
Saints, Feast, Family
- Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring -
March 25
Saint of the day:
Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Annunciation of the Lord
The story of the feast of the Annunciation
now recognized as a solemnity, was first celebrated in the fourth or fifth century. Its central focus is the Incarnation: God has become one of us. From all eternity God had decided that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity should become human. Now, as Luke 1:26-38 tells us, the decision is being realized. The God-Man embraces all humanity, indeed all creation, to bring it to God in one great act of love. Because human beings have rejected God, Jesus will accept a life of suffering and an agonizing death: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).
Mary has an important role to play in God’s plan. From all eternity, God destined her to be the mother of Jesus and closely related to him in the creation and redemption of the world. We could say that God’s decrees of creation and redemption are joined in the decree of Incarnation. Because Mary is God’s instrument in the Incarnation, she has a role to play with Jesus in creation and redemption. It is a God-given role. It is God’s grace from beginning to end. Mary becomes the eminent figure she is only by God’s grace. She is the empty space where God could act. Everything she is she owes to the Trinity.
Mary is the virgin-mother who fulfills Isaiah 7:14 in a way that Isaiah could not have imagined. She is united with her son in carrying out the will of God (Psalm 40:8-9; Hebrews 10:7-9; Luke 1:38).
Together with Jesus, the privileged and graced Mary is the link between heaven and earth. She is the human being who best, after Jesus, exemplifies the possibilities of human existence. She received into her lowliness the infinite love of God. She shows how an ordinary human being can reflect God in the ordinary circumstances of life. She exemplifies what the Church and every member of the Church is meant to become. She is the ultimate product of the creative and redemptive power of God. She manifests what the Incarnation is meant to accomplish for all of us.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Mary.
This one hangs in my house.
https://theophilia.deviantart.com/
Prayer



Prayer Being Sung
Fun or serious prayer is powerful!
A funny little note...
Me as a Southern Baptist sitting in Mass....
My catholic husband is always so proper & all I want to do is hear
amazing music that is healing for the soul.
It moves one to cry, to wiggle, to smile, to think....
One of the most powerful tools of the church is Music!
Song: Sister Act - Hail Holy Queen
Immaculate Mary
Immaculate Mary, thy praises we sing,
Thou reignst now in Heaven with Jesus our King.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!
In Heaven the Blessed thy glory proclaim,
On earth we thy children invoke thy fair name.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!
We pray for our mother, the Church upon earth
And bless, dearest Lady, the land of our birth.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave Maria!
Salve Regina or Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star.....
Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star, Guide of the wanderer here below, Thrown on life's surge, we claim thy care, Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.
O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid, We sinners make our prayers through thee; Remind thy Son that He has paid The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea, Pray for the sinner, pray for me.
Sojourners in this vale of tears, Blest advocate, to thee we cry, Assuage our sorrows, calm our fears, And soothe with hope our misery.
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea Pray for the mourner, pray for me.
And while to Him Who reigns above In Godhead one, in Persons three, The Source of life, of grace, of love, Homage we pay on bended knee:
Do thou, bright Queen, Star of the sea, Pray for thy children, pray for me.
The Story

