29 September - Michaelmas

“On Mount Gargano, the commemoration of the blessed archangel Michael.  This festival is kept in memory of the day, when under his invocation, was consecrated a church, unpretending in its exterior, but endowed with virtue celestial.”

Weather: If Saint Michael brings many acorns, Christmas will cover the fields with snow.  [not a whole lot of acorns this year… dare I hope?]

If Michaelmas day be fair, the sun will shine much in the winter, though the wind at the northeast will frequently reign long and be very sharp.

If Michael's day is quiet and beautiful, it will last for the next four weeks.

If the wind is out of the north on Michael's day, then October will be dry.

On Michaelmas day, the heat leaves us.

A dark Michaelmas, a light Christmas.

St. Michael's rain does not stay long in the sky.

As many days old as the moon is on Michaelmas, so many floods shall we have after. [the moon will be twenty-four days old this year.  That’s quite a number of floods.]

If it rains on Michaelmas, it will rain up to Christmas.

If there is a gentle rain on St. Michael's day, we can expect a mild winter; but if there is thunder, winter will have heavy winds.

If it does not rain on St. Michael and St. Gallus (October 16), a dry spring is indicated for the next year.

The winds between 6 a.m and 6 p.m. today foretell the character of the winds in the following year. For example, if the wind during the hour of 8 a.m. is heavy and cold, then March will have heavy weather and cold winds.

The winds between 6 am and 7 am indicate the character of January.

Between 7 am and 8 am, that of February,

Between 8 am and 9 am, that of March,

Between 9 am and 10 am, that of April,

Between 10 am and 11 am, that of May,

Between 11 am and 12 noon, that of June,

Between 12 noon and 1 pm, that of July,

Between 1 pm and 2 pm, that of August,

Between 2 pm and 3 pm, that of September,

Between 3 pm and 4 pm, that of October,

Between 4 pm and 5 pm, that of November,

Between 5 pm and 6 pm, that of December.

[and thank goodness there are only 12 months.]

"If thou wilt see how it will go that year, then take heed of the Oak-Apples about S. Michael's day, for by them you shall know how by them it shall be:

If the Apples of the Oak-trees, when they be cut be within full of spiders, then followeth a naughty year [oooo, that sounds like fun]; 

if the Apples have within them Flies, that betokens a meetly good year; 

if they have Maggots in them, then followeth a good year [and a sudden loss of altitude for the apple];

if there be nothing in them, then followeth a great Dearth; 

if the Apples be many, and early ripe, so shall it be an early Winter, and very much snow shall be afore Christmas, and after that it shall be cold; 

if the inner part or kernel be fair and clear, then shall the Summer be fair, and Corn good also; 

but if they be moist, then shall the Summer also be moist; 

if they be lean, then shall there be a hot and dry Summer."

The Husbandman's Practice, or Prognostication for ever

Traditions: Eat a goose on Michaelmas Day to have money in the coming year.  [One roast goose, coming right up!]  And check the wishbone - a dark one means a severe winter coming; if it is light, winter will be mild.

Indeed, today has long been a general festival and feasting day, with the newly harvested crops taking pride of place in the menu. No manual labor was to be done today (other than, of course, getting the feast ready).  Back in the merry days of King Ethelred, the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday preceding the feast of Saint Michael were ordered to be spent in fasting and penance, including fixing meals as though one was going to eat them, and then giving the whole meal to the poor: “Let every priest with his people go in procession three days barefoot, and let every one’s commons for three days be prepared without anything of flesh, as if themselves were to eat it, both in meat and drink, and let all this be distributed to the poor.  Let every servant be excused from labor these three days [that must have made the servants happy!], that he many the better perform his task, or let him work what he will for himself…” Those who broke the fast were fined according to rank:

A thane or nobleman was fined one hundred and thirty shillings.

A poor freeman was fined thirty pence,

And if “a servant break his fast, let him make satisfaction with his hide”

The money so taken was then to be divided among the poor.  No mention of what was done with the poor servant’s hide.

All blackberries should have been gathered by now, for today the Devil passes his hoof over them (or breathes or spits or pees on them) and scorches them. The legend is that when St. Michael tossed the Devil out of Heaven, the Devil fell to earth and landed in a blackberry bush.  Not comfortable on the best of days, and this was already a bad day for Old Scratch.  In his wrath, he cursed the berries by one of the methods above, so that any still left would be poisonous.  Blackberries only, though.  The other edible berries should be just fine, if the birds haven't beaten you to them.

To bring good luck to your homestead, give to the cows a handful of each different sort of grain that you’ve grown this year in their supper tonight, and scatter some on the ground for the birds.

Love charms: Gather crab-apples, carry them to the loft (an attic will do if you haven't a loft) and form them into the initials of possible suitors.  On Old Michaelmas Day (October 10), see which initials are the most perfect.  These are considered to be the strongest attachments and the best for choice of husbands [and the eleven days gives some enterprising young man or woman the chance to nudge the fates in the desired direction]

And once you've got your man:

St. Michael's chair is on St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall.  Tradition asserts that any woman who sat in this chair would ever after rule her husband [ladies, try suggesting St. Michael's Mount for this year's vacation.  Your husband may counter with Nice or Majorca instead.]

Another superstition regarding St. Michael’s Mount is that there is a magic circle traced on its summit, within which demons which have been exorcised from human bodies lie imprisoned in chains.   The unfortunate person who sets foot within this circle will be compelled to run all night until cockcrow without being able to stop.

Gardening: Michaelmas Daisies are one of the joys of my backyard.  They are wild and grow everywhere - lovely violet-colored flowers bravely standing up to the winds of autumn.

The Michaelmas Daisy, among dead weeds,

Blooms for St. Michael's valorous deeds,

And seems the last of flowers that stood

Until the feast of Simon and Jude...

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WHO IS LIKE GOD?

 

Today is the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel (and in the new calendar, of Saints Gabriel and Raphael, as well).

From Catholic Culture: "... in our Catholic tradition, St. Michael has four duties: (1) To continue to wage battle against Satan and the other fallen angels; (2) To save the souls of the faithful from the power of Satan especially at the hour of death; (3) To protect the People of God, both the Jews of the Old Covenant and the Christians of the New Covenant; and (4) finally to lead the souls of the departed from this life and present them to our Lord for the particular judgment, and at the end of time, for the final judgment."

That's quite a lot of duties.

Saint Michael is the patron and protector of soldiers and law enforcement officers. In his honor, thank your community's finest, if not in person, then with a note to the nearest precinct or a letter to the editor of the local paper.  Another good way to celebrate the day is by a care package and a note of thanks to the troops.  Local associations which provide these will welcome your donations.

Read more about Saint Michael and the traditions for his day (including recipes for Roast Goose, and St. Michael's Bannock) at Fisheaters and at Catholic Culture. [Use the nuts that you cracked on Crack-Nut Sunday in the stuffing]

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle! Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who roam about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

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Artwork:

“St. Michael battling demons”, from The Hours of Catherine of Cleves, 15^th c. Morgan Library, New York.

“St. Michael and other Archangels”, engraving from The Every-day Book and Table Book by William Hone, p. 1327.

“St Michael”, engraving from The Manual of Prayers, 1896.

29 August - St. John the Baptist; Johnnycake

The Obligatory Memorial of the Beheading of John the Baptist.

“The beheading of St. John the Baptist, who was put to death by Herod about the feast of Easter.  However, the solemn commemoration takes place today, when his venerable head was found for the second time.  It was afterwards solemnly carried to Rome, where it is kept in the church of St. Silvester, near Camp Marzio, and honored by the people with the greatest devotion.”

He was invoked against epilepsy and convulsions – known as Morbus sancti Johannis or le Mal de St. Jean – probably because of miraculous healings of those two maladies on the feast of his nativity in Sainte-Christophe church, Creteil (France). 

The story of his beheading (well, my take on it) here, and what happened to the (other) principal players here.

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For today’s tea, I am having JOHNNYCAKE [yes, I know the name may be a local pronunciation of “journey cake”.  I don’t care.]

This one uses molasses, making it darker and sweeter than other forms of Johnnycake.

Heat the oven to 400° F.  Grease an 8-inch square pan.

Sift flour to make 1 cup.  Then sift together the (sifted) flour, 4 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt.  To this mixture stir in 1 cup of yellow cornmeal.  Set aside.

In another bowl, lightly beat one egg.  Stir in ¼ cup of molasses and 1 cup of milk.  Blend thoroughly and stir it into the flour mixture.

Melt ¼ cup of shortening, and blend it into the batter.

Pour batter into greased pan and bake for about 25 minutes.

Those for whom this cake is not sweet enough might try a dusting of powdered sugar on top.  If you have or can make a cake stencil, it will make your johnnycake very festive indeed.

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Ant: Among those born of woman none arose greater than John the Baptist.

V: He was a man sent by God.

R: Whose name was John. 
Prayer:
Show Thyself, we pray, O omnipotent God, so that Thy household may go by the way of salvation, and by following the encouragements of the blessed John, forerunner of Christ, may reach Him whom he with certainty foretold, our Lord Jesus Christ.

                        Early 16^th century prayer found in the Hypertext Book of Hours

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Artwork: “Saint John the Baptist” from the Hours of Catherine of Cleves, 15^th c.  Morgan Library, New York.  Look very carefully and you can see that, under his mauve cloak, John is wearing a camel skin – the camel’s head and hooves are still attached.

“Beheading of Saint John the Baptist”, woodcut from The Golden Legend, 1489.

17 August - Saint Hyacinth of Poland

At Cracow, in Poland, St. Hyacinth, confessor, of the Order of Preachers, who slept in the Lord on the 16^th of this month.

Hyacinth or Jacek was born around 1185 in Silesia into the Polish noble family of Odrowatz.  His uncle Yvo was the bishop of Cracow, and early on, Hyacinth was made a Canon of the cathedral, so that he could help with the administration of the diocese. 

