When I first entered the convent, there were good Hungarian sisters that did the cooking in the provincial house on Staten Island. Everything was new and tasty to a German-descent Staten Island girl. It was Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent when we were told to "rejoice" for the Lord is coming soon. The somber purple penitential vestments of the priest at Mass were replaced by a more encouraging pink. The first course at dinner that day was a delicious Hungarian cherry soup. Since this was the first time I had this dish, I assumed it was traditional for Gaudete Sunday to match the liturgical vestments. Only later did I learn that this was simply a coincidence of Sister Ligoria's choice of menu. Still, it was delicious and every year the memory adds a smile to the "rejoicing" called for in the Mass.
