Chapel, Library and Kitchen

Feast Days of Note in October

October 4

Francis of Assisi

Friar, died 1226

Francis, son of a prosperous merchant of Assisi, was born in 1182.  His early youth was spent in harmless revelry and fruitless attempts to win military glory.  After several encounters with beggars and lepers, Francis decided to embrace a life devoted to Lady Poverty.  Despite his father’s intense opposition, he renounced all material values and began to serve the poor.  His work attracted others, and in 1210 the Pope established a rule of life for the Order of Friars Minor (the name emphasized Francis’ desire that he and his brothers be among the “least” of God’s servants).

Not long before his death, during a retreat on Mount La Verna, Francis received the marks of the Lord’s wounds, the stigmata, in his own hands and feet and side.  Francis was canonized in 1228.  He is buried at Assisi.

October 29

James Hannington

Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1885

James Hannington, born in Sussex, England, in 1847.  When his family became members of the Church of England, he entered St. Mary Hall, Oxford, where he obtained his B.A. and M.A. degrees.  Following his ordination at Exeter, Hannington served as a curate in his native town, Hurstpierpoint, until, in 1882, he offered himself to the Church Missionary Society for its mission in Victoria, Myanza, Africa.  In 1884 he was named Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa.

Hannington’s mission field was the shores of Lake Victoria.  On a difficult venture towards Uganda, he and his party were apprehended by King Mwanga, who feared foreign penetration into his territory.  After a week of cruel privations and suffering, he and the members of his company were martyred on October 29, 1885.  Other martyrs of Uganda shared his fate before the gospel was firmly planted in this heartland of Africa, where today the Church has a vigorous life under an indigenous ministry.

Book Review

Looking for a good read?  For quick access to book reviews, go to the Amazon.Com web site -- www.amazon.com -- select "books", type "Christianity" into the search frame, and click on "go".  Select an interesting book from the list Amazon provides.  Then scroll down to find the editorial reviews.  Customer reviews are also provided.

You can also become a member and arrange for personalized selections whenever you log on to their site.

Here is an Anglican classic every St. Thomas member should read someday:

Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis

Paperback: 256 pages

HarperSanFrancisco (2001), $11.95 list

Amazon Reader Review:

I greatly enjoyed reading Mere Christianity, and I found the first part especially well written.  Lewis tells us that Christians don't have to just sit back and not do any thinking, but that if people would just examine the facts, they should come to a similar, logical conclusion that Christianity is the only plausible explanation for our existence.  His argument is, at times, somewhat thin, which might cause those who are not quite convinced to waver, but there is much interesting in this book, and even in the later chapters, he maintains a ecumenical spirit of reasonableness.  His attempt to show that different denominations of Christians were really just different rooms in the same house--the Universal Church, is an interesting idea, and he tries to show us how really similar the different churches are, and I'm not sure how convincing it is, but I enjoyed his writing style, and I will continue to profit from his insight by reading The Four Loves and the famous Screwtape Letters.  -- John de Marisco

Commuters: Please note that there is an audio version, $25.95.

From Library Journal:

The late Lewis, Oxford professor, scholar, author, and Christian apologist, presents the listener with a case for orthodox Christianity.  This is definitely not the shouting, stomping, sweating, spitting televangelist fare so often parodied; Lewis employs logical arguments that are eloquently expressed.  He describes those doctrines that the four major denominations in Britain (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic) would have in common, e.g., original sin, the transcendent Creator God, and the divinity of Jesus as well as his atonement and bodily resurrection.  Geoffrey Howard reads both works, and his performance is superb; he is clear and unhurried, giving just the right emphasis and/or inflection. The volume on the Blackstone edition is recorded at a higher level than HarperAudio's. -- Michael T. Fein, Central Virginia Community Coll., Lynchburg Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author:

C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably the most influential Christian writer of his day.  He was a Fellow and Tutor in English literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement.  His major contributions in literary criticism, children¹s literature, fantasy literature, and popular theology brought him international renown and acclaim.  He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year.  His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include The Chronicles of Narnia, Out of the Silent Planet, The Four Loves, The Screwtape Letters, and Mere Christianity.

Recipes

Here are a couple recipes from Nan Morrish.  If you would like to contribute your own favorites, please submit them to Nan.  Enjoy!

Italian Sausage Soup

(Great for tail gating)

12 lbs. Mild Italian sausage                        2 or 3 small zucchini, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced            3 C. bow tie noodles (uncooked)

1 large can tomatoes                        3 large onions, chopped

5 C. beef broth                                                 12 C. Burgundy wine

2 tsp. basil                                                      3 Tbsp. parsley

1 green pepper, chopped                        Parmesan cheese           

Cook sausage until brown and drain off fat. Add garlic and onion and saute until wilted. Add tomatoes, broth, wine, basil and parsley. Simmer uncovered 3 minutes. Add rest of ingredients, except cheese, and simmer covered 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Can add 2 tsp. sugar.) Serve with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Easy Pumpkin Swirl

: C. Bisquick                                                  1 C. chopped nuts

3 eggs                                                              2 tsp. cinnamon

1 C. Sugar                                                        1 tsp. pumpkin pie seasoning

b canned solid pack pumpkin                        2 tsp. nutmeg

Heat oven to 375E. Grease a 15 x 10" jelly roll pan. Line pan with wax paper- bottom and sides.

Beat eggs and sugar till fluffy. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in dry ingredients and pour into pan, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with nuts. Bake 12 - 15 minutes. Invert onto a towel dusted with powdered sugar. Peel off wax paper. Roll up cake in towel from short sides. Place seam down on wire rack and cool completely. Unroll cake and spread with filling. Re-roll cake and wrap in plastic wrap or foil. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Filling-  beat together:

1 C. powdered sugar                                   

6 Tbs. margarine, softened

8 oz. cream cheese, softened            1 tsp. vanilla

Smooth on cooled cake and proceed as above.