Feast of Saint Luke: Patron of Beer

Saint Luke the Evangelist is celebrated every year on October 18th. He is one of four writers that wrote the Gospels. He is the patron saint of physicians, butchers and brewers! So as you can see, he's not really the patron saint of beer but I am sure that enjoying a nice cold one in honor of Saint Luke would make him proud. As I was researching the interesting link between Saint Luke and beer I came to find that it is possible that this connection was made because in his time, beer was safer to drink than the water available to most people and so it was not uncommon for medicines, herbs and other remedies to be mixed with beer. If you really think about it, beer was considered a type of medication in times before modern medicine made huge advancements so it is possible that Saint Luke, among four other saints, were using beer as a way to medicate with the healing drink. Yep you read that right, there are four other saints that are also patrons of beer (in some sort of fashion): St. Arnulf of Metz, St. Augustine, St. Wenceslaus and Saint Nicholas of Myra. Make sure to come back and read all about these saints as their feast days approach!

Please ignore the Broncos glass though, we received these glasses as a gift and although we currently reside in Colorado we are Kansas City Chiefs fans!

As you can guess I did not waste this opportunity to enjoy a nice seasonal blend beer in honor of Saint Luke. Drinking some season brewed beers was already on my Autumn Bucket List and because it honored Saint Luke, it was a must for the evening festivities. Your children can always join the celebration with a small brew Cream soda or Root beer too! My boys personally enjoy a nice root beer float. If you thought this feast day couldn't get much better, do a beer blessing before you enjoy your libations!

Beer Blessing:

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Who made heaven and earth.

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Bless, O Lord, this creature beer, which thou hast deigned to produce from the fat of grain: that it may be a salutary remedy to the human race, and grant through the invocation of thy holy name; that, whoever shall drink it, may gain health in body and peace in soul. Through Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

In addition to enjoying some deliciously brewed beer, we were going to enjoy a nice apple onion pork roast for dinner. Well, this week is Goalie's birthday and he made the special request that we enjoy the roast for his dinner Thursday because he said it was his favorite. So I will share some photos of our roast Thursday. Goalie insisted that Saint Luke would like us to enjoy some chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs because Saint Luke really liked dinosaurs. I don't know how much Saint Luke liked dinosaurs, but who am I to deny such a sweet request like that? Especially to the birthday boy! Any dinner with a nice cut of meat would be a great way to celebrate Saint Luke because he is also the patron saint of butchers. If you wanted to combine your dinner and beer, I would suggest cooking some beer marinated Brats in the crock pot or on the grill!

Prayer to Saint Luke:

Almighty God, you inspired Your servant St. Luke the Evangelist and Physician to set forth in the gospel the love and the healing power of your Son. In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, he also showed the divinity of Jesus and His genuine compassion for all human beings.

May St. Luke intercede for us that we may deepen our understanding of the gospel and grow in compassion of Jesus. May his intercession enable our new parish to follow Your way and plan for us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. 

Amen.

Saint Luke, pray for us!