Happy Saint Arnold's Day
OK - so it's not really Saint Arnold's Day (Patron Saint of Beer) but it might be more appropriate for March 17th than some Welsh bloke that brought Christianity / Catholicism to Ireland because lets face it, with the recent news headlines about 'the church' that's not exactly a popular achievement. In reality St Patrick's Day is about celebrating the 'IRISH' and our obsession with 'BEER' and gettin' DrrrRUNK'. We make good beer and we like to drink it, a lot of it, so why not dedicate one day a year to it as an international pissfest?
- Note: Irish people engage in rigorous training and practice for the 51 weeks prior to St Paddy's Day so don't try this on your own. Head down to your local Irish Pub where seasoned professionals will coach and mentor you on the fine art of drinking green beer. I just wish I could find St Arnold's Holy Grail which was a miraculous refilling beer tankard. (see below) - Happy St Paddy's Day !
- Note: Irish people engage in rigorous training and practice for the 51 weeks prior to St Paddy's Day so don't try this on your own. Head down to your local Irish Pub where seasoned professionals will coach and mentor you on the fine art of drinking green beer. I just wish I could find St Arnold's Holy Grail which was a miraculous refilling beer tankard. (see below) - Happy St Paddy's Day !
Saint Arnold - Patron Saint of Brewers
According to this - Saint Arnold was born to a prominent Austrian family in the year 580. Even back in those days the Austrians were famous for their love of beer, and admired for their brewing prowess. Beer was a proud Austrian tradition that was not wasted on young Arnold.
As a young man, Arnold entered the priesthood and began moving his way up that earliest of all career ladders. At the age of 32, he was given the title Bishop, and in 612 was named "Arnold, Bishop of Metz." (Metz is in France.)
He is said to have spent his life warning peasants about the health hazards of drinking water. Water was not necessarily safe to drink during the dark ages, especially around towns and villages. Nasty stuff. Arnold always had the well-being of his followers close at heart.
Beer, on the other hand, was quite safe. Arnold frequently pointed this out to his congregation. He is credited with having once said, "From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world." It goes without saying that the people loved and revered Arnold.
In 627, Saint Arnold retired to a monastery near Remiremont, France, where he died and was buried in 640.
In 641, the citizens of Metz requested that Saint Arnold's body be exhumed and carried from the monastery to the town of Metz for reburial in their local church - The church where Arnold had so frequently preached the virtues of beer. Their request was granted.
It was a long and thirsty journey, especially since they were carrying a dead bishop. As the ceremonial procession passed through the town of Champignuelles, the tired processionals stopped for a rest and went into a tavern for a drink of their favorite beverage - Beer. Much to their dismay, they were informed that there was only one mug of beer left, and that they would have to share it. That mug never ran dry and the thirsty crowd was satisfied.
Every Saint needs a miracle. That's how the Church decides you are a Saint. The story of the miracle mug of beer spread and eventually Arnold was canonized by the Catholic Church for it.
Saint Arnold is recognized by the Catholic Church as the Patron Saint of Brewers. He is recognized by Beer Church as a top-notch, supernatural beer stud.
According to this - Saint Arnold was born to a prominent Austrian family in the year 580. Even back in those days the Austrians were famous for their love of beer, and admired for their brewing prowess. Beer was a proud Austrian tradition that was not wasted on young Arnold.
As a young man, Arnold entered the priesthood and began moving his way up that earliest of all career ladders. At the age of 32, he was given the title Bishop, and in 612 was named "Arnold, Bishop of Metz." (Metz is in France.)
He is said to have spent his life warning peasants about the health hazards of drinking water. Water was not necessarily safe to drink during the dark ages, especially around towns and villages. Nasty stuff. Arnold always had the well-being of his followers close at heart.
Beer, on the other hand, was quite safe. Arnold frequently pointed this out to his congregation. He is credited with having once said, "From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world." It goes without saying that the people loved and revered Arnold.
In 627, Saint Arnold retired to a monastery near Remiremont, France, where he died and was buried in 640.
In 641, the citizens of Metz requested that Saint Arnold's body be exhumed and carried from the monastery to the town of Metz for reburial in their local church - The church where Arnold had so frequently preached the virtues of beer. Their request was granted.
It was a long and thirsty journey, especially since they were carrying a dead bishop. As the ceremonial procession passed through the town of Champignuelles, the tired processionals stopped for a rest and went into a tavern for a drink of their favorite beverage - Beer. Much to their dismay, they were informed that there was only one mug of beer left, and that they would have to share it. That mug never ran dry and the thirsty crowd was satisfied.
Every Saint needs a miracle. That's how the Church decides you are a Saint. The story of the miracle mug of beer spread and eventually Arnold was canonized by the Catholic Church for it.
Saint Arnold is recognized by the Catholic Church as the Patron Saint of Brewers. He is recognized by Beer Church as a top-notch, supernatural beer stud.
Tags: ..Happy Saint Arnolds Day..
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8 comments:
happy st pattys day! i'll be irish tomorrow!
@ Matt: There's a bit o' Irish in all of us
I had no idea St Arnold was the patron saint of brewing. Well, what do ye know? Not sure about St Arnold's Day though, St Paddy's causes quite enough havoc as it is, particularly in the Queens Uni hinterland.
The interesting thing about St Patrick is that he spent his first 16 years in Britain but he's celebrated by the Irish. If only all immigrants to Ireland were treated so well. Perhaps St P's should become National Immigrants Day....
The reason beer was healthier than water of course was that beer required boiling and killing all the germs.
And a very happy St Paddy's to you over in your Far Eastern exile!
Ha! Nice tribute to another priest. Seems they enjoy cigarettes, whisky but not so the wild wild women! Then probably more appropriate than celebrating a saint who was actually Welsh!
@ Nick: Funny how they spent so much time and effort purifying beer but not the water they drank which led to disease and death.
@ Baino: Some of the priests do like a good romp with the ladies and unfortunately some with the boys :-(
I only had one bottle of Bia Hanoi to celebrate - ach it tasted darn good though :-)
@ Conortje: It's all goo even in moderation!
When I lived in St. Louis, Missouri and within 10 minutes walk of the mothership (Anheuser Busch's HQ), the Mississippi River's water was also rumored to be unfit for consumption. Luckily, the local brewery was kind enough to make available heaps of icy cold and watery beer for drinking.
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