Feats of the Holy Innocents: December 28th

"Massacre of the Holy Innocents" by Giotto

Today we commemorate the deaths of the children that Herod had put to death, trying to destroy the newborn King of the Jews, while Joseph and Mary fled with the infant Christ to Egypt. This may seem like a strange thing to celebrate during the joyous season of Christmas, but I think it is particularly fitting. Christmas is not always a happy time for everyone, as it certainly was not for the mothers and fathers who lost their children to Herod's slaughter. It is valuable to recall that when Love comes down to dwell among us, not everyone will like it. We must remember that in order of Love to live in our fallen world, we must protect it, and we must care for those innocents who would fall in the way of those who wish to snuff Love out.

Here are some ideas to celebrate the Feats of the Holy Innocents:

• You may want to consider serving "baby food" today, as is the tradition in many countries. Here is a recipe our family will be trying tomorrow morning.
  
• Read the account of the Holy Innocents and the Flight to Egypt from the second chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel during your family's devotions.
  
• Pray for the souls and families of all those innocents whose lives have been wrongfully taken. Please consider praying especially for the great massacre of the Holy Innocents in our day: the victims of abortion.
  
• Consider saying a special prayer or performing an act of kindness for someone you know who has had a miscarriage or lost a young child in recent years.
  
• You might also enjoy reciting the poem below with your family.

"Holy Innocents"
by Christina Georgina Rossetti

THEY scarcely waked before they slept,
They scarcely wept before they laughed;
They drank indeed death's bitter draught,
But all its bitterest dregs were kept
And drained by Mothers while they wept.

From Heaven the speechless Infants speak:
Weep not (they say), our Mothers dear,
For swords nor sorrows come not here.
Now we are strong who were so weak,
And all is ours we could not seek.

We bloom among the blooming flowers,
We sing among the singing birds;
Wisdom we have who wanted words:
here morning knows not evening hours,
All's rainbow here without the showers.

And softer than our Mother's breast,
And closer than our Mother's arm,
Is here the Love that keeps us warm
And broods above our happy nest.
Dear Mothers, come: for Heaven is best.

Unspotted lambs to follow the one Lamb,
Unspotted doves to wait on the one Dove;
To whom Love saith, 'Be with Me where I am,'
And lo their answer unto Love is love.

For tho' I know not any note they know,
Nor know one word of all their song above,
I know Love speaks to them, and even so
I know the answer unto Love is love.

How It Was

"The Nativity" by Gari Melchers

I love this painting. It's completely unromanticized. The stable is bare. Joseph looks somber. Mary is exhausted. And, Jesus is radiant.

It was a rough Christmas for me. I got the "stomach flu" on Christmas Eve. Now, I know that there is no actual disease called the "stomach flu," but it was a combination stomach bug with influenza-like symptoms. Quite frankly, I've never felt sicker in my life.

It all started when I suddenly became exhausted at our friends' house where we had gone to celebrate with a Christmas Eve dinner before going to vigil Mass at 9:00. A little before 8 PM, I told my husband I thought I would need to leave. I think our friends were smirking to themselves that I was probably pregnant--I'm not, by the way! I wasn't sure I could go to Mass, but we decided to make a go of it. We swung home so I could take some stomach medicine and then went on to church, though, because we didn't want to have to drag the kids to the crowded Christmas morning services if we could help it.

Well, the church was beautiful. And, what should the opening hymn be but my all time favorite Christmas Carol, "Adeste Fideles." That's Latin for "O Come All Ye Faithful," for those of you who don't know, and I have always been especially partial to the Latin version. I weakly sang along for the first two verses. For the third, I was forced to take my seat. About five minutes later, I turned to Brian, pale and sweaty and said, "I think I have to go home now." We'd barely made it inside before I ran for the bathroom. Between the aches, the chills, and the frequent dashing out of the room--not to mention breastfeeding my abnormally hungry son--it was a very long night.

I had finished throwing up by about seven o'clock Christmas morning, but I was achy, exhausted, chilled, and summarily walloped. Needless to say, since I was in no shape to go out and we were all potentially very contagious, Mass was out of the question. Still, we wanted to celebrate. So, my husband helped me lay out the gifts and stuff the stockings, which I had not be in any condition to do the night before. Then, Sophia woke up, and the merry-making began with words of joy and a trip to the living room to see what St. Nicholas had left in our stockings.

We had to cancel our Eggs Benedict plans, a thing that has not happened to me for twenty years, since the tradition was first begun. Brian and Sophia ate instant oatmeal. Sophia was pleased that hers had raisins. I didn't eat anything at all, just tried to keep myself hydrated with plain water. We opened gifts. Sophia didn't mind passing them out while I lay limply on the couch. She was even amiable about not opening other people's gifts--a big feat for a two year old! She also "gave Mama snuggles" to make me feel better, and oh, it did! She also got to put the baby Jesus in the manger herself this year, since Mama was out of action. He ended up sideways and on his tummy, but I think He was comfortable.

