Catholic Culture: Holy Beer, Wine & Spirits

CATHOLIC CULTURE

Holy Beer, Wine & Spirits

A catholic guide to booze ... 32

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A Catholic’s Guide to Life with the Spirits

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Holy Spirits

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Good News

about Booze

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Alcohol in the Bible Alcohol makes frequent appearances in the scriptures as an integral part of celebration and communion.

For example, in his letter to the Ephesians, St Paul speaks about rejecting the pagan lifestyle to follow Christ. He cautions against drunkenness as it can lead to “fornication, adultery, greed and vulgar talk” (Eph 5: 18). Yet in his letter to Timothy he urges, “You should give up drinking only water and take a little wine for the sake of your digestion”(1 Tim 5:23).

Similarly, John the Baptist was known as a holy man who lived an ascetic lifestyle which included the total rejection of wine.

Yet there is no evidence that Jesus did the same. Quite the opposite! For example, there are several cases in scripture where Jesus is accused of eating and drinking with sinners (Luke 7:34). Moreover, his first public miracle involved turning water into wine and the Last Supper included wine as an essential element of the Passover ritual.

No wonder the acceptability of alcohol has been a subject of difference among Christians! In fact, the Temperance movement, a reaction against alcohol excess, was founded largely by Christians who drew on biblical references to support their position. It gained significant momentum in 1919 when it succeeded in having alcohol banned in the USA through a constitutional ammendment.

The prohibition was reversed in 1933 by another ammendment.

During the 14 years of prohibition, alcohol related illness declined dramatically despite flagrant law-breaking and the burgeoning of illegal distilleries.

While there were some examples of Catholic support for the Temperance movement, including papal statements from Popes Leo 13th and Pius 10th, the Church stopped short of supporting total abstinence in favour of moderation. One famous Catholic author has summed up the Church’s perspective on alcohol pretty well:

“Thank God for beer and burgundy by not drinking too much of them.”

GK Chesterton

Catholic drinking?

Is there such a thing as ‘Catholic drinking’ as modelled by Christ? A way of moderation that appreciates alcoholic beverages but avoids excess and the destructive impact of drunkenness?

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There are numerous references in the Bible to alcohol. Some appear to favour it while others condemn it.

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The Temperance Movement

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One of the important contributions of the Temperance movement was the foundation and spread of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Step Recovery Method – a powerful process for assisting people to break free of addictive substances and behaviours including alcohol, drugs, gambling and sex.

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The Temperance movement and its extreme cousin, Teetotalism, gained significant momentum particularly in America during the 1800-1900s. This iconic photo features the cast of the 1901 silent comedy sketch, The Kansas Saloon Smashers. It parodied the Teetotal movement whose members ransacked bars in their advocacy for prohibition.

Photo credit : The Art Archive at Art Resource, Š The Picture Desk Ltd

Blipp to view a classic silent movie or visit FRANKLYmag.org

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“Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath, and a glass of good wine.�

St Thomas Aquinas

St Thomas Aquinas, painting attributed to Sandro Botticelli, 15th century. (The Granger Collection, New York)

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What’s a wedding without wine?

One of the most famous miracles of Jesus was his first, which took place at the wedding at Cana. Cana was a small town in the Galilee region where Jesus lived.

He, his mother Mary, and several disciples attended the wedding which continued for several days. At some time, Mary approached Jesus to alert him to the fact that the wine had run out.

Apparently Jesus was not so interested in the wine problem and rebuffed his mother with the words “My hour has not yet come.”

Undaunted, Mary instructed the servants to follow his directions. Jesus subsequently ordered them to fill six stone jars (about 560 litres) with water and to give a sample to the steward. The steward declared it better wine than that already served!

Jewish traditions The Sabbath tradition traces its roots to the very first book of the Bible: Genesis. Here we read that God created the world over six days, declaring the seventh a day of rest.

Called ‘Shabbat’ in Hebrew (or Saturday in English), this day was set aside for worship and for savouring the good things of God’s creation. It definitely included wine.

To this day, Jewish families the world over begin their Sabbath at sundown on the Friday evening with special blessings of bread and wine. These blessings are also used in the Catholic Mass where the gifts of bread and wine are blessed before they are transformed into the body and blood of Christ.

If we could point out: it was a serious volume of wine! God is always generous in his gifts and gives abundantly.

Blipp to read or watch the Cana story in the Bible (John 2:1-11) or visit FRANKLYmag.org

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Drinking That Brings Us

Closer to God And Each Other Michael Foley, in his book Drinking with the Saints: The Sinner’s Guide to a Holy Happy Hour, writes of ‘sacramental’ drinking:

“Sacramental drinking has two aspects. The first is recognising all creation as a sacramentum or ‘divine sign’ pointing to some aspect of God’s goodness and love for us.”

The Church Fathers, for example, saw the natural world through a lens of awe and wonder for the One who made it. While the process of making alcohol seems very mundane now, for everyone before the 20th century, turning grape juice into wine was a mysterious process that seemingly could not happen without a spark of the divine.

