STORY - Our Daily Stir

Bleeding statues…images of Mary or Jesus appearing on pieces of toast…incorrupt corpses…travelling relics…rosary beads turning to gold…

Like it or not, all these and many more oddities are part of what theologian Rosemary Haughton calls ‘the Catholic thing’. They range from harmless trivia, to a real distraction from what being Catholic is all about.

Recently I encountered the phenomenon of “Pope Pius Bread”. You may have come across it too, especially if you are a Catholic woman of a certain age… A colleague gave me a container of dough, beautifully wrapped and presented, and a set of directions. She said, “I’m offering it to you because I know you cook.” The directions suggest passing it on to “three other faithful people”; I guess she felt I fitted that bill too.

The accompanying page told a story about an ill woman who was asked by her daughter to bake a cake. The daughter would not be put off, so the woman prayed to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Apparently, Mary obliged by appearing and making the cake.

Some will find this charming, others will be appalled. I have to say I am inclined more to the latter than the former, but read on…

The directions for the bread require various ingredients to be added to the covered mixture at intervals over ten days. Some days, all that is required is to stir well. The cook is encouraged to follow the directions in a prayerful, reflective way.

On the tenth day, you add ingredients then divide the dough into four. Three parts are given to the aforementioned “faithful people”. You add a few more ingredients and bake. It’s then ready to be shared with “family and friends”.

So, dear reader, I made the bread! It was easy, albeit a little slow, and tasty. I had friends to dinner and gave each of the women a container of dough. There was some hesitation as it seemed like a culinary chain letter. However, I had offered it in the spirit in which it had been offered to me. I couldn’t – and can’t – see what harm can come from making bread and sharing it. In fact, many good things came from the exercise.

• A person who is not naturally patient watched and waited for the desired result.
• I had a pleasant encounter with my neighbour when I asked to borrow the largest bowl she had.
• I rather enjoyed presenting the dough gift wrapped for my guests.
• My colleagues were glad to have some sweet bread with their coffee.

Like many aspects of being a person of faith, you can do nothing more than accept the gift. The bread could be made by anyone, but there is something appealing about the chain of events that brings it to you, and enables you to bring it to others. Kind of paying it forward…

The gospel of the day on which I baked the bread proclaimed, “It is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread…which…gives life to the world.” (Jn 6:32-33). The scriptures tell many stories of nourishment, often in the form of bread, being provided for those who hunger…for food, for time, for understanding, for faith.

Who knows what good has come from this harmless distraction?

Tracey Edstein

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