On a visit with his uncle to Rome, Hyacinth met Saint Dominic, and so embraced the zeal of the Hound of God, that he asked to be taken into Dominic’s new Order of Preachers.  After a few months of training, he went back to Cracow, where his own zeal in preaching brought many who had become lax in their faith to renew their commitments to Christ.  Here he established a Dominican priory in which the friars were trained and then dispersed to preach the Gospel to the pagan tribes in the east and north.  Hyacinth himself traveled over much of eastern Europe establishing churches and priories, and is said to have gone as far east as China.

“He had,” said Father Francis Xavier Weninger, “particular devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin, and never undertook anything before offering his work to God and begging the assistance of His Blessed Mother.”

His most recounted miracle is the subject of the image above.  While serving Mass in Kiev, he learned that the Tartars (or Mongols) were besieging the city.  Upon the Ite, Missa est, he grabbed the ciborium with the Blessed Sacrament and, still clad in his vestments, headed out of the church followed by his fellow friars.  As he was leaving, a large and heavy statue of the Blessed Mother, before which he was accustomed to say his prayers, said to him, “My son, why do you leave me behind to be trampled by my enemies?  Take me with you.”  When Hyacinth replied that she was too heavy to be carried [hardly a nice thing to say to a woman], she said, “My Son will lighten the burden.”  He lifted the statue and found that he could carry it in one hand.  So with the Blessed Sacrament in one hand and the statue of the Blessed Mother in the other, he led his followers out of the church and into the city.

Finding no enemy soldiers at one of the city gates, Hyacinth and his band made their way to the Dnieper River, over which the saint walked dry-shod.  By following in his footsteps, the others were able to cross as well.  They made it back to Cracow in safety, and the miraculous statue, now returned to its more substantial weight, was enshrined in a church in Lemberg.

Father Weninger concludes, “St. Hyacinth, carrying the Savior of the world in one hand, and in the other, the statue of the Blessed Virgin, walked past his enemies through the city.  Happy are they who carry Jesus and Mary, not only on their lips, but also in their hands! They will ever walk safely amid dangers, unharmed by the enemies of their salvation.”

Some seventeen years after this episode, Hyacinth was given heavenly notice that his time on earth was at an end, and after celebrating the Mass of the Feast of the Assumption, he died of a wasting fever in 1257.  His body rests in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Cracow, in the chapel bearing his name.  He was canonized in 1594, and for centuries his feast day was the 16^th of August.  At some point in the mid-20^th century, his day was moved to the 17^th, perhaps because Saint Joachim, grandfather of Our Lord, was given his own feast on the 16^th  (until 1969).

O God, who didst make Blessed Hyacinth Thy Confessor glorious amongst the people of divers nations for the holiness of his life and the glory of his miracles, grant that by his example we may amend our lives, and be defended by his help in all adversities.  Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

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Mary’s Garden

William Hone, in his “Every-day Book” dedicates the beautiful Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis Belladonna, not to be confused with Deadly Nightshade) to St. Hyacinth, but this plant seem to like the warmer climates.  In the Smallest State, hyacinths (Hyacinthus Orientalis) bloom early and often, and the little Grape Hyacinths (genus Muscari) not only are one of the first to flower (sometimes while the snow still covers the ground) but do particularly well without any extraordinary attention.  Trust me.

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Somewhere along the line, Hyacinth became the patron saint of pierogi. Not sure why, as none of the early books refer to this patronage, but perhaps it is a cultural thing.  The usual explanation says that “Swiety Jacek z pierogami” (“St Hyacinth and his pierogi!”) as an expression of surprise or astonishment, (like “Heavens to Betsy!” or the Widow’s favorite “Oh my stars and garters!”) has something to do with it.  Or perhaps Saint Hyacinth found pierogi on one of his many missionary journeys and introduced them to Polish cuisine when he came home. Be that as it may, Pierogi are delicious, and entirely fitting for today’s dinner.  You can find several recipes online, or (like the Widow) take the path of least resistance and gather unto yourself pierogi which are already made and ready to be cooked.  Even better is if you are near a Polish community which is celebrating Saint Hyacinth and makes freshly cooked pierogi a main part of their celebration.  What is nice about them (apart from general deliciousness) is that they can form the appetizer, main, and dessert courses by a variation in ingredients.

And of course, one must have a glass of the Dowager Lady Ursula’s gome made hooseberry hind!

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Artwork: “Saint Hyacinth”, from Pictorial Lives of the Saints, John Gilmary Shea.

Hyacinth [aka The Bucket Woman!] of Keeping Up Appearances.

19 April - St. Expeditus; Hasty Pudding

“At Melitine, in Armenia, the holy martyrs Hermogenes, Caius, Expeditus, Aristonicus, Rufus, and Galatas, crowned on the same day.”

And that’s all we get.  Nothing about how they were martyred, or by whom, or anything.  But around Expeditus grew a story of a young soldier who had converted to Christianity.  On the day he was to be received into the Church, the Devil in the form of a crow suggested that he wait a bit… think it over… do nothing in haste… after all, there’s always tomorrow… if you’re still of the same mind tomorrow…

Instead, Expeditus stamped on the crow, crying “Hodie!” (“Today!”)  For this, he is considered the patron saint of those who need fast answers or those who provide fast services (like delivery people).  He is also invoked against procrastination, something to which the Widow is much addicted.

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“Dear Saint Expeditus,

Protect me from Delivery People,

Those who pull out in front of me with their big delivery trucks, which are never going as fast as I was before they pulled out in front of me,

Those who suddenly stop and double park, leaving no room to go around them, and backing up traffic for blocks, while they seek out someone to sign for the package,

Those who can’t see my house number because it is rather far back from the road, and who refuse to read the number on my mailbox, which is right next to the road, so they say they can’t deliver my package, which means I have to drive to their warehouse 40 miles away,

Those who open boxes and steal the contents, then inform me via email that the package was damaged and the contents lost due to my negligence – I neglected to chain and padlock the box – so they aren’t paying for it,

Those who don’t read that packages delivered to the office must – MUST – be signed for, so they leave a box clearly marked “NEW COMPUTER EQUIPMENT” in front of the door on the sidewalk, which disappears before I even get to work, but that’s not their fault, they delivered it, and they aren’t paying for it…

Oh, and thanks for the Good Ones.  Protect them and intercede for them.  Amen.”

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In the spirit of the day, try HASTY PUDDING.

“The sweets of Hasty Pudding. Come, dear bowl,

Glide o'er my palate, and inspire my soul.”

                                                          Joel Barlow, “The Hasty Pudding” (1793)

In the U.S., this is made with cornmeal, and is something like polenta.  Other countries use wheat.  

Get out your double-boiler.  Fill the bottom pan with the usual amount of water and heat to boiling.    Meanwhile, put 4 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt in the top pan; bring this to a boil over direct heat (not over the bottom pan).  When boiling, sprinkle in 1 cup of cornmeal, stirring constantly until it is incorporated. 

Now put the top pan over the bottom pan and let the mixture cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes.  Serve warm in bowls topped with maple syrup, or butter and cinnamon-sugar, or honey, or milk and sugar, or bits of fried bacon or salt pork…

“What is better for supper than milk and mush?” asks Mrs. A. M. Collins in her Great Western Cookbook” (1857).  Her recipe was called “Corn Meal Mush”:

“Fill an iron pot as full of water as you think will make mush enough for the occasion, salt it to your taste, sift the meal, and begin to stir it in as soon as the water boils, but not before.  Let the meal fall slowly and lightly through your fingers; after putting in two or three handfuls, let it boil a minute or two, still stirring; after it boils well, stir in more until it is thick enough.”

Joel Barlow took exception to that name for this glorious food to which he dedicated his epic poem:

“Ev'n in thy native regions, how I blush

To hear the Pennsylvanians call thee mush!”

You can read his paeon of praise to his ‘morning incense’ and his ‘evening meal’ here.

“Thy name is Hasty Pudding! thus our sires

Were wont to greet thee fuming from their fires;

And while they argued in thy just defence

With logic clear, they thus explained the sense:

'In haste the boiling cauldron, o'er the blaze,

Receives and cooks the ready-powdered maize;

In haste 'tis served, and then in equal haste,

With cooling milk, we make the sweet repast.”

13 December - St. Lucy; Pasta Fritta alla Siracusana

Lucy light, Lucy light,

Shortest day and longest night. 

Weather:  If St. Lucy’s day be bright, Christmas day will be dark with snow; but if the snow falls on St. Lucy, Christmas will be clear and sunny.

Well, here at Rudd’s Little Acre+ the skies are clear, the sun shines bright, nary a dismal cloud in sight – so perhaps we shall have a white (but dark) Christmas, for those who look forward to that kind of thing…

And if these clear skies hold for the next twelve hours, I shall have fine (but very chilly) viewing of the Geminids tonight.  Reports already in of some spectacular sights last night – I hope the same for tonight.

The weather on each of the twelve days from St. Lucy to Christmas Eve presages the weather for the twelve months of the coming year.

Go ahead.  Keep track if you can, and then compare the prognostications with the actual weather next year.

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Lucy takes her mother to pray at the tomb of Saint Agatha

Relying on Your goodness, O Lord,

we humbly ask You, through the intercession of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr,

to give perfect vision to our eyes, that they may serve for Your greater honor and glory.

Saint Lucy, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.  Amen.

I wrote about the traditions of Saint Lucy’s day here, with a recipe for (non-traditional) Eyeball Cookies.  This year, I shall try a dish from Lucy’s home of Syracuse (Siracusa) in Sicily called “PASTA FRITTA ALLA SIRACUSANA” aka Syracusan Fried Pasta.  The recipe is here and looks pretty simple.

Cook 1 pound of vermicelli to al dente; drain and reserve.

In a heavy frying pan, sauté 1 clove of garlic (whole) in 1/3 cup of olive oil, until it just starts to turn brown (medium heat works for me).

