Stars - Advent Waiting Through Baking - Fourth Week of Advent

We all remember those childhood verses, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star..." or "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight...."  And of course, we remember the famous Star of Bethlehem, the star guiding the Magi from the east.

This week we will make and bake star cookies as we finish our last week of Advent. Star cookies are perfect for Christmas. The star of Bethlehem, the star guiding the Magi is the penultimate star, but the Old Testament is full of references to stars, too.  So while we wait and bake this last week of Advent, we will look at a reference to a star that the Chosen People of God were waiting for.

I mentioned there are many references to stars in the Old Testament. There are references right from the very beginning of Genesis 1:16. "God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also." Psalm 148:3, "Praise Him sun and moon. Praise Him all stars of light." The Chosen People of God knew that God made the stars and that the stars and all creation are meant to praise their Creator. There are many references in the Old Testament to pagans worshiping the sun, moon, and stars. The prophets foretold their doom if they continued to worship creatures instead of the Creator who made the stars.

Stars have many lessons to teach us, but the Advent waiting lesson of the star is the Morning Star found in the book of Numbers. It is in this prophetical scriptural verse that the Morning Star becomes our waiting star of the fourth week of Advent. Listen to these verses and share them with your bakers. "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: a star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; and crush through the head of Moab...." Numbers 24:17  

To develop our understanding of the Morning Star a bit more. (This may be of interest to adults but a bit too specific for younger bakers. It is your judgment call.) We can look at the definition of scepter. A scepter is a decorative staff used by a king or ruler. It signifies royalty, power, and authority.  Observant Jews were waiting for the Morning Star who would come from the line of Jacob (King David's line), who would be royal (divine), and have power and authority, and would crush the head of the serpent as foretold in Genesis 3:15. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. He was of the line of King David who was of the line of Jacob. Jesus is Divine; He is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity who became man. He is the King. He has power, authority, and through the Cross crushed Satan and defeated death. The birth of Jesus represents many truths. For all of us, young, middle-age, and old, it speaks of the total love of our Creator for each one of us, His creatures, in a deeply loving and very personal way. May the Morning Star dawn in your heart and the hearts of your children as we wait together this last week of Advent for the birth of Christ.

Here are some two of my granddaughters baking Star Cookies the last week of Advent. 

The recipe for this week's sugar cookie is Moravian Sugar Cookies.  It is from Mimi Sheraton's Vision of Sugarplums Cookbook. I have used some of her recipes before and enjoyed them. I was somewhat disappointed with this one. I prefer other sugar cookie recipes. Recipe 3 of the 4 I have offered these past weeks is still my favorite!

 

All done and out of the oven!  

 

Psalm 8:3

Our Prayer for the Fourth Week of Advent

 When I ^aconsider thy ^bheavens, the ^cwork of thy fingers, the ^dmoon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is ^aman, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou ^bvisitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little ^alower than the ^bangels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

This week is a bit busy for me as I am sure it is for you. I have not had an a chance to look for children's books on the Morning Star. I will have to save that research for another day. If any of you know of a good children's book or want to write one about the Morning Star the Jewish children were waiting for before the birth of Jesus, please contact me. Thank you!

Happy Fourth Week of Advent

A few decorated cookies from the Rooney/Findlay Family Christmas in July, 2021

                  

Candlelight - Advent Waiting Through Baking - Third Week of Advent

This is a mini Advent Wreath lit with 
birthday candles, 3 for Week 3 of Advent.

Light is one of the most powerful images in Scripture. It can be found multiple times in the Old Testament and throughout the New. We refer to it every Sunday in the Nicene Creed when we profess: "...God from God, Light from Light..." During Advent we light candles beginning with one and adding another each week until all four are ablaze. Our Christmas trees are decorated from head to foot in strings of lights. And homes, stores,  churches, and cities abound in lights throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons. Light is meant to lift up our spirits as we wait for the birth of Christ.

Children can appreciate the image of the growing light during Advent. Physical light speaks to all of us through out senses. We appreciate the candles on a birthday cake. With little ones we have to be careful with the light of candles, but it is a powerful image. Our candle cookies are a way to share the knowledge that Christ is the Light of the World and we are celebrating His birth on Christmas Day.

