white wine

[didymus]

I went to a different parish this past Sunday & was amazed to see that they used white wine for Holy Communion.
Is this valid? I’m assuming that it was grape wine, of course.

 

[Affirmed]

Either white wine or red wine is acceptable, as long as it is pure grape wine.

 

[thistle]

Forgive my naivity but isn’t all wine made from grapes?

 

[Joan_M]

Forgive my naivity but isn’t all wine made from grapes?

No, not all wine is made from grapes. You can make wine from all fruit, most vegetables and some grains and even flowers!

Furthermore, some grape wines are not pure grape wine - they may be fortified with spirits, or have preservatives added, or have fruit flavorings added to them.

 

[thistle]

Joan M:

No, not all wine is made from grapes. You can make wine from all fruit, most vegetables and some grains and even flowers!

Furthermore, some grape wines are not pure grape wine - they may be fortified with spirits, or have preservatives added, or have fruit flavorings added to them.

Thanks. I realised afterwards that Port is a fortified wine.

 

[Pentecost2005]

didymus:

I went to a different parish this past Sunday & was amazed to see that they used white wine for Holy Communion.
Is this valid? I’m assuming that it was grape wine, of course.

God forbid they should do things in the ordinary way. Because, you know, procuring red wine is such a hassle.

 

[vluvski]

Pentecost2005:

God forbid they should do things in the ordinary way. Because, you know, procuring red wine is such a hassle.

What makes red wine any more ordinary than white wine? Both are equally valid. I like red because it is more visual… but white wine is no less the blood than red wine.

 

[Ham1]

Wine used in the Mass may be fortified and, in fact, it nearly always is. Adding alcohol prevents it from spoiling and changing into vinegar. Obviously, the wine cannot be fortified to the point that it no longer has the properties of wine.

 

[mercygate]

Ham1:

Wine used in the Mass may be fortified and, in fact, it nearly always is. Adding alcohol prevents it from spoiling and changing into vinegar. Obviously, the wine cannot be fortified to the point that it no longer has the properties of wine.

And it must be fortified with a grape product. No corn, barley, or potato spirits!

 

[auntieneeker]

I have never been to a Mass where RED wine was used!

 

[Chalice]

Ham1:

Wine used in the Mass may be fortified and, in fact, it nearly always is. Adding alcohol prevents it from spoiling and changing into vinegar. Obviously, the wine cannot be fortified to the point that it no longer has the properties of wine.

All that is required by the Code of Canon Law, canon 924 §3, is that the wine “be natural from the fruit of the vine and not spoiled.” And from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 322, "The wine for the eucharistic celebration must be from the fruit of the grapevine (cf. Lk 22:18), natural, and unadulterated, that is, without admixture of extraneous substances." Nothing is stipulated about the color of the wine.

Therefore wine may not be “fortified.” Port (as one example) could not be used. Given today’s distribution system, there is little worry about wine spoilage due to lower alcohol levels.

 

[msproule]

Coincidentally, the few times that I have witnessed the use of any wine other than red during Mass, it has been contained within decorative, presumably crystal, glasses. It is almost like they are trying to draw attention to the fact that it is not red!

I know such wine is fully licit and valid (although the glasses are not). However, I must admit that the first time I saw it I ran home to look up the laws pertaining to this!

 

[Chalice]

There is another very important practical benefit to using white wine. The liturgical laundry. With several Masses each Sunday, it can be difficult to change an altar cloth each time a drop wine (not the Precious Blood) drips upon it.

Also, white wine does not stain the laundry like red wine does.

What I personally dislike see is rose/blush wine being used.

 

[Chalice]

I’ll also add that at the Easter and Christmas Masses I attend, I substitute chilled extra-premium white wine for our rotgut red box wine.

My intent is to give people a very practical reminder right at communion that those are particularly special days within the Church…

 

[tee_eff_em]

msproule:

Coincidentally, the few times that I have witnessed the use of any wine other than red during Mass, it has been contained within decorative, presumably crystal, glasses. It is almost like they are trying to draw attention to the fact that it is not red!

I know such wine is fully licit and valid (although the glasses are not). However, I must admit that the first time I saw it I ran home to look up the laws pertaining to this!

My experience disagrees with yours. I grew up serving at the altar of a white wine parish, and did not encounter red wine until I left home. I assure you the chalices at my home parish were opaque.

Maybe it is a “full moon effect”? When you attend a service that (however disobediently) uses crystal, you can *see *that the matter is white (unless it is red). When you attend a service where the vessels are opaque, and especially if the chalice is not profferred at Communion, you have very little reason to notice the color of the wine used?

tee

 

[msproule]

Chalice:

There is another very important practical benefit to using white wine. The liturgical laundry. With several Masses each Sunday, it can be difficult to change an altar cloth each time a drop wine (not the Precious Blood) drips upon it.

That is true. However, if the Precious Blood were to be accidentally spilled, it would be that much more difficult to efficiently and thoroughly collect it up for proper placement into the sacrarium.

 

[Chalice]

msproule:

That is true. However, if the Precious Blood were to be accidentally spilled, it would be that much more difficult to efficiently and thoroughly collect it up for proper placement into the sacrarium.

Not at all.

 

[msproule]

Chalice:

Not at all.

How so? If you cannot see it, you cannot be sure you cleaned it up. Please understand that I have never been in such a situation, so this is mere speculation on my part. I am not trying to be critical or combative!

 

[Chalice]

msproule:

How so? If you cannot see it, you cannot be sure you cleaned it up. Please understand that I have never been in such a situation, so this is mere speculation on my part. I am not trying to be critical or combative!

Sure you can see it. It just dosen’t stain like red wine is all.

I can drop a teaspoon of both white and red wine on an altar cloth. I can mop-up the white wine without a trace. No so with the red wine, yet both are quite visible before being mopped-up.

 

[msproule]

Chalice:

Sure you can see it. It just dosen’t stain like red wine is all.

I can drop a teaspoon of both white and red wine on an altar cloth. I can mop-up the white wine without a trace. No so with the red wine, yet both are quite visible before being mopped-up.

I wish not to belabor the point but I believe you are examining only one aspect of this; I understand that both would be clearly visible if spilled from a short distance onto the altar cloth.

However, if a sufficient quantity is spilled onto a tile or marble floor, there will be splashing. Clean-up is not easy, especially when there are scores of people around who may not be immediately aware of what has happened. I have witnessed this on at least one occasion.