Remove garlic from pan.  Remove pan from heat.

Add 3 to 4 anchovies to the oil and mince in the pan.

Now add your drained pasta to the pan, dust with about 1/3 cup of breadcrumbs, mix together well, and fry over very low heat.

Serve.

Ahhhh…. Garlic and anchovies.  Not conducive to a meaningful social life, but who cares? 

Artwork: “Lucy takes her mother to pray at the tomb of Saint Agatha” from John Gilmary Shea, Pictorial Lives of the Saints (1889) p. 492.

15 August - Assumption

Weather: On Saint Mary's Day, sunshine brings much good wine. 

[Which is especially enjoyed in my backyard on a lazy August afternoon.]

If the sun shines on Mary's day, that is a good token, and especially for wind.

Rain on St. Lawrence is late but good            (August 10)

Rain on Assumption is also late but good     (August 15)

But if St. Bartholomew rains, slap him!         (August 29)

[once the harvest begins, we need dry weather.  A late rain can mildew the plants in both field and barn]

Farming and Gardening:

When Mary left us here before,

The Virgin's Bower begins to blow;

The Holy Queen of Heaven gives us the first nuts.

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Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven – another joyous festival of the Church.

Hail, O Queen of Heaven!

Hail, O Lady of Angels!

Root and Gate from whom the world’s Light was born;

Rejoice, O Glorious Virgin,

Fairest of all who are fair.

Farewell, most beautiful maiden,

And pray for us to Christ.

V. Allow that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin.

R. Against thy enemies give me strength.

Let us pray: Grant us, O merciful God, strength against all our weakness; that we who celebrate the memory of the holy Mother of God, may by the help of her intercession rise again from our iniquities.  Through the same Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

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This is also known as Festum Herbarum or the Feast of Herbs.  Traditionally, herbs, grains, and other useful plants are blessed today.

Naogeorgus, in what the author of the Perennial Calendar calls his “churlish and ill-timed raillery” had much to say about the feast of the Assumption:

“The blessed virgin Mary’s feast has here its place and time,

Wherein departing from the earth, she did the heavens climb;

Great bundles then of herbs to Church, the people fast do bear,

The which against all hurtful things, the Priest does hallow there.

Thus kindle they and nourish still, the people’s wickedness,

And vainly make them to believe, whatsoever they express;

For sundry witchcrafts, by these herbs are wrought, and diverse charms

And cast into the fire, are thought to drive away all harms,

And every painful grief from man or beast, for to expel,

Far otherwise than nature, or the word of God does tell.”

The ‘witchcrafts’ to which he refers are the subsequent uses of the plants in the daily lives of the faithful.  John S. Stokes, Jr., in his article, “The Blessing of Mary Gardens as Holy Places” says, “Among the most important of Plant blessings were those at the time of harvest, beginning with those on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven, on August 15th.  On this feast the first fruits of healing and life-sustaining herbs, grains and other plants were brought to Mass by the faithful tied in Assumption Bundles, and placed on the altar in special processions. Then, after blessinq during the Mass ceremony, they were taken home for reservation as blest holy objects for use - much as palm fronds blessed and distributed on Palm Sunday are used today.”

Some of the uses in Naogeorgus’s time (16^th century) would, no doubt, resemble superstition, such as placing blest St. John’s Wort around an infant’s cradle to protect it from being stolen by fairies or burning petals of blest flowers during a thunderstorm.

[Don’t feel smug.  There are still people today who believe that the positions of the planets and the stars – as seen from earth – have the ability to regulate daily human activity, and won’t make a move without checking ‘their’ horoscope.]

But the reason for blessing them goes deeper than mere superstition. “Through the blessings bestowed upon them, their misuse is atoned for, their healing power enhanced, and their growth commended to God's protection."  According to Stokes, these should be, “placed in prominent positions in home or workplace - as a focus for prayers for protection from evil spirits and as reminders to prayers for physical and spiritual healing and well-being.”

Not even Naogeorgus could object to reminders for prayers.

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A study made in the southeastern tip of Poland lists the plants which go into Assumption Bouquets and the beliefs surrounding their uses.  The author photographed several such bundles, which might give you an idea for your own bouquet.

Lithuanian tradition says that if you don’t hold herbs in church today, the devil will give you his tail to hold instead.  For more Lithuanian customs, see "Herbal Holyday – August 15."

In “Travels through Sicily, Malta, and Lipari’, a certain Mr. Howel facetiously described how the festival was celebrated in 18^th century Messina:

“An immense machine of about 50 feet high is constructed, designing to represent Heaven; and in the midst is placed a young female personating the Virgin, with an image of Jesus on her right hand; round the Virgin 12 little children turn vertically, representing so many Seraphim, and below them 12 more children turn horizontally, as Cherubims; lower down in the machine a sun turns vertically, with a child at the extremity of each of the four principal radii of his circle, who ascend and descend with his rotation, yet always in an erect posture; and still lower, reaching within about 7 feet of the ground, are placed 12 boys, who turn horizontally without intermission around the principal figure, designing thereby to exhibit the 12 Apostles, who were collected from all corners of the earth, to be present at the decease of the Virgin, and witness her miraculous assumption. This huge machine is drawn about the principal streets by sturdy monks; and it is regarded as a particular favour to any family to admit their children in this divine exhibition, although the poor infants themselves do not seem long to enjoy the honours they receive as Seraphim, Cherubim, and Apostles; the constant twirling they receive in the air making some of them fall asleep, many of them vomit, and several do still worse!"

