Fighting addiction with the blood of Christ: The Calix Society

By Dr. Jeff Mirus ( bio - articles - email ) | Sep 25, 2019 | In On the Good

In a world awash in both addictions and addiction programs, it is genuinely inspiring to see an organization helping people to conquer their addictions in Christ, through the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. That’s the methodology of the Calix Society, which was founded originally in 1947 in response to the needs of an alcoholic priest, and which continues to strengthen those recovering from alcoholism and other addictions through the ongoing reception of the Sacraments of the Church.

The name “Calix”, meaning “cup”, refers of course to the chalice used to offer Christ’s blood in every Mass. An article on CatholicPhilly.com shows how the program works in one region of the country. The organization’s website is at www.calixsociety.org. Though strongest in Pennsylvania, local chapters are currently operating in 23 states in the United States, as well as in England and Ireland.

A lay organization led wherever possible by priests as chaplains, Calix also publishes a bimonthly newsletter, “The Chalice”, and sponsors an annual retreat, which was last held in August 2019 in Washington, DC. While officially oriented toward alcoholism, Calix chapters frequently welcome those with other forms of substance and behavior addiction. And while the Calix slogan also focuses on alcoholism, its central meaning applies to all the addictive habits we need grace to overcome.

Calix: Substituting the cup that stupefies with the one that sanctifies.