So here is our little baker and decorator, just barely age two, frosting her candle cookie! 

You will find the recipe for this Sugar Cookie in the Blog Archive, 2009/12/04 under the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. To locate the blog archive look on the right hand side of this post midway down.

The frosting can be found here, Buttercream frosting

Below is a picture of Meredith, Piper's Mom's candle cookies right after they came out of the oven. Don't they look yummy?  Piper thought so. We have a few more photos of Miss Piper frosting the cookie or should I say eating the frosting!!!!

Books

The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans

The Christmas Light by Claudia Cangilla McAdam

24 Christmas Stories for Little Ones by Magnificat

The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen

Lucia Child of Light by Florence Ekstrand

Lucia Saint of Light by Katherine Bolger Hyde

Prayers

Isaiah 9:2 A people waiting in darkness have seen a great light.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom should I fear?

Dear God, awaken us, that we may be ready when your dear Son comes, that we may receive him with joy and serve you with pure hearts.

Happy Baking as we wait for Christmas!

What can I give Him, 

   Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring him a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part,

Yet what can I give Him,

    Give my heart

by Christina Georgina Rossetti

This is Gaudete Sunday. Let us be glad and rejoice!

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, November 18

For those of you who have a chance to visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., there is a statue of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne on the crypt level with many American-born saints. You might ask why is her statue there?

French-born to wealthy parents in Grenoble, France, Rose's family was well-connected and various members held posts in the French government. Born in 1769, she was sent to a monastery school run by the Visitation sisters to be educated along with her cousin.  From her earliest days she longed to be a religious. Her father, however, had other ideas. When Rose was 17, she went for a visit to the Visitation convent and asked for admittance. She was admitted as a postulant and remained there until the Reign of Terror in France closed the convent in 1792, and sent her and other sisters home. 

Rose remained at home until the Reign of Terror was over. While there she worked nursing those who had been imprisoned and others in need.  After the Concordat of 1801, when the government allowed the Church to function again, she purchased the Visitation monastery building. With a few other sisters she attempted to restore their original Visitation convent, Sainte-Marie- d'en-Haut.  They did not succeed. 

In 1804, Rose heard of a new French congregation of women religious, the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus under the inspiration of Mother Madeleine Sophie Barat. She offered herself and the monastery to Mother Barat who accepted it, along with Rose, and several other sisters who had been with the Visitation Order.

The work of the Society of the Sacred Heart like the Visitation Order was to give young women a Catholic education. Rose continued to do that work between 1804 and 1818 in France. After a visit by Bishop William DuBourg, S.S.,  a Frenchman who was serving in the territories of the United States.  Sister Rose answered his request for religious women educators to teach French and Indian children in his diocese of Louisiana, and the two Floridas.  Like St. Therese of Lisieux, Sister Rose had always desired to serve in the missions.

Recipe for Madeleines taken from SugarSpunRun.com

At age 49, Sister Rose arrived in New Orleans but settled in Saint Charles, Missouri, near St. Louis where she began missionary work. It was here that she opened the first free school for girls west of the Mississippi River. For the next twenty years she founded many schools. At age 72 in 1841, she was invited to serve in a school for the Potawatomi Indians, in Sugar Creek, Kansas. Many thought she was too old to teach and that was true.  However, the Jesuit priest head of the mission insisted she come with these words, "She must come; she may not be able to do much work, but she will assure success to the mission by praying for us . Her very presence will draw down all manner of heavenly favors on the work." She remained in Sugar Creek for one year praying constantly for the success of the mission. The Potawatomi named her Qua-kah-ka-num-ad, which means "Woman who prays always." Her health would not allow her to remain in this poor and isolated region. She returned to Saint Charles to spend the rest of her years praying before the Blessed Sacrament. She died in 1852 at the age of 83.

 In 1988 Sister Rose Philippine Duchesne became the fourth naturalized U.S. citizen to be canonized. Her love, tireless work, and prayer for the missions are honored in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception by a statue depicting her teaching French and Indian girls.

