Beer is bread. The calendar shows grapes, not grain. If grain were forbidden so would bread. If the fast were only about being miserable then I could accept that grapes = all alcohol. But it's not. The fast is about building us up spiritually. The reason we fast from certain foods - such as spam and big macs, but are allowed others like swordfish steaks and lobster - is to make us learn discipline and obey rules, even if we cannot understand them. I cannot believe that the Holy Church in its wisdom would ever take away something as life-affirming and love-kindling as beer.
Amen brother. I have no idea if you are serious or not but agree with every syllable!
I actually had a cold pint by the fireplace in my favorite pub on a non-grape day during this fast. I could have asked my godmother if our local church allowed 'liquid bread' but decided to wait for a while and enjoy the ambiguity. I feel bad about not caring enough to check but not about the beer so I'll probably confess both (and a few other things!)
