Gary Ostlund (@Gary1954)

Totus Tuus on https://www.facebook.com/ If you enjoy a daily cup of coffee, you may have a 17th-century pope to thank. According to a popular legend, coffee might never have become widely accepted in Christian Europe without Pope Clement VIII. By the year 1600, coffee had spread from the Muslim world into Europe. Some Christians viewed the dark, bitter drink with suspicion. Because Muslims often drank coffee instead of wine, certain advisers called it a “bitter invention of Satan” and urged the pope to ban it for the faithful. Pope Clement VIII refused to decide hastily. He asked to taste the beverage first. After trying it, he was delighted. “This Satan’s drink is so delicious,” he reportedly declared, “that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it!” Some versions of the story even claim he joked that Catholics should “baptize” the drink and claim it as their own. Whether the exact words are historical fact or pious legend, the outcome was clear: the pope did not condemn coffee. His openness helped the beverage gain acceptance across Christian Europe. The next time you raise a cup, you can smile at the thought of a pope who chose curiosity over fear—and gave coffee his blessing. Have a good cup of coffee this morning! #Update #CatholicNews #NewsUpdate #pope #catholiclife #saints #FaithInAction #catholicchurch