Eating & Drinking Liturgically: Understanding Food as a Gift
By Sarah White
For years and years, I went without truly understanding food as a gift. For the most part, I had framed food to be something that I either cared very little about––just a necessity to keep moving through my day––or something that made me feel good or bad depending on my consumption habits. And that second mindset? It was exhausting. These mindsets affected how I viewed the preparation and consumption of food, as well as the act of sharing a meal in general. None of it was all that important to me and, while I enjoyed being around people, the “breaking bread” part just didn’t resonate as much. Even now, it’s easy for me to see why none of this would seem special…not unless food is framed as it should be: a gift.
Big changes occur when you adjust your attitude toward food.
It goes from something simply consumed to something worthy of slowing down and enjoying, from something that is only there to serve me to something that I get to share with others, from something that is a pain to something that is a joy.
I remember when the idea––that food was a gift––was first introduced to me through reading a Catholic conversion story. Suddenly, a little light bulb went off in my head. It helped me understand why people love spending hours prepping food in the kitchen…and I am now one of those people. It helped me understand why it’s so important to pray before every meal, even in public. It especially helped me to understand my own relationship with food. It changed the way I see the Eucharist. And a big bowl of pasta. And even, dare I say it, kale.
Friend, bread is made for laughter (Ecclesiastes 10:19) and wine has been created to make men glad (Sirach 31:27).
So let’s start living that way. Let’s adjust our attitudes about food. While I know saying that is miles easier than the execution, here are some tips for starting:
Pray: Start intentionally praying before every meal, including the sign of the cross. In private and in public. Peoples’ stares won’t outweigh the holy change that could come from this habit, I promise.
Learn: Starting reading about other peoples’ experiences in finding food as a gift. Ellen from Made Whole Nutrition, and Emily Stimpson Chapman from The Catholic Table are two great resources to begin with.
Cook: Get yourself some fun cookbooks that you can use to get out of your head about previous (mis)conceptions about food. I am biased to Drinking With The Saints and Cooking With The Saints. But any cookbook you think you will enjoy will do too. Bon Appetit has a wonderful list of them.
It will take time, but making an attitude adjustment toward food in order to understand how it was intended to be is time better spent than you could ever imagine.
Recipes
Taken from the cookbooks Drinking with the Saints and Cooking with the Saints
Saint Monica, May 4
Saint Monica, mother to Saint Augustine, Doctor of the Church, is a woman worthy of celebration. She spent years praying for her son’s unlikely, radical conversion, never swaying from trust in Christ. She also spent years praying for her husband’s just as unlikely and just as radical conversion. Both men eventually experienced a conversion to the faith. Appropriately, she is known as a patron saint of difficult marriages and children who have fallen away from the faith. Before his death, Saint Monica and her husband had a successful vineyard on their property, so drinking any type of wine is suitable. However, if you’re in the mood for a cocktail:
Merry Widow
1 ¼ oz gin
1 ¼ oz dry vermouth
1 dash of orange bitters
A couple drops of lemon juice
1 lemon twist for garnish
Pour all ingredients except the lemon peel into a mixing glass filled with ice and stir.
Strain into a cocktail glass and serve with the garnish lemon twist.
Saint Beatus, May 9
Saint Beatus is believed to have been born in Ireland, baptized in England by Saint Barnabas and ordained in Rome by Saint Peter. He is best known as the “Apostle of Switzerland” for bringing the faith to tribes in the Swiss Alps. His historical existence is contested in some places, but it shouldn’t stop us from celebrating the gift of evangelization and the inclusion of Swiss chocolate on this day.
Swiss Hot Cocoa
1 packet of Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate
A handful of marshmallows
Some hot water or warmed milk, per preference
Pour in your packet of Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate into a mug.
Add your water or milk, and stir to combine.
Add in your marshmallows and enjoy.
Saint Isidore, May 15
Saint Isidore is the patron saint of Madrid and of farmers. His coworkers complained that he attended Mass each morning, making him late to his job. The story goes that, when Isidore’s boss found out about the complaints he found an angel doing Saint Isidore’s chores until Isidore’s prayers ended at the church. He has around 400 miracles attributed to his name and he is often remembered for his devotion to the poor and to animals. To celebrate him, you can frame your meal around a farm dinner, serving your liking of meat and potatoes and vegetables. And, for dessert, you can make:
Strawberries with Creme Fraiche
3 pints of strawberries, stemmed
2-3 tablespoons of sugar
2 cups of creme fraiche
You can buy ready-made creme fraiche, or make your own by combining 2 cups of heavy cream with 4 tablespoons of buttermilk.
Rinse the berries and sprinkle with sugar.
Serve with creme fraiche below the berries, or mixed in, and enjoy.
