March 17, 2023

Dear Friends, 

         Happy St. Patrick’s Day. On a day like today, I am reminded of traditions and the impact they play in our lives and in our history. Have you ever made Irish Soda Bread? Does your family have THE recipe? For years I was using a recipe from one of my Aunt’s that was Grandma Quinn’s recipe. A few years back, my mom gave me her copy of Grandma Quinn’s recipe. I would say, shockingly, they are different recipes, but the other grandparent tradition is to never give the right recipe out or if you do, give the real one to the person you like and the fake one to the person you don’t. Either way, both recipes I have are good, one is just better than the other. Have you ever looked at the history of Irish Soda bread? I would hope you realize this bread was a year-round thing, not like a Thanksgiving meal to us, so there is no shame in making and eating it year-round. 

         Ok, let’s move on to the next tradition. CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE. This is typical Irish fare and needs to be consumed in pounds on St. Patrick’s Day. Small little footnote about corned beef and cabbage…. “Although corned beef is referred to as one of Ireland’s national dishes, it really got its start in New York City. In Ireland, cattle always had been raised for milk, and beef was not part of the regular Irish diet. Bacon, often eaten with cabbage, was the Irish go-to meal. In the early 1800s, when Irish immigrants could not afford the price of pork, they purchased the less-expensive meat, corned beef brisket (pickled, fermented and preserved in crocks), from Jewish butchers on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.” So, while it is technically Irish, it is not what people think it is.

         I find it interesting, the reality for St. Patrick’s Day is to not celebrate the Saint, but to drink in excess and do stupid things. We have coopted the “tradition” and turned it into something else. I mean I need my beer, my potatoes, and corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day. Heaven forbid it falls on a Friday during Lent and we don’t get a dispensation to eat meat. I mean we could just celebrate and eat it another day. Once the feast ends good luck finding Irish Soda bread in a store. 

         I am not complaining about traditions such as this, but I do have my limits on certain things, such as leprechaun traps or that elf on a shelf thing. I feel that sometimes though a feast such as todays overshadows the other big feasts of this month. March 19 is the feast of St. Joseph, this year celebrated on Monday. Do you know what Italian’s do to celebrate him? There is an entire tradition linked to his feast day, and to be honest, I am much more in favor of this tradition. A table of amazing food and desserts absolutely overshadows soda bread or corned beef and cabbage.

         When we look at our own faith, what traditions stick out to you? Is it the Ashes and Palms of Palm Sunday that you remember? Is it the Holy Thursday mass, Good Friday celebration, or the Easter Vigil? Or is it the basket on Sunday morning? I am not complaining about any of that stuff. But just as there is more to see when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day or the feast of St. Joseph, there is more to these traditions. So too is what is happening during Lent. The Ashes and Palms are part of the overall tradition that has become part of Lent.  There is so much more that we, as Catholic’s, may miss out on if we do not open ourselves to the fullness of our faith and the parts of the liturgy that are not part of our routine. As we continue our journey through Lent, be open to all the season offers you, especially as we get closer to Holy Week. 

God Bless, 

Fr. Brian 

P.S.  A group of leprechauns was recently busted for selling fake granite

Yeah, they were sham rocks.