Cottage Blessings

For Helen: A Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Altagracia

With a smile on our faces over Anne's good news, we look forward to the long anticipated birth of Helen's little one (not to mention Elizabeth's!), due on the Feast of Our Lady of Altagracia.

You may remember that when Helen began the Hidden Treasure forum over at 4Real, she used the calendar to find "Our Lady of Altagracia" as its patroness. (The forum was scheduled to debut on her Feast, January 21st.) I had never heard of this title for Our Lady, but when Helen told me she was the patroness of the Dominican Republic, I quipped, "Well, I guess we know what country you will be adopting your next baby from." We both laughed, and, knowing the Blessed Mother, Helen agreed that this was quite likely.

Three months later, Helen found out Our Lady had a different grace in store: She was expecting a baby due on January 21st.

[Yes, I know you know that story! But it is such a good one--how can I not repeat it?]

Here is a Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Altagracia, served in thanksgiving for Helen's baby and to Our Lady for making this title so well known to all of us.

In planning the Tea, I consulted the Novena Prayer translated for us by Helen. If you have a moment, please refer back to it to understand the references below. It might make sense to read the prayer with the children, pointing out the symbolism of the items on the table.

Altagracia Tea

Activities:

Our Mother's Hands

The Love of our Hearts

Three Graces Tea Menu:

Love of Purity

Home Blessings

Maternal Arms

A Sweet for Our Lady of Altagracia

Activities:

1. Our Mother's Hands

At the outset of the tea: Create delicate paper hands to represent the loving hands of Our Lady. Help the children to draw or write their blessings on each hand, remembering to thank her for "the innumerable favors we have received from [he]r hands." Take a moment to remind the children of the image of the Miraculous Medal also showing the graces shining from the hands of our heavenly Mother.

2. The Love of our Hearts

Pass out paper hearts, allowing the children to decorate them lavishly (after all, Valentine's Day is coming up, making this the perfect decoration for the season), writing or drawing their special offerings to Our Lady. This could be a love letter to her from each one of us, including a word from the adults. We remember to offer her "all the love in our hearts."

Three Graces Tea Menu:

The Novena specifies the three graces we request from Our Lady, and the menu offerings of the tea reflect them in a simple way. [This is not fancy, but it is do-able!]

3. Love of Purity.

We serve something white representing purity to accompany the vegetables in the next menu offering. There are many recipes for dip that is white, and ranch dressing might work as well as anything.

In asking for the grace of purity, we remember the perfect purity of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

4. Home Blessings.

We remember the humble home in Nazareth, asking for a shower of grace upon our homes through holy marriages. Our Lady of Altagracia is the patroness of the Dominican Republic, so we remember "Home Blessings" with produce that grows in this, her chosen homeland: snap peas or pea pods. [Here is a picture of pea pods to give you an idea of the type to buy.]

When you break open the side of the pod, the peas inside look like a family in their house. If the children have never heard the expression, "like peas in a pod," this would be a good time to mention it.

5. Maternal Arms

We ask the grace of flying to Heaven with the help of Our Lady's maternal arms. Small twisted pretzels would be the simplest possible addition to the table, and would go well with the dip. The original German pretzels were meant to represent arms crossed in prayer, but I think they would make a wonderful maternal embrace for these purposes. [I am hoping to keep this as simple and inexpensive as possible. As you can see, the first three offerings are not sweet or extensive. They are meant as a small snack, leaving everyone ready for a rich dessert!]

It is no coincidence, by the way, that the Novena to Our Lady of Altagracia takes place only a few weeks after the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (January 3). May we never cease to praise His holy name, engraving it on our hearts forever. [Please refer to the Novena prayer to see the connection.]

6. A Sweet for Our Lady of Altagracia:

The chief exports of the Dominican Republic are coffee, sugar and bananas. A delicious dessert honoring Our Lady of Altagracia could be made by spooning carmelized bananas over coffee ice cream.

To carmelize the bananas, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Slice the bananas in half and sprinkle with butter and brown sugar. Bake about 7 minutes or so. [You might be able to do this over the stove as well. I'd need to experiment!] If this is too difficult, use plain ripe bananas over coffee ice cream--or even vanilla ice cream with bananas and a drizzle of coffee syrup.

Sometimes improvising is key, particularly this time of year! I do not know about you, my friends, but we still need to get our Christmas decorations put away, so "less is more" at the moment!

Altagracia Tea, Shopping List

White dressing (ranch or homemade)
Snap peas or pea pods
Small twisted pretzels
Firm bananas
Butter
Brown Sugar
Coffee Ice Cream

A Bundle, a Basket, and a Buche de Noel

When my friend, Mary, invited us over for a potluck supper on the Feast of the Epiphany, we did not know it would turn out to be an evening of wonders, with old-fashioned games, a full-scale Christmas pageant, and even a visit from good St. Nicholas himself. My children and four other families had participated in an art exhibit at a local museum, and the gathering was planned as a way to celebrate afterward.

Here is one of the baskets we brought. Don't you love that Book of Kells tea towel? It was brought home for us from Ireland by my friend, Caroline:

We packed it with all the non-perishable ingredients for a Tea to Celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany [The perishables were toted in a far less photogenic cooler]:

After an afternoon of playing outdoors, the children came in for old-fashioned party games:

My personal favorite was the game of quotes. The children lined up in two teams with words from a famous quote on their backs. The object was to put themselves in the correct order without saying a single word to one another. [First team with the quote in order wins.] Here the girls show the mixed up words to Puck's famous quote, "Lord, what fools these mortals be!":

Next they had a scavenger hunt. All the objects on the list below were hidden in the living and family rooms. As a participant in this particular game, I will tell you they were not easy to find. The items were left in plain view, and the children were asked not to touch anything, so the game did not turn to chaos as it might have otherwise:

With the games completed, my friend Kari brought all the children upstairs to prepare for a beautiful, impromptu Epiphany Pageant, complete with poetry and hyms. They pulled names from a hat to determine roles and came down to perform for the parents.

