Queenship of Mary {Plus Special Gift}

The feast of the Queenship of Mary is a follow-up to the Assumption. The feast is now celebrated on the octave day of that feast, that is 8 days following the Assumption. If you started an herb garden or Mary garden on the Assumption, today would be a great day to give your garden some extra love and place a statue of Mary in the Garden.

It is traditional to Consecrate your family to Mary the Immaculate Queen on the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. If you follow the link, the website offers the prayers to enthrone a statue or picture and consecrate your family. It also offers a beautiful image of Mary that you can download and print for personal use. I also suggest checking out Catholic Mommy Blogs for another great post on the Queenship of Mary. If you are searching a neat printable for your kids to enjoy check out Real Life At Home  for a coloring page that your child can pick the crown they give to Mary!

Are you looking for toys that help your child grow in faith? There is a beautiful Queen of Heaven Peg Doll that your children will love! It is small and easy to carry around and fits nicely with Little People play sets as well. As a special gift, I have been lucky enough to receive a FREE SHIPPING CODE for my readers who would like to purchase one. Use the code PINOTNOIR to receive free shipping through Labor day! I have a son who plays with "fidgets" quite often due to his special needs and these are perfect for Mass. Something small to keep his fingers busy and allow his body to be calm and still. I highly recommend this beautiful doll. Checkout EmmausRoad on Etsy  for this beautiful doll and more. There is an option to have her create-a-saint for you as well.

I am linking this with the Monday Mommy Blog Hop.

For dinner I am preparing Chicken A La Queen. Essentially, it is a chicken pot pie without the crust. It is served over puff pastries of biscuits instead. This recipe is just like Chicken A La King but it sounds better and more appropriate for the feast os the Queenship of Mary.

Chicken A La Queen:

*Rachel Ray's Recipe... follow the link*

8 puff pastry shells, recommended brand Pepperidge Farms (Since most puff pastry shells come in packages of six, buy two -- a little extra never hurt anyone!)
3 ribs celery, thinly sliced on a long angle
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, thinly sliced on a long angle
1 fresh or dry bay leaf
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced into strips
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons butter
3 heaping tablespoons flour
1/2 cup white wine (optional)
1 quart chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 pound thin asparagus, cut into one-inch pieces on a long angle
1 cup frozen peas
5 to 6 sprigs fresh tarragon, leaves stripped and roughly chopped

Preheat oven according to package directions for puff pastry shells. Arrange shells on a non-stick baking sheet then place in oven. Bake until golden, remove from oven and let cool.

Place a large deep-sided skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add celery, onions, carrots, bay leaf and season with a little salt and pepper.

Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, until the veggies start to get tender. Add the red bell pepper and continue to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Scoot the veggies over to the sides and add the butter to the center of the skillet. Once butter has melted, add flour and cook for about a minute.

Whisk in white wine, chicken stock and cream. Bring the liquids up to a simmer then add the chicken pieces. Bring back up to a simmer and add the asparagus. Simmer mixture until the chicken is cooked through and the asparagus is tender, about 10-12 minutes.

Add peas and tarragon and stir to combine. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.

To serve, place 2 shells on each dinner plate and fill each shell with the chicken mixture. Replace pastry lid and top with a sprig of tarragon.

Prayer in Honor of the Queenship of Mary:

O Mary Immaculate Queen, look down upon this distressed and suffering world. You know our misery and our weakness. O thou who art our Mother, saving us in the hour of peril, have compassion on us in these days of great and heavy trial.

Jesus has confided to you the treasure of His grace, and through you He wills to grant us pardon and mercy. In these hours of anguish, therefore, your children come to you as their hope.

We recognize your Queenship and ardently desire your triumph. We need a Mother and a Mother's Heart. You are for us the luminous dawn which dissipates our darkness and points out the way to life. In your clemency obtain for us the courage and the confidence of which we have such need.

Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, You Who did crown with glory in Heaven the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior, grant that all her children on earth may acknowledge her as their Sovereign Queen, that all hearts, homes, and nations may recognize her rights as Mother and as Queen. 

Mary Immaculate Queen, triumph and reign! 

Amen.