Taste and See

This is a religious-based potluck of shared family memories, prayers, and recipes. Meetings take place during spring and fall. All are welcome.

Coordinator: Rev. Mr. George Tichacek, 843-0879, gticha@sbcglobal.net.

Scroll down for previous weeks.

Tradition! Tradition! What do your parents and grandparents do on those special “Church days” in the family: Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Weddings, Christmas, Easter, feast days, Name Days and Birth Days? Their routine is simple: 1. Go to Church and celebrate the liturgy, and 2, return home and cook the favorite dishes handed down in families over the ages.

For TASTE & SEE’s invitation to its opening potluck lunch, 11 am, Oct 6, pick up a pamphlet in the Gathering Space. Note the artist’s sketch. The Blessed Virgin Mary and Joseph had tradition to follow too, presenting Jesus to the Lord at the temple. Simeon and Anna joined them in celebration.

What special days are ahead this week?

Monday: Wenceslaus, … 929, ruler of Bohemia, martyr who “preferred the kingdom of God to all that the earth had to offer.” Also, Lawrence Ruiz, … 1637, protomartyr of the Philippines, and 15 of his companions, martyrs at Nagasaki.

Tuesday: Michael (meaning “Who is like God?”), Gabriel (“God’s Strength”), and Raphael (“God’s Remedy”), Archangels. Michael: patron of security forces and of the sick; Gabriel: of telecommunications and the postal service; Raphael: of travelers and of the blind.

Wednesday: Jerome, … 420 at Bethlehem, priest, doctor of the Church. Patron of Scripture scholars. Yet, he said, “Today we must translate the words of Scripture into deeds, and instead of speaking saintly words we must act them.”

Thursday: Therese of the Child Jesus, … 1897, virgin, doctor of the Church, the “Little Flower.” Patroness of the missions, of florists, of France, and the Apostleship of Prayer.

Friday: The Guardian Angels. St. Bernard says: “The angels are here…at your side, with you, present on our behalf…to protect you and to serve you. But even if it is God who has given them this charge, we should…be grateful to them for the great love with which they obey and come to help us in our great need.”

So what are we going to eat? Visit TASTE & SEE’s lunch October 6. Tradition will be spoken.

Wednesday, we celebrate the memory of three beatified priests and martyrs of the Congregation of the Mission who were tortured and killed during the French Revolution: Blessed Louis Joseph Francois, born in February, 1751, refused to swear to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy and was thrown from a window and killed on September 3, 1792.

Blessed John Gruyer, born in June, 1734, specialized in the formation of clergy and was killed with a sword on the same day as his companion, Louis Joseph; and

Blessed Peter René Rogue was born in June, 1758. After several months of imprisonment and torture, which he endured with patience and courage and which served to encourage other faithful, Peter René was decapitated on March 3, 1792. These three Vincentian confreres heeded St. Vincent dePaul’s words: Prefer pains and death rather than to place yourself in the unhappy danger of losing God’s love.—The Way of Saint Vincent is Our Way, Miguel Perez Flores, C.M. & Antonio Orcajo, C.M.

Our memorial Thursday is for Gregory the Great, … 604, pope, one of the four doctors of the Western Church, together with St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, and St. Jerome. The son of a Roman senator and administrator in Rome, Gregory became prefect of Rome. After his father’s death, he distributed his great wealth among various monasteries. He was named abbot of the monastery of St. Andrews and secretary to Pope Pelagius II, whom he succeeded as pope in 590. One of his first acts was to lead penitential processions to pray for the end of the plague, of which Pope Pelagius had died.

He was noted for liturgical reform and for Gregorian chant. A patron saint of music, Gregory was the first pope to call himself “Servant of the servants of God.” He served in the papacy for thirteen years.— Saints of the Roman Calendar, Enzo Lodi, Alba House 

Monday we celebrate the Feast of St. Bartholomew, … 1^st c., identified in the Synoptics as one of the first apostles chosen by Christ. In the Gospel of John, we find him as Nathaniel, in the company of Phillip, when Christ proclaimed: “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no conceit.”

Tuesday is the Feast of Louis IX of France, … 1270, model ruler and the father of eleven children, the principal patron of the city of St. Louis. An optional memorial Tuesday is for Joseph Calasanz, … 1648, priest, patron of all Christian schools assisting the poor.

Thursday is the memorial for Monica, … 387, the mother of Augustine, … 430, bishop, one of the four great doctors of the Latin Church, remembered Friday. His rule is observed by some 100 religious communities today. When Monica earlier asked a bishop to try to influence Augustine, he responded with prophetic words: “Let him be, and continue to pray for him; it is impossible that a son of so many tears should be lost.”

Saturday’s memorial celebrates the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, … 1^st c. We read in the Mass that God “called John the Baptist to be the herald of your Son’s birth and death.”

Sunday, we reserve until next year the memorial of Blessed Ghebre Michael, … 1855, martyr, a Vincentian convert from Ethiopia, who, under arrest, died in chains. St. Vincent DePaul warned his missionaries that “God sends afflictions, persecutions, prison and martyrdom to those who have served Him faithfully…to bring to perfection and glory those who devote themselves totally to His service.

Tuesday’s saint, the Cure of Ars, John Mary Vianney, … 1859, priest, was so much in demand as a counselor that he spent eleven hours every day in the confessional in the winter, sixteen in the summer.

Wednesday, we mark the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome where legend has it that the Blessed Virgin designated the location of the basilica by miraculously outlining the massive structure in snow one August night. From this, we have the title, Our Lady of the Snows.

Thursday, we observe the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Imagine how shocked Peter, James and John must have been, seeing the transfigured Son of Man, hearing His Father speak from a cloud, and hearing Christ predict that He will rise from the dead and come again in glory.