I was amazed at how quickly they pulled it all together, right down to costumes. Here the parents wait for the performance:

The cast poses after a job well done:

While they were rehearsing, Mary, Caroline, Aleta and I set the table for the Epiphany Tea. You will notice we brought our Christmas pyramid along as a centerpiece. The children loved it, even when one of the candles fell momentarily and started to burn the surrounding wreath:

Here is our hostess Mary's clever take on "Baby Jesus in a Manger" for the Epiphany Tea, homemade gingerbread babes on soft beds of coconut straw:

Kari brought this traditional Buche de Noel:

Aleta made these almond studded jam tarts, a reminder of the host of angels in a starry sky:

[Although I do not have a picture, Caroline brought her famous scones, tiny "pillows" for the Baby Jesus.]

Agnes read her three letters to the Wise Men from last year to the younger children:

Just as we were getting to the last crumb, the doorbell rang. It was late, and we were not expecting anyone, so this was quite strange, but our hostess hastened to open the door:

Lo, and behold, there on the porch was a huge red bag full of presents for each and every one of the children and even the adults:

We did not see who left these welcome gifts, but the children were quite certain dear St. Nicholas had a hand in it:

Maureen was thrilled with her package of small toys and coloring book:

And the baby exclaimed ere she drove out of sight, "Happy Epiphany to all, and to all a good night!"

Scenes from the Feast of Candlemas--and a Few More Seeds Scattered

Our first celebration of Candlemas was one we will not soon forget.These two photographs show our Candlemas Tea centerpiece. Three pure white rose candles--one for each member of the Holy Family--floated in a bowl of holy water to signify the Purification and Presentation. At the last moment, Margaret decided to perch two turtledoves on either side. The effect was dazzling, soothing to the eye, and rich with symbolism. Earlier in the day, our beloved Pastor blessed the candles, doves, and several other religious articles, adding so much to the celebration for us.

Here are a few highlights from the menu, beginning with "Holy Simeon's Arms":
Eleven-year-old Theresa had the brilliant idea of adding mustard to represent the stinging, yet divinely inspired, words of Simeon's prophecy to Our Lady. (Mustard is spicy and even burny, yet it is good, not unlike the words of Simeon.)

I would have preferred sword-shaped toothpicks for these "piercing swords," but there is always next year! The children liked the combination of tomato and mild cheese, a good accompaniment for salty pretzels.

(As you will see, I am not above improvising on my own menus and do so often!)

Although Mallomars (Nabisco) would have been far better to represent "Anna the Prophetess," they were unavailable at our local grocer. Hershey's brand York Peppermint Patty cookies were a perfect substitute--black on the outside to represent Anna as a widow, with a pure white (minty) center to show her goodness and holiness, and a cookie bottom to remind the children that Anna never left the floor of the temple, but stayed there praying day and night.

If there is one thing I love to serve, it is a bowl of strawberries. The children are always so pleased, and nothing is so lovely on the table. Of course, the bowl of fresh and lightly sweetened whipped cream helped to make "Pure Hearts" a hit. The children were interested in the fact that Mary's heart was completely sinless, yet she went to the Temple to be purified as an act of humble obedience. I reminded them that their hearts should remain as pure as Our dear Lady's, the perfect discussion to precede our First Saturday trip to Confession.

The table was set simply, in white with hints of red and gold.

There was more than enough for all!

As the children picked up their warm pretzels, I repeated not only Simeon's prophecy (that the Child would be a light to the gentiles), but also the words Our Lord would say to his followers--"You are the light of the world"; "You are the salt of the earth."

Even these dear "snowman" teacups, a gift from Marybeth Foss to my daughters, served a purpose--blue for the Blessed Mother, white for her purity, and red for the love she bore her Son.

Just for fun, I told the children I'd hidden two more birds in the room (not exactly turtledoves, but close). It took all of two minutes for them to find this glistening pair of ornaments tucked in the chandelier, a gift from Lissa at Christmas.

Then it was off for the celebration worth infinitely more than all the Tea rituals ever planned: The Holy Mass! Our Mass was held in the evening, no less, with a slight sleet coming down from the heavens--just the way Alice O'Brien and Anne Maloney would have wanted it.

My heart swelled when little Patrick slipped into the Sacred Heart chapel to say a prayer. Here he is--the picture of scruffy, lovable boyhood.

Maureen stood at the holy water font blessing herself for no less than ten minutes. As you can see, she has her "Name of the Father" down cold.

The celebration continued when we returned home. What would Candlemas be without a flood of candlelight, and where better to find it than our Advent Log, a tradition inspired by my dear friend Rebecca and her father? Candlemas marks the traditional end of the Christmas season, and the white birch bark just seemed to cry out "Purification"! Now I have no doubt that most of you good housekeepers put away your Advent Logs weeks ago, but, at least this year, it payed to procrastinate. I replaced the mottled cranberry Christmas candle with a pure white one, exchanging the tired greenery for silk dogwood and cherry blossoms in honor of Our Lady. A pair of Presentation turtledoves completed the picture, looking almost ready for Valentine's day nestled atop a scarlet bloom. Next year, I hope to use blue flowers and blue ribbon for this display, but, to make it happen on Friday, items on hand were better than nothing. (We are firm believers in using whatever is around when an idea strikes, and these silk flowers had been languishing in the garage since Margaret's First Holy Communion almost two years ago.)

By the flicker of that brave little row of candles, we sang "Oh Most Holy One," "Sing of Mary," and "Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above." To be sure, there are better Candlemas hymns, but these were songs we knew and could sing with joy. No doubt the gentle Virgin from Nazareth heard and appreciated them--I could not help musing that hte pleasant glow of tapers felt almost like the light of her smile. Snuffing out our candles for the last time until next Christmas, we stayed a while longer to say the Rosary--the Sorrowful Mysteries for Friday, plus an extra decade to remember the Presentation.

