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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
fasting before Eucharist when taking psychotropic meds	Br. Dymphna	Saturday, June 21, 2008
Question: I remember a Holy Cross priest say that if one is taking medication for any reason, one is not obligated to adhere to the 1 hour fasting from solids rule. Does illness, even if controlled, supplant mortification on the grounds that it is a mortification on its own?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Bro. Dymphna: The elderly and the ill, as well as those who care for them, need only fast for fifteen minutes before receiving Communion. Thus, a person under these conditions could eat something just before Mass starts. Canon Law 919 states: 1. 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. 2. A priest who celebrates the Most Holy Eucharist two or three times on the same day may take something before the second or third celebration even if the period of one hour does not intervene. 3. Those who are advanced in age or who suffer from any infirmity, as well as those who take care of them, can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have taken something during the previous hour. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

fasting before Eucharist when taking psychotropic meds

Br. Dymphna

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Question:

I remember a Holy Cross priest say that if one is taking medication for any reason, one is not obligated to adhere to the 1 hour fasting from solids rule. Does illness, even if controlled, supplant mortification on the grounds that it is a mortification on its own?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Bro. Dymphna:

The elderly and the ill, as well as those who care for them, need only fast for fifteen minutes before receiving Communion.

Thus, a person under these conditions could eat something just before Mass starts.

Canon Law 919 states:

1. 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.
2. A priest who celebrates the Most Holy Eucharist two or three times on the same day may take something before the second or third celebration even if the period of one hour does not intervene.
3. Those who are advanced in age or who suffer from any infirmity, as well as those who take care of them, can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even if they have taken something during the previous hour.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum