In the small town of Urbino, Italy, a Franciscan friar decided to spice up Sunday Mass with a very Italian twist: a post-ceremony spritz. Fra Andrea Ricatti of the San Domenico parish decided that if the youth won’t go to church, the church will go to the youth—with an aperitif in hand, of course.
The brilliant (or questionable, depending on who you ask) idea came to light with a not-so-discreet pamphlet that said “2xUNO”, adorned with the image of Jesus, wine, hosts and, of course, a sparkling glass of spritz. And so, the mass & apericenna was announced for every Sunday at 19:15 pm, with the promise of attracting not only the souls, but also the stomachs of young believers.
The news, naturally, spread faster than the Sunday blessing, generating such a buzz. Some believers were scandalized: “Spritz with a host? Where have you seen each other?” — it was the kind of murmur that could be heard throughout the church corridors. But, like a good Italian, Fra Ricatti didn't lose his composure. Amidst the criticism, he and the bishop decided to “correct the shot” and softened the announcement, but maintained the spritzer firm and strong in programming.
Fra Ricatti, who was perhaps predicting a hangover of controversy, publicly apologized. “It wasn’t to offend anyone”, said the friar, with the serenity of someone who knows that the true intention was just to boost the faith of young people. “Mass is sacred, but a spritz afterwards is only good for the soul”, he added, trying to save the project with a touch of good humor and that good old Christian hospitality.
And so, the debate was on: would the spritz be the new sacred wine of Italian youth? Only time — and perhaps next Sunday — will tell. Meanwhile, Fra Ricatti continues trying to prove that, in his church, faith comes with a nice toast. Health!
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