Type of wine for Eucharist

[nrevier]

I would like to know what the requirements are for the type of wine used at Eucharist. Our parish has started using a boxed wine and it leaves terrible stains on the purificators. Does the church have any guidelines as to types of wine that should be used? Thanks for any help.

 

[mommyof4]

My priest told me that it has to be read wine made from grapes, and it needs a certain alcohol content (don’t remember how much). Beyond that, any brand, etc. is fine.

 

[kell0618]

A local winery link that specializes solely in altar wine.

  Regarding the necessary qualities of sacramental wine, No. 50 of the        instruction "Redemptionis Sacramentum" states: 
  
  "The wine that is used in the most sacred celebration of the Eucharistic        Sacrifice must be natural, from the fruit of the grape, pure and        incorrupt, not mixed with other substances. ... It is altogether forbidden        to use wine of doubtful authenticity or provenance, for the Church        requires certainty regarding the conditions necessary for the validity of        the sacraments. Nor are other drinks of any kind to be admitted for any        reason, as they do not constitute valid matter." --[Source](http://www.ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur39.htm)

Commercial wines often contain additives or mixtures of other substances which give them their particular qualities but which may render them doubtful matter.

  However if other elements enter the wine naturally, without changing its        nature, it would not appear that this affects the wine's suitability as        valid matter. 
  
  Many wines have traces of particular minerals due to factors such as soil        and water composition, or from other natural sources during the fermenting        process, and this has never been considered as a condition of invalidity.

I believe the alcohol level must be between 12% and 18%.

 

[TimOliv]

My priest told me that it has to be read wine made from grapes, and it needs a certain alcohol content (don’t remember how much). Beyond that, any brand, etc. is fine.

There are white altar wines that are approved for sacramental use.

 

[mommyof4]

In my former parish, one of the parishoners owned a liquor store, and donated all of the eucharistic wine. I don’t know what kind of wine it was, though.

 

[nrevier]

The wine we are using is Franzia wine in a box. Does this wine meet qualification standards? Thanks

 

[kell0618]

The wine we are using is Franzia wine in a box. Does this wine meet qualification standards? Thanks

Franzia makes hundreds of different wines, but they do make Sacramental wine as well. Is there a reason to suspect that your priest is not using the proper wine? If not, I think it is safe to assume your priest uses the appropriate wine. I have never checked the label on our wine in the Sacristy and am not inclined to do so.

 

[Marauder]

Check this thread for a discussion on it.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=136088

Valid sacremental wine must be 100% grape. Anything else added to the wine would make it illicit.

The color of the wine does not matter for validity. Some parishes think it is more appropriate to use red wine to make it look more like blood, but that is not a requirement. Many parishes use white wine to cut down on staining.

 

[Teelynn]

Parishes may purchase altar wine, I’m not sure where from but my parish priest told me that a long time ago. The problem might be the expense. (in this day and age of watching every penny) however, yes it must be pure grape wine with no additives. I’m not sure about the boxed wine, but as I recall yes, it does have additives.

 

[johnnykins]

I would like to know what the requirements are for the type of wine used at Eucharist. Our parish has started using a boxed wine and it leaves terrible stains on the purificators. Does the church have any guidelines as to types of wine that should be used? Thanks for any help.

Use white wine - that was the norm in the Pre-VII days for exactly the reason you state - stains. White wine is perfectly valid and licit - assuming all other things being OK.

 

[Nekic]

My parish uses red wine made by the Jesuits in South Australia.

I thought that was awesome! Wine-making Jesuits…

 

[stbruno]

The Benedictans in Germany along with making wine, make beer. “liquid bread!”

 

[amightyfortress]

I am sure Jesus used red wine at the last supper and unleavened bread since he was Jewish. Any red wine works well since it symbolizes the blood of Jesus. “Drink this in rememberance of me.”

A good wine to use is Merlot, Cabernet or Shiraz. There are several good recipes for unleavened bread to use for your parish too instead of using those horrible tasteless wafers which stick to the roof of your mouth no matter what.

There are several accounts in the BIble of Jesus with wine, mostly at parties and weddings.

 

[LilyM]

I am sure Jesus used red wine at the last supper and unleavened bread since he was Jewish. Any red wine works well since it symbolizes the blood of Jesus. “Drink this in rememberance of me.”

A good wine to use is Merlot, Cabernet or Shiraz. There are several good recipes for unleavened bread to use for your parish too instead of using those horrible tasteless wafers which stick to the roof of your mouth no matter what.

