White WIne

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A friend of mine told me he went to a mass where they used white wine instead of red wine. Is this acceptable?
 
White wine and red wine are both acceptable for the Eucharist.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, section 322 states:

The wine for the Eucharistic celebration must be from the fruit of the grapevine (cf. Luke 22:18), natural, and unadulterated, that is, without admixture of extraneous substances.

The color of wine is not mentioned.
 
Some sacristans prefer white wine since it doesn’t stain purificators and other linens.
 
can you give some reason why you think it would not be acceptable, and some reason why a friend would raise a doubt in your mind like this?
 
puzzleannie said:
can you give some reason why you think it would not be acceptable, and some reason why a friend would raise a doubt in your mind like this?
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perhaps because red wine better brings to mind the blood of Christ than white?

i.e. the Blood is red, therefor it is better for the wine to be red.
 
I’m so used to white wine being used that it’s quite a shock if I visit a parish which uses red.

I think white is preferable for three reasons, in addition to the laundry reason mentioned above.
  1. It makes transubstantiation more obvious to me - that is, the wine does not resemble blood, which makes it clear that we receive the substance, independent of the accidents.
  2. Using white wine means that children and others are not horrified and put off by the appearance. It’s difficult enough to convince some of them that it’s not ‘disgusting’ to drink blood.
  3. It means that those of us whose migraines are triggered by red wine can receive from the chalice.
 
paperwight said:
I think white is preferable for three reasons, in addition to the laundry reason mentioned above.
  1. It makes transubstantiation more obvious to me - that is, the wine does not resemble blood, which makes it clear that we receive the substance, independent of the accidents.
  2. Using white wine means that children and others are not horrified and put off by the appearance. It’s difficult enough to convince some of them that it’s not ‘disgusting’ to drink blood.
  3. It means that those of us whose migraines are triggered by red wine can receive from the chalice.
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ah, perhaps so, but the red wine tastes better! 😃 In fact, I asked a priest friend of mine who used to work at the winery about it once. He said it’s a special blend specifically for liturgical services.

It’s odd, but I do not think that I have ever had white wine at Mass. Certainly I’ve never seen kids horrified at the red wine’s appearance. They drink grape juice after all. 🤷

I can see how it would be preferable because of the staining issue, but I really appreciate the blood red appearance of the wine, signifying Christ’s blood shed for us. Doesn’t seem at all weird to me, but then I’m a cradle Catholic.

I get the migraines, though, I’m sorry you have them, too. Anyway, one sip isn’t enough to trigger one for me.

I am just grateful when we get to receive the blood in the form of wine at services, since it’s either suspended during flu season or not all Churches offer it anyway.
 
From what I have seen as a former Sacristan, whether Red or White wine is used for consecration there is (“No”) physical significance as to red wine taking on resemblance of Christ’s Blood ant more than consecrated white wine. The bottom line is the disposition of Faith. A devote Catholic should believe that the wine aside from it’s physical appearances taste or otherwise IS the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. This applies to either species in the consecrated host or wine.

Whether White or Red wine is used it has absolutely nothing to do with appearance but is strictly a personal preference of the priest himself.
 
I think the OP was curious to know if it was acceptable because most Catholics are used to seeing red wine, that it’s a little bit of a shock for some of us to see some churches using white wine.

Natural human reaction.
 
CatholicZ09 said:
… most Catholics are used to seeing red wine…
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I am curious: Is there data to support this?

I can easily believe that most Catholics are used to whatever they see in their own parishes*, but is it known that most parishes use red? I know the parish I grew up in used white, and the first time I visited a community using red it was a striking difference, but it did not cause me to question its legitimacy. 🤷

(* Those who are aware at all, I mean – I would not be surprised to learn that a sizeable number of Catholics have no idea what color of wine is used even in their own parish)

tee
 
tee_eff_em said:
I am curious: Is there data to support this?

I can easily believe that most Catholics are used to whatever they see in their own parishes*, but is it known that most parishes use red? I know the parish I grew up in used white, and the first time I visited a community using red it was a striking difference, but it did not cause me to question its legitimacy. 🤷

(* Those who are aware at all, I mean – I would not be surprised to learn that a sizeable number of Catholics have no idea what color of wine is used even in their own parish)

tee
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Looking back, I guess it was wrong to say “most Catholics are used to seeing red wine” :o, but I know if I saw a parish using white wine and I didn’t know if that was acceptable as I do now, I would probably question its legitimacy. I’m not saying I think most would question it, but I would if I didn’t know it was acceptable to use white wine or not. I guess I was trying to say was that the OP was probably most likely used to seeing red wine used, so hearing that some parishes use white wine might make make him/her wonder if it was acceptable or not.

Like you said, it is a “striking difference.” I guess some people wonder if that difference is acceptable or not.
 
The only benefit red wine has over white wine is that it appeals to our senses better: it better resembles wine, so for some it has a greater sign value. But the Church does not rule against the use of white wine.
 
With the liturgical abuse that goes on our diocese you would understand …
 
CatholicLife said:
With the liturgical abuse that goes on our diocese you would understand …
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I could ascertain a plausible guesstimate concerning liturgical abuses related to excessive wine being consecrated with a number of EMHC’s not willing to consume the Precious Blood which sometimes finds it way poured down the seaquarium. Just one of the liturgical abuses I’ve seen repeated in my parish and have read about in many others.
 
I have ordered both white wine and red wine for the altar. However, Father only uses the white wine during daily Mass. You ask why? Because the altar servers at weekend Masses have gotten the white wine & water cruets confused!!! Red wine is obviously wine rather than water, so it is easier for the kids to tell the difference. 😃
 
churchsecretary said:
I have ordered both white wine and red wine for the altar. However, Father only uses the white wine during daily Mass. You ask why? Because the altar servers at weekend Masses have gotten the white wine & water cruets confused!!! Red wine is obviously wine rather than water, so it is easier for the kids to tell the difference. 😃
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But why should there be any confusion under the right direction given to the (“Altar Servers”) Even with white wine there’s a slight obvious color differentiation of it being light-amber or slightly yellowed in distinction compared to clear water. And if they’re not sure all they have to do is make the effort to lift the stopper from the cruet and smell. Liturgically there’s no special onus or significance between white or red wine other than the type of white or red wine itself under necessity of being ecclesiastically approved for Mass consecration.
 
The colour of the wine isn’t really important. Just because blood is red doesn’t mean the wine must be red too. The communion itself and what it represents is more important 😉
 
centurionguard said:
I could ascertain a plausible guesstimate concerning liturgical abuses related to excessive wine being consecrated with a number of EMHC’s not willing to consume the Precious Blood which sometimes finds it way poured down the seaquarium. Just one of the liturgical abuses I’ve seen repeated in my parish and have read about in many others.
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I’m guessing you mean the sacrarium. So long as the Precious Blood is diluted so that it no longer resembles wine, the Church has no problem with it.

Did you see this happen? Was It diluted?
 
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