I don't know if my family realized it as I lay almost motionless on the couch without any of my characteristic bubbly enthusiasm, but I felt so joyful! Sick, but joyful. I loved seeing the delight in my daughters eyes as she received her specially chosen gifts. I relished my infant son's grins and the fact that he was even enjoying his new wooden car as much as the wrapping paper and bows! I was particularly gladdened to see my husband's evident joy, a thing he has not always been able to express since he grew up in a home where it was not easy to do so.

I didn't have much strength, though, and when the present opening was finished, I retreated back to the bedroom to sleep for several hours, waking only long enough to feed James when he got hungry and Brian brought him in to me. Brian put the turkey in the oven for Christmas dinner and played with the kids. I fell asleep to the sound of him strumming his new guitar, and my daughter chattering away joyfully to him about her new toys. It was a glorious sound.

I woke from my daze just in time for Brian to go pick my mother up from the airport. Miraculously, her flight had only been delayed two hours. I was starting to feel hungry for the first time in twenty-four hours. Since Brian took the kids with him to the airport, I was able to finish clearing up (Brian had already done a good deal of it himself) and put the finishing touches on dinner. I also had some time to reflect, and these are the three lessons that I learned this year:

1. Preparation really is worth its weight in gold. Despite being completley out of action for about twenty-four hours, the presents were opened, a turkey dinner was served, music was played, halls were decked, Jesus was glorified--Christmas was beautiful. And, it didn't require anything from me on the day except my presence. It made me excited to know that if I hadn't been sick, I still would have been able to lay around all day simply soaking in the beauty of the holiday.
2. I don't have to do everything. My husband and children--among others--come through for me in the most unexpected and beautiful ways all the time. Knowing this, I'm not sure how I ever fall into the trap of thinking that I have to do everything myself, but inevitably I do. This Christmas was a glorious reminder that I don't have to do it all myself, and it will still be wonderful--maybe even better than I had planned. Sometimes it is good to be weak so that we can be surprised by His Providence.
3. This is how it was. Did Joseph want his new bride to give birth in a dirty barn? Was Mary planning to labor practically in the open air and then lay her new Son--God's Son--in a feed box? It wasn't pretty. It wasn't what they had planned. It was dark and probably cold and not at all like a fairytale. But, it was glorious, because He came. That's all it needed. Jesus. I was reminded of that this Christmas in a powerful way. What better gift could I have asked for? Maybe next year, I won't need the stomach flu to get the message.

How did God touch your heart or mind this Christmas? And, don't forget to be thinking of your 10 for '10!

Got 10?

"Marie Kroyer" by Peder S. Kroyer

10 Resolutions, that is. Since we're headed into 2010, I thought it would be a propos to choose 10 resolutions for the coming year. I have my list ready to go, and I will post it on January 1st, along with a Linky so you all can join the fun because I want to know how y'all are resolving to better yourselves, your lives, and the world this coming year!

So, get cracking on those lists over the next week, and on New Year's Day, stop back here to add your name and link to your post so that we can all support and cheer each other on! I especially encourage my readers to pray for the resolutions of others as they drop in at the various sites. Let's start 2010 off right by being a blessing to one another! And, spread the word. I'd love to have as many people as possible join in this fun and supportive exercise.

Have you got your 10 for '10?

The Reason for the Season

"Nativity" by Giotto

"God came to us because he wanted to join us on the road, to listen to our story, and to help us realize that we are not walking in circles but moving towards the house of peace and joy. This is the great mystery of Christmas that continues to give us comfort and consolation: we are not alone on our journey The God of love who gave us life sent us his only Son to be with us at all times and in all places, so that we never have to feel lost in our struggles but always can trust that he walks with us....Christmas is the renewed invitation not to be afraid and let him--whose love is greater than our own hearts and minds can comprehend--be our companion."

-Henri J. M. Nouwen

Keeping Presents in Perspective

"Christmas Morning 1894" by Carl Larsson

A few summers ago a friend and her daughter invited my two oldest daughters and me over to her house to go swimming. But before we even had a chance to slip into our swimsuits, the sky turned black with rain.

To assuage our girls’ disappointment, we let them play in the downpour. My friend and I stood watching our little girls squeal with absolute joy as they ran through sheets of rain while taking turns holding a pink umbrella.

Later that night, Madeline announced, “Mommy, I want an ‘umbella.’”

Out of the oodles of toys her friend possessed, what Madeline coveted most was a simple kids’ umbrella. I smiled a bit too smugly. Ah, so my noble efforts to keep Madeline from turning into a materialistic, “I want an oompa loompa now, Daddy!” child were paying off!

Read the rest here.

What Community Is

"Wedding at Skagen" by Anna Archer

Christmas is only three days away. Holiday parties are now in full swing for most people; family and friends are flying through the air and rumbling over highways for Christmas visits. In light of this, I thought I would offer this little reminder about community from Henry J. M. Nouwen:

"Parker Palmer, a spiritual writer of the Quaker tradition, says community is the place where the person you least want to live with always lives. So community is not like a place where you love each other sort of freely and warmly and affectionately. Community is in fact the place where you are purified, where your love is tested, where your childhood of God is constantly put through the mill of human relationships. That is what community is. Community is a place where Judas always is and sometimes it is just you."

- "Discovering Our Gift Through Service to Others," speech given to members of Fadica, 1994

Often, we are prone to grumble, "There's always one in the family." We begrudgingly point out, "No family is perfect." But, perhaps that is the point? This year, rather than merely tolerating that weird, offensive uncle, why not consider viewing him as God's challenge to your call to love your neighbor? Rather than bemoaning the fact that your mother-in-law is the exact opposite of the woman you would have chosen to be your mother-in-law, give thanks to God for challenging you to love when it is not easy.

I'm not trying to be all Pollyanna. Trust me, I know firsthand how difficult this is, and I fail constantly in this arena. However, I am challenged and convicted to be better, and I offer that same challenge to you all this Christmas season. How bold can we be with our love? Can we truly value the community we have been given, Judases and all?

Cranberry Puree

Wow. It's not every day in the kitchen when you can stop and say, "I have seriously outdone myself." But, today was one of those days.

In order to make for an unhurried Christmas celebration, I have begun parsing out tasks for Christmas dinner and treats throughout the week. Tonight marked the time when I would make my cranberry relish, to be stored in the fridge for the next few days. So, I plopped my cranberries in a pot on the stove with a recipe open at my elbow, and then, as is often the case with such things, I started improvising.

When I was done, I realized that I had made something that I at least really loved. Forget cookies, I knew it was going to take all my willpower not to eat the entire quart of relish in the next four days. I gave my husband a spoonful and asked what he thought.

"You made that up, didn't you?" he asked.

"Um, sort of," I replied.

He gave me a proud, happy grin. "Write it down. Right now. Please?"

So, I'm writing it down, and I'm sharing it with you.

Apple Cider Mama's Cranberry Puree

Ingredients:

16 oz. cranberries

2 c. sugar

zest and juice of 1 orange + another 1/2 c. orange juice (I used Tropicana "some pulp")

1/2 t. vanilla

1/4 t. cinnamon

Directions:

Put cranberries, sugar, zest, and juice in a pan and stir over moderately high heat. Let boil 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries have burst. Stir in cinnamon and vanilla. Process in a blender for a couple of seconds until pureed. Can be stored up to three months in the refrigerator. Serve at room temperature.

Note: You could also make this into a sorbet by processing it thoroughly, straining, and then processing it in an ice cream maker.

Dockers and the Khaki "Man"ifesto

I had not heard about this Dockers ad campaign until I read about it at Family & Faith Live! I highly recommend you hop over there and read about it, too.

The text is difficult to read in the image above, so here is the full text for your perusal:

Once upon a time, men wore the pants, and wore them well. Women rarely had to open doors and little old ladies never crossed the street alone. Men took charge because that’s what they did. But somewhere along the way, the world decided it no longer needed men. Disco by disco, latte by foamy non-fat latte, men were stripped of their khaki’s and left stranded on the road between boyhood and androgyny. But today, there are questions our genderless society has no answers for. The world sits idly by and cities crumble, children misbehave and those little old ladies remain on one side of the street. For the first time since bad guys, we need heroes. We need grown-ups. We need men to put down the plastic fork, step away from the salad bar and untie the world from the tracks of complacency. It’s time to get your hands dirty. It’s time to answer the call of manhood. It’s time to wear the pants.

Unlike the author of the Faith & Family article, I won't be buying my husband a pair of Dockers khakis for Christmas because, well, he already has them! And, he wears them often and well.

What’s Cooking for Christmas?

I have had a few readers ask me what I’ll be cooking for Christmas. I've included my menu below, with links for recipes at can be found online, but I thought I'd write a little bit about why I chose the dishes I did, as well.

Christmas Eve Dinner

Main Course

New England Clam Chowder
Doppbröd *
Swiss Chard with Cranberries and Almonds

Dessert

Seven Layer Cookies
Mama’s Christmas Cutouts
eggnog
coffee

Christmas Eve dinner is simple and meatless—since Christmas Eve is traditional meant to be a day of fasting. But, after Mass, we will break out the cookies and eggnog to begin celebrating! The Doppbrod is a Swedish dipping bread traditionally dipped in the ham’s boiling water on Christmas Eve (Swedes have their Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve). We’ll be dipping ours in clam chowder.

Christmas Breakfast

Eggs Benedict
grapefruit halves
hot chocolate and coffee

Christmas morning, my family always has Eggs Benedict and grapefruit halves. I can’t remember when or why that started, but it’s inevitable that, after the stockings are opened (and before the presents), I may be found in the kitchen poaching eggs and whipping up Hollandaise sauce.

