Chocolate with real gold, and the Pope

  • Thread starter Thread starter Qoeleth
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Q

Qoeleth

Guest
I saw on a documentary about this chocolate place in Vienna which makes chocalted with real gold sprinkled on top. I though this was the most disgusting and sinful extravagance, insulting the poor, and degrading to anyone who would even think about such a thing. Then, they said, one of their customers for these was Pope Benedict XVI.

I have always admired Benedict (at least in his writings, which is as far as I know him). Could this possibly be true??

I pray that it isn’t.
 
I am happy to report that I have spent 20 minutes researching this issue, and concluded that the gold is far less expensive than the other ingredients. You can buy more than 69 feet of gold tape for crunching up on your dinner for less than $50.

goldleafcompany.com/goldleaf.html

I imagine the poor old Pope’s life is full of having to be nice to people about silly gifts, and that he probably has a Pontifical Special Department of Silly Gifts to buy things to give in exchange. No doubt this purchase was one of those.
 
Ropata said:
I am happy to report that I have spent 20 minutes researching this issue, and concluded that the gold is far less expensive than the other ingredients. You can buy more than 69 feet of gold tape for crunching up on your dinner for less than $50.

goldleafcompany.com/goldleaf.html

I imagine the poor old Pope’s life is full of having to be nice to people about silly gifts, and that he probably has a Pontifical Special Department of Silly Gifts to buy things to give in exchange. No doubt this purchase was one of those.
Click to expand...
Thanks, That relieves my worries a bit, that it is not really much of a waste.
 
First of all - let’s assume that His Holiness is a customer of this shop.
  1. Who says he buys them for himself? Part of being a head of state and head of a huge organization is that it involves gift giving and entertaining - a heckuva lot of gift giving and entertaining. Most of the items he receives as gifts from other heads of state and government would be extremely expensive, as would the food he receives from them at state banquets etc. So it behoves him to be generous in his turn with what he gives and how he entertains them. It’s called courtesy.
  2. Let’s assume he does buy these chocolates purely for himself. The question is how often? If he’s eating them like other people do M & Ms, that’s probably cause for criticism. As a once- or twice a year treat or something - well, no sin in a very occasional indulgence. All of us will occasionally buy treats for ourselves that are more expensive than we strictly need them to be. Even Jesus indulged - what wedding party really needs 120 GALLONS of top quality wine?
 
Gold leaf is a fairly common decoration for desserts, and as addressed is not very expensive. It’s always used sparingly.
 
LilyM said:
First of all - let’s assume that His Holiness is a customer of this shop.
  1. Who says he buys them for himself? Part of being a head of state and head of a huge organization is that it involves gift giving and entertaining - a heckuva lot of gift giving and entertaining. Most of the items he receives as gifts from other heads of state and government would be extremely expensive, as would the food he receives from them at state banquets etc. So it behoves him to be generous in his turn with what he gives and how he entertains them. It’s called courtesy.
  2. Let’s assume he does buy these chocolates purely for himself. The question is how often? If he’s eating them like other people do M & Ms, that’s probably cause for criticism. As a once- or twice a year treat or something - well, no sin in a very occasional indulgence. All of us will occasionally buy treats for ourselves that are more expensive than we strictly need them to be. Even Jesus indulged - what wedding party really needs 120 GALLONS of top quality wine?
Click to expand...
A priest I trust said that weddings at that time involved hordes of people and went on for weeks; it was not what we know now as a “reception”. If he’s right, then I can see where 120 gallons of wine might be desirable and not an extravagance.

And remember, the wine our LORD provided was the best. Evidently not all of the wine consumed at this venue was top grade.

ICXC NIKA
 
GEddie said:
A priest I trust said that weddings at that time involved hordes of people and went on for weeks; it was not what we know now as a “reception”. If he’s right, then I can see where 120 gallons of wine might be desirable and not an extravagance.

And remember, the wine our LORD provided was the best. Evidently not all of the wine consumed at this venue was top grade.