[Southern Italians are so exuberant in their celebrating]

Go thou and do likewise.

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Artwork:

Bartolome Esteban Murillo, 1670.  The Assumption of the Virgin.  Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Woodcut of the Assumption from The Golden Legend, 1489.

29 July - Saint Martha

Gardening - Sow your cabbage seeds on the first Wednesday after the 29th of July.

Cabbages are a cold-weather crop, therefore by sowing the seed now (or at least 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost), you ensure that the plants will spend much of the warm weather in growing, and will mature in the cold weather of fall.  The first frost in the Smallest State is usually in the first week in October, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, so anytime in the next three weeks is optimum planting time here.  Judge your own planting time accordingly.

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“At Tarascon, in France, St. Martha, virgin, the hostess of our Savior, and sister of blessed Mary Magdalen and St. Lazarus.”

I wrote about St. Martha and La Tarasque last year.  And I have the same reservations about Our Lord’s gentle admonishment.  Every time I hear that story, I am reminded of the centuries-old disdain of those who engage in intellectual pursuits for those who work with their hands.  Sneering references to ‘fly-over country’ and ‘corn-fed’, because the ‘intelligentsia’ can only be found on either coast (and only certain parts of either coast.  Try to get an Ivy-Leaguer to admit that there is intelligent life south of the Mason-Dixon line).  Ivory-tower types claiming that only they know what is best for everyone, and that once we get rid of all our silly morals and embrace the New Order, we will be very happy little (corn-fed) people.  Feministas who are plainly horrified that a person could actually contemplate finding fulfillment for her creativeness in caring for a home and family, rather than enduring the best hours of the day in a sterile office with mind-numbing repetitive chores.

Yes, I know that Our Lord made no reference to any of that.  I still hear it. Mea culpa.

John Shea wrote this reflection on Saint Martha in his Pictorial Lives of the Saints (1889): “When Martha received Jesus into her house, she was naturally busy in preparations for such a Guest.  Mary sat at His feet, intent alone on listening to His gracious words.  Her sister thought that the time required other service than this, and asked our Lord to bid Mary help in serving.  Once again, Jesus spoke in defense of Mary.  ‘Martha, Martha,’ He said, ‘thou art lovingly anxious about many things; be not over-eager; do thy chosen work with recollectedness.  Judge not Mary.  Hers is the good part, the one only thing really necessary.  Thine will be taken away, that something better be given thee.’  The life of action ceases when the body is laid down; but the life of contemplation endures and is perfected in heaven.”

Yes, of course.  But in the meantime, even contemplatives need to eat.

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I have been asked what recipes are suitable for the feast of St. Martha.  Catholic Culture has several recipes, most of them based in Provence where she evangelized.  They also have a very wonderful idea of honoring the family cook by taking over the culinary chores, or even closing the kitchen for the day and treating the cook to a dinner out.

On the other hand, try thinking like Martha.  If Jesus were coming to dinner tonight (or lunch or brunch) what would you serve?  (Forgetting, of course, that he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – otherwise, we would probably have the whole thing catered and very likely held somewhere else.)  If this were winter, I’d probably serve Shrimp Chowder or Beef Stroganoff.  Right now, with the temperatures so high, it would be, “How do you like your hamburgers barbequed, Lord?  Medium?  Well-done?” (unless he showed up on Wednesday or Friday, in which case, “Do you like malt vinegar with your fish-and-chips, Lord?”)

And because I don’t fault Mary for taking every opportunity to learn from the Greatest of all Teachers, Jesus would have the nice, comfy Windsor chair in the kitchen – He can talk and I will cook.

So, what would you serve Him?

(ahem!  And no asking Him to turn the water into wine.  Bad, bad, bad!)

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O blessed Saint Martha, your faith led Jesus to proclaim, "I am the resurrection and the life", and faith let you see beyond His humanity when you cred out, "Lord, I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God."  With firm hope, you said, "I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him," and Jesus called your brother Lazarus back from the dead.  With pure love for Jesus, you welcomed Him into your home.  Friend and servant of our Savior, I too am "troubled about many things."

(Pause for silent prayer)

Pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope, and love, and that Jesus, Who sat at your table, will hear me and grant me a place at the banquet of eternal life.  Amen.

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Artwork: "Saint Martha", in a Flemish illumination from The Isabella Breviary, 1497.  See Wikipedia for source information.  [I wonder if that is a cookbook she's holding?]

30 June - Saint Paul; Baked Swordfish

Weather - If it is bright and clear on St. Paul’s day, we will have full bellies and full purses.

