Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Bless, O Lord, this creature beer ...

[Via American Papist] ...
Bene+dic, Domine, creaturam istam cerevisae, quam ex adipe frumenti producere dignatus es: ut sit remedium salutare humano generi: et praesta per invocationem nominis tui sancti, ut, quicumque ex ea biberint, sanitatem corporis, et animae tutelam percipiant. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Bless, O Lord, this creature beer, that Thou hast been pleased to bring forth from the sweetness of the grain: that it might be a salutary remedy for the human race: and grant by the invocation of Thy holy name, that, whosoever drinks of it may obtain health of body and a sure safeguard for the soul. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Man, I love being Catholic!

St. Izzy, when y'all go to the Brew at the Zoo this weekend, make sure someone pronounces this on the libations! [I guess you can omit the "+" part -- the signing over the beer itself -- which is the gesture of blessing reserved to the ordained. Unless you have our worthy Pastor or our worthy Deacon in attendance] And I would recommend this for the next parish Christmas party! :)

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3 comments:

assiniboine said...

Well, beer, which is the working man's drink (subsidised at 25 cents a glass when I was a student!) is the dispositive one, isn't it. I first started thinking of clergy as real people when I was organist at an Anglican cathedral and the clergy made a point of a visit to the pub (with turtleneck sweaters over the clerical collars to discourage unwelcome overtures) after choir practice every Thursday night. So much friendlier than the universal brief discussion at United Church of Canada wedding receptions: "Ummm...Mr Bloggs, would you like a drink? Uh, Ummm....We have...well, cranberry juice...." (When the minister comes for dinner one clears out the wine glasses from the china cabinet, but it's a bit trickier at a wedding reception.) "Absolutely! Rum and coke thank you." [Sigh of relief.]

But speaking of the conviviality of the grape, I am, though, as doubtless are other regular readers of your blog, wondering somewhat when you will have a comment on Mel Gibson's recent *in vino veritas* moment.

St. Izzy said...

1) Sad to say, but I may be the only YAC there. No one has confirmed, and a few have passed along regrets. I suppose that will make a "group blessing" easier to organize.

2) I'm a little curious about the structure of "creaturam istam cerevisae". I suppose it must be a partitive genitive as in "quid novi", "nil novi sub sole", and "paulum frumenti", but there's no reason for creatura to expect partition, and I think it would be clearer with an appositive accusative.

3) Lizzy will tell you that the history of epidemiology begins with a story of beer. And yet she doesn't like the stuff. Just as well, I suppose, if she's turning diabetic.

Fr. Gaurav Shroff said...

@ assiniboine: well, as you've noticed, I've not said anything about l'affair Mel. I don't think I want to go there ... there's enough heat being circulated in the blogosphere (and beyond) on that ...

@st. izzy: hmm, I agree. creaturam cervisiam ... but maybe, if it was just good ol' possesive, "this creature [as in a thing created] of beer"? ... weird, but works, no?