The Annunciation
A tradition, which has come down from the apostolic ages, tells us that the great mystery of the Incarnation was achieved on the twenty-fifth day of March. It was at the hour of midnight, when the most holy Virgin was alone and absorbed in prayer, that the Archangel Gabriel appeared before her, and asked her, in the name of the blessed Trinity, to consent to become the Mother of God. Let us assist, in spirit, at this wonderful interview between the angel and the Virgin.
The angel of light; see with what composure and peacefulness he approaches the Virgin of Nazareth, the new Eve; and how respectfully he bows himself down before her: 'Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women!'
Such language is evidently of heaven: none but an angel could speak thus to Mary.
In the first chapter of Luke we read how the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Christ, and how Mary answered, "Here I am, the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me as you have said." Our Lord was conceived immediately after this. Accordingly, since we celebrate His birth on the 25th of December, we celebrate the Annunciation nine months earlier, on the 25th of March.
Ave Maria lyrics English translation:
Hail Mary, full of grace, Mary, full of grace, Mary, full of grace, Hail, Hail, the Lord. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed, Blessed is the fruit of thy womb,Thy womb, Jesus. Hail Mary! Hail Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, Pray, pray for us; Pray, pray for us sinners, Now and at the hour of our death, The hour of our death, The hour of our death,The hour of our death, Hail Mary.
Hand-picked by God
The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary is the moment, the angel Gabriel, gave a message from God to Mary that she is with child and the angel’s announcement is met with Mary’s willing consent. The angel Gabriel also gave the message to Mary that her cousin Elisabeth, mother of John the Baptist, was filled with the Holy Spirit and would have a child too. In this passage, you can read the Hail Mary Prayer: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus... This is amazing story with many connections.
(Verses for reference)
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the word was God.
John 1:14 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 2:1-5 Jesus honors his mother at the wedding at Cana.
Hebrews 1:5-8 speaks of this divinity.
Things to think about while reading this passage:
Mary is called blessed; God venerates her by asking her to bear His Divine Son; God chose Mary above all women; Mary gave birth to the divine 'Incarnate Word'; Jesus Christ honors His mother; And Jesus Christ will defend His mother as any good son would.
The Birth of Jesus is Foretold (Luke 1:26-45, 57-60)
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no husband?” 35 And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
36 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechari′ah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 58 And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari′ah after his father, 60 but his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.”
As an adult, John became a prophet who devoted his life to preparing the way for Jesus. He told those who followed him: "I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire." (Matthew 3:11-12)
Inter-Religious Dialogue
…Love Thy Neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40)
*Interesting note: Mary, her Annunciation, is spoken about in the 19th chapter (Maryam) of the Quran. It is a story that unites the Christian faith with the Muslim faith. Both speak of Mary with the highest respect and shared admiration. Her story, is one of an outstanding role model for the two biggest faiths in the world today. Walking in her footsteps anyone may be inspired to give love, to spread peace, to promote unity and inclusion, one love…a universal love.
Other interesting facts from the Quran:
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Mary is the only woman named in the Quran.
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Mary is one of the four spiritually perfected women of the world.
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Mary was a pious girl dwelling in the Temple and the mother of Jesus.
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Mary was given by god palm dates and water while giving birth to Jesus.
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The Quran also states the conception of Jesus by Mary was miraculous.
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Mary was a strong woman who raised Jesus on her own.
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Mary and Jesus once helped save the lives of refugees.
The Quran tells stories of many of the people and events told in the Jewish Tanakh and the Holy Bible, but many details do differ. Adam, Enoch, Noah, Eber, Shelah, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Jethro, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Aaron, Moses, Zechariah, John the Baptist and Jesus are mentioned in the Quran as prophets of God. Moses is mentioned more in the Quran than any other individual, and Jesus is mentioned by name more than Muhammad, while Mary is mentioned more in the Quran than in the New Testament. All three faiths are Abrahamic Faiths: meaning they believe that Abraham was one of the great patriarchs.

Visit:
The Order:
Order of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
http://www.annonciade.info/
SAINTE JEANNE DE FRANCE
Saint Joan of France (1464-1505). Daughter of King Louis XI and Queen Charlotte of Savoy, Jeanne lived at a time marked by great concern for reform and by the emblematic figure of St. Francis of Assisi. Married to Louis of Orleans in 1476, he became King Louis XII in 1498, divorced for reasons of state. Became Duchess of Berry, she founded, with the help of her Franciscan confessor, Blessed Gabriel-Maria, the Order of the Virgin Mary which she had had the intuition in her childhood, while she was praying to the Virgin who would have said: "Before your death, you will found a religious order in my honor ..." His kindness, his concern for the poor, his great love for the Virgin Mary have marked those who have rubbed shoulders with him. She dies saintly in Bourges on February 4, 1505. Soon her cult spreads. Beatified in 1742,
The Order of the Virgin Mary - or the Annunciade - was founded in 1502 by Saint Joan of France (1464-1505)
and by the Franciscan, Blessed Gabriel Maria (1460-1532).
Basilica of the Annunciation
Nazareth, Israel
Phone: +972 4-656-0001





