Q. 1. What are the Catholic Church instructions regarding Eucharistic Fasting?

A. 1. On March 25, 1957, Pope Pius XII had the Motu Proprio Sacram Communionem that allowed the fast time to start backwards from the actual time Holy Communion was received. It was shortened for all Catholics to a three hour fast from food and one hour for liquids and no fast from water or medicine.

Pope Pius XII did highly recommend that the faithful still adhere to the fasting rules of 1917. The 1917 Code of Canon Law required that no food or drink be taken after midnight until the time of Communion.

[Source: Father Lasance “New Roman Missal” originally published in 1945.]