Sunday, June 21, 2009

Poem for patron saints of chefs.

Just out of interest I looked for a patron saint of chefs/cooks. I knew about St Honere the patron saint of pastry chefs but the other two seemed fitting for my page too. Why do saints always do wacky things? Like really who does this stuff? I suppose I will never be a saint. Sighs........... I thought it fitting for me to make up a little prayer to them both.


Oh Patron saints of cooking,

May my olives always be fresh,

My melons always ripe,

May the succulance of my pork tenderloin,

Always be worthy of a perfect wine,

Please let my bread rise up,

And my pastries be unburnt.


When I don my apron,

It is my greatest wish,

My friends will be aplenty,

And will always agree,

Lets go to Sal's place,

Cause she always makes,

The best tasty snacks for thee.


St. Macarius : Patron saint of cooks, confectioners and pastry chefs

AKA : Macarius of Alexandria

Feast : 2nd January

Born : 4th century, Alexandria

Died : circa 401

Canonised :

St Macarius the Younger was a successful merchant in fruits, candies, and pastries in Alexandria, Egypt. He converted to Christianity and subsequently gave up his business in 335 to be a monk and hermit in Upper Egypt. For a while he lived near Saint Anthony the hermit and there are some amazing stories that grew up around the two.

After several years, he travelled to Lower Egypt, where he was ordained and lived in a desert cell with other monks, practicing severe austerities. For seven years he apparently lived on raw vegetables dipped in water. On feast days he would take a few crumbs of bread moistened with drops of oil.

He once spent 20 days and 20 nights without sleep; when burnt by the sun in the day, frozen by the bitter cold desert at night he said: "My mind dried up because of lack of sleep and I had a kind of delirium," the hermit admitted. "So I gave in to nature and returned to my cell."

He also is said to have spent six months naked in the marshes, attacked constantly by viscous blood-sucking flies and mosquitoes, all in the hope of destroying his last bit of sexual desire. The terrible conditions and attacking insects left him so deformed that when he returned to the monks, recognised him by his voice only.


What a crazy dude. Gotta love him though.


St Martha : Patron saint of cooks

AKA : Wonder Worker of Southern Gaul

Feast : 29th July

Born : Unknown

Died : circa 80 A.D.

Canonised : Unknown

The sister of Saints Lazarus and Mary of Bethany. A known friend of Jesus and hostess to him in her house. She may have been part of an early mission to France.

Also the patron saint of butlers, dieticians, domestic servants, homemakers, hotel-keepers, housemaids, housewives, innkeepers, laundry workers, maids, manservants, servants, servers, single laywomen, travellers.

I love this woman!



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