medicine taken by necessity or food taken by accident break
the fast for Holy Communion?
A. Medicine does not break the fast; food taken by accident within one
hour before Communion breaks the fast.

Q. 907. {258} Is any one ever allowed to receive Holy Communion when not
fasting?
A. To protect the Blessed Sacrament from insult or injury, or when in
danger of death, Holy Communion may be received without fasting.

Q. 908. Is the Holy Communion called by any other name when given to one
in danger of death?
A. When the Holy Communion is given to one in danger of death, it is
called Viaticum, and is given with its own form of prayer. In giving
Holy Communion the priest says: "May the body of Our Lord Jesus Christ
guard your soul to eternal life." In giving Holy Viaticum he says:
"Receive, brother (or sister), the Viaticum of the body of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, which will guard you from the wicked enemy and lead you
into eternal life."

Q. 909. {259} When are we bound to receive Holy Communion?
A. We are bound to receive Holy Communion, under pain of mortal sin,
during the Easter time and when in danger of death.

Q. 910. {260} Is it well to receive Holy Communion often?
A. It is well to receive Holy Communion often, as nothing is a greater
aid to a holy life than often to receive the Author of all grace and the
Source of all good.

Q. 911. How shall we know how often we should receive Holy Communion?
A. We shall know how often we shall receive Holy Communion only from the
advice of our confessor, by whom we must be guided, and whom we must
strictly obey in this as well as in all matters concerning the state of
our soul.

Q. 912. What is a spiritual Communion?
A. A spiritual communion is an earnest desire to receive Communion in
reality, by which desire we make all preparations and thanksgivings that
we would make in case we really received the Holy Eucharist. Spiritual
Communion is an act of devotion that must be pleasing to God and bring
us blessings from Him.

Q. 913. {261} What should we do after Holy Communion?
A. After Holy Communion we should spend some time in adoring Our Lord,
in thanking Him for the grace we have received, and in asking Him for
the blessings we need.

Q. 914. What length of time should we spend in thanksgiving after Holy
Communion?
A. We should spend sufficient time in Thanksgiving after Holy Communion
to show due reverence to the Blessed Sacrament; for Our Lord is
personally with us