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Widows House Meal
One aspect of the agape meal as a charitable exercise can still be seen in Hippolytus' (see at right) "Apostolic Tradition", and it reveals that charitable patronal activity is still practiced. Just after the discussion of the Lord's Supper, there is a brief treatment of meals held for widows. It is legislative and deals only with two specific points. First, anyone who wishes to hold a meal for widows should observe propriety by sending them home before the evening is too advanced.
Second, one who would like to feed them but cannot because of other responsibilities should give them a portion to take home and eat there. This was a small basket of food that was regularly given by patrons to clients who were not lucky enough to be invited to the dinner itself. The text seems to indicate that more widows than could be fed in the house would arrive, perhaps uninvited, like clients expecting a handout.1 Widows in Hippolytus' church who are in need of support or extra nourishment are still invited to private houses for dinner and gifts of food. The patron, though losing authority to the centralized power of the bishop, still holds charitable meals to feed widows.1
1"Families in the New Testament World - Households and House Churches" by Carolyn Osiek and David L. Balch.
"Widows are invited for a meal and then some."
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