Mc Or Mac?

Steph started it, when she politely pointed out that in a recent post, I had misspelled the owners of the Golden Arches – McDonald’s does not have an ‘a’ between the M and c. I began thinking about ‘mac’ words.

macaroni; either a sort of pasta, or an 18th century fop

macramé; a craft, tangling string into knots, ‘reverse macramé’ is untangling knots in Church Christmas Tree Lights

macaroon; in France, a light, delicate coloured confection of egg whites and sugar. In other places a heavier, dense lump of egg whites, sugar and coconut

maculate; with a spotted surface, hence the more familiar opposite term – immaculate, pure and clean and spotless

But here’s a ‘mac’ word I have just learned – my first new word of 2014

 macarism

this can mean ‘a blessing’ or ‘the practice of making others happy through praise and felicitation’ [from the Greek word ‘makarios’ meaning ‘blessing’]

So here are some macarisms for the first Sunday of the New Year

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

…and may God truly bless you this year