Christmas Dinner

Appetizer

Asiago Stuffed Dates with Bacon and Smoked Paprika

Main Course

roast turkey
gravy

Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole
Brussels Sprout Hash with Caramelized Shallots
Apple Cider Mama's Cranerry Puree
mashed potatoes

Dessert

Almond Sherry Christmas Trifle
eggnog
tea

Christmas dinner will be special, since my mother will be flying into town in time to share it with us. We should have plenty of leftovers, and I’m counting on that. It should mean I can relax and won’t have to be cooking on St. Stephen’s Day. Besides, I love turkey leftovers. In addition, much of Christmas dinner, including the dessert, can be made ahead of time, which means I should be able to relax and focus on the meaning of the day which is, after all, the point.

Christmas Tea

turkey-and-cranberry relish sandwiches

leftover Brussels sprouts
leftover sweet potato casserole

cookies
tea

We eat dinner in the early afternoon on holidays, so when we get nibbly in the evening, we will be able to have our Christmas Tea, as listed above. No work need be done other than reheating, which is always a plus in my book!

What’s cooking at your house this Christmas?

U-Cut Jul

"Jul" by Carl Larsson

So, who knew that here in the Seattle area, tree farms are out of U-Cut trees by mid-December? We were going to cut our tree today (Saturday before Christmas), just like my family has always been able to do back in New York, but alas, this was not to be. I felt sad and disappointed. Why was everyone rushing Christmas? There's still a week to go, and as far as I knew, our family wouldn't even be able to cut a tree.

I was surprised how upset I was by this last night. I know it was a silly thing, getting so upset over having to get a tree from a lot rather than cutting down our own, but I couldn't help it. It is James's first Christmas, and these sorts of things always mean so much to me. I lay dejectedly in bed and prayed, not that we would find a place to cut a tree, I had written that off as a lost cause, but I prayed that God would help me to remember that Christmas is about much more than cutting down a tree, and to keep in perspective that James is still so young and wouldn't even remember. It was really for myself that I was disappointed. I felt better, and in a little while, I fell asleep.

We still decided to trek out to the country this morning for tradition's sake. Starbucks treats in hand, we headed for the farm we usually patromize, since they advertised that they still had pre-cut trees for sale. When we got there, though, the pre-cuts were exhorbitantly priced--much higher even than what we would have had to pay in town, and they weren't letting anyone cut their own trees. Feeling a little discouraged, we decided to follow a handmade sign pointing us the other way down the road. Lo and behold, we stumbled upon a lumber mill that happened to have two small fields of U-Cut Christmas trees for sale!

The pickings were slim, but in the end we chose a very nice Grand Fir. My husband proudly cut it while I held James and Sophia observed, "Daddy cuttin' the tree! Nice tree!" There was also a coop of happy, well kept hens who entertained Sophia. Although, when I told her we had to say good-bye, she said, "Bye-bye, chickens. Eat them, Mama? Eatin' them?" Brian and the proprieter, a really pleasant man named Eric, tied the tree on the roof of our van, and we headed back to town with not only a tree but a wonderful experience and the joyous reminder that God provides for all the desires of our hearts--sometimes even when they're silly.

The tree is up, and we're happily anticipating how it will look all decorated on Christmas Eve. For now, we still have five more days of Advent to go, and we are enjoying the anticipation of celebration. Blessings to you all, (even silly, little ones).

Stop. Pray. Now.

I really loved this article by Elizabeth Foss, reminding us to stop and pray--wherever we are, whoever we're with. No matter what's happening, God, Mrs. Foss reminds us, can reclaim theday and our hearts.

Happy 4th Anniversary!

It's not often that folks hear from me around here, but today marks the 4th wedding anniversary for me and my beautiful, loving, gifted, and giving wife, Bethany. Four may not be a particularly magical number, but I have heard it said that you know what you're in for after year three. I don't know if that's the case, but for some reason, it seemed right to celebrate here with so many that my darling Bethany has built relationships with.

I've been trying to think of the most eloquent thing to post here for weeks, and I've become more and more convicted about the fact that it would be much better for me to be authentic than to make gallant, yet contrived, attempts at anything more.

Marriage is such a wonderful, God-given blessing, and I couldn't be more blessed than I am by having Bethany as my wife. I thank God daily for the fact that we've had so many wonderful examples of how to live as a couple and such supportive family and friends - but most of all, I'm so glad that we learned early on that in order to feel in love, we must choose to love. Just as we promised - during the best of times and the worst, when we feel in love or when we feel hurt, sad, lonely, or in despair, we must look to God to sustain us. Our individual identity and our identity as a family is found in Him.

Bethany, you are my soul-mate, my partner, and my friend. If I had a crowd to address and a mountaintop from which to do so, I would declare to the whole world that I'm hopelessly yours, now and forever. And, I pray that God would protect our marriage, inspire our friends and family to support us, and give us the strength and courage to do so for all of our married friends as well.

-Brian

Are You Convicted About Modesty?

