Rachel Evans
Wine and the Catholic Church have a long history together. The Catholic Church has played a significant role in winemaking and wine drinking throughout history, and wine is often used in religious ceremonies. While the Catholic Church generally adheres to the rule that wine for sacramental use must be pure grape wine and alcoholic, there are exceptions made for specific circumstances. The Bible and the Catholic Church condemn drunkenness, but not the consumption of alcohol or wine in moderation. Catholics are fine with moderate alcohol consumption, and drinking wine is considered licit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Church's stance on drinking wine | The Catholic Church condemns drunkenness, but not all use of alcohol or wine. |
| Wine in the Bible | The Bible has several references to wine, including when Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast. |
| Wine in Catholic Mass | In the Eastern Catholic Church, both wine and bread are taken during Mass. In the Latin Catholic Church, drinking from the chalice became restricted to the celebrating priest, while others received communion in the form of bread. |
| Wine in Catholic history | The Catholic Church has made critical contributions to winemaking and wine drinking throughout history. |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church's historical contributions to winemaking
Drinking wine is not against Catholic religion. In fact, wine has played an integral role in Catholicism for centuries, serving as both a religious symbol and a practical element in liturgical practices. Its significance is deeply rooted in biblical traditions, historical developments, and theological interpretations.
The Catholic Church has made critical contributions to winemaking and wine drinking throughout history. The Church's connection to winemaking has its foundations in Scripture. In the Old Testament, wine is frequently mentioned as a symbol of joy, celebration, and divine blessing. The story of Noah, who planted a vineyard and made wine after the flood (Genesis 9:20-21), is one of the earliest references. The Psalms also celebrate wine as a gift from God that gladdens the heart (Psalm 104:15).
However, the most significant biblical references to wine are found in the New Testament. The transformation of wine into the blood of Christ during the Eucharist symbolizes the new covenant between God and humanity, a promise of salvation and eternal life. This sacramental vision sees the material world as capable of revealing and participating in the divine mystery.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the many vineyards throughout Europe could have fallen into disrepair. However, the church preserved European winemaking by maintaining organized agriculture, of which wine growing was an important part. Monasteries played a crucial role in this development, with monks being skilled agriculturists and winemakers. Notable monastic orders, such as the Benedictines and Cistercians, cultivated vineyards and produced high-quality wine for both liturgical use and trade.
The famous vineyards of Burgundy and Champagne, which produce some of the world's finest wines, owe their origins to the meticulous work of medieval monks. The Jesuits also brought their "mission" grapes from Mexico in the 18th century, planting vineyards up the coast of California.
During the Prohibition era in the United States, a provision tailored to the church prevented America's burgeoning wine industry from totally collapsing. Wine for religious ceremonies was exempt from the prohibition against manufacturing alcohol. This exemption allowed the church to preserve winemaking and ensure its survival for future generations.
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Wine in the Catholic Mass
Drinking wine is not against Catholic religion. In fact, wine holds a significant place in the Catholic Mass, also known as the Holy Eucharist, where it is considered one of two elements "absolutely necessary" for the Eucharistic Sacrifice.
The Catholic Mass involves the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, a process called transubstantiation. The wine used in the Mass must be natural and made from grape vines, with a small amount of water mixed in. It cannot be made from other plants, and it cannot be mixed with other substances or contain additives. It must also be recently made and well-conserved, so it has not soured or become vinegar.
The use of wine in the Catholic Mass has a long history, with the Early Church partaking in the drinking of wine from the chalice. However, due to various factors, including the difficulty of obtaining wine in Northern European countries, this practice became largely restricted to the celebrating priest, with others receiving communion only in the form of bread.
In the 20th century, especially after the Second Vatican Council, there was a return to the widespread sharing of both bread and wine in the Latin Catholic Church. Today, the use of wine in the Mass is obligatory in the Catholic Church, and it is generally accepted that the wine must be pure grape wine and alcoholic. However, in certain circumstances, a minimally fermented wine called mustum may be used.
While the Catholic Church permits the consumption of wine in the Mass, it also encourages moderation in the use of alcohol. Catholics are allowed to imbibe moderate quantities of alcohol, and the Catholic doctrine has traditionally held a positive outlook towards material things when used in moderation.
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The Bible and alcohol
Alcoholic beverages, particularly wine, appear in the Bible, and their consumption is prescribed for religious rites or medicinal uses in some places. The Bible neither condemns nor promotes drinking per se, and some consider it a matter of personal conscience. However, drunkenness is discouraged and occasionally portrayed, and some biblical persons abstained from alcohol.
Wine is the most common alcoholic beverage mentioned in biblical literature, and it holds symbolic importance. In the Early Church, both the clergy and laity received the consecrated wine by drinking from the chalice. In the twentieth century, there was a return to more widespread sharing of the Eucharist under the forms of both bread and wine in the Latin Catholic Church. In the Byzantine Rite of the Eastern Orthodox Church and some Eastern Catholic Churches, the normal method is to use a spoon to give the communicant some of the consecrated wine along with a portion of the consecrated bread placed in the chalice. The Catholic Church generally adheres to the rule that wine for sacramental use must be pure grape wine and alcoholic. However, there are exceptions, and in some cases, minimally fermented wine or grape juice may be used.