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Peter the Apostle and Paul the Doctor to the Gentiles have themselves taught us Thy law, O Lord.

In all the earth their voice has gone forth.

And their words unto the ends of the earth.

O God, whose right hand raised up blessed Peter the Apostle when he was walking on the waves, lest he be submerged, and saved his fellow apostle Paul from the depth of the sea when he was shipwrecked for the third time, hear us graciously and grant that we may pursue the glory of eternity by the favors of both.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, O God, world without end.  Amen.

Prayer from a 1599 Latin/English Primer

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Saint Paul is celebrated on the same day as Saint Peter (29 July), but as mentioned before, two major celebrations on one day, with a pontifical Mass at one church for Saint Peter, a solemn procession, and a pontifical Mass at another church for Saint Paul, got to be too much, and Pope Gregory split the celebration into two days.

Of Paul’s martyrdom, The Golden Legend relates:

“And as he was led to the place of his passion in the gate of Hostence, a noble woman named Plautilla, a disciple of Paul… met there with Paul, which weeping, commended her to his prayers.  To whom Paul said: Farewell, Plautilla, daughter of everlasting health, lend to me thy veil or keverchief with which thou coverest thy head, that I may bind mine eyes therewith, and afterwards I shall restore it to thee again…. Then when he came to the place of his passion, he turned him toward the east, holding his hands up to heaven right long, with tears praying in his own language and thanking our Lord, and after that bade his brethren farewell, and bound his eyes himself with the keverchief of Plautilla, and kneeling down on both knees, stretched forth his neck, and so was beheaded.”

The church of San Paolo alle Tre Fontane, in Rome, is built over three fountains which tradition ascribes to the three places where the head of St. Paul fell and bounced after being cut off by the executioner.  It is said that the waters vary in warmth, the first, where the head fell, being hottest and the springs of the two bounces successively cooler.

In iconography, Paul's usual attribute is a sword, signifying both his spiritual warfare and his martyrdom.  When he holds it upright, it is the 'good fight' that is represented; point down, it is his death.  He may also hold a book, and sometimes even twelve scrolls representing his epistles.

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Glads with sword-like leaves

Gardening: Gladiolus, which comes from the Latin for sword, is a suitable flower for St. Paul.  The tall varieties can reach grow as much as five feet, although two foot high plants are the usual. Start planting the corms in mid-spring (May if you have long cold winters (like the Smallest State), April if you live in warmer climes), staggering the planting every week or two, to get a succession of blooms.  Choose a very sunny spot in the garden.  Since they don’t winter-over well, especially in the northern tier of states (meaning you would need to dig up the corms in the fall and store them until spring), you might want to plant them in a raised bed where you can easily retrieve the corms.

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And, of course, what would be more suitable for today’s dinner than swordfish?  This sport fish can be fixed any number of delicious ways – sautéed in a little butter, broiled, baked… it dries out easily, so remember to brush it with melted butter if you broil or bake, and thereafter baste it with pan drippings or more melted butter.  This recipe for BAKED SWORDFISH uses mayonnaise to keep the fish from drying out.

Preheat the oven to 400° F.

Dust swordfish steaks with salt and pepper.  Spread each generously with mayonnaise and sprinkle first with instant minced onion and then with fine dry breadcrumbs or crushed cracker or corn flake crumbs. [I’ve tried using fresh minced onion – tastes good, but it is a lot of work]

Bake for about 30 minutes.  Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.

To drink?  Well, if you don’t want to take Saint Paul’s advice and ‘take a little wine for thy stomach’s sake’, how about St. Pauli Girl?

Artwork:

Tintoretto, Martyrdom of St. Paul. c 1556.  Madonna dell’Orto.

The woodcut is from a 1489 Dutch edition of The Golden Legend.

15 May - Saint Dymphna

In Brabant, St. Dympna, virgin and martyr, daughter of an Irish king.  By order of her father, she was beheaded for the faith of Christ and the preservation of her virginity.

I’ve always had a special fondness for Saint Dymphna, ever since I found a statue of her labeled “Patron of the Insane”.  Seemed to me that she would be a perfect patron of the world, which we all know is insane.

Her story is one that still fills the newspapers today – a beautiful daughter and a depraved father, and you know what happens next.  Her mother having died, the 14-year-old girl came under the "notice" of her father, and to avoid his incestuous advances (or as Rev. Alban Butler coyly says “to avoid the snares to which she saw herself exposed at home”), she ran far away in company with her confessor Gerebert.  They found refuge in a forest oratory dedicated to St. Martin near Geel, a town in northern Belgium.

Her father sent men to find her; when they did, he followed. “The king came to her and renewed his solicitations.  He offered that she should be enrolled among the goddesses of his nation and have a marble temple erected in her honor.  Gerebert interfered and was immediately put to death by the king’s orders”

Sir Leslie Stephen, Dictionary of National Biography (1888), Vol XVI, p. 297.