The children went to bed happily after that, lingering only for a few extra kisses before heading upstairs. Agnes seemed to speak for all of them in observing smilingly that it had been "such a happy, holy day." With God's help, a few more precious seeds were sown in those seven ready hearts.

*******
Production Crew

Centerpiece construction: Mom and Margaret, with Patrick to pour the two bottles of holy water
Mantle decoration: Mom and Margaret
Table Settings: Agnes, Theresa, Margaret, and Marie, with a word here and there from Mom
Menu Tweaking: Theresa
Pretzel piling and mustard mounding: Theresa
Cream whipping: Agnes
Strawberry arrangement: Margaret
All other food and beverage preparation: Mom
Best Boy: Patrick
Babysitting: Marie, with help here and there from the older three
Comedy Relief: Maureen

A Word about Liturgical Teas--and a Shopping List

Thank you so much for the kind comments expressed here this week, particularly the cheering words for the "Coffers of Grace" and "Cottage Catastrophe" posts, not to mention today's Candlemas Tea and plans. After reading the Candlemas Tea Menu, my dear friend Jennifer commented:

"Simply is the key word there, I appreciate how your Teas can be done with simple, common ingredients."

This was significant and deeply gratifying to me, because the philosophy behind the Liturgical Teas is simplicity. My hope is that mothers will be able to read the suggestions, make a run to the grocery store, and have everything on the table in an hour or so. The Teas are meant to create an impression on the children, and--simple beings that they are--they are happy with sugar cubes and pretzels and cherry tomatoes, God bless them! Is it any wonder Our Dear Lord tells us to "be like a little child"? My dearest wish is that, thanks to you good mothers who make things happen, a handful of children may never look at a Mallomar or a strawberry again without thinking of something happy and holy.

Candlemas will be upon us soon. From your comments, I see that our family will not be the only one celebrating for the first time. Let's make this a great Feast and remember to pray for one another during the day. Perhaps you might consider saying the Purification Novena Prayer after grace--it is perfect for a Tea with children:

"O Blessed Mother of God, who went up to the Temple according to the law with your offering of little white doves, pray for me that I too may keep the law and be pure in heart like you.

Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation."

--from the Novena for Purification.

To help you all with that last minute shopping trip, here is a list of the ingredients you need for the Candlemas Tea:

Tea (Look for package marked "pure tea.")
Sugar Cubes
Milk
Spring water (optional)
Turtledoves (see note below)
Twisted Pretzels
Toothpicks (preferably swords)
Grape or cherry tomatoes
Cubes of cheese
Mallomars (Nabisco)
Strawberries
Whipping Cream or Cool Whip

Optional:
White chocolate morsels for melting
Shoestring licorice for edible tapers

*******
A Note on Turtledoves: We are using craft store doves, but something white would work well here--try mini bagels, split in half with a bit of cream cheese, or, if you don't mind something sweet, white meringues. The brilliant Amy suggested Marshmallow Peeps. Believe it or not, this occurred to me too, but I am not sure if they are available yet. Fear not, however, the Mallomars will make up for it!

If you are feeling a bit too rushed, it might make sense to consider hosting something like this over the weekend. It will be First Saturday, after all!

Tea, Turtledoves, and Treading Water: When Candlemas Comes to Call

O Blessed Mother of God, who went up to the Temple according to the law with your
offering of little white doves, pray for me that I too may keep the law and be pure in heart
like you.

Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.

--from the Novena for Purification

I have a confession to make--we have never celebrated Candlemas in our house. Candlemas, for me, is a pleasant sounding holiday with a name that makes me think of medieval times, kind of like Michaelmas and Martinmas, two other celebrations we only discovered recently.

This year a series of events led me to believe that the Holy Spirit might be prompting us to do more for this great feast of the Purification of Our Lady.

First, the Purification Novena scheduled months ago at Loreto Cottage began (prayed especially for the wonderful Theresa)--it was several days before I even realized that The Purification and Candlemas are the same Feast! (So that's what Candlemas is!) Then out of the blue, a local friend emailed a beautiful Candlemas prayer. Another friend announced she would be hosting the Loveliness of Candlemas Fair. (I could not wait to read it, but did not at first even think about participating--after all, we had *no* plan to celebrate the feast at all!) The final straw--a straw from the manger perhaps--came when a dear friend from our local homeschooling group presented me with a bright yellow folder on Friday. Tucked inside were page after page of Candlemas prayers and hymns collected from several of her treasured out of print books--all painstakingly photocopied just for me.

At that point, I knew God was telling me something!

For those of you unfamiliar with Candlemas (myself included up until about a day or so ago), it is the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady and the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. Traditionally called Candlemas because candles are blessed on this day to help us remember the words of holy Simeon who called the babe in his arms, "A light to lighten the gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel." Luke 2: 32.

As we often do with feasts, the girls and I are planning a Tea, along with a special centerpiece and craft. It is admittedly hastily planned, but we never let perfectionism stand in the way of fun!

Candlemas Tea Menu

Pure Tea
Sugar Cubes for Our Lady
Milk for St. Joseph
Water
A pair of turtledoves
Holy Simeon's Arms
Piercing swords
Anna the Prophetess
Pure Hearts
Theresa's edible tapers (optional)

Reading: Luke 2: 22-40.

Recipes and Suggestions:

1. Pure Tea

I hope this will not sound too silly, but many boxes of tea are marked "pure tea." It seems to me that this might be pointed out to the children in conjunction with a discussion of the ritual of purification.

2. Sugar Cubes for Our Lady and Milk for St. Joseph

This is an idea borrowed from Our Epiphany Tea, and the explanations fit just as well here. When discussing Our Lady, I would point out that the whiteness of the sugar reminds us of her purity. Out of obedience and humility, she went to the Temple for the ritual of Purification, but she was at all times sinless and spotless from the moment of her conception.

3. Water

Water is so associated with purity and purification that a pitcher of spring water for the table makes sense for this celebration. We are also planning a holy water centerpiece (below).

4. A pair of turtledoves

There are so many possibilities for this offering--anything from delicate white sandwiches to small meringues, but for this celebration, the children in our family will be preparing a small craft for the table featuring craft store doves in a basket. (I purchased the doves on Saturday, and it has been all I could do to keep the children from playing with them! I found one attached to a handwrought floral fairy's car today!)

5. Holy Simeon's Arms

Holy Simeon held the Christ Child in his arms saying, "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to Your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation." Luke 2: 29-30. To remember the loving arms of Simeon, twisted pretzels (first invented in the middle ages to represent arms folded in prayer) will be a readily obtained and simple symbol.

As you are serving them, remind the children that Christ would later preach, "You are the salt of the earth . . . . You are the light of the world." (Mt. 5: 13-14.)

6. Piercing Swords

Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit to declare to Our Lady, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2: 34-35.

A simple cube of mild cheese, topped with a grape tomato and pierced with a toothpick would provide a good visual for the children. If you have a party store near you, you might even pick up the perfect box ofSword Toothpicks.

7. Anna the Prophetess

Oh, how I love Anna--worshiping in the temple day and night at the age of 84. [This would be my mother if she did not have grandchildren. : )]

Because Anna was a widow, something black might represent her well. I can think of many possibilities, but our family will pick up a box of Mallomars. They are perfect for Anna. The black outer shell shows that she is a widow, but inside you will see the purity and goodness of her devout heart represented in the white center. Note that the marshmallow stands on top of a graham cracker, and remind the children that this good woman never left the floor of the Temple day or night.

(By the way, up until recently, I would have told you I could not stand Mallomars, but I tried one around Christmas, and it was surprisingly good.)

8. Pure Hearts

Have the children dip strawberries in fresh whipped cream to represent Our Lady's pure and innocent heart. If you managed to get sword toothpicks, it would be very effective to skewer each strawberry for added significance.

Another possibility:

We have a small fondue pot that rarely gets used. I may let the children dip the strawberries into melted white chocolate kept warm over a candle, just because I like the idea of the candle for Candlemas.

9. Theresa's Edible Tapers

Speaking of fondue pots, 11 year old Theresa made a creative suggestion we will not have time to test in advance. Cut small pieces of shoestring licorice--dip several times in melted white chocolate leaving a bit of licorice exposed as a wick. If it works, you will have tiny and adorable edible dipped tapers.

Here are some photographs of our Candlemas supplies:

On Friday morning, we will attend Mass at our parish, asking the priest to bless these floating white rose candles. The white rose seemed the perfect symbol of the Purification of Our Lady, and I plan to give the centerpiece added meaning by floating the candles in holy water, allowing the children to bless themselves (before the candles are lit, of course!)

A print of the Presentation will grace the table as well, along with a children's project--doves in a basket. We only have six doves, so, just as Mary and Joseph shared a pair of turtledoves, each pair of my children will share a pair as well.

I never did post pictures of my glorious Advent log in its fully lighted beauty. (Thank you, Rebecca!!!) Fortunately, I am a procrastinator, and the log is still on our living room mantle. I plan on replacing the red Christmas candle with a large fat white one, decorated with Marian symbols to become a Mary Candle. We will light the white side candles and sing Candlemas hymns, processing out afterward to bid a last farewell to our outdoor creche. It will be a fitting end to the official Christmas season, and for once I am glad we never got around to putting some things away!

And a word about treading water. As you know, the learning room of our cottage is soaked through. Yesterday, a workman brought me over to survey the cleanup effort, and I was shocked to see the room stripped down to the studs. The walls and ceiling were ripped out, and even part of the adjacent bathroom wall was no more. The place looked worse, if anything, so much worse than when it was merely wet with a ceiling piece hanging down. Still, I knew it had to be done if the room is to get better.

Then it occurred to me that the stripped room was a perfect metaphor for purification--in many ways, to improve our hearts and become true followers of Christ, we need to strip them down to the studs, lopping away all that is festering within us and holding us back from Him. Even Our Lady, pure and sinless though she was, was pruned and groomed in the school of suffering--told on the very day of Purification of a sword that would pierce her heart.

And so, Candlemas has come to call this year, in more ways than one.

Because she is amazing

My beautiful friend Margaret managed to host a Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in recognition of the March for Life this week.

May God bless you always, dearest Margaret!

Scenes from our Tea for the Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany

Our Tea for the Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany was appreciated by all the children, and I am hoping it will become a tradition in our house for many years to come.

How perfect is this teapot (coffee pot, actually)? Its deep burgundy and woodsy hues form a cozy backdrop for the lyrics to "Silent Night." I found this treasure at an after-Christmas sale and almost did not purchase it. That is, until I caught site of the nesting sugar and creamer and was smitten instantly and irrevocably. I had never before seen a creamer resting atop a sugar bowl, and, although I realize it will never hold enough milk to accommodate that hulking coffee pot, true love isn't necessarily practical. Believe it or not, it was only when I brought these home that I realized how perfect they would be for our Christmas Tea! After all, tea may be brewed in a coffee pot!

"Tea from the Innkeeper":

"Sugar Cubes for Our Lady":

"Milk for St. Joseph":

As you can see, the creamer actually forms a lid for the sugar bowl, reminding us that St. Joseph is the protector of Our Lady:

I had planned on heading out to the bakery for a baguette and rolls, but a busy morning prevented the errand. Theresa saved the day by whipping up a blueberry quick bread from a mix to represent "Bethlehem, House of Bread":

"Babes in the Manger":

"Shepherd's Staffs":

Margaret, Marie, Patrick, and Theresa spent part of the afternoon creating dozens of angels out of coffee filters. There were several different designs, but my personal favorites were the ones made out of our cut-up Christmas photograph. "A Host of Angels":

An angelic centerpiece, with seven angels--one for each of the children:

Agnes' letters were a highlight for all of us. She read them aloud while the others gathered round the tree. Has it truly been a year since she surprised me with that Wise Man Figure?