Friday’s saints are Sixtus II, … 258, pope (succeeding Peter for but a year), martyr, and his four deacons, martyrs. During a secret celebration of the Eucharist in the catacombs of Callistus, they were surprised by soldiers of Valerius and beheaded because they were Christians . Also remembered is Cajetan, … 1547, priest, founder of a religious order concentrating on the poor and the sick. .

Another founder is memorialized Saturday: Dominic, … 1221, priest. He founded the Order of Preachers (the Dominican’s) and an order of religious women. In his constitutions, Dominic emphasized personal and community poverty, the study of sacred truth, and the ministry of preaching the salvation of souls.

Taste & See cooks may prepare book cakes or dove-shaped cookies as name day desserts for family members named after one of the patron saints featured this month 

If saints were flowers, we would be amazed at the colorful variety of beauties flowering our life this week:

Monday: Apollinaris, … 1^st c., bishop, martyr, was ordained bishop by St. Peter himself and was sent as a missionary to Ravenna. Italy. He was renowned for his power to heal.

Tuesday, Lawrence of Brindisi, … 1619, Capuchin priest, Apostolic Doctor. He was a model for preachers, military chaplains, and a patron of the ecumenical movement.

Wednesday: Mary Magdalene, … 1^st c. She is placed first in the list of women who accompanied Jesus; she was with the group beneath the cross. The Opening Prayer of her Mass tells us “Christ first entrusted to Mary Magdalene the joyful news of his Resurrection.” After Pentecost, Mary Magdalene accompanied the Blessed Virgin and John to Ephesus.

Thursday: Bridget of Sweden, … 1373, religious. This mother of eight, mystic, foundress of the Order of the Most Holy Savior, was the mother of a saint, Catherine of Sweden.

Friday: Sharbel Makhluf, … 1898, priest. Initially a monk of the Maronite Rite, he was ordained a priest in 1859. He spent the last twenty-three years of his life as a hermit, performing miracles and teaching the value of poverty, self-sacrifice and prayer.

Saturday: James, Apostle, brother of John the Evangelist, was called “the Greater” because he followed Christ before the other apostle of the same name. He was one of the three privileged apostles, together with Peter and John. He was the first of the Twelve to be martyred, being decapitated by order of Herod Agrippa I, c. 42 or 44.

For Independence Day, let’s put ourselves back in biblical times and prepare a dish worthy of the saints whose days we celebrate this week:

the Apostles Peter … c.64, and Paul … c.67;

the unnamed and unnumbered First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church … c.64;

Blessed Junipero Serra, … 1784, priest;

the Apostle Thomas … 1^st c.; and

Elizabeth of Portugal, … 1336.

2 pounds of fresh or defrosted fish S 4 cloves garlic, chopped olive oil

red wine vinegar or lemon juice lettuce black olives ½ C chopped fresh mint leaves

Clean, rinse and salt the fish. Rub with garlic & brush with oil. Preheat broiler. Place fish, skin side down, in oiled pan; broil about 3 inch from flame (5 inches for split larger fish). During cooking, baste generously with oil and vinegar. Serve on bed of lettuce, surrounded by olives. Sprinkle with mint leaves. Serve with cucumbers & yogurt, thick lentil soup, and wheat & barley loaves. Read John 21:9-13. —E. Vitz, Continual Feast, Ignatius ’85 

A Week for Men

Fathers, on your special day, how about giving instead of receiving? In Bordon & Winters’ 101 Things You Should Do Before Going To Heaven, parents and others are urged to give their hearts away to a child as a great prelude to heaven.

“Play together. Listen. Watch. Learn. The Bible says that unless you become like a child, you’ll never get to heaven. Rediscover the beauty and power of innocence, humility, sincerity, passion, and faith… Risk showering him or her with love. Be forewarned that really loving a child will probably expose you to disappointment, frustration, and anger, as well as joy… Just talk to your heavenly Father about what loving you has cost Him. Then ask Him if it was worth it. Once you give your heart away to a child, your answer will echo God’s.”

Taste & See suggests that Dad start by trading off his secret barbecuing skills for the youngster’s expertise with I-pods and cell phones; his tricks of cleaning and grilling fish on an outdoor fire with the child’s competence with the clicker. Mom can always step in and teach both of them how to bake bread from scratch, one of the 101 end-time things to do.

Special men honored Monday are:

> Paulinus of Nola, … 431, bishop;

> John Fisher, … June 22, 1535, bishop, martyr, chancellor of Cambridge University; and

> Thomas More, … July 6, 1535, martyr, chancellor of England.

On Wednesday, we mark the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Note it is his day of birth, not the usual day of a saint’s death (and birth into heaven). The Paulist Press Ordo tells us that St. Augustine found that, “after the birth of John, daylight begins to grow shorter whereas after Jesus’ birth, it begins to increase.”

Saturday is the memorial of Cyril of Alexandria, … 444, bishop, doctor of the Church. Cyril defended Mary as “God-bearer” at the Council of Ephesus in 431.

On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, parents call TASTE & SEE members and ask “What do they do? What do families do who want to keep up with old traditions?”

Answers are in the Holy Bible, the Vatican II papers, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. There’s the Internet and Google. Old time T&S people hit the books too but their authorities for home traditions are several. Here are a few suggestions:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 261: The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life. God alone can make it known to us by revealing Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Francis Weiser in Handbook of Christian Feasts & Customs: One interesting custom is the “hearing” of the children at dinner after Mass on Trinity Sunday, or any Sunday. During the meal, the father gravely listens while the children repeat what the priest said in his homily. The mother aids and occasionally corrects the children. Three candles are lit before the picture of the Trinity. A custom in Ireland is for men to wear the shamrock on their hat and girls to wear crosses made of ribbons.

Friedrich Rest in Christian Symbols: We sing, “God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.” Ancients used the word persona to describe the mask actors often wore. For us the Persons of the Godhead are representations, pictures—three main roles, three aspects, three functions. Symbols are the triangle, the shield, the triquetra, the number three, and the trefoil, fleur-delis or shamrock. Look for the threes in Church decorations, like panels on an altar. The unity of the Trinity is shown on the shield by using the word est on each line, so as to read, “The Father is God; the Son is God; the Holy Spirit is God.”

Meredith Gould in The Catholic Home: 1. Cradle a few three-leaf clovers in your hand. 2. Gaze at the three curved leaves. 3. Gently pluck leaves from stems. Contemplate: 4. What is the shamrock without each leaf? 5. The Father? 6. The Son? 7. The Holy Spirit? 8. What is the Holy Trinity without each person of God? 0. What is each person of God without the Holy Trinity?

Helen McLoughlin in Nameday: Allow the children to create the family tradition. It will provide them with a period of stillness in which the Holy Spirit may work upon their hearts and minds and hands. Decorate paper napkins with crayons; use nail polish to add symbols to plastic plates; decorate a home shrine with symbols. Use a mold with a fleur-de-lis or a three-leaf clover design to make Jello or frozen dessert or a cake. Everybody knows that it was St. Patrick who taught the doctrine of the Trinity with the aid of the shamrock. Retell the story. 

Professor Evelyn Birge Vitz, in A Continuous Feast, Ignatius Press, 1985, speaks of a traditional salad made of twelve kinds of fresh fruit (grapes, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, pineapple, apples, bananas, melon, grapefruit, kiwi, mangoes.) These she arranged in 12 groups on a bed of lettuce and sprinkled with a little sugar (optional) and lemon juice. This salad can be served with mayonnaise with honey & lime juice.

Her essential idea is from Galatians 5 with twelve fruits or graces of the Holy Spirit. Hers are charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, long-suffering, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, and chastity.

Birge Vitz taught her young children about Pentecost by allowing them to decorate a sheet cake with such symbols as: Red flames—that hovered over the apostles; White dove—in honor of the Holy Spirit; Rays of yellow gold—to suggest divinity; Seven doves or gift packages—the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit; Strawberries or other fruits—fruits of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2).

For TASTE & SEE cooks, gathering ingredients, blocking out time with the family to keep traditions alive for this birthday party of the Church, and then baking with a kitchen full of kids are all tame compared with Pentecost customs centuries ago. Choir boys would hiss and rattle the benches to simulate the sound of a violent wind. Doves would be let loose from the Holy Ghost hole. Pieces of burning straw would be dropped on the congregations.

Meanwhile, we honor this first week of Ordinary Time:

Monday: St. Justin, … 165, martyr;

Tuesday: St. Marcellinus and St. Peter, … c. 303, martyrs;

Wednesday: St. Charles Lwanga, 21 companions & 78+ others, … 1885-87, martyrs;

Friday: St. Boniface, … 754. bishop, martyr (martyred with 30 companions); and

Saturday: St. Norbert, … 1134, bishop and the Vigil Mass of the Most Holy Trinity.

Sunday we observe the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. The weekdays following this before Pentecost are a time for preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Optional memorials for Monday are:

< Bede the Venerable, … 735, priest, doctor, known as the father of English history;

< Gregory VII, … 1085, Pope, involved in the excommunication of Henry IV;

< Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, … 1607, virgin, reformer of the Carmelite Order; and

< Memorial Day in the U.S.A., a day for praying for peace and justice and for visiting cemeteries.

Tuesday we remember St. Philip Neri, … 1595, priest, for his great sense of humor, his cheerfulness, and his humble and simple ways. On the one hand, he was spiritual director for such greats as St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis de Sales, St. Charles Borromeo, and St. Camillus de Lellis. On the other, when people were saying he was a saint, he shaved off half of his beard. Another time, when the Pope left a cardinal’s hat at Philip’s door, he used it to play catch.

Wednesday’s saint is Augustine of Canterbury, … 604(5?), monk, bishop, the first evangelizer of England. On his first trip to visit the fierce Saxon tribes, his missionaries persuaded Augustine to return to Rome. Pope Gregory sent the fearful Augustine back. In time, he was able to convert the pagan king of Kent and many of his followers. He built the first Canterbury cathedral.

Saturday we celebrate the Vigil Mass of Pentecost.

IS IT SOUP YET?

Why are there no snakes in Ireland? Who introduced Easter Fire into the Easter Vigil? Who used a plant to teach the mystery of the Trinity? Who fought off the wee folks’ shenanigans?

Who is God’s foster-father? Whose staff blossomed into a lily? Whose symbol in art is a carpenter’s square or saw or hatchet? Whose eulogy reads, “He is a just man?”

What kind of “soup” are we: the broth offered to the angel by Gideon? The cheap pottage Esau sold for his birthright? The boiling pots of Jeremiah and Ezekiel? St. Vincent dePaul’s lentil soup for the poor?

Is the Holy Spirit purifying us and forming us into an offering for Christ? Can the Master Chef look at us and say “yes” to the question, “Is it soup yet?”

St. Catherine Laboure’s TASTE & SEE has people grappling with questions such as these concerning our faith. The pot will be boiling for lunch, Tuesday, March 17. Drop by at 11:00 a.m. in the All Purpose Building and taste to see the goodness of God at work.

Adele Staat, 842-5751, can tell you about our meaningful gatherings

MEETING UP WITH JESUS

Every moment, the Father is drawing each one of us to Himself, to know and to love Him. He reveals Himself and His plan of loving goodness by giving us His beloved Son and the Holy Spirit. He invites us to have faith in the Holy Trinity. Jesus explained that “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws Him…Everyone who had heard the Father and learned from Him comes to me.”

There are seven of these encounters that the Church emphasizes for us. We don’t usually sit around thinking about them, but they are the foundation stones of our lives as God’s children.

TASTE & SEE invites us to share our sacramental memories over lunch, 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 10, in the All Purpose Building at St. Catherine Laboure.

