Michael Brooks
Alcohol is a divisive topic among the world's major religions, with some prohibiting or discouraging its consumption. The Catholic faith, however, is inherently linked to alcohol consumption and creation. This raises the question of whether Catholic monks are allowed to drink. The answer lies in the nuances of Catholic doctrine and the rules set by monastic orders. While the Catholic Church officially condones moderate drinking, individual monastic orders may impose restrictions on alcohol consumption, and monks are expected to drink in moderation and not to the point of excess or drunkenness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol consumption | Allowed, but not encouraged |
| Drinking to the point of excess | Not allowed |
| Drinking for medicinal purposes | Allowed |
| Brewing and selling alcohol | Allowed |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic monks are allowed to drink alcohol in moderation
Alcohol consumption is a significant aspect of the Catholic faith. Jesus's first miracle was turning water into wine, and wine is consumed during celebrations and communion. The Catholic Church is closely linked to the creation and consumption of alcohol, with many monasteries producing their own wines, beers, and liquors.
Catholic monks are allowed to drink alcohol, but they are expected to do so in moderation. Saint Benedict recognized the tradition that monks should not drink wine, but he advocated for moderation rather than complete abstinence. This approach is reflected in the Rule of St. Benedict, which states that monks should drink "neither more nor less" and not to the point of drunkenness.
The monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery in France, for example, produce and sell the famous Chartreuse liquor, a herbally infused alcohol with a unique recipe known only to the monks. The monks of Montserrat in Spain also produce an herbal wine, using spices that naturally grow on their mountain. These drinks are intended for commercial sale and consumption rather than sacramental use.
While Catholic monks can drink alcohol, the focus is on moderation to avoid excess and drunkenness. This aligns with the belief that if something is not sinful or harmful in moderation, then one should look at moderation and necessity.
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Monks make alcohol for commercial sale
The production and consumption of alcohol are central to many important practices of the Catholic faith. For instance, Jesus's first miracle was turning water into wine, and wine is consumed during communion. Reflecting this, Catholic monks across Europe have a long tradition of making alcohol, including liquors, beers, and wines.
Monks typically make alcohol for commercial sale and consumption rather than for sacramental use. For example, monks at the Grande Chartreuse monastery in France sell Chartreuse liquor, which they have made for over 200 years. The monks are the only ones who know the real recipe for the liquor, which is said to include 130 herbs, plants, and flowers, and secret ingredients. Chartreuse is available in both green and yellow colorings, with the yellow version having a higher alcohol content. The monks also make a génépi, a type of local liqueur based on Alpine Artemisia flowers. The sale of Chartreuse financially supports Carthusians at monasteries as far-flung as South Korea and Brazil.
Monks at the Montserrat monastery in Spain make a Spanish herbal wine called Aromas de Montserrat. The wine is distilled with 12 spices that grow on the mountain, including cinnamon, sage, and thyme. It is widely sold in Barcelona and the Catalonian region of Spain for around $25.
In England, monks at Buckfast Abbey produce Buckfast tonic wine, which contains caffeine and has an alcohol content of 15%. In Scotland, where the wine gained prominence due to its similarity to communion wine, some have attributed increased crime rates to the wine's effects. However, the monks at the abbey claim that binge drinking, not their wine, is the real problem.
Trappist beer is brewed by Trappist monks who practice Catholicism in monasteries and abbeys across the globe. Twelve communities make official Trappist beers, including one in Massachusetts and one in the United Kingdom. The production of Trappist beer is regulated by the International Trappist Association (ITA), which promotes the sale and production of the beer and retains lawyers to protect the use of the "Authentic Trappist Product" logo.
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Monks brew and consume beer
While some religions discourage or prohibit their followers from consuming alcohol, the Catholic faith is inherently linked to the consumption and creation of alcohol. For instance, Jesus's first miracle was turning water into wine, and wine is consumed during celebrations and in taking communion.
Catholic monks across Europe emphasize the importance of alcohol in their faith by continuing the tradition of making it in monasteries and abbeys. However, the alcohol they produce is typically not for sacramental use but rather for commercial sale and consumption. One example of this is Chartreuse Liquor, which has been made by Carthusian monks for over 200 years and is sold to travellers from around the world. Another example is Aromas de Montserrat, a Spanish herbal wine made by the monks of Montserrat Monastery, which is located on Montserrat mountain and has been a Catholic monastery for over a century.
