 St. Venantius Welcome to the Feria Friday series where every Friday the saint for the day is shared from Butler's Lives of the Saints along with five meatless recipes. "Feria" in regard to our blog series means without meat for the way the church uses Feria is in regards to those days that do not have a feast of a saint celebrated on a specific day in the liturgical year.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. 1894
May 18.—ST. VENANTIUS, Martyr.
ST. VENANTIUS was born at Camerino in Italy, and at the age of fifteen was seized as a Christian and carried before a judge. As it was found impossible to shake his constancy either by threats or promises, he was condemned to be scourged, but was miraculously saved by an angel. He was then burnt with torches and hung over a low fire that he might be suffocated by the smoke. The judge's secretary, admiring the steadfastness of the Saint, and seeing an angel robed in white, who trampled out the fire and again set free the youthful martyr, proclaimed his faith in Christ, was baptized with his whole family, and shortly after won the martyr's crown himself. Venantius was then carried before the governor, who, unable to make him renounce his faith, cast him into prison with an apostate, who vainly strove to tempt him. The governor then ordered his teeth and jaws to be broken, and had him thrown into a furnace, from which the angel once more delivered him. The Saint was again led before the judge, who at sight of him fell headlong from his seat and expired, crying, "The God of Venantius is the true God; let us destroy our idols." This circumstance being told to the governor, he ordered Venantius to be thrown to the lions; but these brutes, forgetting their natural ferocity, crouched at the feet of the Saint. Then, by order of the tyrant, the young martyr was dragged through a heap of brambles and thorns, but again God manifested the glory of His servant; the soldiers suffering from thirst, the Saint knelt on a rock and signed it with a cross, when immediately a jet of clear, cool water spurted up from the spot. This miracle converted many of those who beheld it, whereupon the governor had Venantius and his converts beheaded together in the year 250. The bodies of these martyrs are kept in the church at Camerino which bears the Saint's name.
Reflection.—Love of suffering marks the most perfect degree in the love of God. Our Lord Himself was consumed with the desire to suffer, because He burnt with the love of God. We must begin with patience and detachment. At last we shall learn to love the sufferings which conform us to the Passion of our Redeemer.
This Week's Five Meatless Recipes
 A traditional Catholic Planner based on the Litugical Year! Plan your homeschool, your home and your Liturgical Year celebrations/fastings all in one place! For more details and to purchase visit the Holy Simplicity Page.FREE PDF Version coming out June 1st!
 "The feast of penance! Oh so bright with true conversion's heavenly light, like sunrise after stormy night! Full long in sin's dark ways we went, yet now our steps are heavenward bent, and grace is plentiful in Lent." -Catholic Life Impr. 1908The Liturgical Season of Lent is upon us and this Wednesday brings the beginning, Ash Wednesday. As with Fridays, Lent also bring more abstinence from meat as well as fasting along with it. Start getting some ideas for those meatless meals from our 140 Vegetarian/Vegan Recipes from previous Feria Friday Posts! Today's Feria Friday is truly a Feria day in that there is no saint whom the mass of the day is dedicated to, Feria meaning without. So for this weeks post, instead of a saint story, there is a tutorial on how to make a meatless meal from scratch.
Homemade Corn Tortilla Recipe/Tutorial
There are many benefits to making your own corn tortillas right at home. The largest of those is probably that you know what is going into them. Many store bought tortillas have added chemicals to preserve them while they sit on the shelf and some also have a lot higher fat content so that they hold together. Homemade tortillas were surprising easier than I thought to make and they are much much cheaper. The main ingredient is Maseca Corn Masa, easily found in most super markets or online, which runs about $3 or so per bag. A bag is usually between 3-5 lbs and when only 2 cups are used for about 12+ tortillas it is a lot cheaper than buying store bought especially when the health benefits are added in.
This tutorial demonstrates the tortilla press version (verses rolling them out with a rolling pin). Most presses will run about $20 for an aluminum one and probably a bit more for a cast iron press. We purchased our cast iron press at Goodwill (second hand store) for $3.99, a deal that couldn't be passed up! Keep your eyes open for such a deal at a local second hand store. Since the presses require the use of plastic or parchment when used it keeps them super clean.
This recipe makes between 12-20 corn tortillas depending on how big you make them and if you are rolling them out or using a press.
