Special Sodexo Luncheon Celebrating St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J., Patron Saint of Fairfield University Tuesday 17 September 2019

Sodexo wishes to start the new academic year tomorrow  Tuesday 17 September 2019 in the new Dolan School of Business Event Hall with a special feast day lunch celebrating the life of St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J., patron saint of Fairfield University.  For only $10 (with $5 going to assist Hurricane Dorian relief efforts) you'll be treated to a special feast from Sodexo special chefs.

Saint Robert Bellarmine’s Feast 2019

(An Italian feast in honor of his life’s work & heritage)

Zuppa

Fava Bean Pasta e Fagioli with Pancetta, Sage & Butternut Squash

Crusty Ciabatta Bread & Rolls with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Insalata

Grilled Caesar Salad with Baby Romaine, Shaved Grana Padano, and Homemade Caesar Dressing

Carne

Polette di Carne

Homemade Red Wine Braised Veal & Pork Meatballs with Whipped Local garbed Ricotta & Roasted Neapolitan Tomato Sauce

Pesce

Suola Incrostata di Parmigiano

Parmesan Encrusted Atlantic Sole with Lemon White Wine Butter Sauce & Fried Capers

Pasta

Ravioli di Spinaci Florentine

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Ravioli with a Marsala Wild Mushroom Reduction

Patata y Verdura

Skillet Roasted Rosemary Baby Potatoes

Broccoli Rabe with Roasted Garlic

Dolce

Gelato & Sorbetto Bar

Gelatos: Salted Caramel, Chocolate, Espresso, Vanilla

Toppings: Luxardo Cherries, Dark & white Chocolate Curls, Fresh Berries, Frangelico Chantilly Cream

Assorted Sorbettos

Traditional & Chocolate Cannoli’s

Toppings: Mini Chocolate Chips, Pistachio, Toasted Coconut

Assorted Italian Cookies

     Biography of St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J., (written by Rev Joseph MacDonnell, S.J (RIP) Professor of Mathematics

Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J. (1542-1621 - feast 9/17) was a
Cardinal and Doctor of the Universal Church and is the Patron Saint of
Fairfield University. He was one of the most learned men of his time and
his books were such a powerful vindication of the Catholic Church that
Queen Elizabeth forbade her subjects from publishing or selling them under
pain of death.   He had the ability to simplify the great truths of
theology and put them within range of ordinary people.  He wrote a
catechism that was translated into 62 different languages and was used up
until the last century. A very popular orator, he could memorize an
hour-long Latin sermon by reading it over once. Bellarmine confronted the
Protestant Reformers and justified the right of the Catholic Church to
defend herself and the faith, to meet moral issues and to somehow guide and
correct the temporal order.
        In spite of his protests, the Pope made him a Cardinal "because he
was without equal for learning in the Church of God."  From this new
vantage point he set about to root out the abuses which gave the Reformers
grounds for their criticisms of the Church and he presented to Pope Clement
VIII a denunciation of  the major abuses prevalent in the Pope's own Roman
Curia.  He also pointed out that the Pope was not the Church's overlord but
its administrator.  Only Pope Sixtus V's death prevented Sixtus from
putting some of Bellarmine's writings on the list of forbidden books
because Bellarmine opposed the Pope's theory of direct  papal power over
civil authority. In the 1605 conclave for the chioce to succeed Pope Leo XI
Bellarmine found himself as one of the leading candidates for the papacy,
so he prayed daily "from the papacy deliver me O Lord!"
        His concern for education was aparent from the letters he wrote
urging careful training of mathematics teachers.  Galileo invited
Bellarmine to see the new-found wonders of the sky in his telescope and
later Bellarmine turned to Jesuit scientists to confirm Galileo's findings.
This resulted in Bellarmine's gentle treatment of Galileo at his trial -
which did not please the Holy Office.  More can be discovered about this
fascinating academic from the book Robert Bellarmine Saint and Scholar  by
James Brodrick (BX4700.B25  B73).
        It is hard to imagine anyone with better qualifications to be the
patron of Fairfield University not only because of his brilliant
scholarship offered freely in the service of others, but also his
commitment to intellectual integrity.  He was not to be intimidated by
anyone either inside or outside the Church.