AmericanPapist Comments
Cheers.
"So keep der Coca Cola goink for der designated driver. Otherwise- Prosit!"
Nice picture! Prost, Eure Heiligkeit!
That beer looks GOOOOOOD!!!
To see why the pope is resorting to a large lager check the above video.
Oii ...Cardinal Schobrn...vat the veck are you doing vit zee valoons...
Well, that's one in the eye on behalf of us heretic Protestants, the good Cardinal/Pope Ratzinger has not had to drive himself for a while now--it is so tricky setting aside a proper Designated Driver. On the other hand, if you and your friends are all together and happy, why go anywhere? So.... let's all get drunk and go to Heaven. (joke not original with me at all)
'Stay sober and alert' was not given with the caveat "unless you've got a DD or you're not driving anywhere." It's quite frustrating that good Catholics would make allusions to getting drunk - or at least less than 'sober and alert' - when the Scriptures so obviously speak against such actions.
Of course, enjoying a good beer is a wonderful luxury, even if I feel a great glass of wine is better. But getting drunk is not an option for a Christian pursuing the vocation to holiness. Period.
That's easy for him to say, he has a driver.
That's easy for him to say, he has a driver.
There's a big difference between legally drunk and actually drunk.
Scripture and tradition both fully permit us to drink to the point of having a good, joyous, merry time. We are not to get smashed or lose control, but we can certainly drink beyond the point of being legally drunk while not actually being drunk. (At least in the US, where drunk driving laws pretty much activate as soon as you smell beer.)
It's also worth pointing out that Jews were and are directed to drink to the point of drunkenness as part of the festivities for remembering Esther and God's deeds through her. (Although, obviously, they weren't driving anywhere afterwards.)
Glad to see that His Holiness (erstwhile His Eminence) enjoys a good brew like the rest of us!
Three points follow, though, and I apologize for the length and location of this discussion. I'm sure you will agree with me on the first two points, at least.
1. You are correct, there is a difference between legal and actual (effective) drunkenness. I'm NOT saying it's a mortal sin to have a BAC over the legal limit. This would be ludicrous, as you have pointed out. (Caveat: of course, I do not advocate driving 'drunk' as the state you reside in defines it, as this would be illegal).
2. It is pretty gravely immoral to get 'actually' drunk on purpose, which means to "lose control" or "get smashed," as you say. Why? Because Scripture and Tradition say so, because of the consequences of the action(s): harm to one's own body (sometimes), and a severe impediment to one's moral sense and common sense - which often leads to other types of sin. Cf: Moses and his sons, David and Uriah, Abigail and Nabal, Lot and his daughters, Proverbs 23:21, Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Titus, etc. Paul is especially clear about the illicit nature of drunkenness, even when it doesn't necessarily lead to other sins.
3. When alcohol is used to bring you the point of being drunk, how do you know it? Is it not because you have started to lose control in some way? Being tipsy or loose is a distinction used precisely to indicate that one's behavior has changed from before having the drink, as a direct result of alcohol (not good company, etc.). Often, having a 'merry' time is another way of stating this feeling of loosening up that is artificially imposed by the alcohol. And are you not sometimes using the alcohol just for this purpose, to loosen you up? But why would you need alcohol to do this, when being in the company of friends and family does not do this to the extent you desire? Surely when alcohol is used even just to loosen you up and not get smashed, the intent is still to artificially impose something (an aftificial "joy") which is actually a gift of the Holy Spirit, given and not induced by drink.
Conclusion: I'm not saying that you won't miscalculate sometimes. But intending to alter your behavior, even slightly, by use of alcohol is a bit sinful to the degree that you are aware of what you are doing.
Yeah, so anyway...
Has any one ID'ed the Weissbier in question?
Me? I'm a Franziskaner man!
Mark, finally someone understands the real issues at hand.
I'm for Paulaner!
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