I've been sober once for 10 years, relapsed lost it all and now it's 5 years of sobriety. I've been attending Mass and end up with my lips to wine or in a nano second it's the Blood of Christ. But last time I got a buzz going which was more to do with the blood of evil. I feel drawn to communion and have a choice not to take the wine, does this sound like the insidiousnous of the disease or not. Should I tell the priest to bar me from the alter of God?
We just had this conversation with a newcomer with various replies. Best thing to do is not take an "all or nothing" attitude about it. Imo, taking communion without taking the wine is prudent and that's what I do. I just can't imagine me taking wine every sunday (some attend more than once a week) and stay sober. If you're obsessing about it, then you probably shouldn't be drinking the wine.
Welcome to the board. If you use the search function (or look at the next couple pages) you should find the other thread.
Hey Moth, I would forgo the wine as well. It looks pretty obvious when you hit the sunrise, 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 masses and on the last one, you go to both priests. Tom
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I was talking to a friend about this self same thing a few days ago. We came to the conclusion that the body of Christ cannot exist without the blood of Christ, therefore taking the bread as the body of Christ is also taking the blood of Christ thus there was no need for the wine.
But that's just the opinion of a pair of alcoholics.
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Aloha Moth...for me it was mindset...I never saw communion as a "party" thing nor did it ever relieve me of anything, low self esteem, lonliness, friendship, assets. The chemical make up of wine was not my choice if mind, mood and body altering chemical and I always needed more and more of the Jolt from standard "blow your mind into the back seat of the car" booze which altar wine is not. I also was an altar boy and copping altar wine was apart of the early experience and yet that wasn't as strong as my first turn on with "Portugese Red". I use to test things by putting them into my mouth just like any child growing up. The last time I had the opportunity to take the wine at communion and the one before that up until I got into AA and even after college where my course of study was alcoholism and drug addiction, I didn't take the wine because I need to be free of the fear of it all and the guessing. I don't need to take it and I don't need to justify it and I've never got a letter from the Pope telling me I was no longer qualified because of it. I've listened to alot of recovering priest who also don't drink the wine. I've arrived at ...it's okay not to and have no further questions. Free at last!!
Keep searching for your peace with it.
-- Edited by Jerry F on Monday 19th of October 2009 06:33:20 PM
For those of you who (like me) aren't Roman Catholic...
Transubstantiation: The miraculous change by which according to Anglican, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox dogma the eucharistic elements at their consecration become the body and blood of Christ while keeping only the appearances of bread and wine.
I don't know if it is acceptable to Catholic doctrine, but could your priest just dip the edge of the wafer in the wine before handing it to you? I would hope the small amount of wine you would get that way would not be enough to even taste, but should still satisfy the sanctity and purpose of accepting communion. I seem to recall this method being used at some Catholic funerals I have attended.
(BTW, I am a dedicated agnostic, so am not too affected by the dogma of any religion, but still believe in the right of each individual to their beliefs.)
I must confess that I also had no idea what this post was about from the title. I am with Bill's team on this, most people in recovery that I know do not take the wine, and this includes a couple of Catholic Priests who are in recovery, so if sober Catholic Priests are OK not taking it, I reckon that's the question answered.
Also throughout my recovery I and many members have done retreats at a monastery, and those who do go up for communion just drop ther heads when the chalice comes around, and the monks are also more than happy with it.
-- Edited by Avril G on Tuesday 20th of October 2009 01:04:00 PM
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I am with Bill's team on this, most people in recovery that I know do not take the wine, and this includes a couple of Catholic Priests who are in recovery, so if sober Catholic Priests are OK not taking it, I reckon that's the question answered.
Also throughout my recovery I and many members have done retreats at a monastery, and those who do go up for communion just drop ther heads when the chalice comes around, and the monks are also more than happy with it.
-- Edited by Avril G on Tuesday 20th of October 2009 09:34:51 AM
Yes we do have a number of Priests in the program. The RC Priest that heard my 5th step, 19 years ago, had 25 years in the program and he did not drink the wine. He used two chalices, one with grape juice and one (or more) with wine for the congreation. Imo, it's not a neccessary (read required) to participate.