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, Pray for Us !

A French Recipe: Madeleines

https://sugarspunrun.com/madeleines/#recipe-video

Madeleine Recipe

I recommend viewing the video. It is six minutes long and covers details that are helpful in ensuring you have a delicious, light, and tasty cookie to celebrate St. Rose's virtues of prayer and perseverance.

Below is a picture of a madeleine pan which you will need to for these cookies. You can find them online and in many department stores.

A Prayer of Dedication to Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne 

Kim King, RSCJ

 When we are asked to be bold and courageous, You are our inspiration When our imaginations dream and see beyond the limits of our sight, You are our hope When we fail to meet a challenge and need to accept our limitations, You are our model When we pray with the desire for deep union with God, You are our Saint And with your blessing, to the greater glory of God, we seek to be loving people who live and serve others with your same purpose, vision, and quiet humility. Amen

BOOKS for Children

The book by Margaret Ann Hubbard is a Vision book. The book by Barbara Yoffie is from Liguori and the other two are written by Sisters of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne religious order, Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

All Saints Day, November 1, All Souls Day, November 2, Baking with the Brown Sisters

Bread Dough All Saint Dolls, Mint Oreo Truffles, Pumpkin All Souls Cakes

One of my favorite activities is to bake. Yesterday I had the opportunity to bake with these three young ladies, the daughters of Cal and Luis Brown. We mixed, prepared, and baked All Saint Bread Dough Dolls, a traditional European bread that is made not only on All Saints Day but on the feast day of any of your favorite saints, left item. Center is Mint Oreo Truffles which is a contemporary celebratory treat, and to the left is Pumpkin Soul Cakes. Below are more pictures and brief write-ups and/or links.

It is this book, Cooking with the Saints that we found the Saints Bread Dough Doll recipe. The upper righthand corner of the book shows the finished product. Here is the Recipe from page 167.

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp. dry yeast

1/2 cup of milk - I used 2%

4 tbsp. sugar

3 cups All-purpose flour

4 tbsp. cold butter

pinch of salt

1 lemon

2 eggs separated

DIRECTIONS: Oven 400 Fahrenheit

Dissolve yeast in lukewarm milk, 98 - 110 degrees F

Add 1 tsp. sugar and 1 tsp, flour. Stir and let stand for 15 minutes

In a bowl, add flour, sugar and salt. 

Grate the lemon rind. I used a zester. This gives the bread a wonderful flavor. Add to flour mixture.

Cut cold butter into small cubes. Add to flour mixture and knead with your hands or a pastry cutter until the flour mixture is crumbly. 

Add yeast mixture, then 

Add egg whites to flour mixture and knead thoroughly until dough is smooth.

Roll dough out on lightly dusted pastry mat to 1/2 inch thickness. Cover and rest dough for 15 - 20 minutes.

Using cookies cutters, such as ginger bread men and women, cut out shapes for saint dolls. You can add trim with left over dough for hair, boots, symbols of your favorite saint. The recipe says to cut out with a sharp knife. I did that the first time I made the bread dough dolls, but I knew it wouldn't work for children. I will always use cookie cutters in the future. It is much easier.

Mix the egg yolks with a tbsp. of water or a little more for the egg wash. Brush the egg wash on your saint dolls and any leftover dough you are baking. I fashioned my leftover dough in snail like shapes!

Bake dolls at 400 degrees F for 15 - 20 minutes. 

Makes 4 large dolls and many small left over buns.

Kneading the Bread Dough

                                                                                  

Arranging the Cookie Cutter Figures

Mint Oreo Truffles being dipped in chocolate

Here is the link for the Mint Oreo Truffles. They are yummy. Be sure you have plenty of friends to share them with you because they are addictive!

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/mint-oreo-truffles/

Soul Cakes for All Souls Day

There are many customs both secular and religious associated with the Eve of All Saints Day, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day. One charming religious custom found in the Old North Country of England is the offering of a plump, fruity bun to children as they go from house to house begging for a treat. According to the custom, children beg for Soul Cakes either from their neighbors or at a party. They say,

 "A soul cake, a soul cake,

 I pray thee good mistress, a soul cake. 

