Saint Bernadette and Feeling Joy

While the Universal Catholic Church will not celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Bernadette until April 16, in France they celebrate today. Typically a saint’s feast day is the day they died. It is not to honor their death, but rather to celebrate their new life with the Lord.

There are a few exceptions such as when the date of death is unknown. So why does Saint Bernadette have two feast days? Today is the day that our Blessed Mother promised the young girl eternal happiness. That is a promise worth remembering.

So often I hear people say if God wants us to be happy, why don’t I have a nice house? Why don’t I have a better job? Why can’t I find true love? Silly people, those are ways we foolishly measure happiness. God could not care less about your zip code or any of the rest that is a part of this world. His desire is eternal.

It is with this faith, this trust in God and in the promises of the Blessed Mother that Saint Bernadette continued to suffer in this life, knowing that the Lord would not fail her. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could embrace her childlike trust? How much happier would we be if we stopped looking for greener pastures and measuring our slice of the pie. There is nothing wrong with wanting to better ourselves, just never at the cost of ourselves and others. The most freeing feeling of joy is to find happiness in the accomplishments of others. That’s my lecture for today. May you find what brings joy.

For me, joy comes in many forms. Hearing the birds sing fills me with joy. Feeling my husband’s hand on mine fills me with joy. Puttering in the kitchen fills me with joy. Praising God with all my heart and with all my soul is the greatest sense of joy there is.

Lemon Glazed Blueberry Biscuits
Make Buttermilk
2/3 cup Milk
2 teaspoons White Vinegar

In a glass measuring cup, whisk together the milk and vinegar. Let rest on the counter for 10 minutes before using. Whisk one last time when ready to use.

Blueberry Biscuits
2 cups fresh Blueberries
2 cups Flour plus more for kneeding
2 tablespoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
6 tablespoons Shortening
Buttermilk (above)

Heat oven to 450-degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Rinse blueberries under cold running water and drain on paper towels until ready to use.

In a mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening, working into the flour mixture with your fingertips. Add buttermilk, stir with a wooden spoon to create a soft dough.

Round up the dough on a lightly floured board; knead lightly, about 30 seconds. Scatter blueberries over the dough, fold in several times to distribute the berries throughout the dough. Roll or pat out biscuit dough to about 1/2-inch thick. With a fluted biscuit cutter, cut 6 rounds from the dough. Place biscuits on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake in the heated oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, let rest on the hot pan while the glaze is made.

Lemon Kissed Glaze
1 cup Powdered Sugar
4 tablespoons Heavy Cream
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice

Sift powdered sugar into a small bowl. Add heavy cream and lemon juice. Stir to blend well. Add more cream if too thick, more sugar if too thin, one tablespoon at a time until glaze is a nice spreadable consistency.

Spoon glaze over the warm biscuits. Let biscuits set on the baking sheet for a few minutes for the glaze to set. Serve and enjoy.

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The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.