Say what you will about Debi Pearl--I know she really rubs some people the wrong way--but this passage from her book Created to Be His Help Meet is no-nonsense, no-holds barred, God's honest truth. I share it here with no commentary, because I think that seeing it laid bare like this with no caveats or exposition is the most convicting. Please take it to heart, and don't shoot the messenger--me or Mrs. Pearl. This stuff comes straight from The Good Book:

It is impossible for a woman to understnad a man's visual drive. She can only believe what an honest and candid man tells her, but few men are willing to admit to their weakness. A woman's body, moving within visual range of a man, unless it is modestly covered in a way that says to the man that you have no interest in him taking pleasure in your appearance, can be as stimulating to him as disrobing completely. He may be a better man than the woman who is dressing immodestly and may have the fortitude to deny his eyes the stimulation you offer, but it makes you a source of temptation to sin, rather than someone to whom he can relate.

If you find pleasure in being a source of temptation to men, you are definitely an ungodly woman and are in desperate need of repentance.

Jesus said that a lusting man commits adultery WITH a woman, not against her, meaning that the woman is included in the lusting adultery [Matthew 5:28]. Women have told me that they are "not convicted" about the way they dress, as if God has to chase them down and torment them about it before they will obey his Word. Many are offended when their "style of dressing" is called into quesiton. They say they are not going to be legalistic about it, even when God has clearly stated his will. The Holy Spirit convicts according to the will of God. If you are not convicted by the Holy Spirit for your immodest dress, then you are not being led by God. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14). If you are God's child in more than just name, you will be led by the Spirit of God. If God is not leading you consistent with his Word, then you must face the fearful truth that you do not have that Spirit indwelling you...

This aged woman is telling you ladies that it is the will of God for you to always be modestin public. It is your profession of godliness...If you want to get provocative, do so in private with your husband. In fact, I recommend it, but when you come out of the bedroom and go to church or to the local store, dress as you would dress for the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Life is Advent

"It is Advent again. In his sermon this morning, Oscar Uzin said: 'Be alert, be alert, so that you will be able to recognize your Lord in your husband, your wife, your parents, your children, your friends, your teachers, but also in all that you read in the daily papers. The Lord is coming, always coming. Be alert to his coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord."

- Henri J.M. Nouwen, Gracias! A Latin American Journal

Are you watching? Wait for him, like the wise virgins in the parable, because you do not know the day or the hour. Keep your eyes open, and carve out some time each day for purposeful, watchful prayer and devotion. My parish priest always says: "Give at least twenty minutes to Jesus." Can you give Him twenty minutes today? If you don't think you can, ask yourself why, and then make the time tomorrow. Remember, life is Advent!

Garlands of Grace

"The Girl With a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer

So, as I mentioned in a previous post I don't currently wear a head covering at my parish church because, well, quite frankly I've never seen anybody wear a head covering at my parish church. I do have one standard white lace chapel veil that I wear to the occassional Tridentine Mass and otherwise keep tucked away deep in the pouch of my diaper bag where none of my fellow Novus Ordo parishioners will see it and ask, "Do you wear that thing?" Okay, they probably wouldn't do that; I'm just paranoid.

Like so many formerly-bareheaded sisters before me, I don't like to stand out in a crowd. Especially since I minister to the teens at my parish, I want to avoid seeming stand-offish or holier-than-thou. That, and I'm still discerning what the Church's teaching is on head coverings. That, and my husband is even more worried about our family standing out than I am, and I want to honor his opinion in this and all matters.

But, I have just come across a fantastic company that is making the most beautiful, fashionable headcoverings I've ever seen--I'm not even sure my self-concious hubby could raise an eyebrow at the lovely creations from Garlands of Grace. Well, maybe he could...in a good way. A big thanks to Hallie Lord over at Faith & Family Live for this brilliant resource!

Now, if only I could convince my beloved husband to get me one of these for a stocking stuffer...or maybe this one...or this...or this... Are you reading this, Brian?

* The Bookworm's Library has been updated: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany in the Domestic Church by Catherine and Peter Fournier; Family Feasts for $75 a Week by Mary Ostyn

Preparing Pepparkakor for Lucia Day

This morning, Sophia, James, and I...well, really Sophia and I started on our preparations for the Feastday of St. Lucia by baking a big batch of Pepparkakor (wafer-thin Swedish ginger cookies). I am Swedish and my husband is Norwegian, so Lucia Day is quite the event in our house. I look forward to it every year, and I particularly look forward to the day when Sophia, as the oldest girl in our home, can "be" Lucia in a white robe with a red sash and a crown of *electric!* candles on her head and James can follow behind her as a star boy!

For now, we do not have a Lucia procession. We celebrate with fresh baked lussekatter (St. Lucia buns), pepparkakor, the singing of the Lucia Song, and some wonderful stories. I discovered a new resource this year: Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Rydåker and illustrated by Carina Ståhlberg. Unfortunately, it's not the easiest volume to purchase, but if this is an important day in your family's life and you can get ahold of a reasonably priced copy, I highly recommend it!