Baptism? Ever been a parent or godparent? Of a child? Of an adult? Reconciliation? Why should people clap after we come out of the confessional? Eucharist? That look on the face of a youth at First Communion? Could we take Christ into our hearts with the same devotion? Confirmation? Might we show others by our lives that we are spiritually mature? Should we make a service project of just living up to Our Lord’s expectations?

Marriage? Look around at parents and grandparents and newlyweds. Don’t they bless us with a union “for good times and bad, for better, for worse, richer, or poorer, till death do us part?” Holy Orders? No wonder our bishops, priests and deacons are out there, trying to make a difference. Look at the youthful seminarians who will be studying and working in different parishes for years. Anointing of the Sick? Why are some people scared of even mentioning this around sick people? Look at it from the patient’s point of view! Who is the best physician, anyway?

This might be the very TASTE & SEE lunch for you. Bring a treat, if you like, or just come with some questions or answers. For more information, call Nancy Griffin, 843-9139

HENRY FONDA’S RICE

It is said that we are a nation populated for the most part by immigrants proud to call themselves Americans. We are an ethnic group—not a melting pot, all melted into a common mass—but an American stew in which many traditions and flavors and cultures can each add to the pot. According to the Frugal Gourmet, no other nation does this stew as well as we do.

“Once you were strangers,” Paul writes in Eph 2:11-13, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” No matter where we came from, we are family, thanks to the Jesus who welcomed the Canaanite Woman, the Samaritan Woman, the Centurion’s Servant, the Good Samaritan, the Gerasene Demoniac, etc.

As family, we still have a long way to go to accept “foreigners” with different-colored skins and strange-sounding speech. TASTE & SEE marvels that, in spite of these prejudices, we go out of our way to enjoy ethnic food. An Italian restaurant featuring swordfish is passed up for a place selling spaghetti and meatballs. At home we go Chinese one night and German the next. We dig up old recipes from our grandparents to teach our children their roots. An example is this recipe of Henry Fonda’s mother. Henry used to cook her Spanish/Mexican rice for a group of other struggling actors:

¼ pound bacon 1 small onion, minced ½ green pepper, seeded & minced 2 cans of tomatoes, drained & chopped 4 C cooked rice Salt & Pepper to taste. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sauté bacon until crisp; chop coarsely. Drain most of the fat; add onion and green pepper; sauté a few minutes. Combine onion, bacon and tomatoes with the rice. Season with S & P. Turn into a greased 2-quart baking dish; cover; bake about 20 minutes. Remove cover and bake 10 minutes more. Serves 6 to 8.—S. Lovegren, Fashionable Food, MacMillan 1995.

At 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 3, in Room 2 of the All Purpose Building, St. Catherine Laboure, TASTE & SEE goes ethnic in a big way. Questions: call Nancy Lorenz, 842-4097.

2009 FEASTDAYS

Call any one of TASTE & SEE’s members for ideas to celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord in your home. Ask about marking your doorways with chalk, writing C+ M + B ’09, the initials of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

Ask about the Lamb’s Wool cider drink and the Twelfth Night King’s cake with its surprise Baby Jesus figures, coins, or beans.

It is an ancient custom on Epiphany to announce the dates of the movable feasts for 2009. The Epiphany Proclamation might include these dates: Jan. 11, The Baptism of the Lord; Jan. 22, Roe vs. Wade Anniversary; Jan. 25, Conversion of St. Paul, marking the 2,000^th anniversary of St. Paul’s birth; Feb. 2, The Presentation of the Lord; Feb. 3, Blessing of Throats; Feb. 11, World Day of the Sick; Feb. 25, Ash Wednesday; March 19, Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin; Mar. 25, The Annunciation of the Lord; April 5, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion; April 9, Holy Thursday; April 10, Good Friday; April 11, Holy Saturday; April 12, Easter Sunday: the Resurrection of the Lord; April 19, Divine Mercy; May 24, The Ascension of the Lord;

May 31, Pentecost Sunday; June 7, The Most Holy Trinity; June 14, The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ; June 19, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; June 20, the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Aug. 6, The Transfiguration of the Lord; Aug. 15, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Sept. 8, The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Sep. 14, The Exaltation of the Holy Cross; Sept. 29, Michael, Gabriel, & Raphael, Archangels; Nov. 1, All Saints; Nov 2., All Souls; Nov. 22, Our Lord Jesus Christ the King; Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day; Dec. 8, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Dec. 25, Christmas; Dec. 27, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

When marking calendars, check off Feb. 10 for the first of TASTE & SEE’s Spring potluck luncheons 

We meet this typical 2000-year old man and hear his story at TASTE & SEE live, Tuesday, November 11, at 11:00 a.m. in the Church Basement Meeting Room.

He is a Jew from Jerusalem. “You might have read about me in Luke 10:25-37, where Jesus illustrates who was my true neighbor,” he tells us. “I chose this time to travel to Jericho some 150 stadioi—about 18 of your miles—on a Roman road called the Bloody Way. Suddenly I was a victim. I don’t remember what happened, but you know the story about the Priest and Levite passing me by, but how a S—my dreaded enemy—yes, I can say it now—a Samaritan dressed my wounds with wine and oil, put me on his mount, cared for me overnight at the inn, and paid the innkeeper to look after me.”

Join us as we talk about many more tales of Jesus as a stranger whom we welcomed. In a spirit of hospitality, we will share our potluck with you and listen to your experiences with strangers you came to love.

In the Spring, TASTE & SEE will return with lunches starting February 10. Themes will be Outdoor Cooking, Gardening, “I Thirst,” Ethnic Foods, the Seven Sacraments, and “Is It Soup Yet?” See you Tuesday for the last program in 2008. Questions: 314-843-0879.

WHAT’S FOR LUNCH?

