Did you know that a brewery in Wales has discovered that no less than twenty-four Catholic saints were best known for beer-related feats, miracles, and acts of faith?
Here's but a small sample:
They've turned water into beer, conjured tankards of beer from the ether, and multiplied drops of beer into barrels and one barrel into hundreds.The article makes for a very interesting read and for a reminder that beer has served as a valuable social and religious beverage and a guardian of health for over 1500 years. Posted by jimj at February 28, 2005 01:11 PM | TrackBackThey have also wielded their pints as weapons of the Lord to end plagues, quench eternal flames and fires, and slake the thirst of Christian soldiers.
Beer was an important component of the secular and ecclesiastical diet, especially for monks fasting for their holy orders.
Almost every monastery from Mexico to Timbuktu brewed its own beer and more than a few still do.
Most of the 24 "beer saints" were initially monks and nuns, who many centuries ago brewed beer to purify water and ensure that the malnourished and the weary had safe and healthy ale to drink.
Celtic Saint Brigid (457-525) was said to have kept 18 churches in beer from just one barrel,and as an act of compassion turned the bath water of lepers into cool, refreshing ale.