Saints, Feast, Family
- Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring -
October 5
The month of Mary: A Marian Month
Our Lady of the Rosary
Saint of the day:
Saint Flora of Beaulieu, Virgin (Sainte Fleur)
Patron Saint of the abandoned, single laywomen, converts and victims of betrayal.
Saint Flora teaches us the importance of forgiveness.
Saint Flora’s Story
Patron Saint of abandoned, single laywomen and victims of betrayal.
Saint Flora teaches us the importance of forgiveness. Everybody experiences betrayal from their loved ones and sometimes it is hard to “forgive and forget”. St. Flora helps us all to realize that everyone makes mistakes and they deserve to be forgiven. We need to remember we are only human and cannot live perfect lives. St Flora also shows us to care for the less fortunate in times of need. Not everybody is as blessed to have shelter, food, water, etc. Another thing St Flora teaches us is the feeling of abandonment. At times, we can feel alone and think we have nobody to turn to. She demonstrates that we can always turn to God when we feel lonely. No matter the situation, we all have somebody to turn to. I chose St Flora because I have experienced different forms of betrayal from both my family and friends. At first, it was hard for me to forgive those who had hurt me in the past. I found it extremely difficult to accept the fact that those who loved me the most could also hurt me the most. After weighing out the good they have done for me vs the bad, I realized they deserved a second chance. In this way, I relate to St Flora’s main goal of forgiveness. She reminds us again and again that nobody is perfect. Another thing I learned is that, in times of confusion, St Flora can help us find answers. From doing this assignment I’ve learned more about what St Flora represents. St Flora isn’t just another saint, she symbolizes the betrayal and hardships everybody goes through. Life is full of ups and downs and it is our job to make the best of them. Everyone has two choices in life: move on and forgive those how have hurt them or live a miserable, lonely life. This project helped me gain many different insights. I learned I need to be more forgiving of others because everyone makes mistakes. From doing this, I desire a closer relationship with God. God forgives his children for all of their sins even at times when they don’t deserve it. I see God as a role model in this way and hope to live in his footsteps. Lastly, I gained a new insight on mankind. Before, I never realized that everyone is going through their own struggles. Overall, St Flora has taught me to become more accepting and forgiving of others.
Flora was born in France about the year 1309. She was a devout child and later resisted all attempts on the part of her parents to find a husband for her. In 1324, she entered the Priory of Beaulieu of the Hospitaller nuns of St. John of Jerusalem. Here she was beset with many and diverse trials, fell into a depressed state, and was made sport of by some of her religious sisters. However, she never ceased to find favor with God and was granted many unusual and mystical favors. One year on the feast of All Saints, she fell into an ecstasy and took no nourishment until three weeks later on the feast of St. Cecelia. On another occasion, while meditating on the Holy Spirit, she was raised four feet from the ground and hung in the air in full view of many onlookers. She also seemed to be pierced with the arms of Our Lord's cross, causing blood to flow freely at times from her side and at others, from her mouth. Other instances of God's favoring of his servant were also reported, concerning prophetic knowledge of matters of which she could not naturally know. Through it all, St. Flora remained humble and in complete communion with her Divine Master, rendering wise counsel to all who flocked to her because of her holiness and spiritual discernment. In 1347, she was called to her eternal reward and many miracles were worked at her tomb.
https://jamiecoons.weebly.com/all-about-st-flora.html
http://recteurrocamadour.eklablog.com/fetes-de-sainte-fleur-a-issendolus-a132185672
https://monumentum.fr/ancien-hopital-des-religieuses-beaulieu-pa00095111.html
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=119
https://vitaesanctorum.wordpress.com/2015/10/05/st-flora-of-beaulieu-virgin/
Prayer:
Visit:
46500 Issendolus - France
Former hospital of the Religious of Beaulieu, Issendolus - L'Hôpital-Beaulieu
Recipe
Rose Madeleines
Ingredients:
For the batter:
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3 eggs
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2/3 cup granulated sugar
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1 teaspoon vanilla
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1 teaspoon rose water
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1 drop pink gel food coloring
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1 ¼ cup flour
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½ teaspoon baking powder
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½ teaspoon salt
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¾ cup butter, melted and cooled to room temperature,
plus a little extra for the pans
For the glaze:
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2 ½ cups powdered sugar
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2 tablespoons milk
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2 teaspoons rose water
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pink gel food coloring
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crushed rose petals for sprinkling on top
Directions:
For the batter:
Note: This batter is best when made the night before, so plan ahead!
1. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar together on high for 3-4 minutes, until thick and creamy.
2. Add in the vanilla, rose water, and pink food coloring and beat just until combined.
3. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl. Add to the wet ingredients and fold in with a spatula until combined. Tip: Do not over mix! Add in the butter and fold it in with the spatula until there are no butter streaks remaining.
4. Cover your batter with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator overnight, or minimum 6 hours.
5. Brush some melted butter onto your pans and place them in the freezer until you’re ready to use them. (You can do this the night before as well)
6. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
7. Add a generous tablespoon full of batter to each cavity. Once your pan is filled, tap it lightly against your work surface to smooth out the tops of the batter and to release any air bubbles.
8. Bake around 8 minutes, until the tops are light golden in color, have a nice little bump in the center of them, and when a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean. I tend to err on the side of caution and under bake for 30 seconds to 1 minute. I would rather keep checking on them. You don’t want to over bake these because they can become dry very easily. You want to keep them moist.
9. Immediately unmold the madeleines by flipping the pan upside down and tapping onto your work surface. Let them cool while you make the glaze.
For the glaze:
1. Whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and rose water together until there are no more sugar clumps. If you need to use a rubber spatula at first, that’s okay too. Dip a toothpick into the food coloring and add just a dot of coloring to the glaze. Remember, a little goes a long way and you can always add more until you get your desired pink. Tip: Make sure to keep your glazed covered with plastic wrap when you’re not using it so that it doesn’t form a crust on top.
2. Dip the non-bump side of each madeleine into the glaze and set onto a parchment lined baking sheet, letting the excess glaze drip off. Immediately top each glazed madeleine with some crushed rose petals before the glaze hardens.
3. Let the glaze harden and enjoy!
Note: If you don't like rose flavor change it for lemon zest, orange zest, lime zest...or whatever flavor you would enjoy.
