On Pope Clement VIII and the Spread of Coffee Drinking

"Coffee is one of the most consumed drinks in the world, second only to water, enjoyed by millions every day. The drink was not always so ubiquitous, only becoming popular relatively recently during the 16th century. If you can't start the day without first having your morning cup of coffee, then you should probably thank Pope Clement VIII.

"Coffee was first introduced around the 9th century when Muslim shepherds noticed wild coffee beans were having a stimulant on their flocks of sheep. Clerics learned the techniques to cultivate the beans, and the drink quickly spread throughout the Muslim world. . . .

"As the saying goes, all roads lead to Rome, and coffee was first brought to Pope Clement VIII around the year 1600."

 In a recent commentary, writer Billy Ryan reflected on the role played by Pope Clement VIII in the spread of coffee drinking.

To access his complete post, please visit:

uCatholic: Can't Live Without Coffee? Thank This Pope. (16 JUN 17)

Have you ever listened to the Gospel of Mark? A few years ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Jesuit Father George Drance perform *mark in New York City. On stage, Drance recreates the experience of the underground church reciting the Gospel of Mark in the years after the death of Jesus. Before the gospels were written down, they were retold among the early followers of Christ. Under the persona of a street artist, Father Drance performs a story normally so well-known that it is easy to be complacent when hearing it in a more traditional setting

Have you ever listened to the Gospel of Mark? A few years ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Jesuit Father George Drance perform *mark in New York City. On stage, Drance recreates the experience of the underground church reciting the Gospel of Mark in the years after the death of Jesus. Before the gospels were written down, they were retold among the early followers of Christ. Under the persona of a street artist, Father Drance performs a story normally so well-known that it is easy to be complacent when hearing it in a more traditional setting.

Have you ever listened to the Gospel of Mark? A few years ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Jesuit Father George Drance perform *mark in New York City. On stage, Drance recreates the experience of the underground church reciting the Gospel of Mark in the years after the death of Jesus. Before the gospels were written down, they were retold among the early followers of Christ. Under the persona of a street artist, Father Drance performs a story normally so well-known that it is easy to be complacent when hearing it in a more traditional setting.
My friend and I decided to go on a whim. It almost sounds like the beginning of a joke: a campus minister and a theologian follow fish drawn in chalk on the sidewalk, looking for a tiny experimental theater to see the Gospel of Mark performed. An hour later, we found ourselves completely captivated and on the edge of our seats as Peter denies Jesus and the male disciples all flee. Spoiler alert: The play ends abruptly after Jesus rises from the dead and appears to Mary Magdalene.
As Drance’s character disappeared into the darkness, his words written in chalk, I experienced a deeper sense of fire and longing.
Revisiting stories as we search for our humanity and deeper truths is in part what Christians do each Sunday as we listen to the gospel. We know the story; we know the characters and the ending. It is easy then to tune out

Have you ever listened to the Gospel of Mark? A few years ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Jesuit Father George Drance perform *mark in New York City. On stage, Drance recreates the experience of the underground church reciting the Gospel of Mark in the years after the death of Jesus. Before the gospels were written down, they were retold among the early followers of Christ. Under the persona of a street artist, Father Drance performs a story normally so well-known that it is easy to be complacent when hearing it in a more traditional setting.
My friend and I decided to go on a whim. It almost sounds like the beginning of a joke: a campus minister and a theologian follow fish drawn in chalk on the sidewalk, looking for a tiny experimental theater to see the Gospel of Mark performed. An hour later, we found ourselves completely captivated and on the edge of our seats as Peter denies Jesus and the male disciples all flee. Spoiler alert: The play ends abruptly after Jesus rises from the dead and appears to Mary Magdalene.
As Drance’s character disappeared into the darkness, his words written in chalk, I experienced a deeper sense of fire and longing.
Revisiting stories as we search for our humanity and deeper truths is in part what Christians do each Sunday as we listen to the gospel. We know the story; we know the characters and the ending. It is easy then to tune out

Have you ever listened to the Gospel of Mark? A few years ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Jesuit Father George Drance perform *mark in New York City. On stage, Drance recreates the experience of the underground church reciting the Gospel of Mark in the years after the death of Jesus. Before the gospels were written down, they were retold among the early followers of Christ. Under the persona of a street artist, Father Drance performs a story normally so well-known that it is easy to be complacent when hearing it in a more traditional setting.
My friend and I decided to go on a whim. It almost sounds like the beginning of a joke: a campus minister and a theologian follow fish drawn in chalk on the sidewalk, looking for a tiny experimental theater to see the Gospel of Mark performed. An hour later, we found ourselves completely captivated and on the edge of our seats as Peter denies Jesus and the male disciples all flee. Spoiler alert: The play ends abruptly after Jesus rises from the dead and appears to Mary Magdalene.
As Drance’s character disappeared into the darkness, his words written in chalk, I experienced a deeper sense of fire and longing.
Revisiting stories as we search for our humanity and deeper truths is in part what Christians do each Sunday as we listen to the gospel. We know the story; we know the characters and the ending. It is easy then to tune out