An apple, a pear, a plum or a cherry, 

Any good thing to make us all merry.

 A soul cake, a soul cake,

 Please good missus a soul cake! 

One for Peter and two for Paul

And three for Him who make us all."

A Soul Cake is then given to the child in return for prayers promised for the loved ones that have departed. 

Adapting the practice to contemporary life seems to be a delightful way for parents or teachers to encourage children to pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. All children can be given a Soul Cake, say a Hail Mary for the souls in purgatory and a fun and devotional custom has begun.

We adapted the traditional fruity bun to a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin. Below is a photo and the recipe.

Adding the pumpkin batter to the muffin tin

Pumpkin Muffins or One Loaf of Pumpkin Bread

This recipe made 12 muffins and two mini loaf pans 

Ingredients

1 cup of canned pumpkin

2 eggs

1/3 cup of water

Sift together:

1 2/3 cup of All-Purpose Flour

1 ½ cups of sugar

½ tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

¾ tsp. of salt

¼ tsp. cloves

¼ tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. cinnamon

Directions: Heat oven to 350 Fahrenheit

Stir wet mixture into flour mixture incorporating well. Add ½ cup chocolate chips or raisins if desired.  For muffins bake for 20 – 25 minutes. Check after 18 minutes by poking a toothpick in the center of one. For a loaf pan, bake for 50 – 60 minutes. Test with a knife for doneness. Enjoy

Happy Feast of All Saints!

 Together let us pray for the Poor Souls in Purgatory on the Feast of All Souls

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and bless is the fruit of your womb. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

St. Simon and St. Jude, Feast Day October 28

Icon painting written at Malling Abbey
Kent, England

Saints Simon and Jude are two of the twelve apostles selected by Jesus to carry His teachings and actions out to the world. The apostles were the first bishops of the Catholic Church.

Not too much is known about Simon. Both he and Jude were born in the first century A.D. or at the very end of the years before Christ's birth, B.C. Simon's name appears in the New Testament four times: Matt. 10, Mark 3, Luke 6, and Acts 1. He is called Simon the Zealot or Cananaean. Some think that means he is from Cana. St. Jerome thought that, but the word cananaean means zealous in Hebrew. Others thought he was of the Zealot Party, but Simon was zealous for the Hebrew Law not a member of the Zealot Party.  

It is not known where Simon preached the Gospel. There are many different early Christian traditions which claim he preached it in their region. We can not be certain. We do not know for sure where he died. It is said that he was martyred, and it may have been that he was cut in half with a saw. The saw is attributed to his martyrdom. His relics are said to be buried under the altar at St. Peter's in Vatican City.

There is a bit more known about St. Jude. It is believed that he was a cousin of Jesus and the brother of James the Lesser. His name appears four times in the list of Apostles along with St. Simon, Matt. 10,  Mark 3, Luke 6, and Acts. 1. He is the author of the Letter of Jude, an inspired, canonical writing in the New Testament. He preached the Gospel in Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia. It is not known where he met his death, but tradition suggests he was martyred possibly in Beriut. His relics are to be found under the altar at St. Peter's in Vatican City along with St. Simon

St. Jude is the patron of desperate cases and in that capacity is pictured with a medallion of Christ on his chest and a small flame of fire coming out of his head. St. Bridget of Sweden and St. Bernardine of Siena had visions where God asked them to accept St. Jude as the saint of impossible cases. Many pilgrims praying to St. Jude have reported receiving numerous graces through his intercession.

Doublequick Dirges Cakes

This recipe is what many like to call "easy peasy"! It requires very little effort and it is tasty.  It is found in Ann Ball's book, Catholic Traditions in Cooking. She mentions these dirge cakes or what we call donuts as traditional food for the feast of Sts. Simon and Jude in England. Here is the recipe with directions for frying them.

