Sunday, August 5, 2007
A Medieval Tale
Last night's beer with Kenny and his friends at Brewerks in Clarke Quay made me recall the simple joy of being Catholic. Beer. One cannot truly call himself a Catholic if he doesn't like the occassional beer or two or if he can't hold his alchol for that matter.
Out of my mind? Certainly not.
It may come as a surprise to many that beer was nurtured by Catholic monks across Europe. The malt that was nurtured by monks were highly valued, therefore, large-scale breweries were set up in monastic settlements that sprang up across Europe from the 5th century onwards *talk about vocation promotion*. And mind you, these monks were never sustainance brewers, in other words, they supplied the needs of thristy travellers and pilgrams, making ale the financial stability of the monastries. In England where monastries were so central to the development of brewing that the industy aadopted the monk's method of marking the strength of the beer with crosses.
The early Church looked kindly on ale, regarding it as a blessing from God. In fact the early name for yeast was 'God is Good'. St. Florian in Bavaria was reknown for his brewery skills.
Beer in the medieval period wasn't like what it is today. Beer was more than an intoxicating refreshment, it provided a safe drink in an age when the purity of water and milk were uncertain, and drinks like tea and coffee were unknown. The brewing process of beer removed impurities and dieseses, making it a safe drink. This reason was not understood, but the effects were widely welcomed.
The names of Ridleys Bishops Ale and Marston's Merrie Monk reflect the early Church connection with brewing and beer. Today, monastries in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany still brew beer. The world famous Chimay ales derives from the Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Scourmont in Belgium.
As Hilaire Belloc once said, "Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, there’s always laughter and good red wine. At least I’ve always found it so. Benedicamus Domino!"
Labels: Beer, Early Church, Monks, Rants/Musings/Thoughts, Religious
Friday, June 29, 2007
SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles
PETER THE APOSTLE AND PAUL THE TEACHEROF THE NATIONS TAUGHT US YOUR LAW, LORD.
Intrioit: These men, conquering all human frailty, shed their blood and helped the Church to grow. By sharing the cup of the Lord's suffering, they became the friends of God.
Today, the Universal Church commerates Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the princes of the apostles, from whom we dervie our Christian faith. In the Gospel reading (St. Matthew 16:13-19), we will learn how Jesus prepared the fervent Apostle, St. Peter, for the supreme office of the Papacy.
It may be interesting to note that traditionally, this feast was almost entirely devoted to St. Peter, Bishop of Rome, rather than St. Paul, the great apostle of the Gentiles who was more specially honoured on June 30. Today both the Saints receive the same devotion and commemoration. This makes sense as the theme for the Mass recalls the same effect of the Lord's presence in their lives; the Lord always stood by them giving them power so that through them the whole message might be proclaimed for all the world to hear.
This feast marks the day of translation of their relics.
St. Peter
St. Peter preaced the Gospel in Judea after the descent of the Holy Spirit and was cast into prison by Herod Agrippa. Miraculously, an angel delivered him, enabling him to establish his first see at Antioch, and then finally Rome. St. Peter exercised the Supreme Authority vested in him by Christ for twenty-five years before being arrested. He received the crown of martyrdom in 65.
St. Paul
St. Paul was once known as Saul of Tarsus. Saul was a great persecutor of the Christians and wrecked havoc in the Early Church. After a miraculous encounted with God, Saul begain his three great Apostolic Voyages and wrote his Epistles (Paul is the author of many of the Epistles found in the vault of Sacred Scripture). Arriving in Rome after two years of captivity in Caesarea, he travelled to that part of the Church situated beyond Italy before being beheaded in 65.
Let us thank our Heavenly Father for SS. Peter and Paul:
O God who hast made this day holy by the martyrdom of Thine Apsotles Peter and Paul: grant that Thy Church may in all things follow the precepts of those through whom she received the beginnings of the Faith. Keep us true to their teaching so that we may be enabled to share their joy in following the Lord to the unfading inheritance reserved for us in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
SS. Peter and Paul, pray for us!
Labels: Apostles, Catholic Belief, Early Church, Martyr, Prayer, Quote, Saints
Thursday, June 28, 2007
St. Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr
IRENAEUS, IN KEEPING WITH HIS NAME, WAS A MAN OF PEACE; HE FOUGHT STRENUOUSLY FOR THE PEACE OF THE CHURCH
Today, the Universal Church commerates St. Irenaeus, bishop and martyr. St. Irenaeus was born at Smyrna about 130 to Grecian Christian parents who were probably from Lesser Asia. His parents placed him under the care of St. Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna at that time), whom St. Irenaeus became a disciple of. He was well educated and probably knew and was influenced by men who knew the apostles; especially St. Polycarp, who had been a pupil of St. John.
St. Irenaeus became a priest at Lyons, France by the year 177, during the time of persecution there. A powerful defender of the faith against the heresies of the Gnostics, he was soon made bishop of Lyons after his predecessor, St. Pothinus, was martyred.
As bishop he carried on a great and fruitful work: converting all Lyons to Christianity and devoting particular attention to trying to reconcile the numerous sects which menaced the existence of the church. His five-book treatise against the heresy of Gnosticism in Gaul conveys the apostolic tradition in it and is a powerful testimony to the primacy of the Pope.
St. Irenaeus suffered martyrdom about the year 202, under the Emperor Severus, at Lyons.
Let us thank our Heavenly Father for St. Irenaeus:
O God who didst enable the blessed Irenaeus, Thy Martyr and Bishop, to overcome heresies by the truth of doctrine (II Tim. 3:14-17, 4:1-5) and happily to establish peace in the Church: we beseech Thee, give to Thy people constancy in holy religion, and grant us Thy peace in our time. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Irenaeus, pray for us!
Labels: Bishops, Catholic Belief, Early Church, Martyr, Prayer, Quote, Saints
Friday, June 1, 2007
St. Justin, Martyr
Today, the Universal Church commerates St. Justin, martyr. St. Justin was born of pagan parents in Flavia Neapolis in Samaria and died in the year 165.
This great saint was converted from pagan philosophy to Christianity after finding the Christian faith to be "the one certain and profitable philosophy." He St. Justin became one of the most important Christian writers of the second century and was an illustrious opponent of pagan philosophers.
He is most celebrated for the two Apologies (Defences of the Christian faith) which he was courageous enough to address in sucession to the persecuting emperors, Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius. One of them contains a description of the rites of baptism and the ceremonies of Mass, thus constituting the most valuable evidence that we possess on the Roman liturgy of his day.
St. Justin on the Mass,
"And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place. And the memoirs of the Apostles or the writings of the Prophets are read, as long as time permits. Then, when the reader has ceased, the priest verbally instructs us and exhorts us to imitate these good things. Then we all rise together and pray. And, as we said before, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought. Then, the priest in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability. And the people assent, saying 'Amen.' Then, the Eucharist, is distributed to everyone, and everyone participates in that over which thanks has been given. And a portion of it is sent by the deacons to those who are absent." St. Justin Martyr ("First Apology," c. 160 A.D.)
Let us thank our Heavenly Father for St. Justin:
O God, Who through the foolishness of the cross didst teach the blessed Martyr Justin the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ: enable us by his intercession to put away all deceits of error and obtain steadfastness of faith. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Justin, pray for us!
Acknowledgements:
Labels: Catholic Belief, Early Church, Martyr, Prayer, Quote, Saints
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