Blessed Be Mary, Mother of the Church

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, often referred to as the birthday or anniversary of the establishment of the Catholic Church. We believe that God anointed the Apostles with His divine Spirit on Pentecost. The following day, today the faithful celebrate the Memorial Feast of Mother Mary.

Under the guidance of Vatican II Pope Paul VI declared Mary to be not only the Mother of God, but also the Mother of the Church. It makes sense. She is the mother of Jesus Christ, who established His Divine Church on earth. It was on the cross that Christ said “Woman, behold your son.” Then he said to the Disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19:27) It was at this moment that Christ declared Mary to be the Mother of all the faithful, the mother of His Holy Church.

I think we can all agree that God’s way is always the best way. When His time came to create a path for our salvation and to be reconciled to Him, He did not go directly to the people. He reached out to us through a girl named Mary. Through the Holy Spirit, she bore the Savior of the world. It makes sense that she continues to hold out her hand to us and leads the way to her Son. The bottom line is the Saints, the Church Fathers and Doctors and Theologians all serve the same purpose – to show us the way and the truth and the light that is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today we celebrate Mary as the mother of our faith, the mother of our church, the young girl who said yes. May we all have that same trusting dedication to follow God wherever He might lead. Halleluiah. For me there is comfort in knowing that His mother is my mother, too.

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Four-Cheese Chorizo Taquitos
1/2 cup Salsa
1 cup Sour Cream
1/4 Yellow Onion
1 Celery Rib
1/2 lb Chorizo
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
1/2 cup shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
1/2 cup shredded Queso Oaxaca
1 cup shredded Frank’s Red Hot Colby Jack Cheese
2 teaspoons Masa Flour
1/2 teaspoon Cumin
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1/2 teaspoon New Mexican Red Chili Powder
16 Corn Tortillas
Oil for Frying

Warm oven to about 250-degrees. Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Hold in the oven.

Drain salsa of excess liquid, reserving the liquid. Mix salsa with sour cream. Keep chilled until ready to use.

Cut a quarter wedge from the onion. Peel and finely dice. Trim celery, finely chop. Set aside.

In a skillet brown chorizo, breaking into smaller pieces as it cooks. Drain well, place meat in a large mixing bowl, set aside.

In the now empty skillet sauté onions and celery until tender and translucent. Add to the bowl with the chorizo. Add all the cheeses, combine to incorporate the meat and vegetables with the cheese medley. Add seasonings, moisten mixture if necessary with some the reserved juices from the salsa so that the mixture binds together when squeezed in the palm of the hand. Set aside.

Pour a little oil into a cast iron skillet to warm. Gently warm tortillas in the skillet to make them soft and easiery to roll. Pat with paper towels to absorbe the excess oil.

Working with one tortilla at a time place about 3 tablespoons of the filling mixture down the center of the tortilla. Press into a log. Fold tortilla over the filling, tucking the edge of the tortilla under the log, then roll as tightly as possible. Place Taquito, seam side down, on a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat until all the filling has been used and the tortillas rolled.

In the same skillet used to warm the tortillas heat about 1/2-inch or so of oil to 350 degrees. Working in batches if necessary, fry Taquitos seam-side down, basting with oil until crisp. Turn with double spatulas and continue to fry.

Drain on paper towels, keep warm on the prepared rack in the oven until ready to serve.

Place the salsa-sour cream mixture in small individual ramekins. Arrange Taquitos near the sour cream. Serve with margaritas to enjoy as appetizers or add refried beans as we did for a more satisfying supper.

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O happy Virgin, you gave birth to the Lord;
O blessed mother of the Church,
you warm our hearts with the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ.