My question is about fasting laws prior to receiving Holy Communion and Friday's fast.
As most of you know, I attended Catholic school 25 years or so, prior to Vatican II. I still remember learning when I was about to make my First Holy Communion; nothing to eat after midnight on the day you were planning to receive Our Lord, NOTHING, not even a sip of water. we were instructed that God must come first, before food or drink. Now the fast is only 3 hours, and water anytime. So I hear from different people that it is okay to chew gum one hour before receiving? Is this correct?
Is sugar or milk in your coffee breaking the fasting laws or should we only drink black coffee as a beverage. What about powdered hot chocolate in hot water? Some say that is okay.
On Friday, I hear it is okay to eat artificial meat products? Where is the sacrifice, I wonder, or am I being silly.
When I was a child we could not even eat bread or such products that had lard listed as an ingredient.
I would like to know what others feel about these points and what is the truth.