In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not abandon the world, O Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from death by your intercessions.

Shudder, O ye heavens! and, O earth, give ear unto these words:
God descended once before for our sake; He descends again today for His Mother.

This is a bit early; the feast isn't until Thursday. However, the Dormition (or Assumption, in the West - this is the same feast, but the title emphasizes a different aspect) is the fourth highest feast in the Church year, following the Paschal feast, Pentecost, and the feast of the Nativity. Church teaching is that all the apostles but Thomas were gathered mystically around the Blessed Mother as she died, and were there for her burial. Thomas, arriving three days later, was taken to her tomb, only to find that it was empty. This Church teaching of the assumption of her body into heaven is not just a pious tradition, but holds some deep spiritual and physical truths for us. It is a sign and reminder to us that not only Christ resurrected bodily, but that we all will rise. Also, we know now, as they didn't then, that all women bear the DNA of each and every child borne to them in their bodies forever. So, by raising His mother, our Lord made sure that His resurrection was complete on this earth. If this had not happened, then He would not be completely risen. What a wonder and miracle!

So many times, when people deny honor to the Theotokos, it is really a dishonor to the Lord. Even denying her the title Theotokos ends up declaring that Christ was either not God in her womb, or that He is not God incarnate. It is not intentional, but I think a good question to ask oneself when putting her "in her place" is what does this mean about Christ and His divinity? If it ends up dishonoring Him, calling His divinity into question, or lessening Him, it isn't a good thing. Likewise, so many people say that there is too much honor given her, without actually considering whether or not they honor her enough or even at all. What is just the right amount of honor? Surely it isn't debasing the woman who bore and raised our Lord? Jesus was born a Jew and fulfilled the law. He loved and honored His mother, and as we could not have had Him without her, why would we want that, instead of following His example?

The Archangel Gabriel in the Gospel of Luke hails her and says that God calls her blessed. Her cousin Elizabeth's unborn son, Saint John the Forerunner, leaps at the sound of Mary's voice, and by this does Elizabeth know and proclaim that Mary is the Mother of her Lord. Mary replies by saying that ALL generations will call her blessed. It is in the Scriptures that we are to bless her, that God Himself magnifies her, so why should we not do the same? How can we do less?

Besides the Dormition feast, it is also fair week, which is a very busy week for us. And besides that we are all in grief. Because of this sorrowful event, we were not home to make most of the meals last week, and some are now on this week's menu.

I had not made an open announcement, because we were waiting for Dominic and Shawn to do so, but we have had a terrible tragedy in our family. Their first son, our grandson, nephew, cousin, Emannuel Nasrullah was stillborn on August 6, the feast of the Transfiguration. We buried him Wednesday. I will not be sharing many photos, just of the grave, but please keep all of us in your prayers, especially Dominic and Shawn, and especially pray for the soul of Emmanuel, that he and many would be brought to the Lord in glory. The feast of the Transfiguration will be forever linked to this in our lives.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Cheesy Potato Hash, Fruit Plate, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Eggplant Lasagne*, Salad, Strawberries, Blackberry Crumble
• Monday
  Breakfast: Swedish Cardamom Knots*, Battatas ou Bayd, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Spanish "Foolish Eggs," Spanish Poor Man's Potatoes, Leftover Treats from the Fair
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Apple Coconut Breakfast Bowls with Honey Peanut Drizzle, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Tuna Sandwiches, Carrot and Celery Sticks, Pickled Asparagus, Sliced Watermelon
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Chickpeas with Veggies, Toast, Blueberries, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Italian Braised Green Beans and Potatoes, Italian Bread, Sliced Canteloupe
• Thursday - Feast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary
  Breakfast: Fried Eggs, Sausages, Fruit Plate, Milk and Tea
  Dinner: Slow Cooker Steak and Guinness Pie, Chopped Salad, Chocolate Velvet Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
• Friday
  Breakfast: Vegetable Hash Burritos with Salsa, Fruit, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Instant Pot Mixed Lentil and Vegetable Khichdi, Basmati Rice, Nectarines
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Peach and Blueberry Coffee Cake, Bacon, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Sauerbraten, Sour Cream Egg Noodles, Torta Dominguera

What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up on Saturday.

Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art though amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the savior of our souls.

Dominic said that when we pray this prayer, or any other Marian prayers like the Hail Mary, which are based on the text of Luke, we are placing ourselves in the prophecy from Mary's own lips: "For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed" Luke 1:48

Labels: Blessed Virgin, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, Tales from the Kitchen, Theotokos