Modern sacramental drinking is about re-injecting that wonder and mystery into drinking attitudes.

“Second, if alcohol is a gift from God and a divine sign pointing back to God, the appropriate reaction is not to abuse it but to use it in keeping with the mind and intention of the Giver.”

This attitude is particularly key to reinforcing a healthier approach to alcohol that is the middle ground between total prohibition and indulgent excess.

But what might be the intention of the giver?

Given the example of Jesus, it seems that good food, a good wine and great friends are a recipe for great conversations and deeper communion. Sacramental drinking is meant to be social; celebrations and blessings are multiplied with good company!

Blipp Michael P. Foley’s Drinking with the Saints, for cocktail recipes, and beer and wine recommendations for the whole gamut of Catholic feast days and seasonal celebrations.

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DRUNK Monks and other Spirited Catholics The Catholic story of alcohol continues beyond biblical times. Here’s a sampling of some of the more interesting ones, including Australia’s unique contribution.

Trappist beer Originating in the Cistercian monastery (~1600s) of La Trappe, France, the Trappist Order followed a strict rule of life that included the requirement for the monastery to be self-supporting. Though many monastic breweries were destroyed during the French Revolution and the World Wars, eleven exist today and sell it as ‘Authentic Trappist Product’. Beware the imposters who have attempted to profit from the Trappist reputation but do not conform to the uniquely Trappist ‘Strict Observance’.

Photo Credit: © Philip Rowlands/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA-3.0

Dom Pierre (1638 – 1715) was a French Benedictine monk. He made important contributions to the production of champagne when the region’s wines were predominantly red.

Though he didn’t invent sparkling champagne, Dom Pérignon is named after him.

Photo Credit: Bas relief representing Dom Perignon, das le cloitre de l’ancienne abbaye d’Hautvillers© User:October Ends/Wikimedia Commons/CCBY-SA-3.0

Benedictine Abbey Wines & Ale New Norcia (WA) is Australia’s only monastic town. Founded in 1847 by Spanish Benedictine Monks, it produces olive oil, wine and beer. Although the original vineyards are no longer productive, grapes grown in the area are matured in the ancient Abbey cellars. Abbey Ale is brewed in NSW and also shipped to the Abbey cellars for aging.

Photo: Supplied by Benedictine Abbey, New Norcia

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Dom (Br) Pierre Pérignon

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Seven Hill Cellars Established in 1851 in Clare Valley, SA, Sevenhill is the birthplace of the Jesuits in Australia. The complex which includes the St Aloysius church, boys’ college, former seminary (now spirituality centre) and vineyard, enjoy a rich history. Originally established to produce sacramental wine for use in Catholic Masses, the vineyard also produces premium table wines.

Photo Credit: Supplied by Sevenhill Wine, Clare Valley

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Good Catholic Girl Raised in the vineyard of her father and inspired by her Catholic faith and that of her ancestors, Julie Barry established her own vineyard in the Armagh area of Clare in 1997. Some of her wines sport striking labels inspired by holy cards.

Photo Credit: Supplied by Good Catholic Girl

Blipp for more or visit FRANKLYmag.org

Tim Kirk is the CEO and chief winemaker of Clonakilla wines. He was awarded Australian winemaker of the year in 2013 and the estate’s flagship wine, its Shiraz Viognier, is celebrated by wine lovers and connoisseurs world-wide.

Clonakilla was established by Tim’s father, Dr John Kirk, just out of the quiet Murrumbateman village, 40kms north of Canberra.

Tim left his teaching career and moved with his wife, Lara, and young family to work full time at the vineyard in 1996. Since then its wine production has seen a 30-fold increase, garnered international success, and the Clonakilla story has become part of Australian winemaking history.

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Wine as the landscape’s song

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Distracted by wine?

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What is less known is the deep Catholic faith that sustains both Tim and Lara.

Tim is the head of the international council of the Disciples of Jesus covenant community – a community of families, single people, and priests. His faith drives Tim’s approach to everything in life, including the family business.

“I asked my retreat director, a very wise old Jesuit priest, ‘What am I supposed to do about this constant distraction?’ He replied, ‘Why do you assume it’s a distraction?’

Meaning, that I had come here in good faith, to try to listen to what God was telling me and maybe God was prompting me to make this life change.

As a religious education coordinator at a Jesuit school, every year he had to attend a prayer retreat and reflect on scripture passages as part of it.

“Within six months I was back at Murrumbateman as Clonakilla winemaker and general manager.

“On my last one, every time I tried to reflect on the scriptures I found myself thinking about the best way to make a Shiraz.

More than just a drink

“Clonakilla’s success is not all up to me, I’ve got very good staff who work very hard,” he says.

Tim says his faith deepens his appreciation for the wine they make at Clonakilla, and that there can even be a “theology of wine”.

