Celebrating the Solemnity of This Day

From an ecclesiastic view, today is the third Solemnity Day of the New Year. From a secular perspective, it is New Year’s Day so naturally the first Solemnity of the calendar year. Solemnity Days are not necessarily Holy Days of Obligation, although some are. Confused? Try being a Catholic!

In the Roman Rite, a Solemnity is a feast day of the highest rank to celebrate a mystery of faith, an event in the life of Christ, or to emphases a moment in the life of Mary or a particular saint. Although a Solemnity is an important day for Catholics, Catholics are not required to attend mass each time one falls on the calendar outside Sunday. Some Solemnities are simply feast days of importance without the obligation to attend Mass, others are both – high ranking and days of obligation. Today is one of those Solemnities that does fall under the Days of Obligation within the Church, unless it happens to fall on a Saturday or Monday. Then it would be celebrated on Sunday. Yeah, I know I’ve made things about as clear as mud.

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God stands as a reminder of the importance of family, of motherhood and faith. Mary trusted God and accepted His plans for her life. For me, Mary is the best example I can think of as to the value of women. She humbled herself to the will of God yet carried herself not in a subservient way, bent under the will of another, but stood tall with the knowledge that she was, is and shall always be a person of great value in the eyes of God. I for one draw great inspiration from Mary’s examples of selfless love, faith and devotion.

If Covid-19 did little else, it changed the way we value life. Here in America, Christmas Tree Lots sold out of real trees in record time. People strung more lights than usual. And the role of Motherhood no longer carried a stigma of failure. So often women, especially in America, have been told “but you can be so much more.” Those well-meaning words sends a message to women that being a mother somehow fails to live up to our full potential. Nothing could be further from the truth. A professional career is a calling. Motherhood is also a calling. Mary is the greatest example of answering the call.

The color blue is often associated with Mary. And nothing is more delicious than Blueberries. Especially in a coffee cake. Yummy morning everyone!

Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake
Coffee Cake
1/2 cup Butter
1 large Egg
1 cup Blueberries
1 cup chopped Pecans
2 cups Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Salt
3/4 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Milk

Heat oven oven to 375-degrees. Grease a 9-inch square cake pan, set aside. Let butter soften at room temperature. Rest egg on the counter to come to room temperature.

If using fresh berries, lightly rinse, spread out on paper towels to dry. If using frozen berries, do not thaw. Chop pecans, set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

In another mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add egg and milk; whisk to blend..

Create a well in the dry ingredients, fill with wet mixture. Gently stir together. Fold in blueberries and pecans. Spread batter in the prepared cake pan. Set aside.

Streusel Topping
1/2 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Flour
1/4 cup cold Butter

Combine sugar and flour; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over batter.

Bake cake in the heated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 to 40 minutes..

Cool on a wire rack.Cut into squares, arrange on a serving platter. If desired, serve with butter.