"Wise Men's Gifts":

At the very end, the children opened yet another very special surprise on behalf of the Christ Child:

The gifts of the Magi--gold, frankincense, and myrrh in ornate boxes--an extravagance purchased two days ago for a clearance price at yet another after-Christmas sale. I never would have thought of purchasing these, but the price was too good to pass up. You see, there are many advantages to being one of the minority who celebrates the Twelve Days of Christmas:

Of course, it wouldn't be a Cottage Blessings Party without our usual rag tag band of party crashers. Oh, how I love the ever-growing Raggedy Family:

So Eileen, what did you think of your first Christmas Tea?

Her smile says it all!

Happy Feast of the Epiphany, dear friends!

*******
Production Team

Babysitters: Theresa, Agnes, Marie, Margaret (in shifts)
Baking: Theresa
Poetry: Agnes
Angel Crafting: Margaret (lead designer), Theresa, Marie, Patrick
Best Boy: Patrick
Direction and Cinematography: Mommy
"Babe in a Manger" assembly: Marie, with help from Mommy
Tablescape Design Advice: every single person in the family, with final say given to Mommy
Music: Christmas Choirs (BMG), 3 CD set purchased at Staples for $7.99.

*******
A word about the three letters. A dear friend asked permission to read Agnes' letters aloud during her Tea. Agnes was honored beyond words and hopes anyone who wishes will feel free to do the same.

Wise Men's Gifts, Plan C, or a Bit of Unexpected Poetry

It was getting late in the day when I asked Agnes to write the three letters to Jesus on behalf of our family for our Christmas and Epiphany Tea. I told her my vision for the project, rattling off the top of my head something akin to the sample I posted here yesterday. She said, "Sure, Mom," and returned 45 minutes later with these, each separate letter written in careful script with a line drawing of the individual Wise Man kneeling before the Infant to offer his gift.

Letter Number One:

Dear Jesus,

Melchior brought
His gift of gold
For he had legions
Of wealth untold.
But You were poor
And had nought but rags
And a stable to shut out the cold.

So do we give
The gold that we make
Away to the Church
For Your people's sake.
And with Your help,
May we not withhold
From those that You love
The least scrap of our Gold.

Letter Number Two:

Dear Jesus,

Caspar was wise
And he knew not to bring
A gift that was meant
For an earthly king.
He neither gave livestock,
Nor clothing, nor wine--
He gave you a gift
That was for the Divine.
May all that we offer--
Our thoughts and our prayers--
Rise to heaven like incense
For all of our years.
To Thee do we cry, Lord,
For You we are yearning--
May the incense we offer You
Never stop burning.

Letter Number Three:

Dear Jesus,

As Balthazar watched
A tear came to his eye--
How could he tell Mary
Her Son would soon die?
He knew of the sorrow
It would give to her.
He spoke not a word
Yet he offered You myrrh.

As, surrounding the manger,
We witness Your birth,
Let us offer our sorrow
As well as our mirth.
When You leave the world
It will be a great loss--
Perhaps, by our pains,
We can lighten Your cross.

Baby Jesus was not the only one to receive three gifts today.

Tweaking things a bit

Occasionally, I post a plan only to discover it is not working quite as smoothly as I had hoped. The other day, I mentioned an activity called Wise Men's Gifts as part of our Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany Tea. The idea itself --preparing boxes of monetary and spiritual gifts for the Baby Jesus representing Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh--could be adapted as an Advent activity next year, but we have not managed to pull it together this week.

Instead, the three older children are going to write letters on behalf of our family containing promises to the Christ Child for the coming year. Here is a sample of how a child's letter might sound. (I will encourage the girls to use their own wording, or this could just as easily be prepared by Mom):

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for listening to the prayers of our family. In memory of the gift of Frankincense, we offer you all our prayers and thoughts during the New Year.

We love you with all our hearts.

The Gunther Family

The children could enclose the letters in pretty envelopes or decorative boxes to represent the Gifts. They also might enjoy taking turns reading them aloud at the table or by the creche. This is what we can manage for this year, and hopefully it will work well.

It just so happens that I have a very special surprise for the Tea picked up at an after Christmas sale this afternoon, but because my daughters read this blog, mum's the word for now. In the meantime, please pay a visit to our Creche in the Woods.

If only I'd thought of this a few days ago

Wouldn't these cookies have made a fun and easy Teatime for the Feast of the Holy Family?

Oh well, there is always next year! Besides, our Epiphany Tea is coming up shortly, and between that and the Mary's Day Tower of Cupcakes, the children will have more than enough sweets for the week! We'll put this dear little family away for company.
And another thought: This year, we decided to begin a tradition of putting together our gingerbread house on the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, December 10th. Sometimes Advent can be extra busy as we try to accomplish everything before December 25th. It would have been a good idea to put together the gingerbread house during the quiet Feast of the Holy Family, reminding us of the home in Nazareth.

Mary, Mother of God

"Mary, Mother of God" is still my favorite title for the Blessed Mother, and we passed the evening with hymns, the Holy Rosary, and our traditional tower of cupcakes for Our Lady. Mary is the "Tower of David" and "Tower of Ivory," and this year, instead of blue, we frosted our little cakes in pure white, a tribute to her spotless purity. Gumdrop flowers represent her divine Son, the Flower of Jesse, reminding us that Mary is truly the Mother of God.

Yesterday, my friend Willa wrote:

Dear Alice, Many, many blessings on your Cottage. May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire. And may God ever continue to hold you in the palm of His hand! (paraphrase of Irish blessing -- it seemed to fit you and your beautiful blog!)

I repeat this dear message to introduce the Christmas gift my husband gave to me this year, an Irish Blessings Cottage teapot inscribed on the bottom with the words to another version of this heartfelt prayer, one that was the final blessing at our wedding:

May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, And the rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

I love this image, not only because it shows off the teapot, but because it seems to capture the humble Domestic Church (the homes each and every one of us tend and nurture) with the Mother of God and her Son watching over it, seeing it through its day to day joys and struggles. This is a happy thought at the outset of a brand new year.

