Simple Eats with Saint Maria Torribia

Sometimes, it is fun to learn about and celebrate lesser known saints.

Saint Maria Torribia, whose feast day is September 9, can be one of those saints this month.

I learned about this lesser known saint when preparing for an All Saints Day party last year.  

I was looking up information about St. Isidore the Farmer to add to a placard by a vegetable platter, but, then, discovered his wife, Maria, was also a saint and that there was a story about them and stew. So, I decided to do a stew for these saints instead of the vegetable platter and also noted on my calendar that it would be fun to add a vegetable stew to our menu some years on September 9 in celebration of the saint.

Perhaps you'd like do do the same.

On September 9th, serve up your favorite stew - or, since St. Maria Torribia was Spanish, make this oil-free vegan Spanish stew that I found online and adapt by taking out the salt and adding a dash of liquids amino acids to - and read to your children about how:

St. Maria always kept a pot of stew on the fireplace in Sts. Isidore and Maria's humble dwelling, because she knew her husband would often bring home anyone who was hungry. One day, however, Isidore brought home more hungry people than usual, and, after Maria had served a number of them, she told him that there simply was no more stew in the pot.  Isidore then insisted that Maria check the pot again, and she was able to spoon out enough stew to feed them all.

After sharing this story, you might also chat about how Sts. Isadore and Maria shared a commitment to family, a love for the land, deep spirituality, and service to the poor. Do a check in with your own family to see which of these qualities are strong within your family and which could use some work. I hope you enjoy simple eats with the saints on September 9th!

St. Maria Torribia, pray for us!