Below, I have included my recipe for pepparkakor, taken from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book by Beatrice Ojakangas. It makes about 8 dozen cookies, which sounds like a lot, but they are very, very thin and they go fast! They also keep well, but I'm lucky if I have any left by Christmas Eve to leave out for St. Nicholas. The recipe includes a decorating icing, but we do not use it in our home.

For more information about and ideas on how to celebrate St. Lucia's Day, please follow this link to my post from last year.

Julpepparkakor

Ingredients:

1 c. softened butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 T grated orange peel

2 T dark corn syrup (I use molasses)

1 T water

3 1/4 c. flour

2 t. baking soda

2 t. cinnamon

1 t. ginger

1/2 t. cloves

for icing, if using:

1 egg white

3 to 4 c. powdered sugar

1 t. almond extract

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg and beat until light and lemon colored. Stir in the orange peel, syrup, and water. Combine the flour with the soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Stir into the creamed mixture until a dough forms. Gather into a ball and chill several hours or overnight.

Cover baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them. Preheat oven to 325F.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board and roll out to about 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Place on prepared baking sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until cookies are set but not overly browned. Cool.

Mix the egg white with the powdered sugar and almond extract to make a thin icing. Turn into a pastry bag with a writing tip and press icing onto cookies to decorate.

God Jul!

The Ordinary Miracles of Bl. Adolph Kolping

"The first thing that a person finds in life and the last to which he holds out his hand, and the most precious that he possess, even if he does not realize it, is family life." - Bl. Adolph Kopling

Father Kolping was a German priest in the early- to- mid-nineteenth century. The son of a shephred, he journeyed to Cologne at eighteen to become a shoemaker's assistant. This is where he heard God calling him to the priesthood. He was ordained that the age of twenty-three. Fr. Kolping's apostolate was centered on working class young men, like himself. It was the dawn of the factory in European society, and young men were feeling hopeless, worthless; they were forgetting what was beautiful about being a human being in the life, made in the image of God Almighty. Young Fr. Kolping was ridiculed by some for waisting his gifts on young workers, but he was passionate about his apostolate--supporting family life and the dignity of labor--and pursued it faithfully until his death at age fifty-two. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1991. His feast is celebrated today, December 10th.

A quick explanation for my readers who don't know: "Bl." means "Blessed." This indicates that a person has been beatified (the first step to formalized sainthood) but is not yet canonized (the step that makes you a recognized saint). We're still waiting on a confirmed instance of one more miracle due to Fr. Kolping's intercession. I wonder, though, if many have not already occurred that we just cannot document.

What strikes me about Fr. Kolping's work on earth is that he worked tirelessly to prevent the need for larger miracles. How many lasting marriages, hopeful lives, and conversions of the heart were due to his work on earth? How much more so due to his prayers in heaven? Yet, in our modern times, aren't these the true miracles? Someone turns water into wine and we call it an illusion. Someone has a healthy, passionate, godly marriage for sixty years and we say, "Miraculous!"

Miraculous! What we do in our homes--the lives that we lead for God--the witness that we give by living them--are miracles! Let us celebrate Fr. Kolping's life by recognizing the everyday miracles of our own family life and our own labors, and let us seek his intercession that, with God's help, we may persevere to the end, running the good race that, to some may look ordinary but, at the end is marked with cries of, "Miraculous!"

Hope in the Lord

Advent and Christmas are not always happy times. While some people rejoice with family and friends, others find themselves lonely and grieving. While some people lavish their loved ones with generous gifts and rich feasts, others find themselves poor and wanting. And, while some of us kneel down to adore our Coming King, others are without faith.

The passage from Isaiah in today's Mass readings really struck me. It stirred in my heart a deep compassion for those who are without faith this Advent season. I share it here with you, and ask those of you who are blessed with the gift of faith to join me in praying for all those who "walk in darkness."

"To whom could you liken me
and who could be my equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift your eyes and look.
Who made these stars
if not he who drills them like an army,
calling each one by name?
So mighty is his power, so great his strength,
that not one fails to answer.

How can you say, Jacob,
how can you insist, Israel,
"My destiny is hidden from the Lord,
my rights are ignored by my God"?
Did you not know?
Had you not heard?

The Lord is an everlasting God,
he created the boundaries of the earth.
He does not grow tired or weary,
his understanding is beyond fathoming.
He gives strength to the wearied,
he strengthens the powerless.
Young men may grow tired and weary,
youths may stumble,
but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength,
they put out wings like eagles.
They run and do not grow weary,
walk and never tire.

- Isaiah 40:25-31

The Possibilities of Sainthood

Antonia Lucia Labella is a spunky, thoughtful fifteen year-old-girl with quirky aspirations—she wants to be the first living saint in Catholic history! And, maybe she’d also like her longtime crush Andy Rotellini to kiss her. Hey, if you're going to dream big... Just a kiss, though! Antonia Lucia may be just like any other red-blooded teenage girl at Holy Angels Academy, but she’s also on the road for sainthood, people, and she has standards.

This charming, imaginative book by Donna Freitas is a fresh and welcome addition to contemporary YA literature. It explores what it is to be a Catholic teenager from an immigrant family through the eyes of a truly lovable heroine. The engaging story makes for wonderful discussion fodder, but I would advise that parents read this book along with their teen and talk about the issues it raises. Antonia Lucia’s morals and reasoning (like any teenager’s) are not always spot on, and some teen readers might be just as much in need of guidance as Antonia is. Some parents may feel that they would rather not have their children reading about kissing or how to “sluttify” a Catholic schoolgirl uniform. In my opinion—having gone to an all girls’ Catholic high school—it’s better to face the music and actually discuss these things with our teenage daughters rather than turning a blind eye, but to each her own.

Just one more precaution: be prepared to crave pasta—real pasta, not out of a box. By the way, if you’re looking for the patron saint of pasta, there isn’t one—yet. But Antonia’s working on that.

* The Bookworm's Library has been updated: The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas, True North by Stephanie Strickland, Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

Holy Day of Obligation Tomorrow!

Just a friendly reminder to all my Catholic readers that tomorrow is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is a holy day of obligation. A lot of our HODs have fallen on Sundays lately, and we havent had to g out of our way for them, but tomorrow is a Tuesday, and I thought it might take some folks by surprise; it crept up on me, that's for sure! So, tonight, check out your parish's Mass schedule, and make plans to be at Church tomorrow, and have blessed feastday!

For my non-Catholic readers: I know that the Immaculate Conception--that's St. Anne's conception of Mary, not Mary's conception of Jesus--and the concept of Holy Days of Obligation, in general, may be foreign to you. Feel free to post any questions you may have about these celebrations and practices in the comments section, and I will do my best to get to them over the next couple of days.

Happy St. Nicholas’s Day!

Treats to celebrate the Holy Bishop of Myra.

Frutta candita, Italian sugarplums to celebrate the sweetness of Nicholas’ generosity.

These papassini, traditional Sardinian Christmas cookies, reminded me of the Bishop’s miter and the golden sultanas embedded in them were reminiscent of the gold pieces Nicholas gave to the three poor girls in the legend.

Clementines are a traditional symbol of generosity and have been left in shoes by St. Nicholas for centuries!

I hope those of you who are honoring St. Nicholas today enjoy your celebration! I hope to have more photographs for you at the end of the day.

Celebrating "Santa"

There is a lot of hoopla about whether or not to "do" Santa Claus at Christmastime, most of it probably unnecessary. Some people think the big man in the red suit detracts too much from the true meaning of Christmas. Others worry that emphasis on Santa and his gift-giving will make the holidays too materialistic. Some people object to pretending that a fantastical character is real. I have seen all of these shortcomings in celebrations of Santa Claus, but that's no reason to cut him completely out of the picture. The thing is to understand who Santa Claus is, where he comes from, and what his proper role in the Christmas celebration is.

First off, while that jolly man in the red suit might be a fake, St. Nick is no fantasy. The moniker "Santa Claus" is a derivitive of "Santa--or Saint--Nicholas." Nicholas was the bishop of Myra in what is now present-day Turkey, in the 4th century. Born into a wealthy home, Nicholas gave away all his possessions and his inheritance to the poor. He was imprisoned for his faith by the Emperor Diocleatian, and was released with the other religious prisoners when Constantine set them free. During his reign as bishop, he was much beloved by the people and was particularly known for his generosity. He died a holy death in 350 A.D.

These are the facts we know about St. Nick, the rest is hagiography, legends that have circulated about him, based upon the grains of truth from his factual life. One story tells of how Nicholas anonymously left bags of gold for three poor daughters to save them from a life of slavery--or bachelorettehood--or prostitution, depending on which version you go with. In another tale, Nicholas's faith in God's protection saves him and his fellow sailors from a storm at sea on his way to pilgrimage in the Holy Land. The most gruesome legend, about a butcher who tries to boil some kindnapped kids up in a pot, is also ironically the impetus behind his being named patron saint of children. These stories are not factual but, like the folktale of George Washington and the apple tree, they do give us some illustrative insight into Nicholas' character and they are fun to share.

Nicholas is the patron of so many things, I won't list them all here. You can visit this link if you're really curious. However, he is most notably the patron of bakers, pawnbrokers, children, and sailors.

This is all well and good but, to be honest, Nicholas' feastday is an optional one in the Catholic Church. Since his sainthood came about by popular acclaim and not formal canonization, as was often the case with the early saints since the canonization process had not yet been instituted, Nicholas was one of those saints who was brought forward for reconsideration by the Vatican. About forty saints were given the ax from the liturgical calendar when they were discovered to be, well, not real people (yikes!), but Nicholas made the cut. Still, the powers that be decided that it should be merely optional to celebrate the feast of the good bishop of Myra. So, why do it?

One good reason is: Santa Claus! Let's be honest; there is just no way to escape the secular Santa, but St. Nicholas allows us to find a happy, faith-filled medium. You might also want to celebrate for cultural reasons. Many countries, including Holland, Germany, Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Italy, and Greece have some incredibly rich and meaningful traditions to draw from on December 6th. And, of course, there's always the reason of St. Nicholas himself! Celebrating a saint with a generous soul is a wonderful way to get Advent rolling and encourage charity in our own hearts.