“Would that we had meat for food! We remember the fish we used to eat without cost

in Egypt, and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onion, and the garlic. But now we are famished;

we see nothing before us but this MANNA.” —Numbers 11:1-6

Manna—man hu in Hebrew—translates “What is this?” Many a mother has had to identify the contents of a new dish. We just don’t like surprises, even if Mom says, “Trust me. It’s good. Eat it. “

TASTE & SEE extends its invitation to a lunch full of surprises Tuesday, November 4, at 11:00 a.m. in the Church Basement Meeting Room. Drop on by. Surprise us with a treat yourself. It might be a dish you remember Mom sprung on you once, or it can be your thoughts about Christ’s spiritual surprises. Tell us what Jesus meant about the “true bread from heaven.” How come the word “faith” is used about 275 times in the Bible, but the verb “to eat” is used some 800 times.

We call it a potluck, mainly because we surprise ourselves with diverse dishes (and stories) that all come together. You are one of the cooks!

Marty Haugen sings it this way: “Give us to drink the wine of compassion. Give us to eat the bread that is you. Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion, lives that are holy and hearts that are true.”

Questions: 314-843-0879 .

THE MITE THAT MATTERED

“Welfare is for a purpose. Christian love is for a person.”—Mother Teresa. “Filled with good

things from God’s open hand, may we never close our hearts to the hungry, the homeless, and the

poor.” — Abbey of Clairvaux. “ I belong to God and to the poor.” — St. Vincent DePaul. “Our goal is to be holy, to thank God for his gifts, and to share these gifts with our neighbors .”— Fr. Jim Cormack, C.M.

At times, do you feel you’re as low on funds as the widow who only had two coins left?

Still, could you be half as generous as she was—giving all she had to live on?

The folks getting together for a TASTE & SEE lunch this Tuesday will be discussing Christ’s precious friends: the “poor in spirit.”

From the very beginning, the God Almighty provided for the poor and commanded that society protect them. Rules were set out in Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Job, Isaiah, and elsewhere in the Old Testament. Fr. J. McKenzie tells us that, in the New Testament, the dominant idea of poverty in the Gospels came not only from the words of Jesus but from His life. His attitude toward wealth was simple: it is an obstacle to the Kingdom of heaven.

St. Vincent DePaul saw priesthood as a means of being comfortably off, but he ultimately opened his eyes to God’s true riches. We hope to increase our understanding of generosity as he and others displayed it.

Our 11 a.m. lunch, October 28, will feature dishes of the variety taken to charitable potlucks.

If this were St. Vincent’s at 10^th & Park, Bob Firman and Mary Niewoehner would bring Betty Ivanowski’s Polish Spaghetti. Bring something, if you like. But let us hear your thoughts on aiding the needy. We meet in the Church Basement Meeting Room. Questions: 314-843-0879.

Oh, yes! Almost forgot! We will finish in time for you to attend a presentation, WHERE DID I PUT MY MEMORY, by SCL Parishioner Emily LaBarge at 1 pm in the Parish Hall.

We are leaving Church and we spot those pictures in the gathering space. What is this all about? We know that one priest—that’s Fr. Tom Hinni, C.M.—with a nametag yet! We see him substituting at Mass quite often on Sundays and weekdays. That other priest, we find out, is the late Fr. James McHardy, C.M., an associate from 1978-1982 And the nun is Sister Audrey Bergfeld, D.C.

Many of the other people look like younger versions of people we know or see in the pews. Tina Doherty, Pat & Bob Manfrede, Carol & ClarenceTunnicliff, and Bonnie & Bob Goodwin haven’t changed a bit with time. Neither have Ron & Mary Nicoletti, Anita & John Koenig, nor Patti & Don Feltz. Don looks really young there. Speaking of youth, there’s that group picture of future altar boys “horsing around.” Wonder what they’re doing now? On a more serious note, there are many adults pictured here who have gone ahead of us to everlasting life.

We are told that all these pictures were taken in 1980 when hundreds of parishioners took part in Parish Renewal Weekends from June to October. Renewal was before Renew, and before the days we felt comfortable sharing our faith journeys with others, much less digging into Bible lessons or tasting potluck suppers.

The sign reads TASTE & SEE, inviting us to “Swap memories & faith stories over lunch.” The handouts explain that folks from St. Catherine Laboure and other parishes are invited to the Church Basement Meeting Room at 11:00 a.m. any or all Tuesdays, October 7 – November 11. It’s not necessary to sign up. We can just show up at the first session this coming Tuesday—perhaps empty-handed, or with a pocketful of memories, stories, recipes, or even meaningful treats. No charge. The subject is, appropriately, “Bread Broken for Us.” Let’s break bread together.

Any questions? Call Harriet, 843-6493; Pat, 842-0857; Nancy, 843-9139; Shirley, 894-9813; or George, 843-0879.

Father Carl Callier, C.M., in a Miraculous Medal Bulletin, wrote these words, which became the basis of a TASTE & SEE meditation: “Look up the word ‘Cross’ in the dictionary…and see a set of diagrams of different crosses: The Latin cross, the Greek, the Celtic, St. Andrew’s, the Tau cross and others. Some are very simple, some are ornate, some are very artistic and beautiful.

“So it is with the crosses all of us must bear in life. Some are simple, some are light, others are heavy and rough; some are temporary, others are life-long. They all have one thing in common…they are symbols of suffering after the example of Jesus, Who said, ‘Take up your cross daily and follow me.’

“If not taken up willingly…they can crush us and leave us without hope, drowned in our own misery. If they are taken up in a spirit of love, they become lighter as Christ helps us. He will lead us to the resurrection and eternal happiness Cross and crown go together.

“The cross on its side was a figure known to everyone…a ‘yoke’—a long wooden frame for hitching two animals to pull a cart or a wagon. Jesus said, ‘My yoke is sweet and my burden light.’ That is because in the Christian life we are bound to Jesus who shares in pulling our load. We are never alone.”