ICXC NIKA
Click to expand...
And remember the comments made about it? The surprise at it, not because it was good wine, but because it was ‘saved for last’?

Clearly, even if the party had been going a long time (and to even hold a party lastjng weeks is in and of itself a massive act of indulgence, no?), the fact is Jesus made the wine at the point that the party was winding down. The point where the guests had already indulged so much they wouldn’t have cared or noticed what they were drinking. The point at which it was expected the poor-quality wine would be served. Hence the surprise.
 
LilyM said:
And remember the comments made about it? The surprise at it, not because it was good wine, but because it was ‘saved for last’?

Clearly, even if the party had been going a long time (and to even hold a party lastjng weeks is in and of itself a massive act of indulgence, no?), the fact is Jesus made the wine at the point that the party was winding down. The point where the guests had already indulged so much they wouldn’t have cared or noticed what they were drinking. The point at which it was expected the poor-quality wine would be served. Hence the surprise.
Click to expand...
I’d imagine that the fairytale weddings of our own time are far more “indulgent” than anything our LORD was involved with. Guests travelling hundreds or thousands of miles, and then being expected to provide an expensive gift. Months of income spent on garments that will never be worn again. Historically fabulous sums spent on the flowers, music, photos, etc.

Especially when modern couples increasingly “shack up” prior to the wedding to save up for it, a course of action that in part negates the very purpose for it; and when the bills from the event have been known to outlast the marriage itself (according to “Father Know-It-All”).

ICXC NIKA
 
LilyM said:
First of all - let’s assume that His Holiness is a customer of this shop.
  1. Who says he buys them for himself? Part of being a head of state and head of a huge organization is that it involves gift giving and entertaining - a heckuva lot of gift giving and entertaining. Most of the items he receives as gifts from other heads of state and government would be extremely expensive, as would the food he receives from them at state banquets etc. So it behoves him to be generous in his turn with what he gives and how he entertains them. It’s called courtesy.
  2. Let’s assume he does buy these chocolates purely for himself. The question is how often? If he’s eating them like other people do M & Ms, that’s probably cause for criticism. As a once- or twice a year treat or something - well, no sin in a very occasional indulgence. All of us will occasionally buy treats for ourselves that are more expensive than we strictly need them to be. Even Jesus indulged - what wedding party really needs 120 GALLONS of top quality wine?
Click to expand...
Gold is not a normal foodstuff. Therefore, adding gold to a foodstuff can only be understood as a vain display of wealth and ostentation. Presumably, it does not make them any better as food then regular chocolate.

To waste while others do not have enough is sinful.

Even if, as has been pointed out, it is not actually that expensive, maybe it makes it OK to accept it as a gift. Even if only symbolic, it does not sit with my conscience.
 
How often does HH go to Vienna? Or does the place ship it’s product abroad?

Being “one of their customers” doesn’t imply that HH consumes this item regularly. It’s possible that he had it only rarely, and given who he is, possibly as a gift.

This isn’t really something to be concerned about.

ICXC NIKA
 
Qoeleth said:
Gold is not a normal foodstuff. Therefore, adding gold to a foodstuff can only be understood as a vain display of wealth and ostentation. Presumably, it does not make them any better as food then regular chocolate.

To waste while others do not have enough is sinful.

Even if, as has been pointed out, it is not actually that expensive, maybe it makes it OK to accept it as a gift. Even if only symbolic, it does not sit with my conscience.
Click to expand...
We all, to at least some extent, ‘waste’. Do you strictly need every single inch of space that your home currently occupies? Every single appliance that you own or use? Your TV and computer? In fact do you NEED that electricity that you use at all? There are people who live without, y’know.

Do you need to take even a short shower when you could use less water by washing in a bucket? Use a car - or even public transport - for distances that you potentially could walk? How many changes of clothes and pairs of shoes do you have? Would you ever be naked or unshod if you gave some of them away?

Most significantly - do you make sure to eat only the bare minimum of food required to keep you alive? And that food absolutely the cheapest possible of its kind?

