engleski

"Their God is Their Belly, Their Mother is Their Drunkenness." Bosnian Franciscans on Alcohol Consumption in Ottoman Bosnia

Contrary to Islamic norms, alcohol consumption did not contradict Catholic Christian canon laws. On the contrary, wine was sanctified in the Eucharist, and acquired powerful symbolical meaning. Wine and beer were often considered daily dietary supplements among not only general people, but clergy as well. The Church, however, was warning against excessive drinking and drunkenness as a way to sin. Catholic population of Ottoman Bosnia and Franciscans as the only representatives of the Catholic Church lived in significantly different circumstances dictated by Islamic law as the guiding legal principle. Nonetheless, Ottoman sultanic law (kanun) allowed certain departures from strict sharia provisions concerning alcohol as a forbidden substance, and gave the right of wine selling to the fief- holding sipahi class, thus recognizing its economic importance. Bosnian Franciscans, who possessed vineyards and were personally involved in production of wine following European monastic traditions, received special permissions for wine making from the authorities, and were authorized to produce not only wine, but rakija, a Balkan type newcomer acquavit hard liquor, as well. On the other hand, Franciscans were strictly following the standpoint of the Church concerning the misuse of alcohol. Their chronicles and catechism writings are abundant with examples of condemnatory stance towards drunkenness and drunkards, be they members of their own flock, or, curiously enough, Muslim misfits, evildoers, or corrupt officials. Alcohol was blamed for immorality, poverty of a drunkard and his family, poor health, and tendency towards violence. In this respect, Franciscan attitude towards alcohol misuse seems to echo uncompromising stance of Muslim jurists that alcohol is the mother of all evils.

Ottoman, Bosnian Franciscans, Alcohol, Consumption, Confessionalization

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