“But my faith and the hopeful attitude I have towards people is I think reflected in how I conduct our business. It comes from an ingrained sense of the unique dignity of every single person, whether they’re customers, suppliers, or colleagues in the industry.

“Jesus loved to use agricultural images to describe the Kingdom of God, and often spoke about seeds and trees and things that have growth inherent in them,” he says.

“The basis of my values are Christian and I certainly don’t hide them. Ours is a very dynamic and successful business that continues to grow, and I tell people that it has been really blessed.”

Tim begins each morning with up to an hour of prayer and reading of scripture, usually the day’s Mass readings, before going for a walk before work.

“I continue my prayer as I walk. I contemplate, I praise God, I pray for situations I’m aware of that need God’s help. Walking with Jesus is a very conscious and intentional daily journey with me.”

Blipp for information on the Disciples of Jesus or visit FRANKLYmag.org Clonakilla Images by Janine Doyle.

My Family My Faith. Vol 2/2016 Archdiocese of Canberra and Gouburn.

“God is the creator of everything that exists, and this truth is revealed through creation. One of the ways we can enter into the experience of the divine is by stepping back and appreciating the utter beauty and dignity of creation.

“We do that when we try to capture the essence of this particular landscape which is God’s gift; to grow vines in that landscape, with the beautiful slope of its hills, the complexity of its ancient decomposed granite soil, and the continental cool climate we have here at Murrumbateman.”

“We try to capture all of that God-given beauty and dignity and express it through the medium of wine.

It’s like giving the landscape a voice.”

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Dynamic values

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Drinking with

St Mary Mackillop Culture

Kiara Pirola

Australia’s first saint was known for imbibing brandy to relieve the painful symptoms of endometriosis.

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This was a prescription given to her by her doctor and she was a responsible and careful patient. However, that didn’t stop her detractors from accusing her of being a drunkard and morally suspect.

In light of the fact that St Mary Mack’s Feast day is in southern winter, that she managed her medication like a pro, and she lived during the height of Teetotalism, it’s very fitting to celebrate her accomplishments with a brandy-based cocktail!

The Winter Joey is an eggnog variation that is perfect for evenings around a fire.

Doctor’s Orders is a simple drink with brandy and herbal liqueur layered in a snifter or goblet. Both brandy and various types of herbal liqueur (such as Benedictine) have been prescribed as medicine and can be served neat or over ice.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Feast Day: August 8th

St Mary of the Cross is the courageous and controversial founder of the Sisters of St Joseph - an order dedicated to teaching and aiding poor children and their families wherever they were needed. Their characteristic brown habit, vow of radical poverty and frequent travels earned them the affectionate nickname ‘Brown Joeys’.

Image: An icon of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Iconographer: Michael Galovic Born and schooled in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Michael Galovic is a graduate from the Belgrade Academy of Arts.

Blipp to see more of Michael Galovic’s work.

Or visit www.michaelgalovic.com and YouTube: Michael Galovic.

The Winter Joey Serves 3

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3 eggs 500 ml of milk 2 tsp of five spice 1/4 cup of brown sugar 90 ml of brandy (3 shots) Ground nutmeg

Method Separate eggs and beat white into stiff peaks.

To Drink Serve nice and hot on a cold winter’s night.

Cream egg yolks and fold into egg whites until combined.

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Heat milk and add five spice, brown sugar and brandy. Stir until hot.

Spoon eggs into mugs and add brandy milk. Stir till combined.

Garnish with brown sugar caramelised with a blow torch and a little ground nutmeg.

Doctor’s ORders Serves 1

Ingredients • 30 ml of brandy • 30 ml of herbal liqueur • Spoon

Method Add one shot of brandy to a goblet or snifter.

Measure out 30 ml (1 shot) of herbal liqueur.

Rest the spoon gently against the glass.

Carefully pour the herbal liqueur onto the back of the spoon to form two layers.

To Drink Warm the drink in your hand and swirl to combine the layers before sipping.

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Ingredients

Blipp for videos or visit FRANKLYmag.org

One Minute Catholic 50

ONE MINUTE CATHOLIC

Bless ALL THE DRINKS! Catholics have a tradition of blessing all things. It’s a simple way of honouring the goodness of the things we enjoy and thanking God, who is the source of all goodness. This tradition includes blessing beer, wine and medicinal spirits.

When gathered with friends or family to enjoy a drink, make it a habit to bless the drinks (and the conversation, too!)

All the drinks!

For Beer

Let us pray.

Lord, bless this creature Beer, which by your kindness and power has been produced from kernels of grain, and let it be a healthful drink for mankind.

Grant that whoever drinks it with thanksgiving to your holy name may find it a help in body and in soul.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For wine Bless, O Lord, this drink which Thou hast created, that it may be a salutary remedy for all who partake of it, and grant that all who taste of it may, by invoking Thy holy name, receive health for body and soul.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For any drink May the blessing of Almighty God, of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, come down upon this drink, and remain forever. Amen.

One Minute Catholic

Bless

How to

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