One of the things that I like about the Catholic Church is that while remaining true to scripture and God’s Holy Word, it is not the only source of our faith and dogma. Oral traditions, oral teachings that have been handed down and eventually recorded in written word are also a part of our faith, our practices and traditions.
There is nothing in scripture to tell us about Mary beyond being the mother of Christ, and betrothed to Joseph. I’ve always found it odd that when tracing Christ to the house of David, Joseph is mentioned. Joseph was His earthly foster father. It is Mary’s line that should be traced back to King David, for that is the line that leads to the promised Messiah.
It goes without saying that Mary had parents, even if this fact is not in scripture. Every human person ever came from the union of a man and a woman. That’s just the way it works. While Mary is considered the Immaculate Conception, this does not mean she was conceived without sex involved. Hers was not a virgin birth. Mary was conceived without the mark of original sin. In this way she was Immaculate.
What we have come to accept as fact began as oral tradition. And that is the story of Saint Ann and Saint Joachim, Mary’s parents. They were not young when God answered Ann’s prayer for a child. As was the norm of that time, Ann had wanted a son. Instead she received a daughter. She realized this was a blessing with purpose, for her daughter was to be dedicated to God. It was this dedication that Ann instilled in Mary. It was this love of God that allowed Mary to say yes to God’s plan of salvation.
Family helps to mold and shape who we become and how we relate to the world. Be it good or bad or just a jumbled mess of emotion, family is involved. Saint Ann is regarded as the Grandmother to the whole world, just as we accept Mary as Mother Mary. Saint Ann is the patron saint of mothers and women in labor. Catholics have been known to pray to Saint Ann and Saint Joachim to protect the unborn. There are prayers asking for strength and guidance as a family that we might obtain that same conviction of Mary to accept God’s plan through faith and dedication.
Beloved Grandmother of Jesus, Beloved Mother of Mary, the Queen of Heaven, Good Saint Ann, please take our family and all our dear ones under your special care.
Obtain for us the virtues you instilled in the heart of Mary, destined to be God’s Mother. With your holy husband, Saint Joachim, you have become wonderful models for Christian parents.
Help us to imitate your example in our families. Help us to make our lives reflect the peace and joy, the serenity and holiness which will show the world that we believe that God is with us.
Amen
When I think of Grandparents, I think of Grandpa’s fishing pole and Grandma baking. Not that I would know first hand, having grown up without the blessing of Grandparents nearby. I met my mother’s mother twice, her father passed away when Mom was just a girl. As for my dad’s parents, he lost his mother when he was young, and it took a long time to mend the fences between him and his father. Grandpa did come to visit a few times. He was an interesting man with plenty of stories.
We did have grandparent-types growing up. They were wonderful people. And our substitute Grandma did bake. So it only seemed fitting on this Holy Day to bake up some muffins filled with warmth and love.
Banana Nut Muffins with Crumb Topping
Muffins
3/4 cup Walnuts, chopped
1-1/2 cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
3 ripe Bananas, mashed
3/4 cup Sugar
1 large Egg, beaten
5 tablespoons Butter, melted
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
Heat oven to 375-degrees. Lightly grease 10 muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
Roughly chop nuts. Place in a dry skillet over medium heat. Lightly toast walnuts, shaking the pan as needed. Remove from heat and let cool.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, mash bananas. Beat bananas with sugar, egg, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Melt butter, add to the banana mixture along with the toasted walnut.
Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, set aside.
Crumb Topping
1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1/4 cup Flour
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
2 tablespoons Butter, cold
In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles wet sand. Sprinkle crumb topping over the muffins.
Bake in the heated oven for about 15 minutes or until tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool slightly before serving. Warm is best with fresh butter.
Store any remaining muffins (yeah, like that’s going to happen) in an airtight container.
The Lord gave them bread from Heaven
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