1. WINE IN
THE CATHOLIC
RITES OF
HOLY MASS
Wine in the
Catholic tradition

2. • The wine plays a special role in the liturgical rites of the
Catholic Church, as well as the chalices used during the rites.

3. • This topic is introduced to our students in religious
education classes
• Students involved in the project together with the catechist
visited the Church of St. Nicholas, which is located in our
town, and talked to the priest about this topic

4. • The chalice used in
the Eucharist
consists of a cup, a
stem with a node
and a base.

7. • The cup represents
a Heavenly
element. The wine
poured into chalice
symbolizes the
blood of Christ, so
it is usually made
of gold, because
only the gold is
worthy to keep the
blood of Christ.

8. • The node can be
decorated with a
gemstone (actually, there
should be one). The
gemstone symbolizes
Christ himself, who
carries two natures in
one person: human
nature, and divine
nature.

9. • The base of the
cup represents
the Earth
element of the
Church.

10. • Unlike the liturgical rites of
the Orthodox Church,
where red wine is used
exclusively and symbolizes
the blood of Christ, in the
liturgical rites of the
Catholic Church white
wine is mostly used,
although red wine is not
strictly forbidden.

11. • This is because the wine should not be identified as the
Christ's blood, but it should keep the mystery of
transformation of wine into the blood of Christ.

12. • The conversion of
wine into the blood
takes place in the
chalice.

13. • During the Mass, the
priest drinks the wine
mixed with water, where
wine symbolizes the
divine element, and
water the human
element.

14. people
who
• The
attend
the
Mass
receive
Holy
Communion regularly
only as bread (the
Body of Christ), except
in the context of the
rites of Holy Thursday,
when
it
is
recommended that all
the believers receive
Communion
under
both
opportunities,
with bread and wine
(the Body and the
Blood of Christ).

15. • Also the believers can be
communicant under
both opportunities in
some other cases, such
as sacramental
celebration of the First
Communion or
marriage, the liturgical
celebrations in the
smaller communities,
etc.

16. • Each priest has the
freedom to choose
the wine which will be
used in the liturgy.
The wine used in the
liturgy must be the
Mass wine.

17. • The most significant producer
of Mass wine in Croatia is
Archdiocese in Đakovo.
• Mass wine must be derived
from the high quality varieties
of grapes. There is one grapes
grower and wine producer in
Međimurje who has a special
permit from the Zagreb’s
Diocese for Mass wine
production.

18. • The history of Mass wines in
Đakovo’s Archdiocese
started on 1239 and during
the centuries these wines
achieved national fame. In
19th century, especially from
1864 to 1891 the wines
from Đakovo’s Archdiocese
gained international
recognition through the
exhibitions in Paris, Vienna,
Trieste and Zagreb.

20. •
Since 1773 there has been
the Baroque chest closed by
glass in our church of St.
Nicholas. The chest contains
waxed body in which there
are relics of Saint Vincent
Martyr.
•
The St. Vincent’s day is the
day of beginning of pruning
vines in our area. St.
Vincent is the patron of
grapes growers, although
people related St. Martin
more with the notion of
wine. For this, however,
there are neither
theological nor historical
arguments, as there are for
St. Vincent.