On our way to church this past Friday, Mom noted that she couldn’t go to communion because she had eaten a little bit of cake. I told her that I didn’t think God would mind if she received communion anyway. She said “Oh no. You’re supposed to fast one hour before you receive communion.” I didn’t say anything more.
At Mass when it came time to do so, the other 8 attendees there made their way up the aisle to receive communion. Mom and I chilled in our pew.
After the last person had received communion, Father then walked down the aisle and gave Mom communion. I smiled to myself at how this could have made for a SNL or comedy skit where I jump up and rat Mom out to tell Father that he couldn’t give her communion because she had not fasted. I refrained from saying nor doing anything however and Mom received communion. I did thank Father for being so considerate though.
On our way out to the car after Mass, Mom noted “Well that’s another first for me in my dotage. I’ve never had the priest come down the aisle to give me communion. And then I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I hadn’t fasted.” Sensing that she was trying to explain away her “transgression,” I told her that none of the 10 Commandments that I could remember ever said “Thou shall not receive communion unless you’ve fasted for an hour.” She laughed and said “Well since you’re the one making up the rules now, I guess I’m ok.” I told her “Mom, you’re always ok.”
Whereas I am sure that Mom goes straight to heaven when she passes on, I’m just as sure that I am going straight to hell. And to seal the deal, I’m going to pass along this semi-blasphemous video from Silent Bob and Jay. (Be sure to Catch the Dogma reference at 0:45 mark “Written by God herself.”)