Proper attitude towards alcohol and discernment

[BLB_Oregon]

I would like to clarify a few things since there have been a few posters who have misunderstood me.

First of all, some of you seem to assume that when I said I have drank alcohol in the past, that means that I am currently drinking on a casual basis. That is not true (in fact, I have never drank on a casual basis). In my first two years of high school I went to a few parties with friends- but even then, before I began pursuing a vocation to the priesthood, I realised that this was wrong.

Because my grandparents are from Germany and Austria, I was raised with a much more European view of alcohol. I was raised from a young age with a glass of wine at the dinner table, as I got older some brandy or beer (German beer at that!) was fine once in a while. But never in excess, never alone, and never quickly. It was a social occaision among family.

Here in North America, we have a very differant view of alcohol. Among many people here, especialy my age group, the point of alcohol is to drink as much as you can, in as short a time space as you can, get roaring drunk and make an idiot of yourself in front of all your friends. I prefer the European take on it .

So, let me clarify:

1. I do not drink casualy.
2. I do not drink to “feel good”.
3. Drinking has not led me to use drugs.
4. I do not believe that drinking alcohol to an excess or to “feel good” is ever correct.

I got the idea that you drank to feel good because you wrote that “a teenage social life means alcohol.” I didn’t know any teens who drank socially in the same way that mature adults do. Around their parents, possibly, but not when they were alone.

My grandparents were from Germany, too, and I was raised with a similar view of alcohol as you describe…at adult or family events. When my peers (same background) were at teen-only events, all bets were off. Alcoholics were made.

Keep in mind, too, that a great many Americans have seen enough soccer crowds on TV to know that we are not the only ones with social alcohol abuse problems. That is how these stereotypes get started, I suppose.

As for questions about whether you are mature: well, probably not. Some people are born with an old head on young shoulders, but that is hardly a necessary qualification for the priesthood. You sound like great priest material to me.

 

[Whiggamore]

Caesar, you strike me as a brilliant young man and your responsible attitude towards alcohol indicates it’s not something to worry about.

Being 18 I’d also encourage you to ignore those who say we shouldn’t be drinking at our age; legislation changes from province to province but you’re legally able to drink at a private residence and in other areas across Canada. Check your province’s website for the exact details if you’re at all concerned with that aspect of this issue.

 

[Wendy-Kay]

Caesar, you strike me as a brilliant young man and your responsible attitude towards alcohol indicates it’s not something to worry about.

Being 18 I’d also encourage you to ignore those who say we shouldn’t be drinking at our age; legislation changes from province to province but you’re legally able to drink at a private residence and in other areas across Canada. Check your province’s website for the exact details if you’re at all concerned with that aspect of this issue.

What?! No! Caesar, you being an 18 year old young man, please listen when I say that you should not be trusting yourself too much right now. I have three younger brothers and the youngest would have been 21. There are rationalization skills that you still need to learn that can only come with age. There is no need to learn from you own mistakes when you can learn from others’.
I am not talking about wine at meals or champagne toasts on holidays and weddings, but why not wait awhile before you consider social drinking? I think you should talk this over with your spiritual director. Whatever your vocation, I don’t think anyone would disagree that you have a love for virtue that God has blessed you with in abundance. When you asked for a “proper attitude” towards alcohol, that would be moderation and prudence. I would take some time to nuture those virtues before going any further. Just because something is legal on a technicality doesn’t make it a moral choice for everyone.

 

[CatholicMC]

There isn’t anything wrong with a little social drinking. I’m a 21 year old college student, probably going to enter a seminary or religous order. I enjoy enjoy socially drinking beer and wine every once in a while with my friends.

I find my Catholic friends, most of whom are unopposed to social drinking, live deeply spiritual lives. It makes me laugh when I think about how anti-alcohol my deep Protestant friends are.

The bible does not condone drunkeness. However, Jesus turned water into wine, so I think social drinking is perfectly normal, especially for a young seminarian and priest.

Wine is worked from the land, and is basically an art form. God can be found through the fruits of nature. The next time you have a good glass of White Merlot praise God for it!

