Curry - The secrets of Jesuit soupmaking : a year of our soups

Acknowledgments

ALL PRAYERS SHOULD BEGIN with gratitude, and in that spirit I begin this book with thanks to all who directly or indirectly helped me complete it.

Firstly, to John Spalla, dean of the National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped who cleared all of my appointments by generously taking over my workload.

My thanks also go to Brothers Jim Horan, S.J., Jack McLane, S.J., and John Buchman, S.J., who taught me so much working alongside them in novitiate kitchens. And to John W. Donohue, S.J., of America magazine, who so generously read the manuscript and kept me on the straight and narrow with helpful suggestions.

Deep affection and gratitude go to my agent, Tom Colchie, who calmed several troubled waters, as well as to his lovely wife, Elaine, whose editorial help was invaluable. Lastly, special thanks go to Kevin Curtin, friend and scholar, who helped give poetry to the text, as well as to Ken Boller, S.J., and John LaRocca, S.J., who are my Jesuit cooking colleagues.

RICK CURRY, S.J., PH.D., entered the Society of Jesus in 1961. In addition to being a Jesuit Brother for more than forty years, hes also an actor, a master baker, a teacher, and a cookbook author. He is the founder and director of the National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped, a nonprofit acting school for persons with disabilities, which began in New York City in 1977 and has grown to include the first residential facility of the arts for persons with disabilities. Brother Curry holds a master of arts in theater from Villanova University and a doctorate in theater from New York University. He has been honored by the president of the United States with a Distinguished Service Award of the Presidents Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, and has been awarded two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. He lives in New York City and Belfast, Maine.

Advent

Take, oh Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire
will. Whatever I have or hold, you have given
me; I restore it all to you and surrender it
wholly to be governed by your will. Give me
only your love and your grace, and I am rich
enough and ask for nothing more.

ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA

As PSALM 25 SAYS, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior. For you I wait all the long day, because of your goodness, Lord. Waiting is an essential part of spiritual life, but waiting as a disciple of Jesus is not an empty wait. Its a waiting with a promise in our hearts, making already present that for which we are waiting. We wait during Advent for the birth of Jesus. I often think that the long years of preparation for final vows, or to be ordained a Jesuit priest, is that sense of Advent. But ask any Jesuit who has gone through those years of training, and we will tell you we never felt that we were just treading water, or biding time. Each day is so rich and full in the service of the Lord that we are actually in an act of becoming. Not becoming full-fledged Jesuits overnight through a predictable ordination or final vows, were becoming more like disciples, waiting for God with an active, alert, and joyful attitude. As we wait, we remember Him for whom we are waiting, and as we remember Him, we create a community prepared to welcome Him when He comes. This great sense of Advent is what always prepared us for the joyful coming of the Incarnation. How do we wait for God? We wait with patience. But patience doesnt mean passivity. Waiting patiently is really not like waiting for a bus or for rain to stop, its an active waiting, in which we live the present moment to the full in order to find those signs of our love for God for which we are waiting.

I am reminded of a young Jesuit whose mother came to visit him in New York City. Prior to her visit, he got a call from his aunt, who said, Im wondering if you have some time to sit down with your mother and talk with her. I live with your mother, and her lack of patience is driving us all crazy. The young Jesuit said that he would try. Well into her visit, the time seemed right, and he said to his mother, Mom, I would really like to talk to you about your patience. Oh, dear, she replied. I dont have any left. I used to have a little left, but your sister took that. Now its all gone.

I love that story because I can relate to it so well. Its as if we think of patience as a jar of tomato sauce on a shelf, and when we use it up, there isnt any more. But thats not true. The word patience comes from the Latin verb patior, which means to suffer. Waiting patiently means to suffer through the present moment. But its tasting it to the full, and letting the seeds that are sown in the ground on which we stand grow into a strong plant. Waiting patiently also means paying attention to what is happening right before our eyes, and seeing the first rays of Gods glory coming. This is Advent. Our life is a perpetual Advent, waiting for the full coming in our lives of the Lord Jesus. When we have the Lord to look forward to, we can already experience him in the waiting. Psalm 27 says, Wait for the Lord, take courage, be stouthearted, wait for the Lord.

SOUP IS COMFORTING, because our palates have memories, and soup can remind us of the security we felt around the family table in childhood. What we experience are memories of love. If soups are comforting, then no soup is more comforting than chicken soup. Its healing properties are legendary, and I suspect that there may be scientific proof that chicken soup is penicillin for the soul. Real health comes from strong memories of love, and chicken soup holds this healing power for me.

The making of chicken soup appears simple, but it is not. It requires attention to detail, and the secret is a great chicken. A fowl hen, or stewing chicken, is my favorite. Best of all possible worlds is a hen that has been organically raised, and that has been free to range and grow. Naturally, it should be as fresh as possible. Approximately 6 pounds is the appropriate size for a fowl, which can be cooked in 3 quarts of water to provide generous amounts of rich soup.

The pot is not insignificant. Ideally, it should be taller than it is wide, and relatively narrow, with straight sides, as that shape enables the most efficient use of water. Pots with aluminum cooking surfaces are best avoided.