St. Diego, the founder of the first California mission in the South, should be the patron saint of all good housekeepers. The tale runs that he did so spiritualize the menial routine tasks of the Franciscan kitchen where he served that the angels came and took over his work.
Murillo's painting, sometimes known as "La Cuisine des Anges," is the most inspiring mural decoration for the kitchen that we know of. Noble angels with meekly folded wings do draw and carry water and prepare the meat. Demure sweet girl angels gaily use mortar and pestle for the grinding of the food. And tiny cherubs, sitting on the floor, as they should pick over vegetables and fruit with joyfulness. and the mighty ones, the directors and father superiors, they witness with uplifted hands and abashed hearts, "The Miracle of St. Diego."
This picture hangs in the Cloister Walk of the Glenwood Mission Inn, at Riverside, California, and there is besides a picture of the saint giving bread to the Indians, and a statue of him with "a spoon in hand" --the symbol of his office.
A bread giver, one who goes with "a spoon in the hand," and love and humility in the heart--surely in these days when the world is so hungry in body, mind and spirit, the good St. Diego and his miracle has a revivifying Easter message for all of us, and especially for those whose privilege it is to nourish others, whether it be by providing daily bread for one's own family or for those across the world; or by feeding another's mind with a new thought about world old problems; or raising high the torch of one's own family or for those across the world; or by feeding another's mind with a new thought about world old problems; or raising high the torch of one's spirit to light another's path.
We commend to you this St. Diego, the patron of the Institute from now on! Only those can hope to have angels in their kitchens who have a true ideal of service in their own hearts! by Anne L. Pierce
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