Saint Joseph
"Joseph, let me recognize God’s will as I open my hands to accept what God bestows in loving kindness."
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Feast Day: Mar 19
EAT This
Make this recipe together
Grandma's Fig Cookies
Original Recipe from Ann Maloney, posted on nola.com
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Yield: Makes 14 cookies
Time: Approximately 1 hr
Description: enjoy Italian fig cookies, with a cookie exterior and chewy fig interior, traditionally enjoyed on the feast of St Joseph.
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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease 2 large cookie sheets.
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Sift flour, baking powder and salt together into large bowl. Add sugar. Stir well. Cut in shortening with a fork until mixture resembles corn meal.
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In separate bowl, whisk together egg, vanilla and milk. Add to flour and shortening mixture and fold in with hands.
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Turn dough out on floured surface and knead for several minutes until smooth. Cut soft dough into 4 equal pieces, and wrap with plastic wrap. Chill for 1 hour.
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To make filling, finely chop dried figs and dates. Place dried fruit in large bowl and add honey, cinnamon, marmalade and walnuts. Mix well. Set aside.
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On floured surface, roll out 1 piece of dough at a time to about 10-inches-by-3-inches. Spoon a generous amount of filling down the middle of the strip of dough. Carefully fold short edges over to meet in center and pinch to seal. Slice the cookie log into approximately 1-1/2-inch long pieces.
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Place cookies, sealed side down, on greased cookie sheets, leaving 1 to 2 inches between each cookie. Make two diagonal slits across the top of each cookie.
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Beat egg white and water and brush cookies with egg wash. Sprinkle cookies with colored sprinkles.
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Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
Ingredients:
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The Dough
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4 cups all-purpose flour
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1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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2/3 cup sugar
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1 cup vegetable shortening
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1 large egg
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1 tablespoon vanilla
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1/2 cup cold milk
The Filling
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2 cups dried Calimyrna or Mission figs
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2 cups dried dates, pitted
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1/2 cup honey
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1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
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1/2 cup orange marmalade
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1-1/4 cups chopped walnuts
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Decoration
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1 large egg white, plus 1 tablespoon water
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Rainbow colored sprinkles
PRAY This
Pray this prayer together
1. Place an image of St Joseph in your home
Ideally in a central place where you come together
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2. Share something you would each like to pray for
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3. Pray Pope Francis' prayer to St Joseph for the Year of St Joseph:
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Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
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Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil.
Amen.
WATCH This
Watch this movie together
As you eat your fig cookies, watch the film:
Joseph of Nazareth: The Story of the Man Closest to Christ.
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Available at: Formed.org ; Amazon
Movie Run Time: 1 hr 37 min
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Description:
The first feature film ever on the story of St. Joseph, who was a carpenter, the husband of Mary, and the foster father of Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us that St. Joseph was a ""just man"" and that God gave him the most daunting task ever asked of a man–to be the husband of the woman who would give birth to the Messiah and the father and protector of this Holy Family. He would be the man closest to Christ.
Starring Tobias Moretti in a manly, appealing performance, we are shown the human, noble, and deeply spiritual aspects of Joseph the carpenter, son of David, servant of God, and loving husband of Mary. He is presented as a man of faith who must grapple greatly with the profound mysteries of the miraculous conception, the Virgin Birth, the Incarnation of the Son of God, and the incredible challenges of protecting and raising Jesus amidst the threats on his life from the moment of his birth and beyond.
As Joseph is informed by God's messengers about trusting and following his plan for Christ, the dangerous flight into Egypt to save his child, and finally returning to Nazareth to raise Jesus, this lovely film presents beautiful vignettes of these and other powerful scenes in the life of the young Christ and the Holy Family that are authentic and inspiring. Also stars Stefania Rivi, Franco Interlenghi, and Andrea Prodan.
DISCUSS This
Share together as a family
After watching the movie, use any of the following questions to share as a family.
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1. What was life for Joseph like?
2. How did Joseph respond to Mary's news and to Jesus' birth?
3. How did Joseph trust God through everything he went through?
4. What was Joseph willing to do for his family?
5. How can we love Jesus the way Joseph did?