Only if you have absolutely no waste in your own life can you condemn the fact of this one indulgence that the Pope possibly allows himself.
 
LilyM said:
We all, to at least some extent, ‘waste’. Do you strictly need every single inch of space that your home currently occupies? Every single appliance that you own or use? Your TV and computer? In fact do you NEED that electricity that you use at all? There are people who live without, y’know.

Do you need to take even a short shower when you could use less water by washing in a bucket? Use a car - or even public transport - for distances that you potentially could walk? How many changes of clothes and pairs of shoes do you have? Would you ever be naked or unshod if you gave some of them away?

Most significantly - do you make sure to eat only the bare minimum of food required to keep you alive? And that food absolutely the cheapest possible of its kind?

Only if you have absolutely no waste in your own life can you condemn the fact of this one indulgence that the Pope possibly allows himself.
Click to expand...
I don’t claim to be an exemplary Christian. I try to follow these principles- like trying to always buy the cheapest food and clother- but yes, am also guilty of wastefulness.

And I believe it is a sin.

St. Francis was an exemplary Christian. Not me, not by a long way.
 
Qoeleth said:
I don’t claim to be an exemplary Christian. I try to follow these principles- like trying to always buy the cheapest food and clother- but yes, am also guilty of wastefulness.

And I believe it is a sin.

St. Francis was an exemplary Christian. Not me, not by a long way.
Click to expand...
Yes, St Francis was AN exemplary Christian. But there are many other equally saintly Christians who did not and do not follow his example of radical poverty. Sainted Popes, Kings and Queens among them. They did NOT sin in failing to live in rags and eat less than sparrows!

There are many great Saints because there are many valid paths to holiness. Extreme poverty for some is a source of grace, for others merely a temptation to the sins of envy, theft, and whatnot. So it is not for everyone.
 
GEddie said:
I’d imagine that the fairytale weddings of our own time are far more “indulgent” than anything our LORD was involved with. Guests travelling hundreds or thousands of miles, and then being expected to provide an expensive gift. Months of income spent on garments that will never be worn again. Historically fabulous sums spent on the flowers, music, photos, etc.

Especially when modern couples increasingly “shack up” prior to the wedding to save up for it, a course of action that in part negates the very purpose for it; and when the bills from the event have been known to outlast the marriage itself (according to “Father Know-It-All”).

ICXC NIKA
Click to expand...
You think people didn’t travel long distances to a wedding celebration in Jesus’ day? Give lavish gifts? Spend lots on their outfits? Or on the food, drink, entertainment etc? Of course they did. Luxury, and luxurious weddings, are hardly unique to our own day.
 
Qoeleth said:
I don’t claim to be an exemplary Christian. I try to follow these principles- like trying to always buy the cheapest food and clother- but yes, am also guilty of wastefulness.

And I believe it is a sin.

St. Francis was an exemplary Christian. Not me, not by a long way.
Click to expand...
Buying the cheapest of everything does not always make long term economic sense. If a person can afford it buying quality goods can work out cheaper in the long term.
 
Could you imagine if they tasted the wine the Lord made, spewed it out, and said “What idiot pressed this? This is trash!” :eek: :rotfl:
 
Qoeleth said:
I saw on a documentary about this chocolate place in Vienna which makes chocalted with real gold sprinkled on top. I though this was the most disgusting and sinful extravagance, insulting the poor, and degrading to anyone who would even think about such a thing. Then, they said, one of their customers for these was Pope Benedict XVI.
Click to expand...
I can think of million dollar cars, epic birthday parties (think Tyco), multi-million dollar mansions, and a ton of other things that are far more extravagent then chocolate with a small amount of gold on it.

Based on what someone mentioned about the price of gold (and considering it’s the most malleable metal so you really aren’t getting much of it at all), there are spices and other delicacies that are far more expensive than that…so even other foods would be far more “insulting the poor.”

He has more pressure than any of us (responsible for how many souls?). If he indulges in this small way, I say let him enjoy it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top