After a beautiful (but strenuous) Midnight Mass complete with a sung “Proclamation Nativitatis,” and, of course, all the “propers”, with appropriate motets (Quem Pastores, Psallite Unigenite, Verbum Caro Factum Est , etc. etc.) the handy and easily sung Missa Brevis by Claudio Casciolini but with the Hassler Gloria from his Missa Secunda, what could be a better way to fulfil our sacred role as guardians of tradition than the traditional Christmas morning BRUNCH!

Well informed “Guardians of Tradition” do not only attend to the sacred liturgical tasks having to do with Divine worship, the Sacred Banquet that is the sacrifice of the Mass, but they also must keep a vigilant eye on other ‘sacred traditions’ having to do with matters a little more secular, a little more bodily…like the humble corporal feasting that is a dim reflection of that more divine feast!

Every feast requires assiduous work, and thankfully, after a long sound well deserved sleep, after unpacking the treats and surprises in the stockings, our chefs threw themselves upon the preparations with gusto.

The “Boulder Sausage” represents the very best sausage Colorado has to offer in my view, but I am open to other possibilities.

These soft scrumptious “Baby Jesus Buns” are a must! Packed with a delightful cream filling, I always save mine for the end to finish with my coffee!

No Christmas Brunch is complete without a fruit salad of some sort. This year we opted for a salad composed solely of berries.

Topped with whipped cream laced with vanilla!

Out comes the Eggs Benedict with bacon.

Voila!

This year I forgot the English Muffins but fortunately we had some sourdough bread on hand which, toasted, more than supplied for this oversight.

Now, I know that this remark may sound a little self serving, but I am a firm believer that proper feasting is the duty of every human being. Whether we examine the question from a position of nature or of grace, the consummate activity of the human being appears to be ‘the feast.’ We should certainly examine this assertion in more detail and at great length…but another time!

Right now we have to attend to Christmas dinner!

The dinner feast was splendid- but one might not be able to tell from the photos given the general lack of light during these shortest days of the year!

Always a challenge- but our tireless chefs managed to time everything perfectly. First sliced potatoes roasted with fennel and olive oil.

Then the buttery asparagus steamed to perfection – al dente as the Italians say.

soft home-made rolls

And of course a sort of giant beef Wellington with buttery chopped mushrooms, oionions sherry and herbs de provence!

This fantastic bottle of Tuscan full bodied red wine paired perfectly with the rich beef.

Christmas dinner does require more than a few candles!

Merry Christmas!