Why does priests pour water and wine on the chalice?

Question

During a mass, why does Catholic priests pour water and wine on the chalice and then drink it? Why is there a lot more wine than water?

Answer 1

In the ancient world, the Greeks added water to wine because it was often thick, gritty and too strong. It was simply good taste to add water to wine before drinking it. The Romans loved all things Greek, so they adopted Greek manners and spread them to the lands they conquered. And even though it was not originally a Jewish custom to add water to wine, it soon became part of the Passover meal itself and, hence, part of our Mass.
As early as the fourth century, catechists explained that the water represented humanity and the wine, divinity. Once you put water into wine, it's impossible to take it out again. Because of Jesus, humanity can never again be separated permanently from God. So the custom continues.

God Bless You

Answer 2

He does not pour wine and water ON the chalice, but in INTO it.
The water must be a very small drop compare to the wine because the wine represents his Divine (Godly) nature and the water represents his human nature. His Divine nature being far, far greater than his human nature, the amount of water must be insignificant. This is based on the fact that Christians believe that dased on Biblical evidence, Jesus had a dual nature, ie he was God and Man.

The priest drinks the consecrated bread and wine, (so do the members of the congregation), because they believe that Jesus, in some way that we cannot explain in human terms, is present in them.

Catholics attach a special importance to John Ch. 6:25-57 where Jesus taught emphatically about eating his body and blood and this, together with his words He spoke at the final stage of the last supper, when he commanded his disciples to do this, is the basis of catholic belief in the actual presence in the bread and wine.
The Mass is a re-enactment of Jesus last supper, suffering, death and resurrection. It is called a celebration, because his death was the means by which we are saved from our sins and redeemed.
In the same way the Jewish Passover meal is a re-enactment of the night of the first passover, just before the Jews escaped from Egypt ie were redeemed from slavery.
The high point of our celebration in the Mass is the priest relating the words that Jesus spoke, as he gave the bread and wine to his disciples to eat, telling them that they were his body and blood. These are called the Words of Consecration, becuase we beleve that it is at this moment that
God changes the bread and wine.

Answer 3

(From The Catholic Encyclopedia) With regard to the watermingled with the wine in the Mass, the Fathers,from the earliest times have tried to find reasonswhy the Church uses a mixed chalice, though the Gospel narrative implies that Christ consecrated pure wine.St. Cyprian (Ep. lxiii, 13) discussing this question,sees an analogy to the union of Christ with Hisfaithful people, but, as the Council of Trent points out, (Sess. XXII, De Missa, vii), there is besides this,a reference to the flowing of blood and waterfrom Christ's side, from which the Church was formed,like a new Eve from the side of the new Adam.

Answer 4

The essence of the wine becomes the blood of Christ when the words are spoken, even as He said at the Last Supper. The water is there to signify His human nature which He retains and which the wine become blood will also retain.

Answer 5

I'm not Catholic, but I presume that the wine represents Jesus' blood and the water also came from His side when pierced, by the soldier.

Answer 6

to celebrate the Holy Eucharist

Answer 7

wine is too strong!!