And so, along with Willa, I repeat the prayer: May God hold all of you dear ones in the palm of His hand today and always!

A Very Simple Tea for the Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany

As 2006 draws to a close and we make ready to celebrate the Epiphany next week, I hope some of you will enjoy this simple Tea suitable for any of the Twelve Days of Christmas. While I would prefer to create detailed menus emphasizing the infancy narratives found in St. Luke and St. Matthew, time is of the essence, and a simplified version will work well for this year.

In advance of the Tea, I would suggest that mothers set aside three things--a little bit of money for the poor box, a list of special prayers said thoughout the week (especially prayers for your children), and notes of sacrifices made or sufferings offered in love (parents experience this everyday). These will be important at the end of the Tea. If you are so inclined, ask your children to join you, setting aside a portion of their Christmas money, saying special prayers, and keeping track of little hurts and sufferings they remember to offer up.

Christmas and Epiphany Tea Menu

House of Bread
Tea from the Innkeeper
Sugar Cubes for Our Lady
Milk for St. Joseph
The Babe in the Manger
Shepherds' Staffs
A Host of Angels
Wise Men's Gifts

Recipes and Suggestions

Begin by reading from any good picture book on the Nativity, choosing your version based on your children's ages and the beauty of the illustrations. As you serve the tea, re-tell the story of the Nativity, explaining the significance of each menu item as you go along. (In the recipe section below, I will attempt to show in a small way how this might be done.)

1. "House of Bread" (Lk. 2: 1-4.)

Offer the children a basket of rolls with butter to represent Bethlehem, which means "House of Bread." As you read or tell the beginning of the Nativity story, explain the significance of this, reminding them of the Holy Eucharist. The gospel begins:

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child."

2. "Tea from the Innkeeper" (Lk. 2.)

Bethlehem was crowded, and there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the Inn. Taking pity on the young couple, the innkeeper allowed them to take shelter in a cave used by animals. Tea represents warmth, hospitality, and comfort, and so, as we pour our tea, we remember the innkeeper who offered a humble roof to the blessed couple on that holy night.

3. "Sugar Cubes for Our Lady"

We call Our Blessed Mother "our life, our sweetness, and our hope." As we sweeten our tea, we are reminded of Our Lady's sweetness, the spotless whiteness of the refined sugar symbolizing her purity and innocence. The cubes dissolve in the hot liquid, just as Our Lady conformed herself completely to the Divine Will. Stirring the cubes into our tea, we repeat Mary's Fiat as proclaimed in the Angelus saying, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Thy Word."

4. "Milk for St. Joseph"

Often, when we drink tea, it is hot and can burn our lips. The milk cools the tea and protects us, just as St. Joseph protected the Holy Family. It's pure whiteness reminds us that St. Joseph was a pure and just man.

5. "The Babe in the Manger" (Lk. 2: 6-7)

"While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."

The manger was a place where animals ate, reminding us that our dear Lord provides food for our souls in the Holy Eucharist. The swaddling clothes prefigure the burial cloth that would be placed around Christ's body after the Crucifixion.

To assemble sweet mini-mangers, gather:

Waffle Bowls for ice cream (or individual graham cracker tart shells)
Ice cream or pudding
Toasted Coconut or shaved white chocolate (optional)
Pepperidge Farm "Gingerman" Cookies
Whipped Cream or Cool Whip
Necco Wafers (optional)
Decorator's gel icing (optional)

Put a scoop of ice cream or pudding into a waffle bowl, sprinkling toasted coconut or white chocolate shavings on top for hay. (In the photo, I used a mixture of white coconut and shaved milk chocolate, but white chocolate would be even better.) Nestle a Gingerman cookie in this "manger," tucking a yellow Necco wafer under its head for a halo. Dollop Cool Whip or Whipped Cream over the center of the body for "swaddling clothes," drawing a sweet little face and curl of hair with decorator's gel icing. As you will note from the photo, I used a graham cracker pie shell, but waffle bowls make even better mangers if you can find them at your local store.

6. "Shepherd's Staffs" (Lk. 2: 8.)

"Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock."

Hand each of the children a candy cane to represent the staffs of the shepherds. (These may be taken home or saved for later.) Teach the children of the spiritual significance of the candy cane. Each one reminds us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The red and white represent the blood and water from His side and, when turned upside down, the candy cane forms the letter "J."

7. "A Host of Angels" (Lk. 2: 9-20)

Hold a simple white tissue paper angel up for view as you tell about the angel who first came to the shepherds. Then, just before you say, "[a]nd suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests,'" ask the children to peek under their plates or placemats. There they will each find a simple tissue paper angel with the words "Glory to God in the Highest" emblazoned across the front. Have the children shout out the angels' message with joy while waving their special angels, "Glory to God in the Highest!" or "Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests!"

8. "Wise Mens' Gifts"

Tell or read about the gifts of the Three Wise Men, allowing the children to take turns opening three beautifully wrapped gifts for the Baby Jesus they will find in the center of the table. In the first box, representing "Gold," put money gathered for the poor or for your parish. (This is especially effective if the children have shared some of their Christmas money in advance.) The next box, representing "Frankincense," will contain a spiritual bouquet of prayers said by Mom and Dad on behalf of and in thanksgiving for these precious children. Ask the children to continue to "fill" the box with prayers throughout the month. The last box, representing "Myrrh," will contain a list of sacrifices or sufferings offered up for the Christ Child. If these were completed by Mom and Dad, ask the children to continue to fill the box during the month of January.

At the end of the Tea, process to your familiy's Nativity scene, presenting these three boxes to the Christ Child and adding the figures of the Wise Men to the creche if you have not already done so. If you decide to make this Tea a tradition in your home, it might be worthwhile to consider filling the Three Wise Men's boxes as an activity throughout Advent or during the Twelve Days of Christmas.

