According to the 1983
Code of Canon Law...
"Can. 919 §1. A
person who is to receive the Most Holy Eucharist is to abstain for at least one
hour before holy communion from any food and drink, except for only water and
medicine.
§2. A priest who
celebrates the Most Holy Eucharist two or three times on the same day can take
something before the second or third celebration even if there is less than one
hour between them.
§3. The elderly,
the infirm, and those who care for them can receive the Most Holy Eucharist even
if they have eaten something within the preceding hour."
Of course this may be
subject to change since it is not doctrine. In fact, the above represents a
'relaxed' Eucharistic fast. It is laudable, if possible, to adhere to the
traditional/previous practices (e.g. 3 hour fast, or nothing after midnight).
In terms of sin, it
would not be a sin to break the fast, but one who does so must NOT receive Holy
Communion. As the Baltimore Catechism states...
"A person who
through forgetfulness or any other cause has broken the fast necessary for Holy
Communion, should again fast and receive Holy Communion the following morning if
possible, without returning to confession. It is not a sin to break one's
fast, but it would be a mortal sin to receive Holy Communion after knowingly
breaking the fast necessary for it." (emphasis added)
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