What you need:
2 Cups Maseca Corn Masa mix
1 teaspoon Salt
1/4 - 1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/8 Cup Water
(split the water using half lime juice if you wish)
Tortilla Press
2 Plastic Bags
 Heat a frying pan on med/high heat while mixing your ingredients. Place all ingredients in your bowl EXCEPT for the water (and lime juice if you are using).  Make a well in the flour and add a little bit of the water/lime juice mix. Mix with your hands and keep adding water until it is just moist enough to stick together. The trick here is the right moiseter. If it is crumbily and won't stick add more liquid. Be careful not to add to much or it will stick to your press/bag. The dough is very forgiving so if it gets to wet add a tiny bit of maza to it and it will help the stickiness.  Roll dough into about 1 inch balls. Place a plastic bag (cut open) or parchment paper over the bottom of your tortilla press. Tortillas may be rolled out between parchment as well. Place another plastic bag or parchment over the top of your rolled dough.  Lower your tortilla press and push the lever forward, flattening the tortilla. If you are using a rolling pin you would roll out the tortilla between your plastic/parchment.  Sometimes a little help is nice, this is my little worker bee whom was anxious to try his hand at making some tortillas.  After the tortilla is pressed it will look similar to this. Very carefully take the plastic off of the top and then peel the other side off as well.  Place in your heated frying pan and cook on med/high until little brown spots start to appear. Then flip and cook the other side. Usually by the time the next tortilla is made and ready for the pan the original one is ready to come out. Last time I used an electric griddle so I could do several at a time but it didn't give me that nice brown look in places. It was still pretty white but cooked. I'll have to experiment again to see which way works best.  The finished homemade corn tortillas just waiting for the rest of the ingredients to top them! Meatless ideas for stuffing your homemade corn tortillas:
 This post is part of the Homestead Barn Hop!
 St. Scholastica February 10.—ST. SCHOLASTICA, Abbess. OF this Saint but little is known on earth, save that she was the sister of the great patriarch St. Benedict, and that, under his direction, she founded and governed a numerous community near Monte Casino. St. Gregory sums up her life by saying that she devoted herself to God from her childhood, and that her pure soul went to God in the likeness of a dove, as if to show that her life had been enriched with the fullest gifts of the Holy Spirit. Her brother was accustomed to visit her every year, for "she could not be sated or wearied with the words of grace
which flowed from his lips." On his last visit, after a day passed in spiritual converse, the Saint, knowing that her end was near, said, "My brother, leave me not, I pray you, this night, but discourse with me till dawn on the bliss of those who see God in heaven." St. Benedict would not, break his rule at the bidding of natural affection; and then the Saint bowed her head on her hands and prayed; and there arose a storm so violent that St. Benedict could not return to his monastery, and they passed the night in heavenly conversation. Three days later St. Benedict saw in a vision the soul of his sister going up in the likeness of a dove into heaven. Then he gave thanks to God for the graces He had given her, and for the glory which had crowned them. When she died, St. Benedict, her spiritual daughters, and the monks sent by St. Benedict mingled their tears and prayed, "Alas! alas! dearest mother, to whom dost thou leave us now? Pray for us to Jesus, to Whom thou art gone." They then devoutly celebrated holy Mass, "commending her soul to God;" and her body was borne to Monte Casino, and laid by her brother in the tomb he had prepared for himself." And they bewailed her many days;" and St. Benedict said, "Weep not, sisters and brothers; for assuredly Jesus has taken her before us to be our aid and defense against all our enemies, that we may stand in the evil day and be in all things perfect." She died about the year 543.
Reflection.--Our relatives must be loved in and for God; otherwise the purest affection becomes inordinate and is so much taken from Him.
This weeks 5 Meatless Recipes:
 ST. BLAISÉ AND BLESSING THROATS
The feast of St. Blaise, February 3, is the day to receive the Blessing of Throats. St. Blaise was a physician who was made Bishop to Sebaste in Armenia. Bishop or not, he withdrew to a cave and soon had a reputation for
curing both men and beasts. It is told that if the animals found him at prayer they would wait patiently for him to finish. Under the emperor Lisinius, Agricola, governor of Cappadocia, came to Sebaste to persecute the Christians. Sending his hunters out in quest of wild beasts for the arena, they were startled to find at the mouth of the cave on Mount Argues, wolves, tigers, bears and lions waiting for Blaise to finish his
prayers. They promptly arrested him and tried without success to make him apostatize. While he was in prison the poor and the sick and the lame continued to come to him. The most familiar of the events surrounding him appear to have happened at this time. He returned to a poor woman the pig which a wolf had stolen, and he cured the little child with the fish bone caught in his throat from this miracle grew his great reputation as a healer of throats. According to the Acts of his martyrdom (considered somewhat legendary), after horrible torments he was
thrown into a lake upon which he proceeded to walk, inviting his tormentors to join him. They took up the challenge and were drowned to the last man! Told by an angel to return to dry land and receive martyrdom, he did, and was promptly beheaded on the shore, and of course went straight to Heaven. Special candles are blessed to be used in the Blessing of Throats. In this blessing of candles we find mention of his power of healing throats, granted him at his request as he was dying, it is said . . . . . . . In virtue of which, among other gifts, thou didst bestow on him the prerogative - of healing all ailments of the throat. Thus we beg thy Majesty that, overlooking our guilt, and considering only his merits and intercession, thou wouldst deign to bless and sanctify and bestow thy grace on these candles. Let all Christians of good faith whose necks are touched with them be healed of every malady of the throat, and being restored in health and cheer, let them return thanks in thy Holy Church, and give praise to thy wondrous name which is blessed forever. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in unity of the Holy Spirit, God, eternally. Amen.