_______

Christmas and Epiphany Tea Shopping List

Tea
Milk
Sugar cubes
Bread or rolls
Butter
Waffle bowls for ice cream (or individual graham cracker tart shells)
Ice cream or pudding
Toasted Coconut or shaved white chocolate (optional)
Pepperidge Farm "Gingerman" Cookies
Whipped Cream or Cool Whip
Necco Wafers (optional)
Decorator's gel icing (optional)
Candy canes

Other items you will need:

White tissue paper to create simple angels (The great thing about tissue paper is you can cut out several at once.)
Pen or marker for writing "Glory to God in the Highest"
Three wrapped boxes containing money for the poor, prayers, and sacrifices as described above

May God continue to bless you and your families during this holy season!

A Jesse "Tea" for Advent

Our wait is almost over, and the children's hearts are aflutter with anticipation toward the birth of the Christ Child. As we enter the final week of this all too brief Advent, perhaps we might succeed in brushing aside the visions of sugarplums for just a bit longer by preparing a Tea honoring the Old Testament figures whose lives were a compass for humanity, pointing the True path toward the Promised Redeemer.

My aim for this Tea was simplicity, suggesting plain offerings with common ingredients, in hopes that this menu will not add to the burdens that creep in the week before Christmas. Children are so dear, so unfailingly receptive to religious themes, and so easy to please that I have reason to hope symbolism will triumph where my culinary advice fails.

A Jesse Tea Menu

Jesse Tea
Adam's Apple
Noah's Ark
Abraham's Stars
Isaac's Bundle of Sticks
Jacob's Ladder
Joseph's Coat of Many Colors
The Burning Bush
Moses' Tablets of the Law
The Root of Jesse
David's Star Tea Sandwiches
Bethlehem, House of Bread (optional)
John the Baptist's Honey
Angelic Messengers (optional)
Pure White Cakes for Our Blessed Mother OR Flowers of Jesse (or both)

*******

How to shorten this Tea, if needed:

Host a "Tea of Promises," emphasizing God's Covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, along with the Blessed Mother as the promised "Woman" of Genesis.

*******

Recipes and Suggestions

1. "Jesse Tea"

Children love plays on words. Any type of tea or iced tea would work for this one.

2. "Adam's Apple" (Genesis 3: 6)

During the Christmas season, we are all a bit overworked. A plain bowl of apples is enough for this offering. If you are like me and forgot to put out those fun little Gummi Worms for your Tea in Honor of Guadalupe last week, you might want to add them to the bowl for effect. They could represent the serpent or just stand on their own as worms to remind us that the sin of Adam brought death and decay in the world.

Another thought would be to skip the tea and serve "Adam's Apple Cider." I prefer the visual image of the apples in a bowl, but you should do whatever is most convenient. Other possibilities: apple chips, tea sandwiches spread with apple butter, or some kind of apple pastry.

3. "Noah's Ark" (Genesis 9: 12-17)

I thought about suggesting bakery rainbow cookies for Noah's Rainbow, but did not want the tea to be too loaded with sweets. Noah's Arks (pictured below) are a cute and healthy alternative. Take a piece of celery, and cut it to a length of about two inches. Trim the bottom so that it will sit flat on the plate, and trim the two ends on an angle so that it begins to have the shape of a boat. Cut a grape tomato in half and pop it on top. The plate could be lined with a thin layer of Ranch dressing for a "sea" if you do not think it would be too messy.

[Celery is extremely choke-able, so please exercise caution when serving to young children.]

4. Abraham's Stars (Genesis 15: 5)

We still have tons of Dora the Explorer Cinnamon Stars cereal left over from our Guadalupe Tea, so this is an obvious choice for us. You might consider star cookies, white chocolate chips, or even star shaped sprinkles. Then again, for something very, very easy and impressive for younger children, just take one of the Adam's apples, cut it in half horizontally, and show them Abraham's "stars" inside. (I am a firm believer in cutting corners--and apples--when necessary!)

5. "Isaac's Bundle of Sticks" (Genesis 22: 6)

Abraham's son, Isaac, carried the bundle of sticks for the sacrifice as a precursor to the wood of the cross carried by God's Only Begotten Son on Calvary. For this symbol, put exactly eight small pretzel sticks per child into bundles, and tie them with a bit of embroidery floss, yarn, or, as my imaginative daughter Agnes suggested, shoestring licorice.

6. "Jacob's Ladder" (Genesis 28: 12)

To commemorate Isaac's son Jacob's flight from the fury of his brother Esau, and the prophetic dream he had along the way, have the children remove the floss from their pretzel sticks and arrange them on plates in the shape of two-runged ladders--or perhaps even one long shared ladder in the middle of the table.

7. "Joseph's Coat of Many Colors" (Genesis 37: 3-4)

The coat of many colors given to Joseph by his doting father Jacob incited the wrath of his jealous brothers who sold him into slavery in the land of Egypt. I can think of many ways to symbolize this coat, but here is a particularly easy one. Spread peanut butter on bread (already cut into a pretty shape, or just cut in fourths with the crust removed). Using a stencil made out of wax paper, pour colored round sprinkles over the peanut butter to create the shape of a "coat of many colors." You could also use the stencil to spread the peanut butter, adding the sprinkles afterward like glitter on glue. If you are pressed for time, do not worry about the stencil. Spread peanut butter on small bread shapes and let the children sprinkle the colors on it themselves. (The results of these three suggestions are pictured below.)

Another thought would be to cut the sandwiches using gingerbread girl cookie cutters, trimming all but the robe.

8. "The Burning Bush" (Exodus 3: 2-3)

Broccoli florets look exactly like tiny green bushes. Add a bit of Thousand Island or Honey Mustard dressing to each to remember the flame that burned but did not consume the bush. Children would probably prefer dipping the florets into the dressing themselves, but I photographed a few already completed to show the effect. Once again, please remember--I am no food stylist, and broccoli is not an especially photogenic vegetable!

