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Catherine McAuley’s Comfortable Cup of Tea
By Sister Julie | November 29, 2006
I recently received an email from a student doing a paper on Catherine McAuley. She asked if Catherine had any symbols associated with her. Not knowing off the top of my head, I headed to web sites of the Sisters of Mercy (whom Catherine founded in 1831). To my great delight, I discovered that one of the symbols associated with Catherine is “a comfortable cup of tea.” Here’s what I found on the web site of the Sisters of Mercy in Wellington, New Zealand:
Comfortable Cup of Tea
When Catherine McAuley was dying, many of the sisters gathered around her bedside to say good-bye and to pray the prayers for the dying. Not long before she died, at the end of a long day of waiting, she said to one of the sisters: “Be sure you have a comfortable cup of tea for them when I am gone.” Ever since, the comfortable cup of tea has been a symbol of the warm and caring relationships which were at the heart of Catherine McAuley’s Mercy vision.
The Sisters of Mercy have taken this beautiful, homey symbol and made it a part of their ministry as well. Check out Catherine’s Comfortable Tea, a ministry of the Mercy sisters in cooperation with Frontier Natural Products Co-op of North Iowa.
Our tea is not just another commercial product. Catherine’s Comfortable Tea is a symbol of compassion and dedication to those in need.… With [Catherine’s] spirit in mind, the Catherine McAuley Center created Catherine’s Comfortable Tea. Proceeds from the sale of the tea benefit the Catherine McAuley Center programs, providing housing to unaccompanied women and adult basic education to men and women.
Not being a huge tea drinker, I think I will now look at my morning cup of coffee in a new light … my comfortable cup of coffee. And when I do, I’ll think of Catherine’s warmth and compassion … a great way to start the day.
Topics: nuns in the marketplace, nuns who rock |
November 29th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story. I am a Sister of Mercy who has been inspired by Catherine’s life and work with poor women and children. It is great to know that someone is writing a paper about her.
Sister Carolyn
December 1st, 2006 at 9:52 am
[…] I’ve added a new category to my blog — “Nuns in the Marketplace” — the idea of which came from one of my IHM sisters who, along with a partner, runs two “apostolic businesses” that they built from scratch. I have a ton of admiration for these two — they saw needs, and they created a way to meet those needs. Many nuns and sisters have done this throughout history. My post on Catherine’s Comfortable Tea is another example of how sisters have formed an apostolic business. […]
December 6th, 2006 at 12:07 am
I’m not an RSM, but I have lived with some of them. I may not have this exactly right, but I think the adjective “comfortable” refers to a little “extra” something added to the tea (whiskey).
April 21st, 2007 at 1:21 am
Hi There,
It is great to know that such a dedicated and worthy woman is being honored. Catherine McAuley is from what i have been told is a great great aunt of mine. I am pleased to say that i have followed in her footsteps as far as the fact that i work for a charity myself and find it very rewarding. I’m honored to have Catherine in my bloodline.
Julie McAuley
April 23rd, 2007 at 6:10 am
Julie, What a delight to meet you. You are very blessed indeed. Thank you for stopping by. Sister Julie
September 27th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
They should do a movie about her life…she is a role model for all women!
September 27th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
She most certainly is a fabulous role model, Adria!
September 27th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
A sister from our parish, a Sister of Mercy, just celebrated her 50th year in religious life. We threw her a big party in the parish hall. Her gift - a floral, porcelain tea set - so she too could offer her guests a “comfortable cup of tea.”
I like the whiskey idea!
deerose
September 28th, 2007 at 6:01 am
As a graduate of Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, in Denver,CO. I have long been proud of my connection to the Sisters of Mercy. A short biography THE LADY FROM DUBLIN by William Breault, S.J. is simple biograpy on his search for the answers about Catherine. It is interesting and his sketches in the book are simple but inviting. It’s an easy read and allows the reader to take this journey with him. I loved reading it too, because I had just returned from a visit to Dublin and knew of some of the places he mentioned. Thanks again for all you do to arouse in me reflection and moments to ponder.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I never drank a cup of tea in my life until I learned of Catherine McAuley and her wonderful mission of helping those in need. My first cup came as I became the Tea Manager at the Catherine McAuley Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa ten years ago. I am hooked on both Catherine’s Comfortable Tea and fulfilling the mission of caring on Catherine McAuley’s work of serving the poor and undereducated.
I work with a group of volunteers that also belive in the this mission as they hand-fill each Catherine’s Comfortable Teabag with quality loose leaf tea. We sell the Catherine’s Comfortable Tea all over the United States to socially conscious consumers who support the education and housing programs the Catherine McAuley Center provide.
Each teabag contains an insightful Catherine McAuley quote. A great way to relax, enjoy a cup of tea and ponder the words of Catherine McAuley.
Catherine McAuley was an incredible woman and now many wonderful women carry on her mission.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Thanks so much for writing us, Sue!
Sister Julie