A Persian story goes that Adam found the vine languishing close to extinction. It needed a blood transfusion. He applied the blood of peacock, monkey, lion and pig in turn. And so, the first effect of alcohol is the pride to strut around like the peacock. Then emerges the giddy monkey.
Trouble starts with the fighting lion.
And saddest of all is the poor pig wallowing in squalor. Temperance means avoiding excesses. Lent is a time to temper our appetites for drink, food, smoking, speeding, talking, television, sleeping - or whatever you are having yourself. Times of Masses, Confessions and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Wednesday of this week is Ash Wednesday. It is a Day of Fast and Abstinence.