Topic:  Is it bad to think the Consecrated Wine tastes good?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: December 28, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Fr. John

Question:  This sounds so horrible and I feel terrible that this even enters my mind, but here it goes... Is it unbelievably horrible that someone would think the Consecrated Wine (the BLESSED SACRAMENT for goodness sake) tastes good? I think it does at my church and I have guilt. I hate that after I recieve the Blessed Sacrament that one of the things I find myself thinking is hmm that was good. And don't say that it is a good thing, like a Sister I talked to said. Just tell me if I should feel worse than I do. Thanks for answering!

Answer: 

Dear Bethanie,

You have no reason to feel bad. I know priests who select their Mass wine according to their taste. Some prefer white wine, some red, some rose. Since they will be consuming Precious Blood consecrated from and retaining the characteristics of the wine used (on a regular if not daily basis), they prefer a wine more to their personal taste, one that, to them, tastes good.

Other priests I know will always prefer a white sacramental wine because, they say, the reds stain the purificators too much, or make them more difficult to clean.

So, if the Mass wine your church uses tastes good to you, that’s fine. It can be another reminder for you of the goodness of the Lord.

Merry Christmas!

Father John