This is a story I have told my 10 year old son from time to time, as I teach him how to plan, pitch in and help prepare food for our family meals. It is based on a children’s book written by Tomie DePaola, one of my favorite authors for children. Since I’m not the greatest cook, once in a while, I need to call on the Patron Saint of cooks, St. Pascual, and his kitchen angels.

Transcript:

It once happened, long ago, that a man and woman married and gave birth to a baby boy. As the mother held her infant in her arms, she looked to her husband and said, “What name shall we give our son?”

The father looked upon his child and said, “His name shall be Pascual.”

The child’s mother looked lovingly upon her son and said, “Yes. I agree. we will call him Pascual.” She continued to rock him gently in her arms.

That little boy, Pascual, was a special child. As he grew, his parents discovered he loved their sheep. He loved to tend and care for them, and guide them where they needed to go. He also collected flowers from the fields and made them into necklaces for each of his sheep. It was very charming. But more importantly, Pascual always took time to kneel and pray to God while he was in the fields tending his flock.

His parents were quick to notice how devoted their son was to God through his daily prayer, and it deeply touched their hearts.

As Pascual grew, he continued to care for his family’s sheep, but he also cared deeply for people, especially strangers and those who were poor and needy. While Pascual ate his morning and evening meals, he abstained from his lunch daily. He began saving his mid-day meals and placing the food in a bag he carried with him. Why? Because if he happened to pass a stranger or poor person who was hungry, Pascual always had food to give them, offering them his bread, water or cheese. Pascual had a very kind heart.

Pascual continued to care for his family’s sheep as a shepherd until the age of 24. But once he was a grown young man, his heart knew he wanted something different. He wanted to give his help to the poor and help feed the hungry. Pascual’s family was not wealthy. They could not afford to send Pascual to receive formal education. Pascual couldn’t imagine how he could join school. What could he do?

Pacual knew one thing. He would get down on his knees and pray to God and ask for His guidance.

Later that evening, Pascual went to his parents and told them he wanted to join the Friars to become a Priest. His parents were deeply moved. Yet, at the same time, his father didn’t want to see Pascual go. He was such a good shepherd. But he understood and knew in his heart that Pascual must follow his calling from God.

So his parents agreed and gave him their blessing. They sent Pascual off with love and good wishes. The night before he left for the Friars abbey, Pascual’s mother made him a large basket filled with foods like fruit, bread and beans for him to bring along with him and offer to the Friars. Perhaps it would help them accept Pascual into their abbey. Pascual thanked and kissed his mother, told her he loved her and set of on his new journey with food in hand.

When Pasqual arrived, he knocked at the Friars’ abbey gate. The gate was open by several Friars. “Hello. Who is here? What do you need? How can we help you?” they politely asked.

Pascual began to passionately explain how he loved helping the poor. “I want to feed the poor and the hungry. I want to care for them and help educate them. I feel it is my calling from God above.”

The Friars were very touched with Pascual’s sincerity. “Do you have any formal education?” they asked?

Pascual told them he had none. “But I have a large basket of food to offer you, regardless of whether or not you will accept me into your holy place.”

Now, understand, those Friars themselves were quite poor and just getting by. They were not wealthy people. In fact, they were hungry themselves. Seeing that large basket of food, they all agreed to allow Pascual into their sanctuary and they accepted his food on the condition that he cook up the food that he brought for them in their kitchen.

Pascual was happy, yet hesitant. His heart really wanted to help work with and feed the poor and care for the sick people outside of the abbey. In addition, he was hardly a skilled cook! Yet, he accepted their offer thinking it was the only way to enter their Friars’ sanctuary.

After he accepted and agreed to their terms, Pascual entered the friars kitchen and the door closed behind him. The Friars would wait for their meal outside the kitchen in the other room. There stood Pascual, alone in the kitchen. He looked around the room apprehensively, biting his lip. He saw many pots and pans and spoons, even a kitchen cat! But he still felt inept. He didn’t know how to make bread or how to cook beans. His mother had cooked for him all his life while he was out in the field watching the sheep. He simply didn’t know what to do!

Finally, Pascual kneeled and began to pray, again asking God for help. While Pascual was praying, it just so happened that a group of angels came down from the heavens, with aprons tied around their waists! They were ready to help Pascual cook the food for the Friars. Sure enough, those angels got busy cooking! they stirred and they poured, the kneaded and they baked. They took care of it all. And when they were finished, there was a mountain of beautiful, mouth-watering food waiting to be presented to the Friars! It was practically a feast!

When Pascual opened his eyes and looked around him, he saw the abundance that lay before him, and he knew without a doubt that God was with him and had answered his prayers. he gave thanks to God, opened the kitchen door and set about delivering the tasty bounty to the Friars.

The Friars looked upon the food with disbelief! They were shocked and amazed at the delectable feast that lay in front of them, and at once, they began eating heartily! They happily agreed to keep Pascual in their sanctuary as their cook from then on. Again, Pascual was touched, yet still, being a cook wasn’t exactly what he wanted to do. He wanted to go outside of the abbey and deliver food to the poor and help the sick — those kind of things. But, he understood that this was the only way to stay on with the Friars, so he humbly accepted his post.

The next morning, Pascaul again had to cook the morning meal for the Friars. Once again, Pascual found himself in the kitchen not knowing what to do or how to begin. How was he to break an egg? What was he to do with the meat links? Again, he got down on his knees and began to pray to God above. “Please help me God,” he implored.

And once again, God sent His angels flying down from heaven with their little aprons on, ready to stir and pour and bake and cook a grand feast again for the Friars. The kitchen cat was the only one who saw the angels at work. There were no others.

The Friars waiting outside hear noises coming from the kitchen, as if many people were in there preparing the morning meal. Yet, they said nothing, nor did they look inside. They just went on with their morning business. Once again they ate until their stomaches were full and they were happy.

At the mid-day meal, once again the Friars heard noises coming from the kitchen. Well, once again those angels were in the kitchen helping Pascual cook and prepare the mid-day meal while Pascual was on his knees praying to God. But the Friars decided they would peek in on Pascual to see about these noises.

Quietly, they tip-toed over to the kitchen door, opened it and peered inside. They were surprised to see angels flying about, and there on the kitchen floor, they saw Pascual kneeling, deep in prayer. In a moment, they knew Pascual was blessed by God. They knew that God was with him. Then they closed the door and agreed not to tell Pascual what they saw.

After Pascual brought out the food, he joined the Friars at their table to eat. The Friars said grace and gave thanks to God for their bounty. When they were done, they told Pascual, “We have all come to an agreement, Pascual. We know your heart yearns for more than to be our cook. We want you to know you are welcome to learn and study with us and become one of us, a Friar (Priest or Monk). At that moment, Pascual was filled with joy and gratitide! “Thank you! Thank you!” he said.

From then on, Pascual could be found helping feed the poor and the sick. He continued to care for people and animals — everyone — until he was an old man. One day, he finally passed away. Years and years later, the Friars who had known or heard of blessed Pascual, decided to honor him by beginning the process of canonization — bestowing Sainthood onto Pascual.

Today, St. Pascual is known as the Patron Saint of kitchens and cooks. If you’re like me, a little inept at cooking, maybe you can call on St. Pascual and his kitchen angels to help.

Bye- ILY

Posted by LaRonda on Friday, July 6th, 2007 at 9:25 am.