9. "Moses' Tablets of the Law" (Exodus 34: 1)

Two Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies or Mini Milanos per child, and you are in business! You might want to write numbers on the "tablets" from a tube of icing, but I would suggest leaving it plain for convenience.

10. "The Root of Jesse" (Isaiah 11: 1 and 10)

Show the children a root vegetable, such as a carrot (or some fragrant ginger), preferably with the plant still attached, and explain how the root forms the base from which a plant can grow and flourish. Then let them help themselves from a bowl of baby carrots to represent "The Root of Jesse."

11. "David's Star Tea Sandwiches" (1 Samuel 17: 12-51)

The Star of David is such an easy shape to recreate. Use your favorite thin-sliced bread and cold cuts. For example, you might put American Cheese on a bit of buttered white bread, cutting it into a triangle shape. Then rotate the top bread triangle halfway, forming a Star. (This is a simple and kid-friendly suggestion. Needless to say, you could make much tastier sandwiches for this. All that matters is that you choose a filling that will not fall out of the bread when the top slice is turned.)

12. "Bethlehem, House of Bread" (Matthew 2: 5-6)

God promised that the Savior would be born in the City of David, Bethlehem. Because Bethlehem means "Houst of Bread," I couldn't resist suggesting a basket of bread, rolls, or scones for the table.

13. "John the Baptist's Honey" (Luke 1: 41; Matthew 3: 3)

St. John the Baptist spent his life exhorting others to Prepare for the coming of Our Lord, living on honey and wild locusts in the desert. My guess is that your darlings would not be interested in trying locusts, but perhaps they would enjoy a squirt of honey in their tea or swirled on the peanut butter "Coats of Many Colors."

14. "Angelic Messengers" (optional)

If you have a few Stella D'oro Angel Wings cookies left over from your Guadalupe Tea, you might want to put them on a tray to represent the Angel Gabriel (or perhaps add them to your Jacob's Ladders). Then again, you might share a gorgeous cookie like the one we found at our local bakery (below). One of these is enough for a whole family, with each child taking a little piece.

15. "Pure White Cakes for Our Blessed Mother" or "Flowers of Jesse" or both

Mary's Fiat brought our Redeemer into the world, and no Advent Tea would be complete without a vivid reminder of her. One thought would be to bake pure white cupcakes to represent her spotless, perfect purity. (Last year, we made a tower of cupcakes to celebrate the Feast of Mary, Mother of God that could be adapted with white cake, white frosting, and white sugar.)

If you are pressed for time and unable to bake, make quick "Flowers of Jesse" out of red and green spice drops, readily available this time of year. Press down the red spice drop with your thumb as if you were making thumbprint cookies. This will form the rose. Then do the same for a green spice drop, cutting it in half to form two leaves arranged around each flower.

These make a perfect final course to the Tea on their own, but the ambitious may use them to decorate "Our Lady's Cakes." I love the idea of the vibrant Flowers springing from the pure white cakes, reminding the children of Our Lady and her Divine Son. These would be great for Christmas as well.

As with the Lenten and Easter Teas, small cards with the Biblical Quotes handwritten or printed on them add to the display and reinforce the symbolism for the children. Oh, and if you decide to host this Tea for next year, here is a tip: the time to purchase pink and purple table linens is around Easter. Last March, I was able to purchase gorgeous, inexpensive pink and purple table cloths to save for Advent very inexpensively. Nowadays, everything is red, green, and gold.

Here are a few photos to illustrate some of the suggestions above. Believe me, I know these are not anything too spectacular, but I think they illustrate well how easy this menu really is. I had to laugh outright as I dipped those homely broccoli florets into Thousand Island dressing, and 12 year old Agnes beamed with admiration, exclaiming, "Mommy, you are like the Catholic Martha Stewart!" : ) : ) : ) Ah, see what I mean about children? They truly look with the eyes of love!

Adam's Apples:

Noah's Ark:

Or, if you are in the mood for something sweet, try Noah's Rainbows instead:

Abraham's Stars (an idea borrowed from the Guadalupe Tea):

Isaac's Bundle of Sticks:

Jacob's Ladder:

Suggested Steps for Joseph's Coat of Many Colors:

Three possibilities for these sandwiches:

The Burning Bush:

Flowers of Jesse:

*******
Jesse Tea, Shopping List

Produce:

Apples
Grape Tomatoes
Celery
Broccoli
Baby Carrots

Dry Goods:

Dora the Explorer Cinnamon Star Cereal (or any other "stars")
Slim Pretzel Sticks
Peanut Butter
Multi-colored round sprinkles (non-parielles)
Thousand Island, Honey Mustard, or Ranch Dressing
Honey
Tea

Bread:

White or wheat bread for two kinds of sandwiches
Bread to put in a basket for "Bethlehem" (optional offering)

Dairy:
Milk for the tea
Butter for the tea sandwiches

Deli:

American Cheese or other cold cuts for "Star of David Tea Sandwiches"

Sweets:
Milano or mini Milano Cookies from Pepperidge Farm
Stella D'oro Angel Wings (optional)
Ingredients for White Cupcakes and/or red and green spice drops

Scenes from our Guadalupe Tea

We invited Heather and the beautiful gang from Doodle Acres to join us for our Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. If you have a moment, please take a look at our Photo Album of the afternoon. You will find notes explaining each of the dishes and pictures by clicking on the thumbnails.
The children enjoyed everything, including the St. Lucy's craft Heather generously provided using one of Dawn's ideas from O Night Divine. (If you want to warm my heart and put a smile on the faces of my children, please be sure to bring one of Dawn's crafts when you come to visit. Thank you dearest Heather!)

[Marie's St. Lucy Ornament. I cannot stress enough how pretty these ornaments are in person. We may be making these all year! This is such an attractive and meaningful use for our extra holy cards and Christmas card images. Can you imagine making these to decorate gifts for friends and family?]

[Praying Hands sandwiches, symbolizing that Our Lady always points us to her Son.]