INGREDIENTS                                                                EQUIPMENT

1 can refrigerated biscuits                                                 Pastry mat

Small amount flour for dusting                                         Large pot for frying

Oil for frying - vegetable, peanut, canola                        Slotted spoon

2 tsp. cinnamon                                                                Frying thermometer

1/2 cup sugar                                                                    Plate with paper towels

                                                                                          Rolling pin

DIRECTIONS: Heat oil to 365 degrees Fahrenheit

1. Lightly flour a pastry mat. 

2. Mix sugar and cinnamon and have it ready to sprinkle on the donuts when they are fried.

3. Open biscuits. Place each biscuit on mat. Flatten one at a time with a rolling pin. With your finger make a hole in the middle of each biscuit.

4. Be sure oil is 365 degrees. (This part of the recipe is not for young bakers. They can help with taking out biscuits and flattening with the rolling pin.)  The pan you use should be heavy duty. Pour in the oil between 3 to 4 inches high and heat to 365 degrees. If the oil gets too hot, lower the heat.

5. Carefully with a slotted spoon place the donut/biscuits one at a time in the hot oil. My pan held three donuts at a time. Fry on one side for about 90 - 120 seconds. Then turn and fry for 90 - 120 seconds. The donuts should be golden brown. Remove and let the excess oil drip back into the pan. Place donut on plate with paper towel to absorb oil. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Repeat with all biscuit/donuts.

ENJOY!

Children's Book on Saints Simon and Jude

Many of you know the author, Fr. Jude Winkler, O.F.M, Conv. He has written a great variety of books for children on the saints, sacraments, Catholic traditions, liturgical seasons, and more. This is one of his books on the apostles. Sts. Simon and Jude are included in this 32 page paperback. It is available on Amazon and in many Catholic bookstores.

PRAYER TO STS. SIMON AND JUDE

O God, who by the blessed Apostles

have brought us to acknowledge your name,

graciously grant,

through the intercession of Saints Simon and Jude,

that the Church may constantly grow

by increase of the peoples who believe in you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

                                                         Happy Feast!

 

 

St. John of Capistrano Feast day, October 23, St. John Capistrano Mission, CA

I chose to feature the feast day of St. John of Capistrano partly so I could share this lovely children's book by Leo Politi with  you. 

As you know there are many wonderful feast days in October to honor the saints and yummy food traditions to go with them.

St. John of Capistrano was born in Italy in  the region of Abruzzi, 1385. His father was a knight who died when John was just a young boy. He was exceptionally bright and his mother saw to it that he received a superb education in Civil and Church law.

At the age of 26 he was appointed governor of Perugia located just north east of Assisi. He governed with great integrity. His gifts of leadership and right judgment were appreciated by a great many. In 1426 while trying to resolve a dispute between Perugia and the House of Malatestas, he was thrown into prison by the nobles of Malatesta. It was during this time that he had a vision of St. Francis of Assisi and began reconsidering the direction of his life. At age 30 he entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained a priest friar at the age of 34.

St. John Capistrano, Pray for us!

His vocation as a Franciscan was exceptional like those of other followers of St. Francis - St. Anthony of Padua and St. Bernardino of Siena. His gifts in civil, church leadership, and preaching cried out for him to serve the needs of people in a century weakened by the Bubonic plague, endangered by internal religious animosities and torn by civil and national hostilities. St. John Capistrano worked tirelessly on all fields of strife seeking to mend and heal numerous ruptures and divisions. His efforts were sought after by Popes Nicholas V and Callixtus III.  He died shortly after leading a division of the army in the successful defense of the city of Belgrade, October 23, 1456, at age 70. Belgrade at that time was part of the kingdom of Hungary. He was canonized in 1724.

St. Junipero Serra thought so highly of St. John Capistrano's selflessness and achievements that he named one of the missions in California after him. It is at this mission, San Juan Capistrano,  that the cliff swallows return on March 19 or thereabout to spend the season nesting and raising their young and leave on October 23 to fly 6,000 miles to spend their winter in Argentina.

Children's book:

Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi is the story of a young boy about six or seven years old who lives near San Juan Capistrano Mission. He is a child who loves the grounds of the mission, the flowers, birds, and the grounds keeper, Julian. The illustrations are colorful and the story is very sweet. There is a bit of the history of the Franciscans and the missions included as background to the story.  It is recommended for children 6 - 9, but I would say 4 - 8. It is available on Amazon. 