In that same meditation paper, TASTE & SEE people viewed this exercise by Rev. Daniel Durken, O.S.B., in The Bible Today: “Select a number of crucifixes and examine each of them closely and carefully. Are the nails in the palms or wrists of Jesus? Does He wear a crown of thorns? Are His eyes opened or closed? How are His feet arranged? What kind of garment is He wearing? Not all crucifixes are the same. The same content of course is there. But the form differs—like the Gospels.”

TASTE & SEE invites you to its first fall meeting, 11 a.m., Tuesday, October 7, in the Church Meeting Room.

Questions: Deacon George, 314-843-0879, gticha@sbcglobal.net . God bless!

You sit there with a calendar and ask yourself, “What am I going to do for so-and-so’s birthday? Or for the Memorials of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Catherine Laboure, our parish patrons? Or, something for the Angels? Or All Saints? Thanksgiving Day? St. Nicholas? Francis? Lucy? Advent? Christmas? New Years? Epiphany?

TASTE & SEE attempts to pick the minds of great authors, commentators, not to forget moms and dads, so that we might plan family activities that praise and honor God as of old.

You can help by recalling what your family traditions were on these special days. Tip us off at TASTE & SEE so that we might remind others to carry on these time-honored customs. Drop a note off at the Rectory or e-mail gticha@sbcglobal.net with your suggestions.

A simple note like, “My parents served five kinds of fish before Good Friday’s celebration,” will help. Or, “My folks would invite a poor person to our Thanksgiving; then we kids would have a quiz to identify the folks on our family tree.” Or, ”We would put out birdseed pretzels and a wildlife tree.”

Our object: Show those around us how they might demonstrate their love for God in such normal ways as telling stories, cooking traditional dishes, taking part in church liturgies, and remembering His beloved saints.

Let TASTE & SEE tell others of your contributions in God’s name.

A FEAST FOR A SAINT

With the memorial day of St. Louis of France coming up August 25, TASTE & SEE searches the book shelves for ideas for a family dinner to celebrate that day.

The sweetest suggestions are found in a parishioner’s book, Sweetness Preserved: The Story of the Crown Candy Kitchen, by Dr. John L. Oldani, PhD. A bonus is that no cooking is involved; all we have to do is browse the antique candy counter for hand-made chocolates.

There are recipes galore in Great Meals of St. Louis. Take your pick: Café Balaban’s Smoked Trout; Cardwell’s Pecan Wood Grilled Breast of Chicken, LoRusso’s Stuffed Eggplant, Tony’s Zabaglione, etc.

In the Friends of Sacred Heart Program’s Angel Food, we find Carol Burnett’s Broiled Deviled Clams, Bishop J. Terry Steib’s Jambalaya, Steve Allen & Jayne Meadows’ Gingered Beef, Cesar Romero’s Spanish Rice, Bob Hope’s Lemon Pie, etc.

In Baer & Lowenhaupt’s Dining in St. Louis, there are recipes from Al’s, Al Bakers, Anthony’s, Busch’s Grove, Catfish & Crystal, Dominic’s, Duff’s, Kemoll’s, Spiro’s, Trader Vic’s, Yen Ching, etc.

Offering us nutrition that lasts for all time is Saint Louis’ own words to his son in the Liturgy of the Hours: “My dearest son, my first instruction is that you should love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your strength. Without this there is no salvation. Keep yourself, my son, from everything that you know displeases God, that is to say, from every mortal sin… If the Lord has permitted you to have some trial, bear it willingly and with gratitude, considering that it has happened for your good and that perhaps you well deserved it… Be kindhearted to the poor, the unfortunate, and the afflicted. Thank God for all the benefits he has bestowed upon you, that you may be worthy to receive greater…”

With Saint Louis furnishing our opening prayers, let’s just raid the freezer and cook up some of DiGregorio’s toasted raviolis—a treat we had in mind all the time!


LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER

TASTE & SEE live will return at a new time, 11 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Tuesdays for six weeks beginning October 3.

Program, this first of six Tuesdays, will be Bread Broken for Us.

You are invited to share your thoughts above two breads:

• perishable bread, and

• the Eucharist, the true and living bread, the bread of life, the bread that comes down from heaven.


Thanks,

George

OUR LADY’S THIRTY-ONE DAYS

Legend has it that all the flowers and herbs on earth had lost their scents after the fall of Adam and Eve. At Mary’s Assumption, all scents and healing powers were returned.

Moreover, from August 15 to September 15, animals and plants are said to lose their harmful traits. Poisons in snakes and plants prove harmless. Nature is at her best.

TASTE & SEE members take advantage of this time of luscious peaches, plums, grapes, figs, tomatoes, etc. In the midst of these special days, baking members are especially busy as they honor Friday’s feast, the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They bake cakes shaped like a crown, decorated with twelve stars (Rev. 12:1) and with lilies of the valley or roses.

Family members are encouraged to do a special act of kindness these days for girls named Mary, Sharon, Lillian, Rosemary, Alba, Concepcion, Gwen, Blanche, Bianca, Loretta, Lorinda, Lori, Lupe, etc.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, whose memorial is celebrated Wednesday, gives us this prayer: In danger, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary…with her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart…you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear.

Mother of your Son, the King of Kings—our Queen and Mother—pray for us!

“Pope Benedict XVI said July 17 that mankind’s ‘insatiable consumption’ has scarred the Earth and squandered its resources, telling followers that taking care of the planet is vital to humanity.” -- The Associated Press.

The Pope spoke to the world as he addressed the 200,000 young pilgrims at the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day in Sidney, Australia. He reached out to the young people the old way with stirring speeches on Sydney’s harbor. He followed these in today’s high tech fashion, “sending daily mobile phone text messages citing scripture to thousands of registered pilgrims at the event—signed with the tagline “BXVI.”

He answered for all of us the tongue-in-cheek question, “If Jesus were here now, would He use www.godtube.com or http://vaticanmondosearch.com or http://www.archstl.org ?” In the first place, He is here, and is the inspiration behind all worthy messages. TASTE & SEE recently had to field this question “What is the meaning of the Chi Rho symbol in SCL’s window #3?” Several books answered that this was the monogram for Christ.