When we go to church to have our throats blessed, this is what the priest says as he touches our throats with the crossed candles:
“Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, may God deliver you from sickness of the throat, and from every other evil; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” St. Blaise is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers or Auxiliary Saints, the others being St. George, St. Erasmus, St. Pantaleon, St. Vitus, St. Christopher, St. Denis, St. Cyriac, St. Achatius, St. Eustache, St. Giles, St. Margaret, St. Barbara, and St. Catherine. So we greet him on his feast day and give thanks to God for his blessing. And I don‟t suppose he‟d be cross if we said that really and truly this Blessing of Throats might well be termed the liturgical antibiotic. (taken from: “The Year and Our Children,” Imprimatur 1956)
This weeks 5 Meatless Recipes!
 St. Servulus _The last Friday before the Most Holy Feast of the Word Made Flesh! This week on the Feria Friday Post are recipes and traditions in regards to the fast and abstinence day for Christmas Eve. Also enjoy the saints story of St. Servulus a great example of how we who are in good health and have so much to be thankful for should sacrifice at least a little of what we have for the love of God. A saint who found his path to Heaven in poverty just as Our Lord will soon be born in poverty, in a poor cold damp cave. Come Oh Divine Messiah!!! December 23.—ST. SERVULUS. Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. 1894 SERVULUS was a beggar, and had been so afflicted with palsy from his infancy that he was never able to stand, sit upright, lift his hand to his mouth, or turn himself from one side to another. His mother and brother carried him into the porch of St. Clement's Church at Rome, where he lived on the alms of those that passed by. He used to entreat devout persons to read the Holy Scriptures to him, which he heard with such attention as to learn them by heart. His time he consecrated by assiduously singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God. After several years thus spent, his distemper having seized his vitals, he felt his end was drawing nigh. In his last moments he desired the poor and pilgrims, who had often shared in his charity, to sing sacred hymns and psalms for him. While he joined his voice with theirs, he on a sudden cried out: "Silence! do you not hear the sweet melody and praise which resound in the heavens?" Soon after he spoke these words he expired, and his soul was carried by angels into everlasting bliss, about the year 590. Reflection.—The whole behaviour of this poor sick beggar loudly condemns those who, when blessed with good health and a plentiful fortune, neither do good works nor suffer the least cross with tolerable patience. This Weeks Feria Friday Recipes with a Christmas Eve twist!1.) Polish Christmas Eve Dinner Traditions/Recipes (Thank you Anne!)2.) 12 Dish Christmas Eve Dinner - Russian Traditions3.) Salad of the Good Night (Ensalada De Nochebuena) Served for Mexican Christmas Eve Dinner, usually with Red Snapper 4.) From Italy Pasta with Anchovy Sauce (Bigolinin Salsa) From the book A Continual Feast, it states that the traditional meal would include 12 courses in honor of the Twelve Apostles5.) Christmas Eve Carp with Black Sauce from GermanyCarp is also found on Christmas Eve in many different Eastern European countries. From the book A Continua Feast: "Carp is a large and handsome fish, with a long and distinguished culinary tradition. Monasteries in the Middle Ages often kept fish ponds stocked with carp."
 St. Eusebius, Bishop Only 9 more days until Christmas! Check out the previous post for the Christmas Novena that starts today. This Friday brings another week close to it's end and soon we will be starting the 4th week of Advent. Our Lord is near!
Today's Feria Friday post is about St. Eusebius, quite a saintly family and wonderful story!
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894], at sacred-texts.com
December 16.—ST. EUSEBIUS, Bishop. ST. EUSEBIUS was born of a noble family, in the island of Sardinia, where his father is said to have died in prison for the Faith. The Saint's mother carried him and his sister, both infants, to Rome. Eusebius having been ordained, served the Church of Vercelli with such zeal that on the episcopal chair becoming vacant he was unanimously chosen, by both clergy and people, to fill it. The holy bishop saw that the best and first means to labor effectually for the edification and sanctification of his people was to have a zealous clergy. He was at the same time very careful to instruct his flock, and inspire them with the maxims of the Gospel. The force of the truth which he preached, together with his example, brought many sinners to a change of life. He courageously fought against the heretics, who had him banished to Scythopolis, end thence to Upper Thebais in Egypt, where he suffered so grievously as to win, in some of the panegyrics in his praise, the title of martyr. He died in the latter part of the year 371.
