Celebrate Ascension Thursday with a Coq au Vin Supper

Today is the fortieth day of Easter regardless of who might do the counting. That makes today Ascension Thursday. It marks one of only a few Ecumenical Feasts, meaning it is celebrated by multiple denominations within the Christian Faith.

The Feast of the Ascension has a Biblical foundation. It marks Christ’s return to Heaven from which He came. Unlike His death and Resurrection, His Glorious Ascension was witnessed by His disciples. Remember, at the cross only Mary Magdalene, His mother Mary and John remained until the very end. It was the women who first received the news of his Resurrection. These two acts alone demonstrate the value God has always had for women. Tradition holds that on the Mount of Olives just outside Jerusalem Christ rose to the heavens in a cloud.

Then, while He blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
Luke 24:50-52

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” Christ’s body was glorified at the moment of his Resurrection, as proved by the new and supernatural properties it subsequently and permanently enjoys. But during the forty days when he eats and drinks familiarly with his disciples and teaches them about the kingdom, his glory remains veiled under the appearance of ordinary humanity.”

The Catechism goes on to say “The veiled character of the glory of the Risen One during this time is intimated in his mysterious words to Mary Magdalene: “I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” This indicates a difference in manifestation between the glory of the risen Christ and that of the Christ exalted to the Father’s right hand, a transition marked by the historical and transcendent event of the Ascension.”

For these reasons, today within the Universal Church that is the Catholic Faith, it is a Holy Day of Obligation. Praise be to Jesus Christ now and forever.

---

Today is also National Coq au Vin day. That is so fitting since eating foul (things that fly) is tradition on Ascension Thursday. Have a Blessed and Joyous Day

Coq au Vin Quarters
4 Chicken Quarters
2 cups Burgundy Wine
3 Garlic Cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon Peppercorns
3 fresh Bay Leaves
3 medium Carrots
1 medium White Onion
1 cup Pearl Onions
1 medium Leek
6 White Mushrooms
2 tablespoons Butter
Salt to taste
Fresh Black Pepper to taste
4 sprigs fresh Thyme
4 sprigs fresh Rosemary
Chicken Stock as needed
1/4 cup Flour
1/4 cup Chicken Stock

Cut chicken quarters into 8 serving pieces; (4 thighs/4 legs). Place chicken in a large glass casserole dish. Measure wine in a 4-cup measuring cup. Peel and crunsh garlic, add to the measuring cup. Add peppercorns and bay leaves. Pour wine mixture over the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Heat oven to 350-degrees. While the oven warms, peel and slice the carrots. Peel and roughly chop white onion. Peel pearl onions. Clean and slice leek. Clean mushrooms but leave whole. Set aside.

In an oven-proof pot over medium-high heat melt the butter. Remove chicken from the wine mixture, reserving the wine. Pat chicken pieces dry with paper towels; place in the melted butter to brown. Remove chicken pieces from the pot, set aside.

To the now empty pot add carrots, mushrooms, onions, pearl onions and leeks. Season with salt and fresh pepper. Cook until golden, stirring often. Return chicken and reserved marinated, stir to combine. Add chicken stock in needed to almost submerg the chicken in liquid. Lay thyme and rosemary sprigs on top; cover and place in the heated oven for 1 hour.

Remove from oven; discard the herb sprigs. In a cup whisk flour with chicken stock to create a slurry. Pour into the pot. Simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes for the broth to thicken slightly. Serve straight from the pot with warm bread.

---

And when He had said these things,
While they looked on, He was raised up:
and a cloud received Him out of their sight
Acts 1:9