Sunday’s Feast of Francis of Assisi

Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring Your love.
Where there is injury, Your pardon, Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in You.

Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone was born sometime around 1181 to a wealthy family in Assisi, Italy. Today he is best known as Saint Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order. Saint Francis was not always a godly man. He lived a high-spirited life. He loved bright clothing, surrounded by like-minded friends seeking only their own gratification. His is a story that is repeated time and time again – a self-serving sinner who experiences an encountered Christ. Often these encounters are in dreams or visions, and result in a radically change. It is as though the person dies completely, leaving their former self behind. These changes often bring ridicule; leading to the life of an outcast. It is in this isolation that God does His best work.

Of all the writings atributed to Saint Francis, the most recognized is his Simple Prayer for Peace. While there is no hard evidence that Saint Francis was in fact the author of this prayer, most scholars agree.

The prayer in its present form first appeared in 1912 in a Catholic publication called The Little Bell. It was again heavily publicized during World War II on prayer cards given out to soldiers. Later the words were modified to a more contemporary way of speaking, giving us the beautiful hymn sung today.

Every year our Parish holds a fall festival. This year the theme of the festival was that we answer the call and become instruments of His peace in the world. Amen.

Slow-Cooker Smoky Country Ribs
3 lbs County-style boneless Pork Ribs
2 cups Ketchup
1/2 cup Cider Vinegar
1/3 cup packed Brown Sugar
3 tablespoons Spicy Brown Mustard
3 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 tablespoon Mesquite Seasoning
1/2 tablespoon Chili Powder
Hot Sauce to taste
1 bottle favorite Barbecue Sauce for finish

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Trim ribs of excess fat and place in slow cooker.

In a bowl, whisk together vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, mesquite seasoning, chili powder and hot pepper sauce. Pour mixture over the ribs. Begin cooking process on LOW setting for 5 hours.

Increase heat to HIGH setting during the last 2 or 3 hours, until ribs are falling apart.

Once ribs are tender, lay out on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Slather ribs with barbecue sauce, place under the broiler to caramelize the sauce.

Serve with remaining barbecue sauce on the side.

2 lbs small Yukon Gold Potatoes
4 slices Bacon
1/2 Yellow Onion
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste

Scrub potatoes, cut in half or quarters depending upon size. Place in a steamer basket of a pressure cooker. Add 1 cup water to the pressure cooker. Pressure cook potatoes CUSTOM – HIGH – 3 MINUTES. Let release naturally for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.

While the potatoes are cooking, dice the bacon into 1-inch pieces. Cut onion in half from root to tip. Reserve half for another purpose, slice remaining half into thin half-moon rings. Set aside.

Heat a cast iron pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and onion; cook until desired crispness is reached, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon-onion mixture from the skillet with a slotted spoon, leaving behind as much of the flavored bacon drippings as possible.

Add the par-cooked potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook for roughly 15 minutes (or until nicely golden), stirring occasionally. You want a nice golden brown crust to develop over the potatoes.

Once the potatoes have a beautiful golden-brown color, add the bacon and onion mixture back into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for a couple of minutes until beautiful and browned. These potatoes can be transferred to a bowl for a more refined serving, or straight from the skillet for that rustic feel.

For that complete down home country rib supper, serve with some buttery corn and enjoy.

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Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console.
To be understood as to understand.
To be loved as to love with all my soul.