Soul Cakes for All Saints’

November 1st is All Saints’ Day when we honor and remember the faithful saints and martyrs through out the centuries, known and unknown.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, “Exactly as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our communion with the saints joins us to Christ” (957). Also known as Hallowmas, All Saints’ Day marks the middle of Hallowtide comprised of All Hallows Eve, Hallowmas, and All Souls’ Day. Hallow is a derivative of the Old English word for holy or sacred (think “hallowed be thy name”) and “all Hallows” means “all saints.”

This year to celebrate this special day Daniel took off work and we brought this little guy to Mass.

We put some clothes on him and made him leave his pumpkin at home. Last week’s attempt to take him to Mass was disastrous. He was SO loud and SO squirmy and had to be removed several times before we gave up and took him out to the car whilst he sobbed and screamed, “G-g-g-g-go b-b-ba-back in-in-in-si-si-side!” So we weren’t expecting to be able to stay for the entire Mass yesterday but were pleasantly surprised when he did fantastic. He said nary a word and sat on our laps with a minimum of squirming. We did let him hold a plastic rosary so that his busy little hands had something to do and I think that helped. We were so happy to be able to worship as a family on All Saints’ and followed up the Mass with a big breakfast of bacon and eggs.

In the evening we had our friends Elizabeth and Daniel over for feasting. They brought a delicious salad to add to Daniel’s yummy concoctions: Pumpkin-Leek-Potato Soup, Beer Bread, and Soul Cakes.

Here’s a picture of the Daniels and our half-eaten feast. I forgot to take a picture until we were almost done.

The delicious soul cakes! Kind of like autumnal scones with nutmeg and raisins and a topping of powdered sugar. Benjamin kept calling them pancakes and cupcakes. This morning he wanted them for breakfast. “Soul cakes, yay!” he said. They are great and supposedly a traditional dish during Hallowtide when they were given out to the poor, probably the precursor to trick or treating.

A soul, a soul, a soul cake, please good missus, a soul cake, one for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all…

So glad Elizabeth and Daniel shared our feast with us!