A Cook's Saint

As I opened the oval wrapped present, I was curious. Was it a gourd made by my daughter? No, it was a wooden bowl with a picture of  what looked like a woman standing below many kitchen utensils. I looked at my daughter with a puzzled look. She said, "Have you ever heard of St. Pasqual, the patron saint of cooks? He was a fryer who took food from the abbey to give to the poor. This is for you to hang in your kitchen."

The painting on the bowl is a Santero (an artist who creates Spanish religious artwork) type of painting that I have seen in New Mexico and will look wonderful in my kitchen. I wanted more information about the saint and went to the Internet and this is what I found:

Pasqual was born in Torrehermosa, Spain in the Kingdom of Aragon on May 24, 1540

and he was devoted to the poor. He believed the poor deserved more than broth so he

added cabbage, bread and meat to the broth to give to the hungry.

He prepared wonderful food and it was thought he had the help of the angels

because the food tasted so good.

He is considered the patron saint of cooks and kitchens.

His feast day is May 17, 1592.

Maybe having him in my kitchen will inspire me to prepare more food and with luck maybe the angels will also help me since I do not consider myself a cook. 

"I joyfully accept the food I am given.

May it deeply nourish everyone I feed."

San Pasqual