Celebrating the Blessing of Wine on St. John the Evangelist

The Blessing of Wine on St. John the Evangelist’s Feast

The blessing of wine on the feast of St. John the Evangelist (December 27) is a cherished tradition within the Church, blending Scripture, legend, and liturgical practice. This blessing carries profound spiritual and symbolic meaning, connecting the faithful to St. John’s life, witness, and the miraculous protection attributed to his intercession.

Origins of the Tradition

St. John the Evangelist, traditionally known as the author of the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation, is uniquely associated with themes of divine love, light, and truth. He is celebrated as the “Beloved Disciple,” who leaned on Christ’s breast at the Last Supper (John 13:23), making him an emblem of intimate communion with Jesus¹.

The association of wine with St. John arises from an early Christian legend. According to the story, St. John was challenged by a pagan priest to drink a cup of poisoned wine. Before consuming it, he made the Sign of the Cross and prayed over the chalice. The poison was rendered harmless, and St. John drank the wine without harm, thereby converting those who witnessed the miracle². This account became a symbol of St. John’s unwavering faith and the divine power protecting him.

Liturgical Practice of the Blessing

The Church incorporated this miraculous event into its liturgical life through the custom of blessing wine on St. John’s feast day. The ritual is included in the Roman Ritual, a book of prayers and blessings, and it is performed by a priest using a specific prayer and gestures³.

The text of the blessing highlights the protective and sanctifying power of God:

“Bless, O Lord, this creature of wine, that it may be a saving remedy to all who drink it; and grant that through the intercession of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, all who partake of it may be preserved from every disease of mind and body and receive your blessing of health and peace.”

The prayer explicitly calls upon St. John’s intercession to ensure the wine brings spiritual and physical health to those who drink it. It also invokes divine protection against any harm, echoing the miraculous poisoning story.

This blessing can take place in various settings: during the Mass, after the Divine Office, or as part of a special ceremony where the faithful bring bottles of wine to be blessed.

Symbolism of Wine in Christian Tradition

The act of blessing wine on this feast day carries deep theological and spiritual significance.

Biblical Symbolism of Wine
In Scripture, wine is often associated with joy, abundance, and the covenant between God and His people. At the Wedding at Cana, Jesus performed His first miracle by turning water into wine (John 2:1–11). In the Eucharist, wine becomes the Blood of Christ, symbolizing His sacrificial love and union with the Church⁴. By blessing wine on St. John’s feast, the faithful are reminded of these biblical themes and the sanctity of creation.

Connection to St. John’s Witness
St. John’s writings are filled with imagery of life, love, and light—qualities also evoked by wine in Christian tradition. The blessed wine becomes a tangible sign of his intercession and a reminder of the protection and blessings that flow from God.

Spiritual Health and Protection
The blessing emphasizes the sacramental worldview of the Church, where material elements like wine are used as vehicles of divine grace. Just as St. John was unharmed by poison, the blessed wine is believed to convey health and spiritual well-being to those who consume it.

Customs and Cultural Practices

The blessing of wine on St. John’s feast day is celebrated in diverse ways across the Catholic world.

Blessed Wine in the Home
Families often bring bottles of wine to be blessed at church. These bottles are then shared at meals or kept for special occasions, such as toasting to health and happiness throughout the year. In some traditions, a small amount of the wine is reserved and used as a remedy during times of illness⁵.

The “St. John’s Toast”
It is customary to offer a toast in honour of St. John when drinking the blessed wine. The toast often includes a short prayer, such as:
“I drink you the love of St. John.”
This practice reinforces the communal and celebratory nature of the blessing, drawing families and friends together in gratitude and joy.

Regional Variations
In some regions, the blessing is accompanied by festive gatherings or parish celebrations, where the blessed wine is shared among the congregation. These events are an opportunity to strengthen bonds within the community and reflect on the virtues of St. John.

Spiritual Reflection

The blessing of wine on St. John’s feast invites the faithful to reflect on the saint’s life and witness. His writings emphasize themes of divine love and truth, encapsulated in verses such as “God is love” (1 John 4:8) and “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). By blessing and sharing wine, Christians participate in a tradition that unites the material and spiritual realms, transforming a simple act into an expression of faith and thanksgiving.

Conclusion

The blessing of wine on the feast of St. John the Evangelist is a beautiful blend of history, liturgy, and devotion. It draws attention to St. John’s miraculous intercession, the sanctity of creation, and the joy of Christian fellowship. Whether shared among family, blessed for health, or simply enjoyed with gratitude, the blessed wine serves as a reminder of God’s providence and the enduring power of faith. This tradition remains a testament to the Church’s ability to elevate ordinary elements of daily life into profound expressions of divine grace.

¹ John 13:23.
² Butler, A., Lives of the Saints (December 27).
³ Roman Ritual, Blessings for Special Occasions.
⁴ John 2:1–11; Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1329.
⁵ Local customs documented in regional Church histories.

Rite for the Blessing of Wine on the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

At the end of the principal Mass on the feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, after the last Gospel, the priest, retaining all vestments except the maniple, blesses wine brought by the people. This is done in memory and in honour of St. John, who drank without any ill effects the poisoned wine offered to him by his enemies.

Priest: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.

P: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.

Let us pray. If it please Thee, O Lord God, bless + and consecrate + this vessel of wine by the power of Thy right hand; and grant that, through the merits of St. John, apostle and evangelist, all Thy faithful who drink of it may find it a help and a protection. As the blessed John drank the poisoned potion without any ill effects, so may all who today drink the blessed wine in his honor be delivered from poisoning and similar harmful things. And as they offer themselves body and soul to Thee, may they obtain pardon of all their sins; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

O Lord, bless + this creature drink, so that it may be a health-giving medicine to all who use it; and grant by Thy grace that all who taste of it may enjoy bodily and spiritual health in calling on Thy holy name, through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

May the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, + and Holy Ghost, come down upon this wine and remain always.
All: Amen.

It is sprinkled with holy water. If the blessing is given privately outside of Mass, the priest is vested in surplice and stole and performs the ceremony as given above.

St. John’s Love (serves 8)

When the blessed wine is drunk on his Feast Day, we drink it before dinner as a toast to St. John. The Father of the house lifts his glass toward Mother and says, “I drink you the love of St. John.” The Mother replies “I thank you for the Love of St. John” and then turns to the oldest child, lifts her glass, and says, “I drink you the love of St. John…” — and on it goes down the line until each has been toasted.

The wine may be drunk as is before and with dinner, as above, or may be mulled and used as in this recipe:

1 quart red wine
3 whole cloves
1/16 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 two-inch cinnamon sticks
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup sugar

Pour the wine into a large saucepan. Add the remaining ingredients. Heat well for 5 minutes (this can evaporate the alcohol, sadly). Serve hot, clinking glasses with the toast “Drink the love of St. John!” Doing this in front of a roaring fire makes it all the better.

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