Clergy and Abstinence from Alcohol

[dsully]

Must priests and deacons consume the wine at mass? What if a clergyman has a tendency towards alcoholism? Hypothetically, could a priest or deacon serve at the altar without consuming wine?

 

[Gorgias]

Must priests and deacons consume the wine at mass?

Priests who celebrate Mass must consume the Precious Blood. (Note – not ‘wine’, but ‘Precious Blood.’ )

Deacons typically consume the Precious Blood, but I believe that there’s not the absolute requirement that they do.

What if a clergyman has a tendency towards alcoholism?

A priest may request permission from his bishop to use mustum (grape juice that has begun the process of fermentation, but which has a negligible amount of alcohol in it) in place of wine.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Priests are required to consume both species in order to complete the sacrifice. They can get permission to use mustum if need be.

 

[dsully]

Thanks. Very helpful!

 

[InThePew]

A priest who is the sole or principal celebrant must consume the eucharist under both species (i.e. the body and blood). However, there is no minimum amount of the precious blood which has to be consumed and so a priest could fulfill this requirement through intinction (dipping the host into the chalice). This is the preferred solution rather than mustum. If a priest is unable to consume even a minimal amount of wine then they can use mustum.

 

[Deus_tecum]

Must priests and deacons consume the wine at mass? What if a clergyman has a tendency towards alcoholism? Hypothetically, could a priest or deacon serve at the altar without consuming wine?

I’ve never believed the AA promoted hypothesis that someone previously addicted to alcohol can never ever have even the tiniest amount of alcohol. Many people have been healed of addiction to alcohol or drugs by a cognitive therapeutic approach. Thus healed, they can take or leave alcohol at will rather than dissolve into a drunken spree because the cook put a dash of vanilla extract in the pudding.

 

[IrishAm]

I’ve never believed the AA promoted hypothesis that someone previously addicted to alcohol can never ever have even the tiniest amount of alcohol. Many people have been healed of addiction to alcohol or drugs by a cognitive therapeutic approach. Thus healed, they can take or leave alcohol at will rather than dissolve into a drunken spree because the cook put a dash of vanilla extract in the pudding.

And, for many others suffering with addictive personalities and alcoholism, a single drop is truly the gateway to hell. The very concept of “healing” addictions is a tough one; “controlling” them is truly the first, and maybe the only, step.