“Dympna was inflexible, and reproaching him with the wickedness of his proceeding declared, that she detested his gods and goddesses, and that nothing should induce her to offend her true lover Jesus Christ.  On this the king became outrageous, and gave orders that she should be beheaded.  As all his attendants declined to obey this command, he became the executioner himself and murdered his own daughter.”

John Lanigan, An Ecclesiastical History of Ireland (1829) Vol II, p. 475.

Of her patronage of the insane, one story relates that the cruelty of her martyrdom greatly frightened a group of lunatics in the vicinity, which strong feelings immediately reversed their maladies.  More miracles were reported at her shrine, in which those suffering from mental afflictions (anything from depression to dementia) or neurological disorders (epilepsy) – all grouped together under the umbrella of Insanity – regained their mental or physical health.  Gheel became a place of pilgrimage, to which lunatics were brought for healing by her intercession, and from it, a cottage industry caring for the insane grew up in the area which exists to this day.

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Lord, our God,

You graciously chose St. Dymphna as patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders.  She is thus an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who ask her intercession.

Please grant, Lord, through the prayers of this pure youthful martyr, relief and consolation to all suffering such trials, and especially those for whom we pray.

We beg You, Lord, to hear the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf.  Grant all those for whom we pray patience in their sufferings and resignation to Your Divine Will.  Please fill them with hope, and grant them the relief and cure they so much desire.

We ask this through Christ our Lord, Who suffered agony in the garden.  Amen.

[and especially for our world, Lord, where the lunatics have taken over the asylum.  Amen.]

9 February - Saint Apollonia; Pasta Fazula

“At Alexandria, in the reign of Decius, the birthday of St. Apollonia, virgin, who had all her teeth plucked out by the persecutors; then having constructed and lighted a pyre, they threatened to burn her alive, unless she repeated certain impious words after them.  Deliberating awhile with herself, she suddenly slipped from their grasp, and feeling and inspiration of the Holy Ghost, rushed voluntarily into the fire which they had prepared.  The very authors of her death were struck with terror at the sight of a woman who was more willing to die than they to condemn her.”

Today is the feast of Saint Apollonia, virgin and martyr, who died around 250 A.D.

Her story is recounted in the Fourth Century Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, in a letter from Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria to Bishop Fabius of Antioch.  First, a little background: “The persecution among us did not begin with the royal decree, but preceded it an entire year. The prophet and author of evils to this city, whoever he was, previously moved and aroused against us the masses of the heathen, rekindling among them the superstition of their country. And being thus excited by him and finding full opportunity for any wickedness, they considered this the only pious service of their demons, that they should slay us. … Then all with one impulse rushed to the homes of the pious, and they dragged forth whomsoever any one knew as a neighbor, and despoiled and plundered them. They took for themselves the more valuable property; but the poorer articles and those made of wood they scattered about and burned in the streets, so that the city appeared as if taken by an enemy....”

[Does this sound familiar, children?  It should, if you have been paying attention to the news.  Same country – Egypt.  Same mob, stirred up to show their piety by slaying the Christians.  And the year? 2011.  Yep.  Last year.]

Eusebius continues “…Then they seized also that most admirable virgin, Apollonia, an old woman, and, smiting her on the jaws, broke out all her teeth. And they made a fire outside the city and threatened to burn her alive if she would not join with them in their impious cries. And she, supplicating a little, was released, when she leaped eagerly into the fire and was consumed.”

She is invoked against toothache and all diseases of the teeth.

O Glorious Apollonia, patron saint of dentistry and refuge for all those suffering from diseases of the teeth, assist me by your intercession with God in my daily work, and intercede with Him to obtain for me a happy death.  Pray that my heart, like yours, may be inflamed with the love of Jesus and Mary, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O my God, bring me safe through temptation and strengthen me as you did our own patron Apollonia, through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Artwork: Saint Apollonia, Hours of Catherine of Cleves.  She is here shown as a young woman with her usual attribute, a tooth held in pincers.

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A good first course for dinner tonight would be a cockle-warming soup called PASTA FAZULA (or Fazul).  It utilizes ‘ditalini’, a small macaroni whose name means “little thimbles”, but which looks more like little teeth – perfect for St. Apollonia’s day.  Like all good peasant dishes, there are as many variations as there are peasants, so feel free to add your own touch – vegetables, herbs, tomato sauce…  Substitute olive oil for the pork and it will be suitable for those meatless days in Lent.

Pick over and wash 1 pound of dried beans (cannellini, pinto or navy will do) and soak overnight in 2 quarts of water (if you are in a hurry, bring the pot to a boil; boil for 2 minutes; cover and remove from heat; let it sit for an hour). 

Sauté ½ cup of diced salt pork, bacon, or ham with 1 minced garlic clove, 2 tablespoons of minced onion, and a dash of chili pepper.  Add this to the pot of beans.  Cook beans until tender [plan on a couple of hours].

Cook 1 pound of ditalini and drain.  Just before serving, add the ditalini to the bean pot, and simmer together for 5 minutes.  Stir well.  Top each serving with grated Romano or Parmesan.