Liturgical Reforms of Pope Pius XII - Eucharistic Fast

Eucharistic Fast

To allow for the faithful to receive Communion at Masses in the evening and at other times, Pius XII decreed several changes to regulations regarding the Eucharistic fast. Prior to 1953, Catholics were required to abstain from consuming any food from midnight before receiving Holy Communion. This requirement to fast from midnight was changed by the Apostolic constitution Christus Dominus, issued in 1953, by which, the fasting period was fixed at three hours for solid foods and one hour for liquids, while water or medicines did not break the fast. Four years later, in the Motu Proprio Sacram Communionem, the fasting requirements were further reduced.

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