Blessed Be Our Holy Mother

Today is the Monday following Pentecost Sunday. It is yet another example of the movable feasts within the Church that are directly connected to Easter. After all, Easter is an anchor of Christian Faith. Had Christ not died and risen from the dead, there would be no Catholic Church. Christianity would not exist.

Easter is rooted in ancient calendars, the spring equinox, the Paschal Full Moon and long-held oral traditions. It is a moveable feast, occurring on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon. The Paschal Full Moon is the first full moon that occurs on or just after the spring Equinox. This means Easter occurs on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25.

The Easter Season ends with Pentecost Sunday, when the Holy Spirit came down from Heaven to guide Christ’s chosen in establishing a new Church throughout the world. Jesus had given them the authority necessary as a part of the New Covenant with God, along with guidelins. He also sent the Holy Sprit as council. Pentecost Sunday is tied directly to Easter, occurring 50 days later. The Memorial Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church is observed on the following Monday. Hence today is the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church. All these things are tied together in a neat little package called faith.

Saint Paul VI, at the conclusion of the Third Session of the Second Vatican Council in 1964, declared the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Mother of the Church”. Simply put all Catholics, lay or members of religious orders, were to recognize Mary not only as the Mother of God (which in itself is a very big deal) but also the most loving Mother of the Catholic Faith. She was to be honored by all with the most tenderest of titles – Holy Mother.

Catholics are not known for swift action. It wasn’t until 2018 that the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as a result of the 1964 decree, inscribed a new obligatory Memorial into the General Roman Calendar. The date chosen was the Monday after Pentecost. All Catholics recognize Pentecost Sunday as the birth of the Catholic Church. Since Mary was also present in the upper room, and the Holy Spirit descended upon her as well, today’s memorial makes perfect sense.

As a Memorial, it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, although Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass, and to pray the Rosary in honor of our Blessed Mother.

The color Blue is often associated with Mary. It is why, whenever possible, I crate something delicious utilizing Blueberries to honor her. May this day bring you great joy.

---

Lemon Glazed Blueberry Loaf
Blueberry Loaf
8 tablespoons Butter
1 cup Sugar
2 Eggs
2 teaspoons Vanilla
1 cup Sour Cream
1 Lemon
2 cups Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1-1/2 cups Blueberries

Heat oven to 350-degrees. Grease the bottom only of a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Sit butter on the counter to soften.

Zest lemon into a small bowl. Cut lemon in half, juice over the zest, set aside. In another bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and baking powder.

In medium bowl, cream butter and sugar together with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in eggs, vanilla, sour cream, and lemon zest with juice. Stir in flour mixture.

Fold in 1 cup of the blueberries. Spoon batter into the prepared pan. Scatter remaining half cup of berries over the top of the loaf.

Bake 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove loaf from pan to cooling rack. Cool to room temperature.

Lemon Glaze
1 cup Powdered Sugar
2 tablespoons Heavy Cream
1-1/2 teaspoons Lemon Extract or to taste
Lemon Food Coloring, optional

Sift powdered sugar into a bowl. Slowly whisk in the cream followed by the lemon extract until a smooth glaze is formed. If too runny, sift in additional powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. For a more lemon-like glaze, add a kiss of food coloring.

Drizzle glaze over the loaf. Let glaze fully set before slicing.

---

Pray for us, O Holy Mother Mary
Today and at the hour of our death