. The Internet, however, provided encyclopedia-long pages of facts about this oldest known letter symbol for Christ. These second century Greek letters, Chi (X=ch) and Rho (P=r) are the first three letters of Christos in Greek. Moreover, web sites provided illustrations, examples of the many variations, stories about Emperor Constantine, etc. Side trips unearthed pages about the Cross.

Browsing produced another bonus for TASTE & SEE cooks. Cook's Illustrated Magazine

CooksIllustrated@americastestkitchencorp.com gave a tip on cracking an egg. “Simply tap the egg on a flat surface, such as a countertop. The cleaner break— through the shell and inner membrane —results in fewer pieces of shattered shell in the bowl (and the food). “ Thank you, BXVI.

TASTE & SEE was given this book by Father LAWRENCE WADDY: Drama In Worship. To illuminate the word of God, this theatrical and television author offers a short play for every Sunday of the year.

For this week, he notes that all children are heirs of Christ, but they must have parents as guardians to control their lives. But the Church recognizes the need of other guardians and has appointed godparents who pray, offer friendship and concern, and provide witness to influence their godchildren.

What happens when there is a crisis? Death of one or more of the parents? Or neglect? Or serious maltreatment? Let’s see.

Scene: LORNA’s living room. It is untidy and run down. She is sitting with a drink in her hand. (The door bell rings; Lorna does nothing. It keeps ringing. She gets up.)

LORNA: Shoot! Who’d be visiting this late? Who is it?

PHILIP (outside): It’s PHIL and EVIE We heard things weren’t so good, so we came.

LORNA: You better come in, I suppose. Really, it’s none of your business!

EVIE: A friend’s troubles are a friend’s business. Can we sit down?

(You can imagine the rest of the dialogue. The story of a broken marriage comes out.) PHIL: We are TIM’s godparents, you know. Do you know what we promised at his baptism? EVIE: Six years ago we promised to see that he was raised to know God, and---

LORNA: So you’ve come to spy on me, to see if I take him to Church every Sunday!

PHIL: No. You know us better than that. Please tell us what we can do for him and you.

EVIE: If you need some time to look for a job—or just to go away and take a rest—TIM can always come to us, and share DOUG’s room. For a start, I’m going to make some coffee. Then we’ll sit and work out a plan. O.K., Lorna?

LORNA: (After a long pause) You know, you’re really something, you two! You mean it, don’t you? Perhaps it isn’t such a lousy world after all. Godparents! I can’t believe it!

MY HEART IS READY

Very often, we dig up an old saying and rephrase it a bit to suit the current situation. Before the exile, King David sang, in Psalm 57:7-8, “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make melody. Awake my soul!” (NRSV and NAB)

Later, the psalmist—it could be a he or a she, Fr. C. Stuhlmueller, C.P., tells us—reused these identical words in Psalm 108: 1-2 to speak to the postexilic community.

What brought this up was that TASTE & SEE people came across a different version of Psalm 108 in the Liturgy of the Hours, Vol. III, page 1193: “My heart is ready, O God; I will sing, sing your praise. Awake, my soul…” Readiness is the theme here.

The Ancient Roots Translinear Bible, which goes back to the original Hebrew translations, carries on this readiness theme. Psalm 57:7-8 reads: “My heart prepares, God, my heart prepares. I sing and make-music. Awake, my honor...” (ARTB) Psalm 108:1: “God, my heart prepares to sing and make-music, even with my honor!” (ARTB)

Webster’s Dictionary helps us:

STEADFAST — firmly fixed in space…not subject to change...firm in belief, determination, or adherence…loyal…faithful.

READY — prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action…prepared for immediate use…willingly disposed…likely to do something indicated…spontaneously prompt…notably dexterous, adroit, or skilled…immediately available.

PREPARE — to make ready beforehand…to work out the details…to put together…to compound…to put into written form…to get ready.

In any case, we have here a situation we can truly sing about and make music. O Lord, please help us be alert to your call! Awaken our hearts! Praise God!


Q & A

TASTE & SEE

Where did you TASTE & SEE people get that name?

We chose that title in the Fall of 1994, because it is familiar and it describes what we are all about.

What exactly are you tasting? What are you seeing?

David, in Psalm 34:8, sings “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” We get together, therefore, to talk about God’s goodness. Our masthead announces that we aim to Help Family Members Rediscover: · History, · Rituals, · Activities, and · Foods that Give Honor to God and His People.

How do you justify potlucks at your meetings?

Every one of us can remember a particular food that our parents served on special Church occasions: Speculaas cookies for St. Nicholas; Crown cookies and gingersnaps for St. Lucy; stollen & fruitcake for Christmas; pickled herring for New Years; Kings’ cake with baby Jesus figure hidden inside for Epiphany; pretzels, broiled fish & lentil soup for Lent, etc.

But why food?

Mom never flipped Bible pages to hear Jesus say, in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Nor did she read history to find Dorothy Day saying she “always wanted to see how many times Christ dined, supped, picnicked with His disciples; how St. Peter’s mother rose to serve them; how Jesus fed the little girl brought back to life.” No, but it was easier for Mom to share with others—even strangers— how tasty a certain dish was than to say, “Do you know Jesus.?” Food is the key—we all must eat. St. Jerome reminded us, in words from Ecclesiastes, our work is “to satisfy the mouth, yet the spirit will be hungry.” We hope to feed mouth and spirit equally.

SYMBOLS THAT SPEAK

This week of the Most Holy Trinity, TASTE & SEE suggests we look around Church and see how many times we find these special symbols: a triangle, three interlocking circles, a fleur-de-lis, a shamrock, or the abbreviation I H S.

