The Theological Depth-Charge?

A reader writes:

No response required, Jimmy;

    I just wanted to thank you for your blog.  I’m a 30-something cradle-Catholic (five years old to orthodoxy).  Your site is a daily affirmation (shudder at the word) that I can be orthodox AND rant against the death of Trip Tucker (a death about which I am particularly bitter.)  The mix of apologetics, canon law, pop culture, and sci-fi (etc) on your site are a real pleasure.

    Anecdote: Also thought I’d mention that a friend and I recently partook of that drink touted by some as the Theological Depth-Charge (a shot of Benedict dropped into a pint of Heineken or other German beer.)  My buddy and I are highschool religion teachers up here in Canada and we recently went to a religious educator’s conference in the mountains (nice Rocky Mountain locale, too many leftists.)  One day we noted that we had yet to hear of our pontiff spoken of in any better terms that "Ratzinger" or more commonly, "Jospeh Ratzinger."   There was no respect there. 

So, we decided that we could somehow defend our pontiff by partaking of the Theological Depth-Charge (which we renamed the B-16… it works on so many levels!)  We marched down to the lounge and were dismayed to hear they had no Benedict, only B&B.  We forged on, using the B&B instead (an Ecumenical B-16.)

    The drink was foul (brandy in beer?  who’d’a thunk?) but we were triumphant, at least until my gut started to churn.  It was like our pontiff saying "Thanks, boys, but you know… there are consequences to what you do."  The next day we heard similar comments but, as we had found that the B-16 was a more rigorous experience than we’d expected, we chose to speak up instead.

I’m afraid that I haven’t heard of Benedict (the brandy, not the pope) or B&B (bed & breakfast?). Perhaps they are distinctly Canadian brands (or perhaps not; I’m ignorant of such things).

Was intrigued to hear of your unique idea for "defending" (in the sense of honoring or commemorating) our beloved holy father, though I tend to think y’all should go with the telepathic communique you got from him: In wartime or not, depth charges should be treated with great caution.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

10 thoughts on “The Theological Depth-Charge?”

  1. Perhaps the problem was that Heineken is a Dutch beer, not a German beer? That would make it, what, a Hadrian VI?

  2. I wonder if they might have been thinking of Benedictine (a liquor, not a brandy) — I’ve never heard of anything called just “Benedict” in the Potent Potables category.
    Anyway, this new mixological invention has come along at just the right time. This afternoon, our firm is adjourning to the local Irish pub to celebrate my departure from my current secular position, to take a job with the Church. The “Theological Depth Charge” will now be the official drink of the occasion — assuming the Irish have German beer on hand.

  3. Is he referring to Benedictine, the liquer ?
    “Benedictine Liqueur;
    Benedictine is a judicious blend of the recipes created by Dom Bernardo Vincelli and by Alexandre Le Grand. It is made up of 27 plants and spices which come from the four corners of the globe. Angelica, hyssop, juniper, myrrh, saffron, aloe, arnica, cinnamon…(the full list is a closely guarded secret!) give Benedictine its unique flavour. Benedictine has always been made with a unique savoir-faire and has a quality beyond reproach, thanks to its lengthy production process. It is distilled in copper stills and then aged in oak casks in the dark Palace cellars… Benedictine is the embodiment of refined luxury liqueurs, enjoyed the world over, from Hong Kong to Rio de Janeiro, from Sydney to Cape Town… ”
    http://www.67wine.com/129843?id=nsession
    Love the stuff!
    God Bless.

  5. I agree that he probably meant benedictine, particularly because B&B isn’t a brand but a drink that is mixed Brandy and Benedictine. It can be found already mixed (usually with pretty cheap Brandy) in most stores.

  6. Fr. Stephanos, of the Order of Saint BENEDICT ... and happy to serve the Church under Pope BENEDICT says:

    Remember the Dr. Pepper jingle from the seventies?
    Try the following to the same tune.
    I’m a Benny.
    He’s a Benny.
    Wouldn’t you like to be a Benny, too?
    Benedictine!
    Be Benedictine!
    Benedictine!
    Be Benedictine!

  7. [a shy grin]
    It was indeed Benedictine (and we had the sense to call it that when asking for it.) The Heineken was as close as we could get, and the B&B was indeed that less-pleasant cousin of the Benedictine Liqueur, half-and-half Brandy and Benedictine. As I said, an “Ecumenical” B-16. Should have known better than to compromise on the B-16! A disgruntled stomach was all I got! (Hmmm… seems allegorical.)
    God Bless.

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