As a girl growing up, my Catholic faith was a deep and defining part of my life. Although I attended public school, most of my classmates also attended the Saturday Catechism classes as I did. We made our First Communion together. Looking at our group photo outside Saint Paul’s Church and our class picture that same year, nearly all of the faces were the same.
Continue reading “A Modest Take on the Feast of Saint Bernadette”Category: Catholic Faith
Ash Wednesday and Acts of Kindness
Within the Christian world, today is Ash Wednesday and marks the start of the Lenten Season. While the calendar counts 46 days until Easter, the Lenten Season is actually 40 Days. Sundays are “exempt”, considered outside the penance of Lent. Why? As a Catholic, we celebrate the Mass. The act of celebration is separate from the act of penance.
Continue reading “Ash Wednesday and Acts of Kindness”Our Lady of Lourdes Feast in Three Courses
Our Lady of Lourdes is a feast day celebrated on February 11th each year to honor the first appearance of Our Lady to young girl in France on February 11, 1858. It’s interesting to note that Catholics are not obligated to accept the appearance at Lourdes as an article of faith. Such matters are considered by the Church to be a private matter.
Continue reading “Our Lady of Lourdes Feast in Three Courses”Presentation of the Lord, Alleluia
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
The Gospel According to Saint Luke
Continue reading “Presentation of the Lord, Alleluia”A Simple Feast for a Scholarly Saint
Today is the Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Years ago, we belonged to a parish that had the tradition of handing out small loaves of dark bread at the end of Mass in honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Tucked inside the wrappings were quotes from Saint Thomas Aquinas. I miss that tradition.
Continue reading “A Simple Feast for a Scholarly Saint”Lobster Thermidor for Two
Personally, if I were in charge National Lobster Thermidor Day would be February 14th. I mean, what is more romantic than lobster? Especially Lobster Thermidor.
Continue reading “Lobster Thermidor for Two”The Perfect Union of Two National Days
What an awesome day! On the National Food Front, today is a celebration of Southern Cooking and (yum) Blonde Brownies. It’s also Friday. We all know that in our house, Fridays are Old School from a Catholic perspective. It’s a meatless day.
Continue reading “The Perfect Union of Two National Days”Feast Day of Our Lady of Altagracia
Here we are, on the down side of January. Yesterday was a big day in America. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I am a conservative Republican. It was hard and a little scary to see the country go so blue. Maybe I drank the Republican cool aid but the thought of American becoming a Solicits Country scares me. Yet as a woman of faith, I must trust in God and in His wisdom.
Continue reading “Feast Day of Our Lady of Altagracia”When a Simple Grilled Cheese Will Not Do
Hands down, today is one of my favorite Food Days. It’s National Cheese Lover’s Day – hooray! While we have no firm evidence of how cheese making was first discovered, legend tells us that it was likely by chance. The first Cheesemaker did not set out to make cheese, but rather discovered it naturally.
Continue reading “When a Simple Grilled Cheese Will Not Do”Italian Baked Cod Fillets
Today is National English Toffee Day. The challenge of the day is to whip up a batch of buttery confection topped with almonds. Think Heath Bar, but without the chocolate. In the US English Toffee is made by caramelizing white sugar with butter. A true English Toffee is made with brown sugar, no nuts, and a layer of chocolate.
Continue reading “Italian Baked Cod Fillets”The Epiphany and a Simple Stew
Alleluia, alleluia
We saw his star at its rising
And have come to do Him homage
Alleluia, alleluia
– Matthew 2:2
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas
My true love gave to me Twelve Drummers Drumming. We have reached the Twelfth Nigh of the Christmas Season. Tomorrow is the Epiphany of Our Lord, also knows as The Feast of Three Kings. In some parts of the world, children will fill there shoes with straw or hay and put the shoes outside in the hopes that the Magi take the straw for their camels and leave gifts for the children tucked inside the shoes. There was a time when giving gifts were not a part of the Christmas celebration. When you think about it, it makes sense since the gifts to the Christ Child came with the visit of the Magi.
Continue reading “On the Twelfth Day of Christmas”On the Eleventh Day of Christmas
My true love gave to me Eleven Pipers Piping. Now we could think of these pipers as often depicted, playing flutes or other woodwind instruments. And while there is nothing wrong with thinking flute, the pipers are piping – calling attention to their message. Now I ask you, what draws attention better than bagpipes?
Continue reading “On the Eleventh Day of Christmas”On the Tenth Day of Christmas
My true love gave to me Ten Lords-a-Leaping. My love, my Lord, gave to me – to the entire human race – His Ten Commandments. Commandment sounds so stern – this is an order or else. The Commandments are not orders in a military sense, but they are guidelines, and straying does have its consequences. We have the most precious gift of all – free will. With that come choices and taking responsibility for our actions.
Continue reading “On the Tenth Day of Christmas”On the Ninth Day of Christmas
My true love gave to me Nine Ladies Dancing. The Nine Ladies represent the Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit – Charity (love for fellow human beings), Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faith (fidelity), Mildness (gentleness), and Contingency (self-control). As people of faith, we are taught that these attributes grow within a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit. These attributes are well worth cultivating. Let harmony define us.
Continue reading “On the Ninth Day of Christmas”
Welcome to Rosemarie's Kitchen 