Reflection.—The routine of every-day, commonplace. duties is no hindrance to a free intimacy with God. He will disclose His hidden ways to you in proportion as you follow your vocation faithfully, whether in the world or the cloister.
This weeks meatless recipes:
 St. Leocadia We have a lot going on this week and so I don't anticipate on getting this out ON Friday, so here it is a little bit early :)
Your new Feria Friday blog post, 5 recipes without (Feria) meat for this coming Friday. And the Saint's story both to commemorate our Lord's suffering on the Cross and His death on Friday.
December 9.—ST. LEOCADIA, Virgin, Martyr.
From Butler's Lives of the Saints 1894
ST. LEOCADIA was a native of Toledo, and was apprehended by an order of Dacian, the cruel governor under Diocletian in 304. Hearing of the martyrdom of St. Eulalia, she prayed that God would not prolong her exile, but unite her speedily with her holy friend in His glory. Her prayer was heard, and she happily expired in prison. Three famous churches in Toledo bear her name, and she is honored as principal patroness of that city. In one of those churches most of the councils of Toledo were held. Her relics were kept in that church with great respect, till, in the incursions of the Moors, they were conveyed to Oviedo, and some years afterward to the abbey of St. Guislain, near Mons in Hainault. They were finally carried back to Toledo with great pomp, and placed in the great church there on the 26th of April, 1589.
Reflection.—Were we not blinded by the world and the enchantment of its follies, the near prospect of eternity, the uncertainty of the hour of our death, and the repeated precepts of Christ would produce in us the same fervent dispositions which they did in the primitive Christians.
This weeks 5 Meatless Recipes
This Friday happens to fall after Thanksgiving, one where most eat their left over turkey but for Catholics it is still a day of abstinence in remembrance of our Lord dying on the Cross for us! What a most worthy day of Thanksgiving and in return we make this sacrifice every Friday for such a wonderful gift! This will be the last Feria Friay post in this series. As the new Liturgical Year approaches on Sunday and I will be starting a new series on Friday about Saint's that sacrificed so much for Christ and for their Faith. Watch for our new series starting next Friday and in the mean time enjoy the last 5 fabulous meatless recipes. All of these recipes are logged in the blog index to the right of the blog under Fast and Abstinence, Lent and Feria Friday. God bless!1.) 10 Minute Taco Salad Recipe2.) California Pizzas3.) Caribbean Potato Soup4.) Caramelized Onion and Pear Pizza5.) Calypso Burritos
 Photo By: Taste of Home Happy Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica's of St. Peter and St. Paul! Here are five recipes for Feria (meaning without) Friday. With the United States celebrating Thanksgiving this coming week I thought I would share agian the writings on the Ember Days as they are the Catholic celebration of Thanksgiving for the abundance in harvest that Our Lord has provided for us. Find the writings on Ember Days from Catholic Life Impr. 1908 HEREAnd from Dom Gueranger on the September Ember DaysAs well as the history of the First Thanksgiving being Catholic HEREMay you have a blessed Weekend! 1.) Coconut-Pecan Sweet Potatoes2.) Southwest Corn Bread Bake3.) German Potato Pancakes4.) Hearty Lentil and Mushroom Shepard's Pie5.) Lemony Quinoa with Butternut Squash
 Another Feria Friday means another abstinence day to honor Christ with. Why do we abstain from meat on Friday? Here is the answer from, "The Catechism Explained" by Spirago - Clarke. From 1981 Q. Why does the Church command us to fast and
abstain?
A. The Church commands us to fast and abstain in order that we may mortify our passions and satisfy for our sins.
"Mortify our passions," keep our bodies under control, do bodily penance. Remember it is our bodies that generally lead us into sin; if therefore we punish the body by fasting and mortification, we atone for the sin, and thus God wipes out a part of the temporal punishment due to it. Here are 5 ideas for recipes on this day without meat (feria: without): 1.) Parsley Pesto with Walnuts over Pasta
2.) African Curried Coconut Soup with Chickpeas
3.) Roasted Mediterranean Vegetable Potage
4.) Spicy Raw Herb and Tomato Sauce over Pasta5.) Chickpea and Zuchini Sautee over CouscousToday is also the feast of St. Martin of Tours, enjoy this coloring page from Waltzing Matilda:
 | St. Martin of Tours Coloring Page | | File Size: | 435 kb | | File Type: | pdf |
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