Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Coffee and Food in Sacristy

ROME, MAY 6, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.

After our piece on food in the sacristy (April 22), another question came to mind regarding the Communion fast.

A reader in Rome wrote: "I have been rather taken aback at the number of people I see sitting at coffee bars having coffee just before Mass. Then they receive Communion well before the prescribed hour of fasting is up. This seems to be a common practice, all over the world, but I've especially become aware of it here in Rome. However, the people doing it aren't just the Romans. They are often tourists from various countries, so perhaps they do this at home as well. I thought one could only drink water within the hour before receiving Communion. Why are so many people drinking coffee, tea, soda, etc., with no regard for the fast? I've even seen people eating before Mass as well, and then receiving Communion within the hour. Has there been a change in the fasting rules?"

The one-hour-before-Communion rule remains intact, and effectively only water and necessary medicines may be taken during that period.

Sadly, however, many are ignorant of the rule or consider its infringement a minor matter.
This is perhaps an unintentional consequence of the one-hour rule itself. An hour is quite a short period and many people find it hard to take seriously. It is a bit like the state imposing a $2 fine for a traffic violation.

Before the 2005 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist, some prelates proposed restoring the previous three-hour fast in order to help the faithful to have a greater appreciation for the privilege of receiving holy Communion.

The idea did not prosper as other bishops pointed out that the hourlong fast facilitates some successful pastoral initiatives such as offering office workers the possibility of attending daily Mass during the lunch break in some major cities.

Indeed, facilitating the widest possible reception of Communion was the principal reason for reducing the fast to an hour.

It thus falls primarily upon pastors and others involved in forming the consciences of the faithful to explain the reasons behind this fast and inculcate fidelity to the rule.

The fast is therefore one hour before receiving Communion. It is not an hour before Mass. Therefore there would be no difficulty in having something to eat before a solemn celebration, as is often the case for pilgrims in Rome, in which at least an hour will pass before Communion begins.