St. Anthony the Abbott -- 250-356 a.d.

Today is the feast day of St. Anthony the Abbott. This was one amazing guy! He was from a distinguished family in Egypt but his parents died when he was a teenager and he was the sole heir.

Hearing the Gospel, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give it to the poor" (Matt. 19:21), Anthony did just that. He was somewhere around 18 at the time. After a bit he moved to the desert and became the father of all monks. He lived the life of a hermit when possible, but many came to seek his advice and soon other men were joining him.

He ate very little, living primarily on bread and water. He must have been doing something right as he lived to be 105! As Father explained today at Mass, St. Anthony was a "true priest in the line of Melchizedek" as he was trying to turn people from sin through his example, his fasting, his prayers and his preaching.

So to celebrate this amazing man, the littles made Saint Spoons (ala Alice). The two at the foot of the Cross, are String Bean's and LegoManiac's renditions of the saint. Note the symbols -- a Tau and bell on String Bean's and a bell on LegoManiac's. The third spoon is Bam-Bam's -- his is a bit more abstract!
Alice's idea was for an All Saints Month of spoons -- we've decided to make these saints throughout the year and then save them for November, when they will line the family altar for the whole month. My kids weren't in the creative mode today, but I will bet as we go with this, the saints will become more and more elaborate.

For "cooking math", in honor of St. Anthony, we are slowcooking "Mediterranean Lentil and Spinach Soup" which we'll have with bread and salad for dinner tonight. The recipe is from Judith Finlayson's 175 Essential Slow Cooker Classics. I've checked this out of the library, but might have to add it to my cookbook stash -- yes, it's that good. The recipes all sound so good!

St. Anthony the Abbott, pray for us!