There are several accounts in the BIble of Jesus with wine, mostly at parties and weddings.

Umm … beg to differ It’s not like red wine is prescribed for Jewish passover celebrations, at least not to my knowledge. It’s certainly not mentioned in the scriptural directions for celebration of Passover. Where did you get this idea that only red wine would do?

As for bread … there’s a point to it being tasteless. And we Catholics are restricted in terms of adding things to ‘improve’ the taste. The point is it is spiritual food rather than physical, and the tastelessness reminds us of this.

 

[Marauder]

I am sure Jesus used red wine at the last supper and unleavened bread since he was Jewish. Any red wine works well since it symbolizes the blood of Jesus. “Drink this in rememberance of me.”

A good wine to use is Merlot, Cabernet or Shiraz. There are several good recipes for unleavened bread to use for your parish too instead of using those horrible tasteless wafers which stick to the roof of your mouth no matter what.

There are several accounts in the BIble of Jesus with wine, mostly at parties and weddings.

This post is wrong on so many levels. First off RS says

“50. The wine that is used in the most sacred celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice must be natural, from the fruit of the grape, pure and incorrupt, not mixed with other substances.127
…
It is altogether forbidden to use wine of doubtful authenticity or provenance, for the Churchrequires certainty regarding the conditions necessary for the validity of the sacraments. Nor are other drinks of any kind to be admitted for any reason, as they do not constitute valid matter.”

No where does it specify the color of the wine. Red, white or blush can be used. Also the type of wine also is important because only pure grape wines can be used, if ANYTHING other the grape is added the wine becomes illicit.

Jesus may have used different types of wines at things but the church says what is acceptable or unacceptable. To go against it makes the wine illicit.

As for changing the recipe of bread used, if you add anything other the flour and wheat (and yeast if in an Eastern Rite church) then the bread would also become illicit. And enough other things are added that someone wouldn’t consider it wheat bread anymore then it would be invalid.

Directly from RS.
“48. The bread used in the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition.123 It follows therefore that bread made from another substance, even if it is grain, or if it is mixed with another substance different from wheat to such an extent that it would not commonly be considered wheat bread, does not constitute valid matter for confecting the Sacrifice and the Eucharistic Sacrament.124 It is a grave abuse to introduce other substances, such as fruit or sugar or honey, into the bread for confecting the Eucharist. Hosts should obviously be made by those who are not only distinguished by their integrity, but also skilled in making them and furnished with suitable tools.125”

 

[amightyfortress]

Man made rules again.

Does it really matter as long as we follow his command?
One of my Catholic priest friends says that red symbolizes His blood.

I really wonder what type of wine Jesus created when he did the miracle at the wedding feast with turning it from water into wine. I remember the Gospel reading saying that it amazed everybody.

 

[Marauder]

Man made rules again.

Either you follow the rules of the church or you don’t. As for the wine that Jesus used. Jewish people have numerous rules for their Passover wine, very few modern wines make the cut. There is no indication that Jesus didn’t follow them.

But I just noticed you are Lutheran so it doesn’t matter what type of wine you use anyway, since due to apostolic succession, your wine stays just that anyway.

One of my Catholic priest friends says that red symbolizes His blood.

Some parishes use red wine because it more closely resembles blood, but it is a preference, not a requirement.

I really wonder what type of wine Jesus created when he did the miracle at the wedding feast with turning it from water into wine. I remember the Gospel reading saying that it amazed everybody.

You can wonder all you want, there is no proof any way or the other. Church tradition and doctrine says the wine needs to be 100% grape, either you believe the tradition or you don’t.

 

[Linuse]

One good indication of what can be used may be an official directive from the Diocese of Oakland which stated that any California true grape wine was acceptable.
Sulfides added as a preservative are not considered items that negate the kosher quality of the wine.

 

[porthos11]

The poster amightyfortress is Lutheran, and do not adhere to the same disciplines as we do.

However because he is Lutheran, he has no right to dictate what is licit for Catholics.

Either you follow the rules of the church or you don’t. As for the wine that Jesus used. Jewish people have numerous rules for their Passover wine, very few modern wines make the cut. There is no indication that Jesus didn’t follow them.

But I just noticed you are Lutheran so it doesn’t matter what type of wine you use anyway, since due to apostolic succession, your wine stays just that anyway.

Some parishes use red wine because it more closely resembles blood, but it is a preference, not a requirement.

You can wonder all you want, there is no proof any way or the other. Church tradition and doctrine says the wine needs to be 100% grape, either you believe the tradition or you don’t.