 

[Paganus]

My grandparents were from Germany, too, and I was raised with a similar view of alcohol as you describe…at adult or family events. When my peers (same background) were at teen-only events, all bets were off. Alcoholics were made.

But is this Germanic attitude immoral if it violates civil law?

In my home state, our legislators fought raising the drinking age to 21 until the federal gov’t gave them an offer they couldn’t refuse.
Is that morally binding?

I was raised in a similar German American household. I was allowed to drink what I wanted, when I wanted - which was pretty much never until college. I couldn’t understand why my friends were shoplifting beers or using fake ids and binge drinking - after all, I always had access to beer. It was no big deal to me. Now I enjoy a nice pint of Guinness once in a while and that’s it. (Okay, maybe a Spaten Optimator this time of year.)

But if my parents allowed me to enjoy a Budweiser with my dinner at age fifteen - was it a sin?

 

[thechrismyster]

so the same courts that say you can’t drink a beer at 20 AND whom also say you can kill a child in the womb if you so please determines some folks level of sinful morality?

PLEASE.

an 18 year old having a beer at home is not a sin. it’s all about being responsible. not how many years in your life, but the life in your years. when i was 10 i went to with my family to a local vineyard every few sundays for an afternoon out… wine tastings were going on all the time and the old woman who worked there would pour me a little glass of wine and feed me german cheeses while my folks and family bought wine and ate finger foods… alcohol wasn’t turned into some big deal so it never became a big deal. when my sheltered friends were getting drunk at 18 because they had no experience with alcohol, i didn’t drink that much at all because to me it held no allure. it never was a forbidden fruit. so it never tasted that sweet.

 

[hasikelee]

I won’t dance around the subject here. As a 17 year old discerning a vocation to the priesthood, what should my attitude towards alcohol be?

It would be a lie to say that I have never drank. I’m 17, I have been to parties (although more and more I am finding them to be just plain disgusting), and I do (or did: prior to beginning to pursue a vocation) have a social life. And a teenage social life means alcohol.

I know that the Church does not condemn drinking alcohol, except in drinking for the wrong reasons. Is it wrong for me to drink now or in the future as one discerning a vocation?

Why do you need to drink alcohol? You know what, those slushies, daiquiris and sodas taste just as good without it.

I don’t think it is the drinking that is the problem here so much as the thinking. Why do you feel that drinking is an inherent part of being a young adult?

Or ask yourself this, what benefits does drinking alcohol give to you? When I asked myself this, I found nothing.

I am allergic to malt, so that rules out the lesser/cheaper drinks. Alcohol, especially over extended periods of time or in large amounts, causes numerous health issues. You will slowly become dependent on it. It seriously messes with your gastrointestinal tract, your stomach, your liver and your brain. Did you know alcohol immediately crosses the blood brain barrier? Few things do that.

Besides all of the health concerns, alcohol is expensive! Why do I need a $6 daiquiri when I can blend my own sugary drinks?

Now I must point out that I am not referring to the idea of drinking such as toasting champagne at a wedding or passing around a vintage wine at your anniversary. I am talking about the time-wasting, often over done, overpriced idea of teen parties and teen drinking.

You always have such good posts and thoughts, and aren’t you considering a vocation? Surely you have plenty of worthwhile, exciting things to do other than drink.

 

[hasikelee]

Also, I just saw that your age is 17? Isn’t there some good research that shows teenagers have a higher rate of addiction to alcohol due to changing hormone levels being affected by the alcohol?

Anyone else know of this?

At least wait until you are finished growing before putting such strong toxins into your body!

 

[joe5046]

actually, in many states it is illegal to buy, sell, or posses alcohol before the age of 21, but consumption is not specifically prohibited.

this is not true in all states however.

 

[Caesar]

Also, I just saw that your age is 17? Isn’t there some good research that shows teenagers have a higher rate of addiction to alcohol due to changing hormone levels being affected by the alcohol?

Anyone else know of this?

At least wait until you are finished growing before putting such strong toxins into your body!

Well, I drink wine. I cant see being addicted to wine

Besides, I’ve always heard that red wine is good for one’s heart, and with my genetics my heart needs all the strength it can get!