Now, the big question is...how? How do we celebrate St. Nicholas? The answer will be different from country to country, faith to faith, and family to family. Here is my absolute favorite site on all things Nicholas-related.

And, here is a list of the traditions I incorporate into my family's celebration of the real Saint Nick:

• On December 5th, we will start getting all the goodies prepared for the following day. Any earlier, and we wouldn't be able to hold off, and as I've mentioned in earlier posts, we reserve special treats like cookies and candies for Sundays and feastdays during Advent. This year, we are making frutta candita di Santa Nicolo (and Italian sweetmeat) and papassini. Technically, papassini are just a generic Christmas cookie, but the diamond shape put me in mind of a bishop's miter, and the sultanas can symbolize the gold coins that Nicholas gave to the three poor girls in the legend.
• On the vigil of St. Nicholas's feast, we have a celebratory dinner that includes seafood, in honor of his intercession on behalf of sailors. This year, I'll be making Scallops with Mashed Potatoes with Tarragon Sauce as the centerpiece of our meal.
• After dinner, I would like to incorporate this blessing for our children:

A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

God our Father, we pray
that through the intercession of St. Nicholas,
you will protect our children.

Keep them safe from harm
and help them grow
and become worthy in your sight.

Give them strength
to keep their faith in you;
and keep alive their joy
in your creation.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

—by Father David R. Engbarth, St. Nicholas Church, Aurora, Illinois

• As a bedtime story, we will be reading The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan and Judith Brown.
• For breakfast, we'll be enjoying these Bread "Purses" to recall the sweetness of generous giving.
• When Sophia and James are older, I plan to incorporate a tradition where they will write letters to St. Nicholas. Not gift wish lists, but real letters, thanking him for his fervent prayers on behalf of children and seeking his intercession if necessary. If a couple of gift requests make it in amongst the petitions, that will be okay, too ;-)
• Before their afternoon nap, the kids (well, just Sophia this year) will lay out a shoe for St. Nicholas to leave some presents in when he comes to visit. Once she is able to write her letter, she will leave it in the shoe for him, but for now, we'll probably just leave a carrot or a few apple slices for his white horse and some of our cookies for St. Nicholas himself.
• When Sophia wakes up, the shoe will be filled with treats "from the good bishop": a small bag of chocolate coins wrapped in gold and a clementine to symbolize his generosity, a candy cane for his bishop's staff, and a letter. The letter will praise the good character qualities St. Nicholas has noticed in her this year, and it will end with a "however," a suggestion for how she can grow in faith and love in the coming year and especially through the rest of this Advent season.
• We will end our celebration before Mass (we attend Sunday evening Mass) with the lighting of our Advent wreath. In addition to our usual prayer for the Second Sunday in Advent, we will pray the following:
  
  We call upon your mercy, O Lord.
  Through the intercession of St. Nicholas,
  keep us safe amid all dangers
  so that we may go forward without hindrance
  on the road of salvation.
  Amen.
  
  And, we will conclude our devotions by singing this hymn, set to the tune of "Salve Regina."

St. Nicholas returns again on Christmas Eve to leave little treats in the children's stockings. He doesn't give presents in our home; presents come from family members. He checks in again to see how we're doing with the suggestions he's given us, and leaves treats to reward our efforts and encourage us to continue growing throughout the year. But, the celebration of his feastday during Advent helps to keep this Christmas visit in perspective. In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with a little make believe, as long as it's first grounded in truth.

Will you be honoring the holy bishop of Myra this year? If so, how do you plan on celebrating "Santa"?

Bright Pasta Tonnato

 

 

Here's one of those cabinet meals recipes I promised you all ages ago! I really didn't forget about those; I've just be busy.

Everything in this meal can be stored long-term in the pantry or refrigerator. It can be made year round, but we really love it in the winter, when its bright flavors are especially welcome. It's also very useful for Friday nights, the traditional time for Catholics to serve fish. This is an easy, inexpensive, very speedy fish dish that even my two-year-old daughter scarfs down eagerly! My husband has also declared this dish to be one of his top 10 favorites. So easy to please.

Even if you don't normally serve fish on Friday--or ever!--consider giving this one a try. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 lb. small shell noodles
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
6 anchovy fillets, minced
1 10.5 oz. can tomato puree
1 T capers
1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
2 5 oz. cans good quality tuna preserved in olive oil, preferably Italian
Freshly ground black pepper
2 T chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, saute garlic in hot oil, about 2 minutes, until fragrant. Add anchovy fillets and saute another 2 minutes until garlic is just golden. Add tomato puree and capers, stirring to combine. Stir in olives and tuna. Flavor with black pepper.

Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 c. cooking liquid. Add liquid slowly to sauce until it reaches desired consistency. Add pasta to sauce and stir to coat. Serve hot, sprinkled with parsley.