by Graziella Fons

One day the Lord, going around the world with his Apostles, arrived very tired along a wheat field, where three people were tiredly mowing.

The housewife stepped onto the road and said to them: «Well done young people, I see you are all healthy and strong, do you want to give me a hand in mowing these fields? I offer you food, drink and sleep for today and tomorrow."

"It's what we need and that's all we ask for," replied the Master.

«I thank you… You know, my husband is dead, I am left alone and I have to reap other fields before the dryer makes the wheat fall from the ears».

«Go calmly, good woman, for this evening the whole field will be reaped; but I ask you only one thing." "Of you".

"Whatever you see until night, you must not be surprised, nor protest, nor ask."

«You seem like an upright man to me and I will do as you tell me, as long as tonight…».

"It will all be done tonight."

Meanwhile, time passed, the sun rose and at dinner time, with the lunch basket, the woman arrived and found them lying on the grass, drowsy, or asleep. The woman walked away, unconvinced of the promise made to her, seeing as they hadn't yet made any noise. At the end of the sumptuous meal the Master told the disciples that there was nothing better than to rest and wait for dinner to arrive...

At dinner time the housewife arrived with the basket and the Master said: "Give it here, good woman, we're just starting to get hungry."

«After all this work…», said the housewife who was looking askance, not at all convinced of the turn things had taken.

At the end of the dinner which the woman had also attended, the Master ordered the disciples to go and do the work: «Peter, strike the steel and light three bundles of straw. You, Giovanni, focus on the grain at the back; you Matteo on that side and Peter here in front".

They were all dismayed, especially the woman who was afraid to stop them, thinking that they were crazy and that they might even beat her. In a few minutes all the corn went up in flames and smoke that seemed to be in a valley of Hell. At the height of the flames the Lord ordered Peter: "Throw the sickle into the middle of the fire." Peter threw the sickle and the flames suddenly went out and the field appeared, all reaped, the sheaves tied and collected in bins, which was a beauty to see.

Everyone was amazed and went to kiss the Master's hand. 

In the morning Peter got up early and found the woman in the threshing floor who said to him: 

«Say, is that friend of yours a magician?».

«Yes, yes», replied Pietro.

«And you are also familiar with the art, I imagine: you are his assistant».

«And would you be capable of doing what he did last night?».

«Of course!».

«Then come and see these other three fields, if you can give us a shot, so I have solved the problem for this year and all I have to do is thresh».

Peter took out the steel, lit three bundles of straw and set fire to the harvest. When the fire became a blaze Peter took a sickle and threw it into the middle, but the fire blazed more than before. Pietro threw everything he found into the flames, but there was nothing he could do. When all the ash and stubble were burned, Peter sadly went to wake up the Lord, telling the story. Then the Master got up, went to the fields, blessed them and immediately the harvest appeared, sawn, collected in sheaves and placed in bins.

At that new miracle, everyone went to kiss his hand and Peter asked:

«What must I say, Lord?».

«You will say: He who knows, let him do, and he who does not know, keep silent. Let's go, the road is long." So they set off again.   

June

«For Saint Peter (June 29), either straw or hay»

At the end of June the wheat harvest is known: the straw, i.e. the ripe wheat, or the herbs grown where the wheat has not grown, i.e. the hay, are harvested. In hot weather, watering and weeding are necessary. At the end of the month, wheat and barley are harvested. Then you can sow short-cycle corn for grain or silage. Millet is sown.

In the month of June temperatures should now be stable in most Italian regions. For this reason it will be possible to carry out several sowings in the open ground, thinking for example of dedicating yourself to sowing tomatoes, peas and beans to enjoy in late summer. It will also be possible to dedicate yourself to the protected sowing of vegetables to be harvested in the following months, with the arrival of autumn, such as leeks, cabbage, fennel and pumpkins. Among the aromatic herbs, dedicate yourself to sowing chamomile, parsley, basil and sage. 

We take advantage of the arrival of the month of June to enjoy our favorite fruits and vegetables when they are in season, such as strawberries, peaches, tomatoes, courgettes and peppers. An abundant harvest during the summer months will be the ideal excuse to dedicate yourself to the preparation of sauces, preserves in oil or vinegar and jams. The aromatic herbs can be used for the preparation of condiments or can be dried for subsequent use.

Spaghetti with friar's beard

(Recommended by Saint Hildegard of Bingen)

Cleanse and wash the whole leaves of friar's beard well and steam them for a few minutes.

Boil the spaghetti in plenty of salted water and, in the meantime, chop the pine nuts.

Drain the spaghetti al dente and place them in a large bowl or on individual plates with the oil, boiled friar's beard, grated ricotta and ground pepper; mix well and add salt if necessary. Sprinkle with the chopped pine nuts and serve the spaghetti piping hot.