Holy Cross Day & St. Michael and All Angels: Home Altars and Blackberry Crumble

This is the latest installment of “Life in the Church Year,” a series by Dr. Kristen Einertson and Tessa Muench of All the Household. This series will provide guidance for living out the seasons of the Church Year at home with your families. Find month-by-month lists of Lutheran feasts, festivals and commemorations here.

In September, the church changes her focus to the End Times and our Lord’s final victory over sin, death and the devil for us on the cross. These themes are reflected in two feasts: Holy Cross Day on Sept. 14 and St. Michael and All Angels on Sept. 29. Both focus not on a moment in Christ’s life or a human saint, but on the accomplishment of Christ’s salvific work.

On Holy Cross Day, the church contemplates the cross on which Jesus died. Christ’s crucifixion happened in real time and space — it is historical reality, not legend. Thus, Christians cherish the cross as the foremost symbol of the faith, prompting prayer and thanksgiving for Christ’s sacrifice.

To encourage such reflection, many Christians place a cross centrally in their homes and create a home altar. Much like the dining table is used for dining and the kitchen for cooking, a home altar is a place set apart for prayer. This fixed space in the home has several benefits: First, it is a physical and visual nudge not to neglect our prayers. Second, it can serve as a central landing spot for other things that may accompany prayers: a cross or crucifix, a family’s Bibles, hymnals, devotionals, artwork, candles, etc. Finally, the home altar gives intentionality to prayer, reminding us of the seriousness of faith. At an altar, Christians find a specific place set aside for praising God, asking Him in Jesus’ name for what we need and bringing to Him the needs of our families, communities, nation, enemies and all people.

September also brings the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, commemorating the archangel Michael and the heavenly host. Scripture teaches that Michael leads the fight against Satan, casting him down from heaven (Rev. 12). Sept. 29 reminds us of the comfort that God’s angels bring, guarding and bearing us up (Psalm 91).

Photo: Tessa Muench

Besides engaging in prayer and asking God to continue to protect us from all evil, this day also invites celebration. Over the centuries, Christians have noticed that this feast coincides with blackberry season (in much of the Northern Hemisphere), which may explain the old legend that when Satan fell from heaven, he was cast down into a thorny blackberry bush. Consider leaning into this whimsical tradition that encourages us to notice how the natural world reflects the church’s calendar. Serving blackberry foods for Michaelmas is a joyful way to mark the day and celebrate Christ’s eternal victory over Satan, won for us on the cross.

St. Michael and All Angels Blackberry Crumble

Ingredients:

Blackberry Filling
6 cups blackberries, washed
½ cup sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
3 Tbsp. flour

Crumble Topping
1 cup oats
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp. salt
8 Tbsp. butter

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a 9-inch pie dish.

In a bowl, toss the washed berries, sugar, lemon juice and flour and transfer to the baking dish.

Prepare the crumble topping by combining the dry ingredients and then cutting in the butter until well incorporated.

Bake in the oven for approximately 45 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

Remove it from the oven and let it sit for 10–15 minutes to thicken. Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Cover image: Tessa Muench