The story is told of a monk who was such a good chef that the brothers spent inordinate amounts of time passing by the kitchen to find out what was going to be served that day and how it was progressing.
This communal distraction bothered the abbot to the extent that he came to a decision: the chef would be replaced by a less capable monk.
The moral of the story: we should eat to live and not live to eat.
We have good cooks at the monastery, rotating among several of the brethren, who provide us with simple and hearty, though generally not lavish, fare.
In the photo below, Fr Zachary and observer Michael are preparing the festive meal on March 25th, Solemnity of the Annunication of the Lord. We keep that day like a Sunday, with no formal work assigments, except for the two cooks!
For all our families, friends and benefactors we pray for a very Holy Week, beginning this Sunday with Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. Sadly, this will be our second Holy Week without guests, as we live through the present pandemic.
May the Lord bring healing to all who are ill, eternal life to those who have died and comfort to those who mourn the loss of loved ones.
Abbot Christian and the monks
