[Image (above) Apse (mosaic) of St John Lateran Basilica, Rome]
“The Body of Christ”
THEME: FASTING BEFORE COMMUNION (Part 1)
On this feast of the Lateran Basilica, one of the oldest churches, let us focus on the ancient practice of fasting before Holy Communion.
Canon 919 of the “Code of Canon Law“ states, “One who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception of water and medicine, for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion.” This regulation reflects an ancient tradition in our Church, which is even rooted in Judaism.
In Acts of the Apostles (13:2) we find evidence of fasting connected with the liturgy: “One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit…”
Communion received on the tongue
EARLY CHURCH PRACTICE
A more defined practice of fasting before receiving Holy Communion appears throughout the Church after Constantine legalized Christianity in 313 A.D. And St. Augustine attested to this practice in his writings.
There is no question specific requirements of the fast have changed over time. For example, prior to 1964, the Eucharistic fast began at midnight. Then Pope Paul VI, on November 21, 1964, reduced the fast to a period of one hour.
Communion received in the hand
TWO EXCEPTIONS TO RULE
First, if a priest celebrates more than one Mass on the same day; he is only bound to the one-hour fast before the first Mass. ELDERLY
Second, those who are elderly (at least 60 years of age) or sick as well as their carers can receive Communion even if a full hour fast has not been fulfilled. (Canon 919.3)
For example, people in the hospital are not in control of their own schedule and may be eating or have just finished eating when visited by the priest or Eucharistic minister.
Therefore, the period of fast before receiving Holy Communion is reduced to “approximately one quarter of an hour” for those who are sick at home or at a medical facility, those elderly confined to home or a nursing home, and those who care for these people and who are unable conveniently to observe the fast.
Pope Benedict giving First Communion
BUT WHY FAST BEFORE COMMUNION?
The most important point is why we fast. St. Paul reminds us, “Continually we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus, so that in our bodies the life of Jesus may be revealed” (2 Cor. 4:10)
CONVERT TO LORD
We are charged to convert our whole lives—body and soul—to the Lord. This conversion process involves doing penance—including bodily mortification like fasting—for our sins and weaknesses, which in turn strengthens and heals us.
LIBERATION OF PERSON
Pope Paul VI exhorted the faithful in 1966: “Mortification aims at the liberation of (the person), who often finds him/herself, because of concupiscence, almost chained by their own senses. Through ‘corporal fasting’ (each one) regains strength, and the wound inflicted on the dignity of our nature by intemperance is cured by the medicine of a salutary abstinence.”
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Parish Contact details.
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Masses 32nd Week O.T. 9th – 15th Nov
Saturday 08 Nov.
9.00am Mass (
6.30pm Mass (Jayden Schmidt fm. &
Sr Gerard RSM (Pat O’Connor)
Sunday 09 Nov. Lateran Basilica
9.00am Mass (For deceased parishioners)
Monday 10th Nov. St Gregory Great
9.00am Mass (Frs Leo & Kevin Wright, Frs Lane and Fulton)
Tuesday 11th Nov. St Martin of Tours
9am Mass (Patricia Leddin; John & Zita Walsh)
Wednesday 12th Nov. St Josaphat
9am Mass (Persecuted Christians)
11.00am Holy Communion to Homes
Thursday 13th
11.40am Novena
12.00 Mass (Deceased CWL; Srs Mary & Monica Esler RSM)
Friday 14th
9.00am Mass (Pat, Fiona, Joanne Kelly & Hoare families)
Saturday 15th
9am Mass (Percy & Anne Sutcliffe; Norman & Day families)
6.30pm Vigil Mass (Bill O’Dwyer; Mark Fitzgibbon & family)
Sunday 16th 33rd O.T.
9.00am Mass (All deceased parishioners)
10.45am Mass at Coreen
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URGENT: BISHOP ASKS PRAYERS
Prayer: Middle-East Christians in Iraq still suffering torture & exile & need our prayers.
Please also pray for the thousands suffering and the more than 5,000 who have already died from Ebola in West Africa.
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Also Remember in Prayer
Sr Patricia O’Connor (Sr Gerard) RSM, Mark Fitzgibbon, Noel Houlihan, Sr Marie Louise RSM, Aileen Dix, Hunt family, Kevin Elliott, Kerry Plunkett, Jace Whyte, Noreen Rourke, Pat Kelly. Funeral Booklets for deceased at: http://stmaryscorowa.org/honour-roll/
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NOTICES: Meetings / Imp. Dates:
Wrap with Love: NEXT SEWING DAY: Mon 10th Nov 9.30am-12noon. All welcome!
14th Nov 7pm Mass + Dinner at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wagga, to celebrate the end of the Academic year at St John Vianney Seminary. The Mass will be followed by dinner in the Parish House across the street. The dinner is $15 per head. For bookings: connect@wagga.scanzpac.org
ADVANCE NOTICE: 2-3RD Dec. ‘Walking with Love’ Regional Workshop at Quality Siesta Resort, 416 Wagga Rd, N. Albury Ph. 02-60254555 “…to support pregnant women continue with their pregnancies.”
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Roster 15th – 16th November 2014
Gifts:
6.30pm J Clohessy, B O’Donoghue
9.00am CWL
Lectors:
6.30pm G & E Kingston
9.00am M Kelly, M Milthorpe
Spec Ministers:
6.30pm A Pilgrim, M Skehan
9.00am K Roberts, R Taylor
Altar: M Fitzgibbon
Welcomers:
6.30pm M Clohessy, M Skehan
9.00am Craig Sandral
Altar Servers:
6.30pm L Heagney, D Forge
9.00am Zara Rippingale, Emily Tidd
Collection J Taylor
Counters M Kelly
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New Mass Rosters on back table of church.
CATHOLIC RADIO – via INTERNET
This week on “The Journey” which airs on 9 November, we will start the show with a gospel reflection from Matthew Chapter 12:38-44; Host of the show, Jude Hennessy interviews Roby Curtis, founder of Blind Eye, an organisation to help those in need in urban settings; Fr Dave Callaghan reflects on “Sharing What’s at Our Core with Jesus” and we hear some great songs from Brooke Fraser, Jake Nauta and Steffany Gretzinger.
Tune in to 98.5 THE LIGHT Albury- Wodonga for Catholic segments from Wollongong diocese, Sun 11am, and repeated at 9pm.
Podcasts of earlier programs can be found on the Wollongong Diocese Radio page
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