Sunday, July 13, 2014

The Tender Trappist.

The best fruit preserves I have ever had come from a bunch of monks in Massachusetts. 



These are the monks of St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, which they've been selling to support the abbey for decades. They use simple ingredients---yes, corn syrup is a simple ingredient; don't get ugly---and they make a delicious product.


You can buy they in Stop and Shop supermarkets, among others, mostly in the New England area, or online.

Just look at these berries!



Why do I bring this up? Besides my enthusiasm for anything with sugar in it? Because I also have a great enthusiasm for things that are done well, especially when done for a good purpose. In "Good Works and Good Work" in The World's Last Night and Other Essays, C.S. Lewis writes:
Good works are chiefly alms-giving or "helping" in the parish. They are quite separate from one's "work." And good works need not be good work, as anyone can see by inspecting some of the objects made to be sold at bazaars for charitable purposes. This is not according to our example. When our Lord provided a poor wedding party with an extra glass of wine all round, he was doing good works. But also good work; it was a wine really worth drinking. Nor is the neglect of goodness in our "work," our job, according to precept. The apostle says every one must not only work but work to produce what is "good."
And therefore, Trappists of the abbey of St. Joseph, I tip my hat to you. You have not only done good works, but done good work. Let's eat!

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