The Thousand Word Project - Red is the Rose

 

Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows,
Fair is the lily of the valley,
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne,
But my love is fairer than any.

- Traditional Irish ballad -
In memory of my Irish great-grandmother.

A Roman Miracle

Photo by John Snyder via Wikicommons

Here’s a poem with a surprise ending for you today.  :-) I think this has been set to music, but I couldn’t find it online.

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A pretty maid, a Protestant, was to a Catholic wed;
To love all Bible truths and tales, quite early she's been bred.
It sorely grieved her husband's heart that she would not comply,
And join the Mother Church of Rome and heretics deny.
So day by day he flattered her, but still she saw no good
Would ever come from bowing down to idols made of wood.
The Mass, the host, the miracles, were made but to deceive;
And transubstantiation, too, she'd never dare believe.
Continue Reading.

The True Patrick of Ireland

It has been commonly thought that Patrick of Ireland was a Roman Catholic, and I suppose there are some who believe he was Irish.  The facts are a little different than what many would think, however.  He was neither Irish nor a Roman Catholic.  He was a son of a deacon of the ancient church of Britain (never a part of the Roman Catholic Church), captured and enslaved among the Irish he managed to escape back to his own people only to be compelled by the leading of the Holy Ghost to return to Ireland as a missionary. 

We also know that he was not a Roman Catholic from these simple, yet self-explanatory lines written by him:

I would not work my soul to save,
For that my Lord hath done;
But I would work like any slave
For love of God’s dear Son.

Patrick of Ireland

To learn more about the real Saint Patrick please read here:
Patrick of Ireland; His Written Testimony and Song

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Irish Soda Bread

Here is a recipe we got from my Grandma Van Nattan.  She and Grandpa were missionaries in Ireland for some years.

This bread is pretty easy to make, and since it is a non-yeast bread it goes quickly, even though it is kneaded briefly.  You may change the spices to suit your own taste also.

This batch was made with part whole wheat, raisins and a Middle Eastern sweet bread spice for which I do not know the proper name.  I did not make it in this dish, but put it there to store it as the dish has a sealing lid.

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Irish Soda Bread

4 Cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
1/4 Cup sugar (optional)
1/8 teaspoon cardamom or coriander (optional)
1/4 Cup margarine
1 egg
1 3/4 Cups buttermilk
In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, soda, sugar, and spice.  Add margarine and cut in until crumbly.  Beat egg slightly and  mix with buttermilk.  Add to dry ingredients and mix until blended.  Turn out onto floured board and knead until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. 

Divide dough in half and shape each into a round loaf.  Place each in an 8 inch cake pan, or both on a cookie sheet.  Press down and make several 1/2 inch deep slashes in the top with a sharp knife. 

Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Variations:
1.  Omit spice and add 2 Cups of raisins and 1 1/4 teaspoons caraway seed.
2.  Substitute 2 Cups whole wheat flour for 2 Cups white flour.
3.  2 Cups of raisins or chopped, pitted dates can be added.