Seeing as we are looking at major European battles and their outcomes, we cannot neglect to remember the Siege of Vienna, the heroic fighting of Christians led by the Polish King, Jan Sobieski, and the most important outcome of it all: the discovery of coffee beans by a Capuchin priest (it would have to be a Franciscan!), and his invention of cappuccino. The story of the find by Blessed Marco d'Aviano is famous, and apocryphal. if it is not true, it doesn't matter, it is a great story and a great excuse for a cup of the old froth. How pious it is to sip the heavenly moisture when we think it was a fruit of a humble Franciscan's work, indeed not just any old humble Franciscan, but one who has since been beatified.
During a recent visit to Vienna I discovered the tomb of Blessed Marco in the Capuchin church, traditionally the burial place of the Austrian emperors and empresses. Blessed Marco's simple casket lies in a glass-topped tomb in front of a side altar. Blessed Marco was one of the chaplains to the Christian forces during the Siege and Battle of Vienna in 1683. Like the Battle of Lepanto, the Christian victory here saved Europe from invasion by the Ottoman Turks and preserved the Christian faith on the continent. According to the story, Blessed Marco was running in the midst of the battle, holding a crucifix aloft and shouting "Behold the cross of the Lord. Flee, enemy bands!" That makes for great pictures! After the battle, he found (or was brought) some coffee beans, left by the fleeing Turks. Experimenting with them, he mixed them with milk and hey presto, every Italian's dream was born: il cappuccino! No doubt many's the coffee lover who knelt at his tomb and offered sweet praise and thanksgiving to God. Indeed, no better place for him to be buried, beatified and venerated, than in the world's capital of coffee houses!
Story: true or untrue? Who cares! I'm off for a cappuccino to toast Our Lady of Victories and the bauld Marco himself!
No comments:
Post a Comment