[boatbums]

I remember as a little kid waiting for Mass on Sunday morning and having to fast from the night before for Communion. I was SO hungry, I snuck a half of a doughnut and then went up to the rail anyway. I was SO convicted by that and scared to death I would go to hell if I didn't make it to Saturday confession. Now, the rules for fasting before Communion are:

Current canon law requires a one-hour fast before receiving Communion (canon 919): "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." The Eucharistic fast was mitigated by Pope Pius XII from a complete fast after midnight to a fast of three hours (1957); then Pope Paul VI further reduced the requirement to one hour (1964). These changes were intended to encourage Catholics to receive Communion more frequently.

Don't you think it a little odd that these fasting rules have changed so much? What fifty-something years ago could be considered a mortal sin, isn't even ANY kind of sin now!

[ealgeone]

And from the group that claims they don’t change.

[daniel1212]

Current canon law requires a one-hour fast before receiving Communion (canon 919): "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." The Eucharistic fast was mitigated by Pope Pius XII from a complete fast after midnight to a fast of three hours (1957); then Pope Paul VI further reduced the requirement to one hour (1964). These changes were intended to encourage Catholics to receive Communion more frequently. Don't you think it a little odd that these fasting rules have changed so much? What fifty-something years ago could be considered a mortal sin, isn't even ANY kind of sin now!

Well, the first change was the focus being on the elements rather than remembering and thus showing the Lord's death for them by sharing food in the "feast of charity," and thus not coming hungry and eating independently of others, and thus "shame them that have not. (see here on 1Cor. 11:17-34 )

Therefore, in contrast to fasting, the solution by the Holy Spirit is,

But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. (1 Corinthians 11:32-34)

[Mark17]

It’s been so long since I was a catholic, I had forgotten about fasting before communion. I can’t remember what I did, but stopped going to communion, because I was committing mortal sins, and didn’t want to go to communion, with mortal sins on my soul.

[Elsie]

...for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion."

Now THERE'S a rough one to obey!

[Elsie]

These changes were intended to encourage Catholics to receive Communion more frequently.

Dang!

Every time they darken the church doors wasn't ENOUGH???

[ealgeone]

I tell ya....if I were Romam Catholic the priest would never be out of my site. The dude would get sick of seeing me.