Each Sunday at the end of the Mass, two things are said that truly move me, inspire me and cause me to pause for a moment in thought.
The first are the closing remarks. While they vary slightly in wording from Sunday to Sunday, the meaning is always the same: Though the Mass has ended, go in peace, glorifying God by your lives.
Glorifying God by your life. Everything we do, from the moment our eyes open each morning, until they close at the end of the day should be for a single purpose – to glorify Him. So often we forget. Thanks be to God for waking me on this beautiful day. Thanks be to God for the coffee I sip, the roof over my head, the people in my life. Thank you for the shoes on my feet. The kindness of strangers. Every breath I take. I wish I could say that each morning I spring from my bed singing praises to God. While I truly feel grateful, I don’t always verbalize that gratitude. Yet each Sunday He reminds me yet again to glorify Him by my very life. In that way, we each matter more than we realize. For by glorifying Him we are His instruments of peace, love and mercy in the world around us.
The second thing is the prayer we recite together after Mass has ended. It is the prayer to Saint Michael, God’s archangel, our defender, who does battle every day in a war that has raged in the spiritual realm since before Adam and Eve were banished from Eden. The closing words should give us all reason to pause. What a powerful reminder of the reality of life.
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Today is the Feast Day of the Archangels. Once upon a time this day was dedicated to Saint Michael alone, but today we acknowledge all the Archangels known and unknown in a single day. Give thanks to God for our protectors against with wickedness in the world. Evil does exist. But so does goodness, and kindness. I for one believe there is far more goodness in the world than evil. Unfortunately, evil seems to have a better press secretary. That’s something we need to work on.
Lemon Glazed Blueberry Biscuits
The Biscuits
8 tablespoons Butter
1 Lemon
2 cups Flour
3 tablespoons Sugar
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/ teaspoon Baking Soda
3/ teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 cup cold Buttermilk
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 cup Blueberries
Coarse Sugar for finish
Heat oven to 475. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat. Set aside.
Melt butter, let cool slightly. Zest lemon, set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest.
In a separate bowl, stir together the buttermilk and melted butter. (Lumpy is perfect) Stir in the vanilla.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until everything comes together. Gently fold in the blueberries, being careful not to over-mix.
Scoop out about 3 tablespoons of dough for each biscuit and drop them onto the prepared baking sheet. Leave some space between them. Sprinkle the tops with sugar for a little crunch.
Bake for 10–14 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the edges are crisp. While the biscuits are baking, make the glaze
The Lemon Glaze
1 Lemon
1 cup Powdered Sugar
Zest lemon into a small bowl. Sift powdered sugar over the zest. Cul lemon in half, juice half the lemon into the mixture. Whisk to blend. (If too thick, juice remaining half, add a little at a time for drizzle consistancy).
Place biscuits on a wire rack to cool. When just warm, drizzle with glaze and enjoy.
Sancte Michael Archangele,
defende nos in proelio;
contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium.
