Pretiola!

Back when there were more than only 2 manditory fasting days in the Church, ancients would make pretzels because they only contain yeast, water, brown SUGAR and flour.

Monks used to give young children pretzels as a "little reward" or "pretiola!

Yesterday we made Lenten Pretzels.

"We abstain from flesh, meat, and from all things that come from flesh, as milk, cheese and eggs." - Pope St. Gregory

So, here's the recipie I used:

Grease two cookie sheets and sprinkle with salt.

In a large bowl, desolve a packet of yeast in 2 tablespoons of warm water.

Add 1/3 Cup of warm water and 1/3 cup of brown sugar.

Kneed in 4-5 cups of flour until the mizture forms a smooth ball. (You may need to add more water ;-))

Kneed for 10 minutes.

Tiwst as desired.

Heat oven to 450. Fill large skillet with water adding 1 t-spoon of baking soda for each cup of water.

Bring to simmer.

Dip twisted pretzels in skillet for a bout 30 seconds. Transfer to cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt and bake for 8 minutes.

Tada!

St. Joseph

Just because I neglected to do a blog post on St. Joseph's day, dosen't mean I didn't celebrate him!

Because we went all out.

My little brother made this for my Dad and brother

On Sunday we actaully went up to a Church north of us for their annual "St. Joseph Altar."

The proceeds from the event went to seminarians of the Institute of Christ the King.

The Italian food was great, espcially the firied zuchhini! There were at least 10 tables of food. Spaghetti and Bread crumbs, (which represent saw dust) Fish, symol of Christ/multiplication of loves and fishes (as the altar also symbolizes God's generosity).

I also got a fava bean. There is a "legend" that if you keep it in your pocket you will never go without fortune/food. To me, it's a good reminder to call on St. Joseph!

Special prayer to St. Joseph.

O blessed Saint Joseph, tenderhearted father, faithful guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of the Mother of God, we pray and beseech thee to offer to God the Father His divine Son, bathed in blood on the Cross for sinners, and through the thrice-holy Name of Jesus, obtain for us from the Eternal Father the favor we implore. (Name your request.)

Appease the Divine anger so justly inflamed by our crimes, beg of Jesus mercy for thy children. Amid the splendors of eternity, forget not the sorrows of those who suffer, those who pray, those who weep; stay the Almighty arm which smites us, that by thy prayers and those of thy most holy spouse, the Heart of Jesus may be moved to pity and to pardon. Amen. St. Joseph, pray for us.

He is a "universal" patron, which means he may intercede on behalf of any intention.

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Sancti Patricii, ora pro nobis.

"The ambassadors or Misionaries of Christ are of two classes. There are some who have been entrusted witha small tract of the Gentile world. They have to sow the divine seed there, and it yielded friut more or less according to the disposition of the people that received it. There are others who mission is like a rapid conquest that subdues a whole nation, and brings it to the Gospel. St. Patrick belongs to this second class, and in him we recognize one of the most successful instruments of God's Mercy to Mankind.


When is it that Ireland received the Faith? When Britain was almost wholly buried in Paganism, when the race of the Franks had not yet heard the name of the True God, when Germany had not heard of Christ's coming to Earth, when Northern Europe was deeply slumbered in infidelity; before these nations had awakened to the Gospel, Ireland had converted. The Faith, brought to the Isle by her glorious Apostle, took deep root and flourished. Her Saints are scarcely to be numbered, and went about doing good in almost every country of Europe. Her children gave, and are still giving to other countries.

Let us honour the admirable Apostle, chosen by God to sow the seed of His word in this privileged land."

~ The Liturgical Year, March 17th, by Dom Prosper Gueranger


Ireland's Constitution Preamble:

"In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, from Whom is all authority and to Whom, as our final end, all actions both of men and States must be referred, We, the people of Éire, humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial, (...) do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution."^[36]

Can you tell I'm Irish? Not as much we'd all like to be on this day, but I do have roots! I'm also very proud of Ireland for being one of the only abortion-free countries in the world. We need to pray the snakes stay out of that beloved country!

Go mbeannai Dia duit! ~ May God Bless you!

Forty Days

Temptation of Christ by James Tissot

Psalm 19

Unto the end. A psalm for David. 

May the Lord hear thee in the day of tribulation: may the name of the God of Jacob protect thee. 

May he send thee help from the sanctuary: and defend thee out of Sion.

May he be mindful of all thy sacrifices: and may thy whole burnt offering be made fat.

May he give thee according to thy own heart; and confirm all thy counsels.

We will rejoice in thy salvation; and in the name of our God we shall be exalted. The Lord fulfill all thy petitions: now have I known that the Lord hath saved his anointed. He will hear him from his holy heaven: the salvation of his right hand is in powers.  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will call upon the name of the Lord our God. They are bound, and have fallen; but we are risen, and are set upright. O Lord, save the king: and hear us in the day that we shall call upon thee.

This Psalm is used in the Church to prepare us for the Spiritual Temptations we may recieve during Lent.  Lent is a time for reparation for our sins, pleasing God, and cleansing our souls.