. § 3. Aetate provecti et infirmitate quadam laborantes necnon eorum curae addicti, sanctissimam Eucharistiam accipere possunt, etiamsi intra horam antecedentem aliquid sumpserint.

Eng. trans. 1983 CIC 0919. § 1. 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. § 2. A priest who celebrates the Most Holy Eucharist two or three times on the same day can take something before the second or third celebration even if there is less than one hour between them. § 3. 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.

Paul VI, alloc. in Concilio (21 nov 1964): Attentis multarum regionum difficultatibus quoad ieiunium eucharisticum, Summus Pontifex, petitionibus Episcoporum benigne annuens, concedit ut ieiunium quoad cibos solidos reducatur ad unam horam ante Sanctam Communionem, et quidem tum pro sacerdotibus tum pro fidelibus. In hac autem concessione includitur quoque potuum alchoolicorum usus, servata tamen debita moderatione.

Eng. trans. Paul VI, alloc. in the Council (21 nov 1964): In view of the difficulties felt in many countries concerning the eucharistic fast, the Supreme Pontiff, graciously acceding to the petitions of the Bishops, grants that the fast from solid foods be reduced to one hour before Communion, for both priests and the faithful. In this grant is also included the use of alcoholic drinks, observing, however, due moderation.

Pius XII, m.p. Sacram Communionem (1957): 2. Tempus ieiunii eucharistici servandi a sacerdotibus ante Missam et a christifidelibus ante sacram Communionem, horis sive antemeridianis sive postmeridianis, limitatur ad tres horas quoad cibum solidum et potum alcoholicum, ad unam autem horam quoad potum non alcoholicum: aquae sumptione ieiunium non frangitur.

Eng. trans. Pius XII, m.p. Sacram Communionem (1957): 2. The time for the keeping of the eucharistic fast by priests before Mass and by the faithful before Holy Communion, either in the morning hours or in those after noon, is limited to three hours as to solid food and alcoholic drink, and one hour as to non-alcoholic drink; the fast is not broken by drinking water.

1917 CIC 0808. Sacerdoti celebrare ne liceat, nisi ieiunio naturali a media nocte servato.

Eng. trans. 1917 CIC 0808. It is not licit for priests to celebrate without having observed a natural fast from midnight.

1917 CIC 0858. § 1. Qui a media nocte ieiunium naturale non servaverit, nequit ad sanctissimam Eucharistiam admitti, nisi mortis urgeat periculum, aut necessitas impediendi irreverentiam in sacramentum. § 2. Infirmi tamen qui iam a mense decumbunt sine certa spe ut cito convalescant, de prudenti confessarii consilio sanctissimam Eucharistiam sumere possunt semel aut bis in hebdomada, etsi aliquam medicinam vel aliquid per modum potus antea sumpserint.

Eng. trans. 1917 CIC 0858. § 1. Whoever has not observed a natural fast from midnight cannot be admitted to the most holy Eucharist, unless danger of death urges, or it is necessary to avoid irreverence toward the sacrament. § 2. Those who have been sick lying down for a month, however, without a certain hope of a speedy recovery, with the prudent advice of a confessor, can take the most holy Eucharist once or twice in a week even if beforehand they have taken some medicine or some liquid as a drink.

My writings

Other materials dealing with Canon 919, likely briefly, cited here.

• Peters' Blog, 03 dec 2015, here. ▪ Francis should not speculate on the spiritual motives or psychological profiles of people with whom he disagrees. > Canon 919. Communion fast. Fervorino. Pharisee. Pius XII. Paul VI. Antinomianism.

Supplemental discussion. • Edward Peters, "Furthering my proposal to extend the fast for holy Communion, Homiletic and Pastoral Review on-line (18 jul 2013), here. ▪ A three-hour fast before reception of holy Communion (on days of precept) would reduce social pressures on the faithful laboring under doubtful consciences to approach for the Sacrament; retaining a one-hour fast on ferial days would help the faithful take advantage of unanticipated opportunities to attend Mass and receive holy Communion. > Canon 919. Canon 1247. Canon 898. Canon 916. Canon 915. Holy days of obligation.

• Peters' Blog, 26 jun 2008, here. ▪ Summary of Antiphon article, as follows: 1. A one-hour "fast" is physically insufficient to bring the human body into a fasting state, meaning that the spiritual benefits associated with corporal preparation for Communion are not achieved; 2. Making reception of Communion relevant to calculating the fast leads to distracting cogitations about the liturgy itself (e.g., worrying about whether the length of the homily, or sung responses, or angling to the end of the Communion line might allow one to complete the fast in time); 3. Calculating the fast from reception of Communion reinforces the assumption of many that "going to Communion" is the only important thing about Mass (rather than helping them see, e.g., the Sunday obligation as a liturgical one fundamentally oriented to worship); 4. A fast oriented only to reception of Communion diminishes the faithful's appreciation for the Liturgy of the Word as an encounter with Christ worthy of preparation in its own right (see Mk VI: 34-42 on Jesus' example of teaching hungry people before He fed them); 5. The brevity of the current fast means that Catholics with guilty or doubtful consciences have no discrete way to refrain from going up to Communion without attracting attention, resulting in pressure on them to approach the Eucharist under conditions that risk profanation or worse. > Canon 919.

Primary argument. • Edward Peters, "The Communion fast: a reconsideration", Antiphon 11 (2007) 234-244, here. ▪ If only on physiological grounds abstaining from food and drink for one hour before reception of holy Communion does not support the spiritual purposes served by fasting; many faithful are misled into thinking they are preparing sufficiently for reception of the Sacrament by such a minimal 'fast'; and, making trivial observances into requirements of law contributes to antinomian attitudes among the faithful. > Canon 919. Pius XII. Paul VI. Canon 898.

Materials on this website represent the opinions of Dr. Edward Peters and are offered in accord with Canon 212 § 3.

This website undergoes continual refinement and development. No warranty of completeness or correctness is made.

Dr. Peters' views are not necessarily shared by others in the field nor are they intended as canonical or civil advice.