Almas Pite, Hungarian Apple Pie

Recipe below

INGREDIENTS                                                EQUIPMENT

Dough

2 1/2 cups of All-purpose flour                            Mixing bowls

1/2 cup of cold butter                                Measuring spoons

1 /2 cup of confectionary sugar                            Measuring cups

1 teaspoon baking powder                                    Zester

1 /2 teaspoon vanilla extract                                Grater or Food Processor

1 egg                                                                    Pastry brush

1 tbsp. of sour cream or more                              Parchment paper

Pinch of salt                                                         Rolling pin

1 tsp. lemon zest                                                  Sifter

Baking spray or butter                                         Baking pan 11" X 7"

Apple Filling                                                        

6 tart apples - I used Granny Smith

1/2 cup confectionary sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

4 tbsp. ground walnuts (optional) I did not use them

1 tbsp. lemon juice

1 egg for egg wash

Shredded Apples in Food Processor

    DIRECTIONS: Preheat the over to 350 F or 180 C

1. Measure flour into a large bowl. 

2. Cut the butter into small cube-size pieces and mix by hand into the flour. You can use a pastry cutter if you do not like getting your hands messy. The mixture will be crumbly.

3. In a small bowl sift 1/2 confectionary sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together so there are no little spice or powder balls. Add sour cream, lemon zest, and vanilla. Whisk well, then add the egg. Mix thoroughly.

4. Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture. Add a bit more sour cream if the mixture seems dry. If the mixture is too wet, add a bit more flour. Knead thoroughly.

5. Divide the dough into 2 balls and let them rest for 20 minutes.

6. Peel, core, and divide the apples into four quarters. Shred the apples. I used the food processor which is pictured above. I put two apples in at a time and processed on high for about 10 seconds. Then I pulsed the apples for a few seconds until there were no large bits. The apples look like grated cabbage. You can use a grater on the largest side if you wish. I repeated the process. It went very quickly. If your apples are very juicy you must strain out the juice after shredding. I did not have to strain the Granny apples after they were shredded.

7. In a small bowl mix confectionary sugar and cinnamon thoroughly. Add to the shredded apple with the lemon juice. Mix well.

8. Spray or butter and flour the baking pan. Set aside.

9. On a floured surface, roll out one of the balls of dough to the size of the baking pan. Place in pan.

10. If you use walnuts, sprinkle half of them on the rolled dough, then add the apples and the remainder of the walnut ; otherwise add the apples directly to the rolled dough.

11. Roll out the second ball of dough to cover the filling. Place on top of the filling. Pinch the edges and then make little slits in the dough to let out the air.

12.Whisk egg and add a bit of water. Whisk again and brush on the top of the dough. The dough should not be soggy.

13. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, until the top is golden brown. 

14. Remove from the oven and let it cool, Then dust with confectionary sugar. 

15. Cut into squares. Makes approximately 16 squares. It is a very tasty dessert, especially with coffee, tea, cappuccino, or hot chocolate.

PRAYER TO ST. JOHN CAPISTRANO

Lord, Thou raised up Saint John of Capistrano to give Thy people comfort in their trials. May Thy Church enjoy unending peace and be secure in Thy protection. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen

St. John Capistrano, ora pro nobis!

                                                   

Coronation of Our Lady of La Leche, October 10, Feast day, October 11

New statue of Our of Our Lady of La Leche
before the crowning.

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of La Leche, October 11. It is a feast day on the Diocesan Calendar of St. Augustine, Florida. Since 2011 it has been a feast day in the diocese.  In 2019 the bishops of the United States raised this oldest Marian shrine to a national shrine. Visitors come from around the world to visit and pray to the nursing mother and her Divine Child.

Yesterday the new statue of Our Lady of La Leche was honored by a canonical crowning in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine at a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra, Archbishop Metropolitan of Madrid, the representative of Pope Francis. This image of the nursing Madonna and Child's roots go back to Spain. The devotion to the Blessed Mother under her title of Our Lady of La Leche was brought to Florida in the late 1500s  by Franciscan priests. 