The alcohol content of ancient wines was significantly lower than modern wines, and they were typically diluted with water. Ancient rabbis opposed the consumption of undiluted wine but taught that it was useful as a medicine. The Bible's ambivalence toward alcohol has resulted in varying interpretations and practices among Christians, with some abstaining from alcohol while others permit moderate consumption.
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Catholic views on drunkenness
The Catholic Church has a long and complex history with wine and winemaking. The Church has played a critical role in the development of winemaking and wine drinking throughout history, and wine is often used in religious ceremonies. That being said, the Catholic Church condemns drunkenness and considers it a sin.
The Bible, which serves as the foundation of Catholic teachings, includes several passages that imply excessive drinking or drunkenness is a wicked and sinful act. For example, in Ephesians 5:18, St. Paul writes, "And do not be drunk with wine, where is luxury". Similarly, in the Old Testament, there are numerous passages that praise wine (e.g., Genesis 27:28, Judges 9:13, Psalms 104:15) and describe its use in ancient Jewish festivals and rituals.
Catholics believe that alcohol consumption is acceptable in moderation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraphs 2290-2291, condemns drunken excess and illegal drug use. It emphasizes the virtue of temperance, which encourages Catholics to avoid excess in food, alcohol, tobacco, and medicine consumption. The Catechism also highlights the grave dangers of drug use on human health and life and condemns clandestine production and trafficking of drugs as scandalous practices.
The Church makes a distinction between imperfect drunkenness, or venial sin, and perfect drunkenness, or mortal sin. Imperfect drunkenness refers to a state of mild impairment where an individual is still free to master themselves and make choices. On the other hand, perfect drunkenness is a mortal sin and occurs when an individual loses control over their ability to choose good and avoid evil. This distinction is supported by the teachings of St. Alphonsus Liguori and St. Thomas Aquinas, who emphasize the importance of reason as a divine gift that gives humans their likeness to God and their freedom to choose good.
The Catholic Church also acknowledges the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of alcohol and supports those who choose to abstain from it. While the Church does not consider alcohol consumption inherently sinful, it emphasizes the importance of moderation and temperance to avoid the sin of drunkenness.
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Catholic beer brewing
Drinking in Catholicism
Catholics are fine with the moderate use of alcoholic beverages. There is scriptural support for the consumption of wine, as Jesus turned water into wine to celebrate a wedding after Mary noticed there was no more wine. In the Catholic Church, Communion is administered in the form of wine by drinking directly from the chalice or by intinction. The wine must be naturally fermented with nothing added to it, and it cannot have soured or become vinegar. While the Catholic Church generally adheres to the rule that all wine for sacramental use must be pure grape wine and alcoholic, there are some circumstances where wine that is only minimally fermented may be used.
There has been a resurgence of interest in Catholic beer brewing. Monks built the first large-scale breweries in Europe and fine-tuned the brewing process, perfecting the equipment used today. They continue to brew some of the best beer in the world. The Beer Option, a book by Jared Staudt, proposes a renewal of Catholic culture by focusing on the small things in life and ordering them toward the glory of God and the good of the community. Beer has played a surprising role in the history of Catholic culture, spurred on by the prayer and work of brewing monks. Beer, when consumed in moderation, can contribute to healthy, holy, and happy living. Christians may imitate monks in the art of brewing, serving others through hospitality and evangelization, and contributing to the larger task of restoring relationships and reshaping society.
Examples of Catholic-run breweries in the United States include Benedict's Brew Works in Indiana, Country Monks Brewing in Arkansas, and Karetas Brewing. These breweries often support charitable causes, such as the Sisters of St. Benedict, the care of elderly monks, and various charities.
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Frequently asked questions
Drinking wine is not against Catholic religion. In fact, the Catholic Church has made critical contributions to winemaking and wine drinking throughout history. The Bible and the Catholic Church condemn drunkenness, but not all use of alcohol or wine.
The Bible states that drinking wine is not a sin. In Ephesians 5:18, it is written, "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is a waste, but be filled with the Holy Spirit". The Bible also mentions that Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast, implying that drinking wine is acceptable.
Yes, drinking wine is a part of Catholic religious ceremonies, such as Holy Communion or the Eucharist. In the Latin Catholic Church, Communion is administered under the form of wine, either by drinking directly from the chalice or by intinction.
The Catholic Church condemns drunkenness but does not prohibit the consumption of alcohol or wine in moderation. Catholics are fine with moderate use of alcoholic beverages.
Sacramental wine is pure grape wine used in religious ceremonies, such as Holy Communion. It is typically alcoholic and must be naturally fermented without any artificial additives.
