Drinking to the Love of Saint John

There are several forms for the traditional blessing of wine on the feast of Saint John the Evangelist. Father Weller’s Roman Ritual in three volumes is an indispensable resource for such sacramentals. This morning, following the Last Gospel, we had the blessing of wine. Afterwards guests were invited to the refectory to “drink to the love of Saint John.”

On the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, at the end of the principal Mass, that is, after the last Gospel, the priest, retaining all his vestments except the maniple, in the following manner blesses wine brought by the people in memory and in honor of Saint John, who drank poison without harm:
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who hath made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Deign, O Lord,
graciously to bless +
and consecrate with Thy right hand
this fruit of the vine,
that by the merits of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist,
all who drink of this wine,
believing in Thee and in Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent,
may by the power of His Name
be blessed and always protected.
Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
O God, by whose power,
Saint John drank poison from the cup,
and was in no way harmed,
mercifully grant that all who this day
drink of this wine blessed in his honour,
may be freed, by his merits and intercession,
from every sickness by poisoning
and from any harm.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Grant, O God who art Charity,
that those whom Thou hast first loved,
and who ardently desire to love Thee in return,
may be freed from their sins,
taste of the sweetness of Thy dilection,
and experience that inner gladness
that is the gift of Thy Holy Spirit.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Bless, O Lord, + this wine, which Thou hast made,
that it may be us a healthful refreshment;
and grant by the invocation of Thy Holy Name
that whosoever drinks of it in memory of Saint John,
the Beloved Disciple of Thy Son,
may, by his intercession and by Thy lovingkindess,
rejoice in lasting health of both soul and body.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen
And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, + and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
descend upon this wine, which He has made,
and upon those who will partake of it.
R. Amen.
The wine is sprinkled with Holy Water. If this blessing is given outside of Mass, the priest performs it in the manner described above, but with surplice and stole.