The number three is a giveaway. The triangle’s three sides, three angles, signify the unity of the Holy Trinity, as do three of the other symbols. We sing “God in three persons, blessed Trinity.” In the Godhead, “persons” are not individuals, but three representations, three pictures, three roles of God in action. God is seen as Creator. In Jesus, He is seen as Redeemer or Savior. In the Spirit, He is experienced as Enlightener and Sanctifier.

Tuesday, we honor St. Bernardine of Siena, a Franciscan priest who was an eloquent preacher in Italy. He encouraged devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus and was famous for creating the monogram I H S.

Father Bernardine especially preached against gambling. A failing card-maker complained to him about this. Father suggested that, instead of making playing cards, he start printing holy cards with the I H S symbol. At first, he was disgusted. In time, he adopted the idea and became very successful.

Popular translations of I H S include: Jesus; Jesus, Savior of Men; I Have Suffered; In This Sign Shalt Thou Conquer; and in This (Cross) Is Salvation.

A Chicago Tribune article in the Post-Dispatch, April 17, spoke of a program at Kendall College in Chicago on “Sweets: A Journey Through Midwestern Dessert Traditions.”

This drew a smile from at least two of TASTE & SEE’s charter members all the way from St. Martin de Porres Parish in Hazlewood: Jackie and Audrey have been sweetening just about every potluck gathering here since 1994 with samples from their day jobs. One is a cake-maker/decorator and the other teaches candy-making.

The food historians reported “how pioneer women of the Plans built schools, stopped fights, and formed lasting communities with confections made in rough and ready kitchens that were often fueled by fast-burning buffalo chips.

“Hundreds of cakewalks and bake sales served as the ‘sweet glue’ that held pioneer communities together.” Some typical sweet tooth offerings found in Midwest kitchens were:

· the famous Heath bar from Illinois, a favorite of GIs in World War II;

· Hoosier cream pie, a “desperation pie” made in winters or when fruit was in short supply in Indiana;

· Islamic & African-American bean pie and pecan pie;

· Nordic almond-based cakes from Minnesota;

· Jewish and Mennonite desserts from their diasporas;

· Peanut blossoms, chocolate ice box cake, Rice Krispies treats, banana puddings.

Go, Middle America! Go! You’re oh so sweet!

Helping family members rediscover · History · Rituals · Activities and · Foods that give honor to God and His People: that’s the mission of TASTE & SEE. At this time of the year members traditionally leave their kitchens and bless gardens, fields, and orchards, as well as fellow workers and their tools.

Several TASTE & SEE people had roast lamb with haroset and salty parsley at Fran Werner’s annual Seder before Easter. This Sunday, we hear Jesus in the Gospel solemnly say “I am the sheepgate…whoever enters through me will be safe.”

Monday, for Year A, we hear Him proclaim, “I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” Elsewhere, we allude to the Lamb of God, the lost sheep carried on his master’s shoulders, sheep among wolves, God’s flock, sheep and goats, etc.

Why all this attention to sheep? This animal was essential to the economy of early nomads and farmers and these Israelites came to understood Christ’s imagery. They knew He was the safe gate through which they could find pasture, a better life. Moreover, any person who would give up His life to protect His charges was truly a Good Shepherd.

We, too, can understand: this Son of God, who would willingly die on the Cross for you and me, is inviting us to pass through Him--this gate that is Jesus—to salvation, life everlasting.

Thankfully, we know His voice.

Contrary to rumors, TASTE & SEE participants get out of the kitchen every so often. We do have to shop for ingredients. Like everybody else, time is short, so we want to get in and out of the stores in a hurry.

Invariably, we bump into fellow parishioners where the small talk goes to “When is the church going to be done?” to “Did you see yesterday’s prayer chain?” Husbands and wives pair off and soon the ears of Father Jim, teachers, those Knights, drivers on Sappington, and the kids in Eighth Grade begin ringing.

A recent incident is typical: “Did you scope out Debbie Werner’s Australian Sticky Date Pudding recipe?” “Yes, but how much is a ml—310 ml of boiling water & 300 ml of cream?” “Same thing with 200 grams of dates?” “And what is self-raising flour?” “My niece is a nurse; she will know.” “Debbie’s a nurse and she wrote this.” “Oh, well—“

No wonder, when we get home, we immediately begin making a shopping list for tomorrow. Then we go to the phones with the church gossip—er, news. God bless shoppers!

THE LOUD CRY

Is there a note of agony in Our Lord’s cry “I am thirsty” and his last words, “It is finished” ?

These words are not a cry of agony or defeat but a shout of victory. No one has “taken” Jesus’ life. He has given his life willingly.

TASTE & SEE readers have studied commentaries on the Gospel of St. John by such theologians as Father Raymond Brown and William Barclay. They say Jesus shouts because the victory is won, that Christ’s death is the beginning of a great triumph.

“ It is finished” — one word in Greek, tetelestai — is a victory cry.

The victory is that of obediently fulfilling the Father’s will.

"What are we doing for Lent?" This question comes up regularly in every Catholic home. We all remember that Jesus spent forty days of fasting and temptation in the desert.

TASTE & SEE people, in groups or on their own, re-read the Scriptures and dig up traditional quotations, stories, and recipes. A favorite is St. Augustine's question: "Do you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Give it two wings: fasting and almsgiving."

The papers are full of Lenten recipes. However, the Tasting and Seeing Our Lord wants is to put aside our own desires. In that way we can be free to fill the needs of others. Look around. There's so much we can do for Lent.

The members of the TASTE & SEE faith formation group decided to hit the "Pause" button. Icy streets and storm warnings caused us to cancel the first four Tuesdays this spring, and the two remaining potlucks.

Look for us to be back, God willing, this fall. Meanwhile:

· Ask your parents or grandparents to help you see God's hands in all you do.

· Find Our Lord in His seasons as celebrated in Church and in our homes.

· Pass on old prayers and stories and food recipes.

· Pray for those whose lives are disrupted by all kinds of storms.

God bless!