Bringing a Beverage into the Church...Is it wrong?

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No beverages.
We do provide coffee and a sweet in the sacristy for AFTER middle of the night Adoration (wee hours of the morning) because we are in a rural area, with unlit windy roads. We make it clear that the coffee is TO GO for their safety on the way home.

At my previous parish where I was the DRE not the Choir Director, the entire choir would very visibly chug water at Mass. Was so distracting, and honestly, there was no one that was of a quality that they needed to be swishing water in their mouths. It was and appeared to be a prima donna thing. Ugh.

My choir is in the loft, but I always tell them, if you MUST have water (persistent cough) you need to drink it inconspicuously, even so as not to distract the other choir members from Mass.

No bueno.
 
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I’m on an adoration committee and we don’t have any specific rules. - But - I wouldn’t like to see anything other than water in our chapel because of the carpet. It’s a very long trek to the bathroom for towels to mop up any spills and the carpet would likely be stained by coffee, cola, or the like. That said, modern drink cups minimize spills and if someone needs the coffee to stay awake, okay-I guess, but couldn’t they drink it all before they enter the chapel?

Regarding drinking water in choir, we’ve had this discussion. The key is to stay hydrated, period. Those swigs at the moment do little to help. Pianistclare is quite right about the image it gives when the choir is visible and folks are chug-a-lugging.
 
We used to have a Sacristan who would put out ice water on a little table beside the presider’s chair at every Mass. Finally, the Pastor pulled her aside and said: Please don’t put a glass out there, it sends the wrong message to the people. If I can’t be here for 45 minutes to an hour without a sip of water, then you’d better get me to the ER. 🤣
 
On the other hand, the priest at our Sunday Mass got a little dry and was trying to inconspicuously cough and clear his throat toward the end of the Eucharistic Prayer. I wasn’t sure he was going to be able to finish. A cup of water had been set aside for him. He took a sip during the Lord’s Prayer and was fine after that.
 
I think much has to do with the individual, their age, and general health. Clearly, your priest benefitted from it.
 
Water should be fine if you have some condition, like occasional coughing fits or other medical need, to have some with you . I’d put it in a spill-proof container, and not a Starbucks cup or anything that looked like some other beverage. Bring a water bottle with a cap.

I wouldn’t want to bring anything else in other than water in a water bottle, because I don’t normally eat or drink in church, and I consider adoration “church”, and I also would worry about spills and splashes that someone would have to clean up or could slip on if there wasn’t carpet.

I have an informal relationship with Jesus too and if I’m home on my own couch praying away, maybe I’ll be having a Coke, but when I go see Him at His house, I feel a little more formal about things. I don’t feel like I have to get dressed up in my best outfit, but I do draw the line at bringing in gum or coffee. If I think I will get sleepy, I pound some coffee before I go in, or I leave the cup out in the car and then if necessary go out for some (understanding that this doesn’t work if you’re the only one at Adoration and the Blessed Sacrament is exposed).
 
Blessedwithfive said:
I personally wouldn’t bring in Starbucks. Maybe water. And i would consider it “bad form” but I wouldn’t have corrected you either. Just my opinion…I don’t think their is a rule against it. I also consider chewing gum in the church bad form…and men wearing a hat…both of which I do not think there is a rule against it.
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I’m guilty of chewing gum in church – I’m hopelessly addicted to nicotine gum. I quit smoking when my wife got pregnant with our first kid, now almost four, and I can’t seem to quit the gum. I hate it, I hate the habit. I’m trying. . .
 
I would simply ask your Pastor, if you’re going to your own parish.

I have asthma, and I asked my Pastor at one of the parishes that I attended, if it was alright for me to have a water bottle at church/Mass if I needed it, since I have a chronic cough due to my asthma, as one of its symptoms.

He told me that it was, so I kept a water bottle with me, in case I needed it.
 
