Brewing with the Catholic Church

The miracle of beer.

Monk with Beer Mug (Eduard Grutzner)

          Lets go to the Middle Ages of Europe and talk about beer. In the Middle Ages Beer was looked at as a miracle. People would mix their ingredients (brewing) and it would just turn in to beer. That is a miracle because in that time water was not safe. Even in some of the towns the water was pure poisonous. But brewing beer with it would almost purify it and the alcohol would kill most of the germs and bacteria. In that time they did not know about yeast eating the sugars and making alcohol yet, so when a brew came out right it was Divine Intervention. On the other hand when it came out bad it was Demonic Intervention.

The Catholic Church comes in to play here. In order to have a consistent good brew the people would turn to the Catholic Church. They would hang a Crucifix in their brew house or a six-pointed star or the sign of Solomon. These icons would help protect their beer from any demons.

Priest were often called to bless kettles of brew and often you would give the priest 3 pints of safe drinking beer for coming to bless your brew.    

St. Arnold the patron saint of Belgian brewers played a large roll in beer history. He earned his saint hood because of beer. His beer was able to heal the peasants from their sickness caused by the water. He would encourage them to  drink his beer he brewed at the abbey instead of the local water.  His beer was said to have the gift of health.

To this day breweries in Belgium will still have a Crucifix or a statue of St Arnold in their brew house.

The Blessing of Beer.

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Bless, + O Lord, this creature beer, which thou hast deigned to produce from the fat of grain: that it may be a salutary remedy to the human race, and grant through the invocation of thy holy name; that, whoever shall drink it, may gain health in body and peace in soul. Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Brew today, See you tomorrow.