June 13, is the feast of St. Anthony of Padua. You can read a fine account of his life (not too pious or sensationalized)
on the wesite of the St. Anthony Shrine in Cinncinati; click HERE.
There is a tradition known as "St. Anthony's Bread" of which I found an apt description on the website for the St. Anthony Shrine in Boston MA (click HERE to see their site):
One of the most touching aspects in the life of St. Anthony was his extraordinary love for the poor expressed most often by his feeding the hungry. This practice became so well-known that St. Anthony’s Bread for the Poor became a popular way for people to emulate the spirit of the saint by feeding the hungry. Through monetary contributions from people like you, St. Anthony Shrine is able to feed the homeless, the working poor families and the elderly. We believe that no person should be hungry in our country in this day and age, and the fact that so many are is a grave injustice that must be resolved.Traditionally, Franciscans worldwide distribute small loaves of bread on St. Anthony’s feast day to remind us to follow his holy example.
This last line, about distributing small loaves of bread, is how I came to spend my afternoon baking 14 dozen whole wheat rolls. My friend Claire works at Sacred Heart Church, a Franciscan parish in downtown Peoria, IL. Evidently her pastor asked her to bake the bread, and rather than resort to frozen dough, she turned to me in extremis. A portion of the results are below.
I used my go-to recipe, for Best-Ever Crescent Rolls, but subbed 2 cups of whole wheat flour for two cups of the white.
So today would be a great day to take canned goods to the local food pantry, or bake some goodies for a single mom in the neighborhood, or make a donation to a relief program like Sophia's Kitchen or Pennies for Bread, both organizations you can trust to use your money wisely and well. Remember, the word "companion" comes from the Latin cum + panem: "with bread". Let's all share our bread with our companions on life's journey, especially those who have no bread to break of their own.
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