Mary's Cave




Recipes:
When I think of a Jewish mom (Ima) or grandmother (Bubbe) I think of amazing food for the heart, soul, and tummy...
Imas and Bubbes always push their children to be the best. They do this with comfort and support, just like a warm blanket. They never letting them fall.
My Bubbes (reformed Jewish grandmothers at my hair salon who took me under their wings) would always make so many amazing things but they were known for a few totally jewish comfort foods! Brisket, Kugel or Jewish Noodle Pudding (with cream cheese), & Matzo Ball Soup! Total Imas comfort foods!
When I think of the Blessed Mother I think she had to be an amazing Bubbe! I mean think about it, she has all of us in heart and she watches over us, doesn't that sound like most Bubbes. So in honor of all the Bubbes today I will share recipes that would make a Jewish Grandmother proud!
German Rose Cake Rosenkuchen
Ingredients
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400 g flour
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40 g sugar
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1 package vanilla sugar 0.3oz
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1 package dry yeast
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125 ml milk
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1 pinch salt
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1 egg
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100 g butter
Filling
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125 ml milk
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1 egg
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100 sugar
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1/2 tsp cinnamon
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2 tbsp cocoa powder
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300 g hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts, ground
Glaze
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1 egg yolk
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1 tbsp water
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2 tbsp sliced almonds
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1 tbsp apricot jam
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1 tbsp powdered sugar
Directions:
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add flour, 30 g sugar, vanilla sugar and 1 dash salt into a mixing bowl, make a mold in the middle where you place the yeast with 1 tbsp sugar. Add 1/8 l milk to the yeast and with some flour stir it until you have a pre-dough.
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let the pre-dough raise for 10 min ( it will get bubbly).
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add 1 egg and the soft butter, then with the kneading hooks of the hand mixer knead the dough for 3 minutes.
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cover it and let it raise for another 30 min.
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Bring 1/8 l milk and 100 g sugar with cinnamon and cocoa powder to aboil, take off the heat and add the ground hazelnuts or walnuts.
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Let it cool off a bit, then add 1 egg.
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on a baking board that is dusted with some flour roll the dough to a rectangle (12 x 16 inches, 30x40cm).
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spread the filling on top but not around the edges for about 1 inch.
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Roll it from the longer side and cut in 10-12 slices.
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Place the rolls with the cutting edge down in a greased spring form (26 cm or 10 inches)
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cover it and let it raise for another 20 min.
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mix egg yolk with water and brush it over the cake; sprinkle with almond slices
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bake in pre-heated oven on 200 C or 375 F for 30-40 min.
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When the cake is done, glaze it right away with the apricot jam. Before serving dust it with powdered sugar.
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NOTE: The filling is not sweet, if you like it sweet add some sugar to it.
Tips
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add raisins and/or marzipan
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vary it with a poppy seed filling



Malabi
Ingredients
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2 cups milk or coconut milk
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5 tablespoons corn starch
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1/2 tablespoons rose water
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1/2 cup cream
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1/4 cup sugar
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For serving: Chopped almonds, pistachios, and/or strawberry syrup
Directions:
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Put ½ cup of the milk in a bowl with the corn starch and rose water
until you have a smooth, even mixture. -
In a pot, cook the remaining 1½ cups milk with the cream and sugar until boiling.
Add the corn starch mixture and cook over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes,
stirring constantly until the mixture thickens. -
Pour into serving bowls and cool to room temperature.
Transfer to the fridge to chill for 4 hours, or overnight. -
Drizzle with strawberry syrup and sprinkle with nuts just before serving.

Kugel or Jewish Noodle Pudding with Cream Cheese
Kugel is a baked pudding or casserole most commonly made from egg noodles or potato. The word “kugel” means “sphere, globe, or ball”, the Yiddish name originated as a reference to the round, puffed-up shape of the original dishes.
Although most kugels I’ve eaten have been baked in shallow square pans, we’ve baked ours in a deeper, oval baking dish which allows more of the noodles to stay creamier than baking in a shallow, flatter pan. This noodle kugel gets its delicious, sweet flavor and creamy consistency from a decadent combination of cream cheese, evaporated milk, whole milk, sugar, eggs, and golden raisins which are all mixed with buttered egg noodles before baking.
Ingredients
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8 ounces uncooked wide egg noodles
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter
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8 ounces cream cheese, softened
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8 tablespoons granulated sugar
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6 eggs
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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10 ounces evaporated milk
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3 cups whole milk
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1 cup golden raisins
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
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Cook egg noodles according to package instructions. Drain well and toss with butter.
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While noodles are cooking, in a large bowl with a mixer, combine cream cheese, vanilla extract, sugar and eggs until smooth.
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Add cooked, buttered noodles to the cream cheese mixture and by hand, gently stir to combine.
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Add both milks and raisins and gently stir again.
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Pour mixture into a large casserole dish like we show in our photo, or in a 13×9-inch pan.
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Bake for 1 hour until custard is set and lightly golden on top.
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Allow to cool slightly before serving.
Optional for a topping:
Topping:
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1 cup crushed corn flakes
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1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
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2 tablespoons sugar
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2 tablespoons butter, melted


