Quaich

[GlassMan]

What do they think about the common chalice at Mass then? :mrgreen:

Colin: very well done indeed! A splendid way to extend the ancient right of hospitality to all who cross your threshhold.

Slainte!

Todd

When I was attending Catholic services one of my friends who was also catholic was extremely germ-o-phobic. Constantly washing her hands, wouldn't get near someone sick, wouldn't use a public restroom or drink from a water fountain. But she had no problem with the common chalice at mass. So I had to ask what was the difference. Her answer was for me a testament of faith and I was actually impressed at the power of faith to overcome something that otherwise ruled her life. What was her answer? "Since the wine becomes the blood of Christ it becomes perfect and the perfect Christ cannot transmit disease and suffering only salvation." For those who don't believe in transubstantiation it might seem silly, but to me it seems like a beautiful example of faith.

[Panache]

Colin,

A simple and likely silly question. How is the word Quaich pronunced?

Cheers

[Pour1Malt]

quaich is...

one syllable...

KW ... A (long a) ... cgh (Scots sound like clearing yer throat...)

similar the English 'quake'

[Schultz]

When I was attending Catholic services one of my friends who was also catholic was extremely germ-o-phobic. Constantly washing her hands, wouldn't get near someone sick, wouldn't use a public restroom or drink from a water fountain. But she had no problem with the common chalice at mass. So I had to ask what was the difference. Her answer was for me a testament of faith and I was actually impressed at the power of faith to overcome something that otherwise ruled her life. What was her answer? "Since the wine becomes the blood of Christ it becomes perfect and the perfect Christ cannot transmit disease and suffering only salvation." For those who don't believe in transubstantiation it might seem silly, but to me it seems like a beautiful example of faith.

Tried that one, too, Phil!

Being Ruthenian Catholic, we receive communion under both species via a spoon, a practice which horrifies by mother-in-law (who's also a nurse) because of "the germs". The fact that we're taught to not actually wrap our lips around the spoon but let the priest just drop the Precious Body and Blood into our mouths is apparently not enough.

Of course, the priest handing out communion and touching most everyone's hand and transmitting germs doesn't seem to bother her.

Some people are just hard-headed.

Now back to "quaich-talk".

What did you end up christening it with, Colin?

[jkdesq]

I did a fair bit of surfing over the issue of common Eucharistic cups and the wisedom seems to be that: i) it is wiped between people and ii) the alcohol in the wine kills and germs. I'm not sure I by the idea that wine has enough alcohol to kill anything, but any whisky should!

I'm curious how any one uses or intends to use their quaich. I too would like one, but cannot picture using if for anything other than display. I am a generation away from a culture iconoclasm, so these points of culture need to be rediscovered. What does one do with a quaich.

[GlassMan]

I'm planning on buying one for use at my wedding. I want to use it when sharing drinks with families and friends as we make the rounds of that tables.

[macwilkin]

I did a fair bit of surfing over the issue of common Eucharistic cups and the wisedom seems to be that: i) it is wiped between people and ii) the alcohol in the wine kills and germs. I'm not sure I by the idea that wine has enough alcohol to kill anything, but any whisky should!

I'm curious how any one uses or intends to use their quaich. I too would like one, but cannot picture using if for anything other than display. I am a generation away from a culture iconoclasm, so these points of culture need to be rediscovered. What does one do with a quaich.

Traditionally, the quaich was used to offer a "wee dram" to a visitor when arriving or departing a home. There's a great painting in Stuart Reid's book "Highland Clansman" that shows a Highland laird offering a quaich to a visitor arriving at the gate of his estate.

In our Scottish society, we use the quaich at our Burns Supper to give the piper his dram for escorting the Haggis, and for the person Addressing the Haggis (I always make sure to wipe and turn it, a la a chalice at the Mass!)

Glassman's idea to use the quaich at his reception to share a dram with friends and family is quite correct in the ancient right of hospitality -- once offered, it can never be taken back! :mrgreen:

I've studied the use of common chalice as well (I'm a chalice-bearer/sub-deacon) in the Episcopal Church, and most research indidcates that the alcohol and wiping the rim will kill the germs. Communion wine usually has a higher alcohol content for this very reason.

I've heard folks at church make similar comments about the common chalice as Schultz's in-laws, but every Padre I have talked to says that a handshake at the peace is far more likely to spread germs than the chalice is!

Cheers,

Todd

[jkdesq]

Thanks Glassman and Cajun. I am aware of the history of the quaich. I guess what I want to know if how people use them now. Is it a matter of only using them for Burns Nights, weddings and christenings. Or does anyone use them on a more casual basis.

So, more likely to get toasted on communion wine than others? I didn't know that the alcohol content was higher. What does that say for the fellow who has to chug the leftover wine, so that none remains of the wine that underwent the miracle on the altar. Don't envy the person who has to do that neither from the germ perspective or the risk of a drinking and driving charge on the way home from church.

[macwilkin]

Thanks Glassman and Cajun. I am aware of the history of the quaich. I guess what I want to know if how people use them now. Is it a matter of only using them for Burns Nights, weddings and christenings. Or does anyone use them on a more casual basis.

So, more likely to get toasted on communion wine than others? I didn't know that the alcohol content was higher. What does that say for the fellow who has to chug the leftover wine, so that none remains of the wine that underwent the miracle on the altar. Don't envy the person who has to do that neither from the germ perspective or the risk of a drinking and driving charge on the way home from church.

I have a couple of friends in the St. Louis St. Andrew's Society who drink their whisky out of them all the time, but mostly, I've only seen them used as ceremonial vessels, at Burns Nights, etc. Of course, older wooden ones might be used by reenactors.

Now, as to the wine and the puir sub-deacon who gets to consume what's left -- there's usually not enough to get one drunk (and a DUI), but it can sneak up on you -- been there, done that.

T.

[GlassMan]

Traditionally, the quaich was used to offer a "wee dram" to a visitor when arriving or departing a home. There's a great painting in Stuart Reid's book "Highland Clansman" that shows a Highland laird offering a quaich to a visitor arriving at the gate of his estate.

In our Scottish society, we use the quaich at our Burns Supper to give the piper his dram for escorting the Haggis, and for the person Addressing the Haggis (I always make sure to wipe and turn it, a la a chalice at the Mass!)

Glassman's idea to use the quaich at his reception to share a dram with friends and family is quite correct in the ancient right of hospitality -- once offered, it can never be taken back! :mrgreen:

I've studied the use of common chalice as well (I'm a chalice-bearer/sub-deacon) in the Episcopal Church, and most research indidcates that the alcohol and wiping the rim will kill the germs. Communion wine usually has a higher alcohol content for this very reason.

I've heard folks at church make similar comments about the common chalice as Schultz's in-laws, but every Padre I have talked to says that a handshake at the peace is far more likely to spread germs than the chalice is!

Cheers,

Todd

So, more likely to get toasted on communion wine than others? I didn't know that the alcohol content was higher. What does that say for the fellow who has to chug the leftover wine, so that none remains of the wine that underwent the miracle on the altar. Don't envy the person who has to do that neither from the germ perspective or the risk of a drinking and driving charge on the way home from church.[/QUOTE]

If communion wine is a higher proof than regular wine, that that helps explain Father Dave after he drained the rest of the consecrated wine after mass was over (can't just pour the blood of Christ down the drain. It must be consumed or given to the earth.)