Trivia
HardIn The Catholic Church, The Patron Saint Of Cooks And Chefs Is Also The Patron Saint Of?
Answer: Comedians
Like many interesting tales, our story today has one part fact mixed with one part murky historical legends to yield one complete serving of a very interesting bit of trivia that explains how cooks, chefs, and comedians have the same patron saint in the Catholic (and other Christian) traditions.
During the third century, Saint Lawrence served as one of seven deacons in Rome under Pope Sixtus II. He was martyred during the persecution of Christians by order of Roman Emperor Valerian in 258 AD. That’s our firmly anchored bit of truth. He was a deacon who was put to death for his religious beliefs and then later, through the process of canonization, elevated to sainthood in the Church.
That, however, doesn’t really explain why he became the patron saint of cooks, chefs, and comedians, especially when there was nothing particular in his day-to-day life that stood out in regard to those professions. The source of the associations stems from the alleged manner of his death. Part of his official role as the archdeacon was to oversee the assets of the church in Rome. When he was taken in as part of the Emperor’s grab for political power and money, the government naturally wanted to collect all the assets of the church.
When Lawrence appeared to mock the Prefect of Rome by insisting the riches of the Church were the poor and faithful, so the story goes, he ordered that Lawrence be roasted on a great gridiron over a bed of hot coals. Lawrence allegedly quipped after some time, “I’m well done on this side. Turn me over!” Apocryphal in nature or not, the line was witty enough to make St. Lawrence a shoe-in for patronage of cooks, chefs, and comedians.
Trivia
HardWhich Organization Uses Minecraft For Real World Urban Planning?
Trivia
HardWhich Of These Is Considered The Most Destructive Invasive Species In The United States?
Trivia
EasyThe First Movie Exhibition Spaces Were Called?
Trivia
HardThe Black And White Gangster Film Kevin Watches in ‘Home Alone’ Is Called?
Trivia
HardVanilla Beans Are Not Beans At All But The Seed Pods Of?
Trivia
HardWhich Film’s Title Is An Anagram Of The Book It Was Based On?
Trivia
HardWhat Tiny Creatures Live In Old Books And Protect Them From Harm?
Trivia
Very HardWhich Movie Character Was Allergic To His Costume?
Trivia
HardWhich Of These Popular Board Games Was Originally A Tool For Teaching Indian Children About Karma?
Trivia
HardBen Franklin Wasn’t Just A U.S. Founding Father, But The Founder Of Modern?