Thank Catholic Innovation for – Coffee
Today, a cup of hot coffee is a morning ritual that starts the day for many. Did you know that you can thank Catholic innovation for it?
Islamic clerics and Arab shepherds were the first to cultivate and brew coffee beans according to popular theory. Europeans originally did not embrace coffee because of its “infidel” origins. In fact, when it arrived from the Middle Eastern trading routes in Italy in the late 16th century, some even called it the “Devil’s Drink” for the way it affected people’s moods.
Pope Clement VIII was pope during this time. He was reportedly asked to ban the evil beverage, but fortunately he had a mind of his own. Upon tasting it, legend holds that he declared, “This drink is so delicious, it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it. We should cheat the devil by baptizing it.” Convinced that it was a better alternative than alcohol for people to imbibe in their leisure, he blessed the coffee beans with holy water, and the rest is history.
Once Catholics knew they were allowed to partake, the popularity of coffee spread wildly across the West. Coffee shops became ubiquitous in nearly every major European city and became common settings for gathering and the sharing of thoughts and ideas. The subsequent Age of Enlightenment arrived shortly after and introduced the world to some of history’s most noteworthy innovators, philosophers, revolutionaries, and intellects – many of whom credited coffee as the inspirational stimulant behind their greatest ideas and success.Innovation can refer to something new or to a change made to an existing idea, product, or field. OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation recognizes the need for innovation to energize and renew the 21st century Church and is committed to leading the way.
