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!

Madonna of the Rock

As the Holy Family was fleeing Herod, they happened to stumble upon a cave belonging to a thief and his family. The robber and his wife had an infant son the same age as Jesus. Sadly, the baby had leprosy. The Blessed Mother took pit on the poor child and his mother. In gratitude for the shelter and food the robber's family had provided, She, through Jesus, performed a miracle.

Our Lady told the mother to place her son in the bath water that had been used to wash the Christ Child. As soon as the robbers son was bathed in the water, his skin was completely restored and renewed.

Many years passed, the two boys grew to manhood. The cured boy grew into the trade of his father and became a thief. One fateful and terrible day the two men met again, this time not in a cave, but on a hill. The leprous baby boy was now the thief who hung on the cross at the right side of Jesus and said, "Lord, remember me when Thou dost enter into Thy Kingdom". Jesus' Mother's kind deed of long ago had won the thief the grace of faith and repentance.

[H/T:Patricia] Seton Press Homeschool

Ember Days

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are Ember Days! On these days, we are to thank and ask God for mercy and peace as our (weather) seasons change. However, in the Spirit of Vatican II, most of the Church ignores the traditional calender and this beautiful traditions. During Ember Days we pray and fast - which might be easy to do during lent!

This will make you want to fast...

...just in case you need more motivation.

H/T: Fr. Z

Happy Fat Tuesday!

Ah, the joy of eating paczkis!

Actually, Jake didn't even eat this paczki becuase it had jelly in it. He just liked posing with his new hat and cassock!

Video of the Week/Mantillas

Notice at 7:00 St. Mary Magdalen pulls her *veil* on. No, I did not notice that, someone just mentioned that to my mom the other day.

We started wearing chapel veils/mantillas to mass (the same sacrifice as that of the Cross) about three years ago when we visited the OLAM Shrine in Alabama. A priest friend of ours was in the gift shop and gave my mom money to buy one. Yet, my mom was hesitant. She asked why we should wear it and he said "I wear my collar."

Ever since then, we've been wearing the veils as a sign of respect - and penance. We're sometimes the "odd balls" but, we offer it up!

Buy your Chapel Veil here!

Note: I will not be posting any "Video of the Week"s during Lent.