They sometimes even boast about it.
Fr. Z used to post photos of what he was drinking on warm sunny afternoons - I haven't noticed lately that he continues to post similar photos. Nothing wrong with that BTW - readers seem to like it. Other Catholic blogs often display or talk about their favorite brewskis, along with photos of the pope toasting the camera - all in good fun of course. After all, we are not Puritans. Drinks are on the house! Haha!
Catholics like to drink.
One of my confessors used to repeat scripture to me on how wine gladdens the heart and drinking in moderation is just fine. Those were the confessions after a night of drinking just a bit too much. At the time my confessor thought 2 to 3 drinks a night was just fine - but more than that - not so much. Falling down drunk seemed to be the point where mortal sin was committed. Whew!
I could make some pretty stiff drinks, so limiting myself to 2 to 3 drinks was pretty good. However, I came to the conclusion it was better just to stop drinking all together. I suppose I'd have a social drink if I'm out for dinner or something - but I haven't been anywhere to have one since last Christmas. That said, I don't think it's a good idea to drive - even after one drink.
Years ago, when I did a lot of drinking - not at home, but in the clubs, I drove under the influence. That was a sin. I might add however, that it's a miracle I never had an accident or got myself arrested. There but for the grace of God.
Catholics like to drink.
I love to drink. Although the words of Teresa of Avila always haunted me, "prayer cannot be accompanied by self-indulgence." That's pretty much the only reason I finally stopped drinking - better late than never.
Now far be it from me to tell anyone how to live their life, but I should think that for a priest, with a parish or some specific pastoral assignment, drinking might be unwise - especially if he could be called out on a sick call, assist the dying, and so on. As far as retired priests, and those with a lot of free time, drinking before cocktail hour is never in good taste. In the United States, drinking at lunch time may be inappropriate as well - even just wine. In Europe, things used to be different, but I think there may be alcohol problems these days.
Finally - if you must drink, have some one else do the driving.
"Honey, do we have time for a quick one before Mass?"
"As long as we got an hour before communion, Ma!"
Disclaimer: Just my personal opinion here - don't pay any attention to me if you don't like what I have to say.
"1Everyone has his own gift from God, one this and another that (1 Cor 7:7). 2It is, therefore, with some uneasiness that we specify the amount of food and drink for others. 3However, [...] 6We read that monks should not drink wine at all, but since the monks of our day cannot be convinced of this, let us at least agree to drink moderately, and not to the point of excess, 7for wine makes even wise men go astray (Sir 19:2)." - RSB, Chapter 40
I'll drink to that!
ReplyDeleteOkay then, I will too!
Delete"prayer cannot be accompanied by self-indulgence" ... She'd probably consider a few drinks with friends to be self-indulgence, wouldn't she?
ReplyDeleteI don't drink anything harder than beer or wine for the most part, and I haven't been drunk in over 2 years. I have been a bit intemperate at times, but never close to losing my faculties - I got bored and disgusted with it, an I used to get myself into trouble.
I'm gonna pray this afternoon for safety and for the safety of my friends and relatives, but then I was planning to go to my brother's house for a hurricane party to watch the hilarious news coverage, especially when they bring out Geraldo. Will my prayers not count if I have a few beers?
And btw don't saints like Theresa consider enjoying *anything* that is not strictly necessary to be self-indulgence? So, like all alcohol, most good food, marital relations unless directly trying to make a baby (not just open, even though pregnancy may be known to be impossible), ... I have even read of saints who condemned listening to music just because it was pleasant, so I guess also watching movies or tv, etc. ...
Actually Teresa wouldn't be opposed to a huricane party at all. Her injunction was for those who kinda sorta want to pray without ceasing or aspire to contemplative prayer. I have always tried to do that, but drinking did not dispose me to much more than sleepiness. I couldn't keep vigils very well.
DeleteMercury, isn't the Hurricane the official Hurricane watching drink? I'm disappointed that you're drinking beer instead. Pray to St. Christina the Astonishing to banish your obsessive thoughts (okay, that's how the repeated commentary about saints disapproval, etc appear to me), and pray that St. Alphonsus Liguori intercede on your behalf about scrupulosity.
DeleteThis seems to have been written too early to be motivated by an event in California, but certainly eerily apropos!
ReplyDeleteActually I had planned this post before hand - so it worked out well.
DeleteOh Terry! That last picture had me laughing in tears lol. I could actually hear her say that! I've had some serious alcoholics in my life so I was always the "designated driver" by default. It's no fun hanging out with crying, babbling drunks....I resented that for a long time. I know how to handle my liquor but then I'm not addicted to it. I see nothing wrong with drinking socially and in moderation. The people I am referring to didn't know what moderation mean't. They drink to be able "to deal with"life (their quote not mine). There but for the grace of God go I. The addiction to alcohol or valium or pain meds or whatever is a scourge.
ReplyDeleteI bet we know all the same people - meaning we've had similar experiences. Actually, the woman in the orange is a dead ringer for my grandmother - who has long gone to that big glamorous cocktail lounge in the sky.
DeleteOh Terry isn't that the truth! It's like deja vu! Now, if the woman in the orange pantsuit is grandma whose that over in the chair lol? They look like their getting ready to go to "Nye's Polonaise" or maybe just the supper club?
Delete