perk1
verb
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verb
past tense: perked; past participle: perked
- become more cheerful, lively, or interesting."in the second half, the dance perked up"
- make someone or something more cheerful, lively, or interesting."the coffee had perked him up long enough to tackle the reviews"
The story of Starbuck Kolinsky and
the original coffee house.
Although the commemoration of the Holy Name of Mary isn't until Saturday,
September 12th, we're making it a two-day celebration to remember the giving of
her name by her parents, Ss. Joachim and Anne, and also another important
historical event. The parents of the Blessed Virgin chose the Hebrew name of
Miryãm, which means “lady” or “sovereign.” The feast of the Holy Name of Mary
originated in Spain and was approved by the Holy See in 1513. It was Pope
Innocent XI who extended its observance to the whole Church in 1683, and for a
very special reason. It was an act of thanksgiving to our Lady for the victory
on September 12, 1683 by John Sobieski, king of Poland, over the Turks, who were
besieging Vienna and threatening the West.
What happened was this: the Turks had been hammering the city of Vienna for a couple of months, and finally enough was enough. Under the leadership of Poland’s king an army comprised of Germans, Austrians and Poles made their move against the Turks, routing them completely. It was such an important victory that the Pope was inspired to do something special – thus, what had been a localized commemoration was now an act of thanks from the whole Church. But there’s more to the story…
When the Turks made their hasty retreat there were all sorts of things left behind, including several sacks containing a strange bean unknown to the victors. Thinking it was food for the invaders’ camels, the Viennese were about to dump it all in the Danube. But there was a citizen of Vienna who had been a captive under the Turks. He knew these beans were roasted by the Turks, and after grinding them up they would put them in hot water, making a drink they really seemed to relish. This man, Kolinsky, received exclusive permission to make and sell this new and unfamiliar drink – coffee.
The Viennese people hated it. It was bitter. The grounds got stuck in their teeth. It didn’t seem much better than drinking a cup of mud. Then a friend of Kolinsky made a suggestion. Strain out the grounds. Put a little milk in it to lighten it up. Add some sugar to make it more palatable. After following that advice, the people flocked to buy it, and so the first coffee house was born.
But let’s face it – what’s a cup of coffee without something to go with it? And with that came a new pastry which not only tasted good, but poked a stick in the eye of the Muslims. The delectable comestible was formed into the shape of a crescent – that symbol which had become so hated during the Turkish occupation – and with every bite of these wonderful pastries the Viennese were able to have another small victory over their invaders.
So there we have it. There’s the story of how Turkish coffee was made drinkable, and how the croissant – the “Turkish crescent” – came into being. And it all happened as part of the victorious triumph achieved under the banner of the Most Holy Name of Mary.
On Friday we will offer a Votive Mass of the Holy Name of Mary, and our Upper School students will be gathering for coffee and crescent-shaped pastries after Mass to celebrate the Church's victory, and to remember that we must be vigilant, asking the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary to protect us from that centuries-old threat which continues to push its way into our lives.
What happened was this: the Turks had been hammering the city of Vienna for a couple of months, and finally enough was enough. Under the leadership of Poland’s king an army comprised of Germans, Austrians and Poles made their move against the Turks, routing them completely. It was such an important victory that the Pope was inspired to do something special – thus, what had been a localized commemoration was now an act of thanks from the whole Church. But there’s more to the story…
When the Turks made their hasty retreat there were all sorts of things left behind, including several sacks containing a strange bean unknown to the victors. Thinking it was food for the invaders’ camels, the Viennese were about to dump it all in the Danube. But there was a citizen of Vienna who had been a captive under the Turks. He knew these beans were roasted by the Turks, and after grinding them up they would put them in hot water, making a drink they really seemed to relish. This man, Kolinsky, received exclusive permission to make and sell this new and unfamiliar drink – coffee.
The Viennese people hated it. It was bitter. The grounds got stuck in their teeth. It didn’t seem much better than drinking a cup of mud. Then a friend of Kolinsky made a suggestion. Strain out the grounds. Put a little milk in it to lighten it up. Add some sugar to make it more palatable. After following that advice, the people flocked to buy it, and so the first coffee house was born.
But let’s face it – what’s a cup of coffee without something to go with it? And with that came a new pastry which not only tasted good, but poked a stick in the eye of the Muslims. The delectable comestible was formed into the shape of a crescent – that symbol which had become so hated during the Turkish occupation – and with every bite of these wonderful pastries the Viennese were able to have another small victory over their invaders.
So there we have it. There’s the story of how Turkish coffee was made drinkable, and how the croissant – the “Turkish crescent” – came into being. And it all happened as part of the victorious triumph achieved under the banner of the Most Holy Name of Mary.
On Friday we will offer a Votive Mass of the Holy Name of Mary, and our Upper School students will be gathering for coffee and crescent-shaped pastries after Mass to celebrate the Church's victory, and to remember that we must be vigilant, asking the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary to protect us from that centuries-old threat which continues to push its way into our lives.
We beseech thee, O Lord, pour into our hearts the abundance of thy heavenly grace: That like as the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin Mary was unto us thy servants the beginning of salvation, so the devout observance of her Most Holy Name may avail for the increasing of our peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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