The image of the nursing mother of Jesus has been at the Shrine for over four hundred years. There have been slightly different representations of the image, but all show Mary nursing Jesus. This image has inspired devotion and love in many different people over the centuries, including the Timucuan natives of  northeast Florida. They were impressed with the humanity of God who became a little Child for love of all people.  So powerful did this image speak to them that many became Catholic Christians, and later in their history were martyred by the English for their deep Catholic faith.

Couples over the centuries have visited the Shrine and have turned to Our Lady of La Leche and asked her to intercede with her  Divine Son when faced with the sorrow of infertility. Many prayers were answered resulting in successful pregnancies; others found their answer in adoption; and still others found their answer in Christ's unique plan for them. Mothers sought out Our Lady of La Leche for safe deliveries of their babies and success in nursing a child. The Madonna turned away no one seeking help for family or personal challenges. There are documented miracles of her intercession, but more than that the Shrine is a place of peace and good will. Visitors comment on the peace that they experience when walking the grounds of the first permanent settlement in the United States referred to as the Sacred Acre by President John F. Kennedy. A name which remains with us still today.

I have left a link for you to view some or all the canonical coronation. You can skip to the actual crowning which is after the lengthy Spanish/English homily. The image below is the crowned Lady of La Leche and her Divine Son crowned.  I added my own video of the parade of the crowned statues when they brought Mother and Divine Child from the Cathedral Basilica to the Shrine grounds to place  them permanently in the historic chapel. I have a longer one but I have not been able so far to transfer the link via email. If you have the opportunity, I hope you will come and visit this beautiful shrine and share in the many blessings and graces it has to offer.

This is a picture after the crowned statue was placed in the historic chapel
on the grounds of the Shrine.

                            Short video on the statue on parade

Canonical Crowning of Our Lady of La Leche

Here is a simple, Spanish recipe taken from the feast day of St. Teresa of Avila which in on October 15. I don't think she minds my using it for Our Lady of La Leche since both are Spanish!

Pan de Santa Teresa

                                                                         (St. Teresa's Bread)

This is a perfect breakfast bread for all those who like French toast; it is a cousin of French toast!

INGREDIENTS                                                                        EQUIPMENT

 

2 Cups of milk                                                                            Measuring cups

3 Tbsp. sugar                                                                               Measuring spoons

1 Cinnamon stick                                                                        Bread Knife

1 Lemon peel                                                                               Lemon zester or peeler

1 Loaf of Italian or French bread                                                Small pan

3 Eggs                                                                                          Small bowl

Pinch of sale                                                                                Wire whisk

Olive oil or butter                                                                       Baking dish

Cinnamon sugar                                                                           Frying pan

                                                                                                      Strainer

                                                                                                      Tongs

DIRECTIONS:                                                                            SERVES: 3 - 4

1. Cut the loaf of bread into 12 slices 3/4 inch apiece. You may not use all the bread. Stale bread works well. Set aside.

2. Add milk, sugar, cinnamon stick and lemon peel in small pan and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until the flavors are immersed throughout.

3. Place the slices of bread in a large baking dish and pour the milk through a strainer over the bread. Set aside.

4. Beat the eggs in a bowl with the salt. Be sure the eggs are well-beaten. With the tongs take one slice of bread and dip completely in the egg mixture. Repeat with each slice of bread. If necessary beat another egg(s) if needed to coat all 12 slices. Place in baking dish.

5. Heat frying pan to medium low. Add a few slices of coated bread at a time. Fry until golden brown on one side and then flip and finish cooking on the other side. Repeat until all slices are fried.

6. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, top with maple syrup, or spread your favorite jam. A dollop of whipped cream is always a treat!

Enjoy and Happy Feast of Our Lady of La Leche and St. Teresa of Avila!

                                                                        

Prayer to Our Lady of La Leche

There is no children's book that I am aware of at this time written about Our Lady of La Leche and her Divine Son in English. If I find one I will add it in the future.