Monks have also been brewing beer for hundreds of years, with Trappist Beer being the most well-known variety. This type of beer is brewed by Trappist monks, who are an influential branch of the Cistercian order that follows the teachings of Saint Benedict of Nursia, also known as the 'Rule of St Benedict'. The Rule of St Benedict dictates that monks and nuns should dedicate their lives to prayer and manual labour, which includes brewing beer.
Trappist Beer is characterised by being brewed at warmer temperatures with yeast strains that ferment at the beer's surface. The flavour of a Trappist Beer depends on the malt bill and type of yeast, which can vary from brewery to brewery. Each monastery produces its own unique style, and many even have their own strain of yeast. In addition to Trappist Beer, monks also brew other varieties of beer, such as table beers or regular-strength beers common to their area. For example, the monks in Einbeck brewed Bock beer, and they invented Doppelbock to drink during Lent when they fasted.
While monks do brew and consume beer, it is important to note that drunkenness is discouraged in the Catholic faith. Saint Benedict, for instance, insisted that his monks drink wine in moderation.
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Monks make wine using herbs from their land
While some religions discourage or prohibit their followers from consuming alcohol, the Catholic faith is inherently linked to the consumption and creation of alcohol. For instance, Jesus's first miracle was turning water into wine, and wine is consumed during celebrations and important practices such as communion.
Catholic monks across Europe continue the tradition of making alcohol, such as liquors, beers, and wines, at monasteries. For instance, the monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery in France make and sell Chartreuse liquor, a French liquor that was originally intended to have medicinal properties. The recipe for this liquor was given to the monks by François-Annibal d'Estrées, a French diplomat and soldier who was closely affiliated with the Catholic Church. Chartreuse is herbally infused alcohol, available in both green and yellow colorings.
Another example is the Montserrat Monastery in Spain, which has been a Catholic practicing monastery for over a century. The monks of this monastery make a Spanish herbal wine called Aromas de Montserrat. They use 12 spices that grow on their mountain to distill the wine, which is then aged in barrels. This wine has hints of cinnamon, sage, and thyme and is sold in Barcelona and the Catalonian region of Spain.
In addition to these examples, there are a few monasteries in France that make wine, such as the Abbaye de Lérins Cistercian monastery on the Île Saint-Honorat island. The 20 monks of this monastery make organic wines that are highly prized, and their vineyard is a popular attraction.
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Monks also make liquors, such as Chartreuse
The Catholic faith is inherently linked to the consumption and creation of alcohol. For instance, Jesus’s first miracle was turning water into wine, and wine is consumed for celebrations and during communion. As such, Catholic monks across Europe continue the tradition of making alcohol, including liquors, at monasteries.
One such liquor is Chartreuse, which has been made by Carthusian monks since 1737. The monks started making the liqueur using a recipe for an "elixir of long life" that was given to them by François Hannibal d'Estrées, a French diplomat and soldier, in 1605. The recipe includes 130 herbs, plants, and flowers, as well as secret ingredients, combined in a wine alcohol base. The monks intended their liqueur to be used as medicine, but it became popular for regular consumption due to its taste.
Today, Chartreuse is produced in a distillery in Aiguenoire, France, and is available in green and yellow versions that differ in taste and alcohol content. The monks who make the liqueur are the only ones who know the full recipe, and they have taken a vow of silence to protect its secrecy. The growing demand for Chartreuse has led to a shortage, as the monks have limited its production to focus on their monastic life and protect the environment.
In addition to Chartreuse, monks also make other alcoholic beverages, such as génépi, which is a sideline product made from local plants, and Spanish herbal wine, which is distilled using spices that grow on their mountain.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholic monks are allowed to drink alcohol. In fact, monks have been brewing beer in their monasteries since the sixth century. However, monks are expected to drink in moderation and not get drunk.
The Catholic Church believes that alcohol is a gift from God and that moderate drinking is fine. However, the Church also believes that being a chronic alcoholic is a sin and that drunkenness is sinful.
Yes, Catholic monks sell the alcohol they produce. For example, monks at the Grande Chartreuse monastery in France sell Chartreuse liquor, which is available in both green and yellow colours. The monks are the only ones who know the real recipe for this liquor, which has been made at the monastery for over 200 years.
In addition to Chartreuse liquor, Catholic monks produce a variety of drinks, including Trappist beer and Aromas de Montserrat, a Spanish herbal wine made by the monks of Montserrat Monastery.
