Saint Martha

Feast Day

July 29

Patron Saint of

Cooks, Chefs, and Hospitality

The Life of Saint Martha

 Many people around the world have begun to prepare for two significant holidays, Passover and Easter. These holidays are often associated with special meals and traditional dishes that bring people together to celebrate. St. Martha, the patron saint of cooks and hospitality, is a figure who can inspire those who are preparing for these special occasions and teach us how to be good servants.

    St. Martha was a disciple of Jesus Christ and one of his closest friends. She was known for her hospitality and the trust she had for Jesus. In the Bible, St. Martha is mentioned three different times; in Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-53, and John 12:1-9.

In the Bible, St. Martha is famously mentioned in the Gospel of Luke, where she welcomes Jesus and his disciples into her home and prepares a meal for them. St. Martha's devotion to hospitality and cooking has made her a patron saint of cooks, chefs, and all those who work in the culinary arts.

Chefs and Hospitality

    Chefs play a significant role in our society, as they are responsible for nourishing us and bringing people together through food. Chefs are often the backbone of the restaurant industry, and their creativity and skill can elevate a meal from ordinary to extraordinary. They also have the power to introduce us to new cuisines and flavors and can help us explore different cultures through food.

In addition to their culinary skills, chefs also have a unique ability to bring people together and create a sense of community around food. Whether it's through cooking classes, pop-up events, or simply by opening up their kitchens to guests, chefs have the power to connect people through the shared experience of food. Linus Groom has a fantastic blog called "Kitchen Take Back" where he talks about taking back the kitchen in your own home. This week he will discussing the importance of being a chef during Passover. I want to share about the history of Passover and Easter tradition and the importance it has on chefs and hospitality.

  

Passover and Easter

    So, what is Passover? Passover is a holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The holiday is celebrated by gathering with family and friends for a Seder meal, which includes a variety of traditional foods such as matzo, gefilte fish, and charoset. As cooks and chefs prepare for Passover, St. Martha can be a source of inspiration and guidance. Her emphasis on hospitality and making guests feel welcome can inspire cooks to create meals that not only taste delicious but also create a warm and welcoming environment for guests. When people join for Passover, the meal is there to reflect back on the Bible and the history God has blessed us with.

    Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a time of joy and celebration, often marked by special meals and gatherings with loved ones. Traditional Easter dishes include lamb, ham, and hot cross buns. St. Martha's devotion to Jesus and her ability to make people feel welcome can serve as an inspiration to those who are cooking for Easter celebrations. Her focus on hospitality and generosity can encourage us to make meals that not only taste good but also create a sense of community and connection. When we eat together it is a way to fellowship with one another.

 St. Martha is a powerful figure who can inspire us in our cooking during Passover and Easter. Her emphasis on hospitality, generosity, and making guests feel welcome can guide us as we prepare special meals for these important holidays. By channeling St. Martha's spirit and devotion to hospitality, we can create meals that not only taste delicious but also bring people together and create a sense of warmth and community.

Linus Groom goes deeper into the topic of chefs and the importance role they play in our society. Check out "Kitchen Take Back" to learn more about taking back the kitchen in your own home. Saint Martha will be praying for you.

    

        

Saint Katharine Drexel

Feast Day

March 3

Patron Saint of

Racial Justice

Happy Women's History Month! 

There are so many women saints that have given their time and talent to glorify God. Last post I asked what saint has impacted your life. Kalah Kemp commented that Saint Mother Teresa has changed her life. Both Saint Mother Teresa and Saint Katharine Drexel have been big advocates for social justice and giving back to people in need. Today I want to highlight the extraordinary life of Saint Katharine Drexel and how she has impacted people in the name of God.

History of Saint Katharine

        Katharine was born on November 26, 1858, in Philadelphia. Her mother Hanna died five weeks after she was born. Francis, Kathrine's father, entrusts the care of Elizabeth and Kate to his brother Anthony and his wife Ellen. The family oved each other very much. They would pray together, and the girls were taught deep faith. Despite being wealthy, the family would go serve the poor to show that their wealth was to be shared with those in need. 

    Emma and Katharine were sister and they were super close. In 1879, Emma learned she had cancer. During this time Katharine cared for her until her sister passed away in 1883. Katharine at this time also began to contemplate going into religious life. 

Emma Drexel

    Katharine began to pray and ask God the path for her life. When she brought up religious life to her spiritual director, Bishop O’Connor, he believed she would do more good as a layperson and use her income for charitable works. She continues to wait and dern her path, but private audience with the pope changes her life. 

    On January 27, 1887, Katharine was given a private audience with Pope Leo XIII. During their conversation she asked him to send missionary priests to the Indians. After hearing her request, the Pope responds, “Why not my child, yourself become a missionary?” Katharine traveled with the Pope and many others to visit Rosebud Reservation, then Pine Bluff Agency where they meet and talk with Chief Red Cloud.

    

“How I wish to spend my entire life given to him by the three vows.” 

-Saint Katharine Drexel

    Katharine is convinced that God is calling her to religious life and on May 7, 1889, she enters the convent. During her time at the convent, she prepares to start a congregation to serve the African American and Native American people who are oppressed by discrimination and dire poverty. 

Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Logo

    On February 12, 1891, Katharine founds the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. The Sister of the Blessed Sacrament devoted themselves to their faith and taking care of people who were unloved because of oppression and poverty. The convent is still around today and is located in Philadelphia. The sisters have helped many people over the years and continue to care for them.

Saint Katharine Drexel in her habit.

    March 3, 1955, Katharine Drexel passed away. While Katharine was bed ridden, she continued to pray to God and had a priest come say mass with her daily. Her body is now entombed at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. At her death all income from the Drexel estate ceases.

"The Eucharist is a never-ending sacrifice. It is the Sacrament of love, the supreme love, the act of love."

-Saint Katharine Drexel 

Miracles and Canonization

        Katharine's life and writings were studied years after her passing. The healing of 14-year-old Robert Gutherman’s severe inner ear damage is accepted as a miracle due to the intercession to Mother Katharine. The healing of little Amy Wall’s deafness is examined by doctors and accepted by the Vatican as a miracle due to the intercession of Katharine as well. On October 1, 2000, Katharine Drexel was canonized as Saint Katharine Drexel.

"If we wish to serve God and love our neighbor well, we must manifest our joy in the service we render to Him and them. Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing."

-Saint Katharine Drexel

 

The Tomb of Saint Katharine Drexel at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia.

What I learned from Saint Katharine

• You will never know the true path of your life until calls you to it. Listen for God's voice and when he tells you to do something do it, even if it's hard.

• Being rich is not a bad thing. It is a blessing from God to be used to give back to people less fortunate. 

• Miracles still happen all around us. Sometimes we just don't care to notice them. Saint Katharine has shown me that God creates miracles out of everything we do, so be blessed and give every day to God. 

• Saint Katharine had a profound love for the Eucharist. She has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the sacrament and has deepen my appreciation and love for the blessing God has given. 

   

"Christ wishes the Christian Community to be a body that is perfect because we work together towards a single end, and the higher the motive which actuates this collaboration the higher, no doubt, will be the union. Now the end in question is supremely exalted: the continuous sanctification of the Body for the glory of God and the Lamb that was slain [Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament]."

-Saint Katharine Drexel

Saint Katharine Drexel pray for us.

Ever loving God, you called Saint Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the Gospel and to bring the life of the Eucharist to the Black and Native American peoples. 

By her prayers and example, enable us to work for justice among the poor and oppressed. Draw us all into the Eucharistic community of your Church, that we may be one in you. 

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 

Amen

    Saint Katharine Drexel is an amazing woman of God. I am so blessed I was able to highlight her this month for Women's History month. 

Question: What is something you can't live without if you lost it? Comment below your answer and I might highlight you in my next post!

Patron Saint of Love: Saint Valentine of Rome

 

Feast Day

 February 14

Patron Saint of

Love, Young People, Happy Marriages

What better way to start a blog about saintly love than talk about the patron saint of love, Saint Valentine.

Saint Valentine was a priest in Rome. He is celebrated in the Catholic Church on February 14th, Valentine's Day and is the patron saint of love, young people, and happy marriages. He is a fascinating saint, because not much is known about him. However, one of the greatest things he did was protect Christians from persecution. He would also marry Christians, because the emperor would not allow people to legally be married in Rome. Valentine knowing the importance of love and marriage continued to marry couples against the emperors ruling. These acts were serious crimes and the emperor had Valentine arrested. During his time in jail Valentine continued to show God's love to people and convert them to Christianity. The emperor himself even came to like him and agreed to pardon him if he would renounce his Christian faith. Valentine refused and instead tried to convince the emperor to put his trust in God which enraged the emperor. He told the saint to renounce his faith, but Valentine refused. On February 14, 269 Valentine was martyred. 

God worked in Saint Valentine's life to teach people how to recognize and experience God's love in their life. What I love about Saint Valentine is his love for all people. He protected his fellow Christians, but also reached out to the emperor who denied Christianity wanting to show him love as well. God's love poured out from Saint Valentine. His story shows us what true love truly is. 

In 2014, Pope Fransis held a special Valentine's Day mass wanting to imbue the day with religious significant again. Couples of all ages came to the celebration wanting to grow closer to God and with each other. Pope Fransis talked with many of the couples giving them advice and showing them love and respect. During the celebration he said, 

"Today, many people are afraid to make lasting choices. Making that last your whole life seems impossible but it can be done."

The top things I learned from Saint Valentine are:

• Love people! Love your friends and enemies, because we are all created by God.

• Forgiveness. Not only did Saint Valentine love all people, but he forgave people.

• Loving people is hard, but when our love for God is above everyone else than showing love to other become a little bit easier. 

• Don't be afraid to make choice that impact your life. It can be scary, but if you trust in God, he will bless you even if it is not what you expected.

Saint Valentine pray for us as we begin this month of love. Let us love one another, cherish all life, and forgive those that have wronged us in the past. Pray for us that the holy spirit would move in our lives as we grow closer to God. Finally, pray that we are reminded everyday of God's overflowing love that will look to him first above anyone else. Thank you, Saint Valentine, for all the things you did for God and his church. 

                                                                                                                                ~Amen

Who is a saint that changed your life? Write your answer in the comments below and I might highlight you on my next post!

Want to learn how to love like Saint Valentine this month check out Catholically "4 Things to remember when celebrating a Catholic Valentine's Day".