Today marks forty days since we celebrated Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of Our Lord. Unlike the forty days of Lent, that excluded all Sundays, this time around Sundays are a part of that forty day count. What, you might ask, makes these Sundays count while those during Lent do not?
Celebration. Lent is a time of penance, a time of reflecting, of self examination and coming to terms with both our shortcomings and the grace of God to forgive us. Sundays are a celebration within Lent, separate from that time of sorrow. In the early days of the Church, abstinence was not reserved for Fridays, but every day within Lent, except Sundays. Today Catholics no longer observe the same abstinence they once did. Abstinence is not the 40 Days of Lenten Season, only the Fridays during Lent. All other Fridays throughout the year are penance days of a personal nature, so the faithful decide for themselves what sacrafice to make on Friday. It could be as simple as no coffee to praying an extra Rosary or reading scripture at the dinner table. Traditionalist still abstain from the consumption of meat on all Fridays throughout the year. I have noticed of late a movement within Social Media calling for the return of Friday’s observances for the whole of the church. Personally, I’d like to see that happen. I rather like it when the Church acts as one body. Don’t even get me started on all the things I would implement that we’ve allowed to fall by the wayside. Veils, family rosary time, receiving Communion on tongue, kneeling before and after Communion. I wish we still knelt while receiving Communion. While some see this as superficial, these simple jestures change the mindset to one of reverance for the House of God.
A recent study compared Catholics from 1959 to Catholics in 2020 as far as the belief that the Real Presence of Christ is in the Eucharist. In 1959, when women were veiled, when everyone knelt to receive communion and when no lay person touched the Eucharist, 87% of the people believed that they were in the presence of Christ. Today less than 30% believe the host becomes the body and blood of Jesus after it is consecrated. The rest, like their Protestant counterparts, look at communion as a symbolic act and nothing more. I’m no expect, but since the Church has not changed its teaching with regard to the Eucharist, then the difference must be in the casual way we approach communion. We are no longer in awe of the miracle that has taken place.
I am glad to see that the Vatican has reinforced certain practices that were causing confusion among the faithful during Mass. Some did one thing, others did something else and still others were unsure as to what they should do when they witnessed division. Finally we have been officially instructed to kneel after the Ecce Agnus Dei (reciting Lamb of God). Rise to walk to the alter for communion, then return to the pew and remain kneeling until the Tabernacle has been closed. Ever since Vatican II there has been growing uncertainty as to when the faithful should kneel in unison during communion. Some sat while waiting, some stood, and only a handful of older Catholics knelt. I’m glad we are now kneeling together because Hubby and I don’t seem as conspicuous or outwardly “righteous” by kneeling and bowing our heads before the Lord.
Once again, this is not where I had intended to go. Today is Ascension Thursday. While common sense would say that today should mark the end of the Easter Season, it doesn’t. Why? Ascension Thursday marks the day that Christ asended into heaven, but Easter does not end with His departure. Easter ends with Pentecost Sunday. It is the day the Holy Spirit came down from heaven to the Apostles and Mary. As Jews, they were gathered together in observance of Shavuot. The Hebrew Bible refers to the Festival of Shavuot as one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals celebrated 50 days after the observance of Passover. This can be found within the Old Testament in the Book of Tobit and 2 Maccabees. While these Old Testament writings are not a part of the Protestant Bibles, they are contained in Catholic Bibles. As a Catholic, I appreciate my Jewish roots, observations and similar customs. So while Pentecost Sunday is rooted in a Jewish Festival, Ascension Thursday, for obvious reasons, is not.
Italian Sun-Dried Tomatoes over Pasta
2 large Chicken Breasts
6 Brown Mushrooms
2 Garlic Cloves
3 cups Casarecca Pasta
1-3/4 cups Chicken Stock
12 Sun-Dried Tomato Halves
1 tablespoon Basil Olive Oil
1 tablespoon Flour
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
1 cup Baby Spinach
Parmesan Cheese, garnish as desired
Cut chicken into strips, set aside. Clean and slice mushrooms. Peel and mince garlic. Set aside.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta al-dente. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Meanwhile, place chicken stock and dun-dried tomato halves into a measuring cup. Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes. Remove the tomato halves, dice. Reserve the chicken stock.
Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken strips, cook until well browned, stirring often. Add sliced mushrooms and minced garlic; cook until mushrooms are tender and have released their juices. Stir in diced tomatoes and reserved stock. Sprinkle with flour and Italian Seasoning. Cook, stirring, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens.
Stir in pasta. Scatter spinach over the chicken-pasta mixture. Remove from heat, cover and let spinach wilt. Stir to blend. Serve with Parmesan Cheese as a garnish.
God mounts His throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
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