JamalChristophr said:
If a person were to bring a beverage into church when they were spending time before the blessed sacrament, would it be wrong? A person corrected me today as I walked out of the church proper with a Starbucks container in my hand basically saying I should not do that and that it was “bad form.”

I guess my primary question is, “is it wrong?” I get sleepy at times when I’m sitting before the tabernacle and prefer to be alert and so that’s why I brought it in. If it is indeed not a good thing to do, I would like to know and I can stop doing it. I can see how some people, at least, would consider it disrespectful.

Thoughts?
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Certainly not wrong to bring it into the church as you note, but it would be best if you ducked outside to take your sips or better yet, just drank your coffee before entering church.
 
I think you can decide what beverage to bring or not to bring. I just don’t like Starbucks because of their anti-Catholic views.

I think people need to be careful about judging others on what they bring into Church or even in some cases how they dress. Some people have become way too procedural with some things.
 
Check on the fasting rule. You may want to talk a priest about getting it waived in your case.
 
I have brought water and once or twice juice to Mass when I was pregnant or nursing. Our masses run over an hour, we were there 20 minutes early, plus travel time. It could easily be over 2 and a half hours from the time we left home to leaving Mass…and when my baby was under 6 months she NEEDED a drink. The church had no air conditioning so I’d be sitting being literally “sucked dry” in 90+ degrees. Water was a must.

Pregnancy can also be rough, especially the first trimester. If anyone but the priest told me I was not supposed to have my water to sip to keep me from getting nauseous they can go kick rocks.
 
Maybe an unmarked thermos would slip by people’s notice. It is kind of bad form I think but if you did it subtly you might be ok. Especially if it helps you pray. But be aware most people will be taken aback by it. I have noticed people drinking the Holy Water in Orthodox Churches which kind of unnerves me a little - I mean I would never grab a handful of water in a Catholic Church and drink it. But I am used to it now. Once I had a coughing fit and was very thankful the Holy Water was there (with little cups). I also don’t always fast before services; it helps me focus - I actually pray to God about it. Fast to Christ, eat to Christ. Again, as long as it is helping you in devotions I say ok. Gotta watch these old Churches and rules rules rules…(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
Why so sleepy? I think you should make sure you are getting enough sleep. Personally, I think it is bad form. But I think not getting enough sleep is bad form, too.
 
NiceIsAsNiceDoes said:
Why so sleepy? I think you should make sure you are getting enough sleep. Personally, I think it is bad form. But I think not getting enough sleep is bad form, too.
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I think it can be very natural to feel sleepy and at rest before Jesus, even if one is otherwise well rested.

That, and I think Jesus appreciates an hour of adoration over an hour of TV after work–and one can be legitimately tired without it being bad form.

To me, this seems like you’re knit-picking another believer for no other reason than your own judgments.
 
It’s OK. I manage to avoid the gum on those Sundays when I plan to receive Communion. I’d feel funny asking for a waiver, since I’m a generally healthy guy. And if I could get through Mass without a cigarette, I should be able to make it without the gum.

I’m working on it. I hate being addicted to this stuff. At least it won’t kill me.
 
NiceIsAsNiceDoes said:
Why so sleepy? I think you should make sure you are getting enough sleep. Personally, I think it is bad form. But I think not getting enough sleep is bad form, too.
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Some people have a lot to do before Mass.

I often work late on Saturdays. I’ve got two kids – I need the OT.

Then I get up early, make breakfast for the kids, get my car, drive to Manhattan, pick up my elderly father, who is unable to walk, get him into the car, which takes a while, drive back to Brooklyn, get him into the church, go park the car, come back to church, and then Mass.

I’m pretty sleepy during Mass. Can’t be helped.
 
I personally would never bring any beverage into a Church or Chapel except for water. I always carry a bottle of water with me anyway. I’m on certain meds that cause dry mouth & I need to drink water. Also, there are people who are diabetic who may need to drink water often. I think the Good Lord understands needs such as these.
 
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