Note that fasting is required for one hour before the actual reception of Communion, not one hour before the start of Mass. (And note, too, that coffee drinkers do not get a pass; coffee does break the fast!)
In 1953 and again in 1957 Pope Pius XII reduced the fast to three hours prior to Communion. 1964 Pope Paul VI further reduced the fast to one hour including all food and drink, allowing water and medicine at any time. Therefore, coffee violates the fast, as does chewing gum.
Based on this, it is clear that the law only limits food, not beverages. Drinking coffee and tea (which interestingly enough are often treated in the category of medicine in old legal discussions) would be permissible, as would soda, milk, juice, and other liquids. Even alcoholic drinks would not violate the fast.
Therefore, except in cases where you might be water fasting for religious or spiritual reasons or trying to do a prolonged water fast that also involves abstaining from caffeine, most fasting “authorities“ say that you can drink black coffee while fasting and that black coffee will not break a fast.
The eucharistic fast is in place to help us appreciate what we are receiving in the Blessed Sacrament. Our body and soul are united, thus this simple fast helps us to hunger for the Bread of Life. This fast is not intrinsically required for the reception of Communion.
Whether preparing to receive Holy Communion or not, we should not eat or drink anything prior to attending the Divine Liturgy.
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.
You can have coffee before or after the fast, but all food and drink are off-limits during the fast. Some Christians will decide to fast on occasion, but Christianity does not have a dedicated fasting period like other religions do.
Fasting before communion rules out all beverages besides water. When fasting at other times (e.g. Fridays in Lent) the Church does not explicitly forbid any kind of beverage so coffee or soda would be permissible.
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.
Fasting on these days means we can have only one full, meatless meal. Some food can be taken at the other regular meal times if necessary, but combined they should be less than a full meal. Liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals.
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.
Abstaining from food and drink for at least nine hours is to remind us of the nine hours our Lord suffered on Good Friday from 9:00 AM. To 6:00 PM.
As you approach the Chalice, cross your arms on your chest in the sign of humility. Don't kiss icons right before or right after you receive and don't make the sign of the cross near the Chalice. After you receive Communion, go back to your place in the church.
It is important that the holiness of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ be kept within us after the Holy Communion. A person bleeding for any reason either due to a physical illness, menstruation or a cut should not partake of the Holy Communion.
The actual word "coffee" appears several times in the New Testament, claims Svigel. He references the use of the Greek word kovfino and contests the translation of kovfino and kofinos to mean basket or baskets, which he argues is inaccurate.
Today, the beverage remains a staple in gatherings of most denominations and offshoots of Christianity, except for The Church of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church. Caffeinated beverages are banned in the Mormon faith due to their “mind altering” effects and “addictive” qualities.
However, upon tasting coffee, Pope Clement VIII declared: "Why, this Satan's drink is so delicious that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it." Clement allegedly blessed the bean because it appeared better for the people than alcoholic beverages. The year often cited is 1600.
The only consumption a Christan can have during a full fast is water. All foods are put on hold and water is the only intake. It is highly recommended that this type of fast be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time.
Coffee is an acceptable vice. Unlike alcohol, which many evangelicals either abstain from or approach warily, coffee has been enthusiastically embraced. On other hand, some Christians give yoga the stink eye because of its Hindu origins.
Fasting means no food or drink and also abstaining from bad habits and sins such as smoking, gambling, swearing, gossiping, arguing, fighting or being disrespectful, cruel or selfish. Sexual activity is also banned during the hours of fasting.
The answer to this question is no. We cannot chew gum prior to receiving Holy Communion, or during the Holy Liturgy (or Pre-Sanctified Liturgy). In essence, by chewing gum, we are breaking the fast.
There is no present requirement for fasting after Communion, but many books have recommended, as an act of reverence, not eating or drinking for 15 minutes after receiving –about as long as the sacred Species remains intact.
Fasting builds up our spiritual strength, and the Church asks us to complete this simple task every time we receive Holy Communion for our own benefit. Just like any athlete we need to exercise discipline and fasting is great for building those spiritual muscles.