Receiving Christmas around the table may require experience in the kitchen. Many of the women afraid to make food on special occasion. They may be interested in this nice list of saints who were experts in “the culinary art” and may become an inspiration.
1. Saint Nicholas of Bari
This saint, whose feast is celebrated on December 6, is patron of confectionery, sweets and chocolate.
By virtue of the fourth-century Bishop Saint Nicholas’ relationship with children and Christmas, he is considered the patron of all things sweet.
2. Saint Francis Caracciolo
He is a patron of Italian chefs and Italian food. His party is June 4.
His association with food as a means of healing the sick helped develop San Francisco’s patronage of Italian cuisine.
3. Saint Anthony Abbot
He is a patron of butchers, farm animals, carnivores, bacon, delicatessen and charcuterie. His party is on January 17.
Saint Anthony was a fourth-century Egyptian ascetic much loved by farmers.
4. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
This saint, whose feast day is November 17, is the patron saint of bakers and confectionery. The saint, who lived in the 13th century, is remembered for having distributed bread to the poor every day.
5. Saint Urban of Langres
This French saint and bishop is patron of wine, viticulturists and sommeliers. His party is on January 23.
In 374 Urban had to flee his diocese due to political turmoil and hid in a vineyard. While he was there, he took the opportunity to convert the vinedressers to the Church.
6. Saint Lawrence of Rome
San Lorenzo is the patron saint of the kitchen, of chefs, sommeliers and comedians. His feast is celebrated on August 10.
This saint, being condemned by pagan Romans who hated Christians, was sentenced to a slow and painful death on a burning iron grill. According to tradition, his last words were: “Turn me around, I’m done on this side!”
7. San Isidro Labrador
This saint, whose feast is celebrated on May 15, is the patron saint of Spanish farmers and greengrocers.
8. Saint Martha of Bethany
She is patroness of cooks, waiters and waitresses. Her party is celebrated on July 29.
According to tradition Martha, Mary and Lazarus often celebrated Jesus and his Apostles at dinner. One day, Mary seemed to be shirking her duties in the kitchen, and Martha urged Jesus to ask her sister to help him. Jesus gently admonished Martha, saying, “Martha, Martha, you worry and get upset over many things; and there is a need for few, or better, just one. Mary has chosen the best part of her, that she will not be taken from her” (Luke 10: 38-42).
9. Saint Honorate of Amiens
He is the patron saint of bakers, pastry chefs and those who make bread for the altar. His feast is celebrated on May 16.
San Honorato has been associated with bread for over a thousand years. His patron church in Paris was the site of the bakers’ guild and many pastry shops and bakeries are named after him. In Paris, his feast is celebrated with three-day bread festivals. The San Honorato cake is named after him; This is a cream-filled puff pastry that is still used as a First Communion cake in France.
10. Saint Hildegard of Bingen
She is a patron of nutritionists, recipe collectors, and chefs. Her party is celebrated on September 17.
This Doctor of the Church wrote recipes and devoted herself to the science of nutrition and believed that food had healing properties. She created her “Joy Cookies,” which were intended to promote good health and joy, claiming they will “reduce bad moods, enrich the blood, and strengthen the nerves.”