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rrammfcitktturjsp012006
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| Joined: | Thu Nov 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | Midland, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 42 |
| First Name: | Anne | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | C of C, Wicca, Satanist, Atheist, Agnostic, Baptist, Unity, and ... |
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 03:23 am |
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To All,
I have not been able to find much about the history of the eucharistic fast as it pertains to what is allowed or not allowed. I am not referring to the hour of fasting before attending Mass.
What I am referring to is when someone just subsists and only consumes the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and nothing else. What I am looking for to see if anyone knows anything if they could drink water or not. And the particular history of this aspect. I also wanted to know if it is a common practice or if it is practiced at all.
I also wanted to see if anyone had any resources out there becuase google is not producing much.
Thanks,
Anne
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1790 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 09:08 am |
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The question of the Eucharistic fast is governed by Canon Law (CIC), Ann. Here are the specifics: One who is to receive the 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 (CIC 919 §1). Elderly people, those who are ill, and their caretakers are excused from the Eucharistic fast (CIC 191 §3). Priests and deacons may not dispense one obligated by the Eucharistic fast unless the bishop has expressly granted such power to them (cf. CIC 89).” (Information supplied by Catholic Answers.)
Your particular question concerning the drinking of water is therefore directly answered in Canon Law: Water, like medicine, never breaks the Eucharistic fast.
Yes, a few people throughout history, some of them canonized saints, have been known to subsist for a period of time on the Eucharist alone, without the benefit of other food. It is known that at least some of them did drink water and take medicines on occasion.
If your searches on Google are not producing what you want, perhaps you are looking for the wrong words. I entered “Eucharistic fast” (without quotes) and used the second link supplied by Google. The Code of Canon Law can be found at this site.
Information about people who have subsisted on the Eucharist alone, or nearly so, during some time in their life, might be accessed by searching for the names of those who are known to have done this, such as St. John Vianney or St. Catherine of Siena. I entered "Eucharist alone" (in quotes) and Google responded with several examples. I did not pursue the links, however. You can do that for yourself. Once you have a name, you can also trace that for additional history.
David
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rrammfcitktturjsp012006
Member
| Joined: | Thu Nov 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | Midland, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 42 |
| First Name: | Anne | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | C of C, Wicca, Satanist, Atheist, Agnostic, Baptist, Unity, and ... |
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Posted: Sat Nov 3rd, 2007 01:03 am |
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David,
Thanks for your help. I did type in Eucharist alone and found much to read and study. I found your reply to be very helpful.
Do you know if the Eucharistic Fast besides the one mentioned in Canon Law is carried out today still or was that a Medieval Ages things. I could not find an answer to this one.
May the grace of our Lord be with you.
Anne
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5079 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sat Nov 3rd, 2007 12:06 pm |
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rrammfcitktturjsp012006 wrote: Do you know if the Eucharistic Fast besides the one mentioned in Canon Law is carried out today still or was that a Medieval Ages things. I could not find an answer to this one.
The one mentioned in Canon Law is a minimum. Many people fast longer, and for other reasons. The Eastern Churches in particular have a much stronger tradition of fasting in preparation for major feasts. Perhaps Pani Rose will chime in on the role of fasting in the east.
"Eucharistic Fast" implies a certain type of fast for a specific purpose, and in the west (Latin Rite) it refers specifically to abstainance from food and drink in immediate preparation for the reception of the Eucharist. But that is by no means the only type of fast, or the only reason to fast. For example, the Lenten fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday requires no food between meals and a reduced food consumption (only one full meal, with the rest of the days food being less than the full meal). It's also possible to fast from other things. I might choose to fast from movies during Lent, or from social activities on Friday in honor of our Lord's passion and death.
Of course, in our consumer-driven society, fasting has fallen out of favor. That doesn't mean it isn't done, but you'd never know it from the popular media.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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