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La Salette Shrine – Our First Day of the New Year

January 2, 2009 By Laura Leave a Comment

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We finally got to the last activity on our Christmas-to-do list, on New Year’s Day;  Taking another trip to Our Lady of La Salette Shrine.  With everything else we were doing to prepare for Christmas, this trip was one thing that we just couldn’t find a day for.  Because we truly needed a whole day.  The Shrine is over an hour away from us.  Decidedly, New Year’s Day was the perfect day anyway, in some ways.

But let me backtrack first.

On New Year’s Eve, all 6 us of us were going to stay up until midnight.  Do you know HOW exciting that is to 6 year olds??  Ridiculously so.  It was pretty low key–we were still feeling a little partied out from all of the Christmas excitement. But {A} was making treats, and the little ones were enjoying watching her. As the night went on, they talked more and more and more. I truly think they were afraid if they stopped talking, they would fall over in slumber.  Except one of my little boys.  He wasn’t tired, so he said. Surely did not want to go to bed. But….he was really enjoying the snuggle with me for a very-long-time. Perfectly content, still and quiet….watching the lights on the Christmas tree.

Now here comes the most pathetic thing you may ever have heard.  By 11:20, most of us couldn’t take it anymore. I HAD to go to bed, and I wasn’t much sad about it. By the time all the kids were ready, and we were all in bed, it was 11 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT!!  And I do believe every one of us were asleep my 10 minutes until.

So the next day, we all REALLY wanted to go to the La Salette Shrine.  Time was running out, and I really need to do something that day.   As Michael got all of the shoveling done, I contemplated and re-contemplated the VERY frigid temperatures of the forecast that day and night.  Once Michael got in, we hemmed and hawed and discussed it until we were blue in the face, while the kids begged and asked repeatedly, to go. So I gathered in my head everything my father had ever told me about dressing warm in cold weather (he likes to talk about that topic), and dressed my whole family accordingly. (Well, not physically. But I’m the planner in the family. By default. lol)  We were going, and the kids were ECSTATIC.

On Our Way

As we drove, we all answered 10 great questions that apply to the our own selves in reflection of the year behind us, as well as the year ahead.  It helped us all better formulate what we have learned, how we can grow from it, and what we want for ourselves in the future.  I was so touched by some of the kids answers.

So, the National La Salette Shrine is quite a place. It’s a Catholic shrine, honoring Our Lady of La Salette, with beautiful grounds, a church, candle sanctuary, gift shop cafeteria and bistro, and even a carousel. We all just love to go there.  We went last Christmas for the first time, and knew we’d be back this year.

So on our agenda once we got there was Penance for 3 of us, Mass, lighting a perpetual candle for my mother in the sanctuary (for her birthday, and the repose of her soul), walking the grounds to enjoy the festival of lights and huge nativity IF we could stand the cold, going to the gift shop so the kids could spend some money burning in their pocket from their uncle, and dinner.

We were devastated to learn that Penance was over being received at 3:00.  But by the grace of God, and a conversation with a deacon who was drawn to talking to us, a priest was beckoned, and we were all able to confess with great relief.  Honestly…..it was a very-big-part of our trip, and our hearts just really wanted it by then, being overdue and the first day of a whole new year.  So we were very, very grateful to the priest.

Mass and the Crucifix

From there we happily went to Mass.  It was a holy day of obligation anyway.  But we would have gone anyway, being my Mother’s (and the kids’ Mémé’s) birthday, and the first day of a new year.  IS there a better way to start a new year, than with Mass? We think not. The church at the La Salette Shrine is just beautiful, too.  Architecturally fascinating. But the kids were absolutely taken with Jesus crucified over the altar. They have seen Jesus crucified in many forms, but this was the most dramatic they have ever seen….and I think it was hitting a little more home with them.

La Salette

I think we (adults) all know, that most images of Christ crucified are very much ‘cleaned up’, as to not be too difficult to see.  I think we also know that what we see is far from the reality of just how horrific, gruesome and brutal His death really was. A death he suffered, for each one of us. This cross of Christ crucified was closer and a bit more realistic though.  (But not even close, really, as in truth, He was brutally beaten and tortured, beyond recognition.) I believe it’s made of carved wood.  I couldn’t stop photographing it after Mass.  Mass was very nice….filled with peace and hope.

La Salette

Lighting a Candle for Mom/Mémé

After Mass we went and lit a perpetual candle for my mother / Mémé’, in the sanctuary, which is a non-heated virtually all-glass building…but so beautiful with the candles that encircle the Blessed Queen Mother and fill the whole building.

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Last year, as I lit that candle, I was a mess as we tried to say a prayer for my Mother. This year, I was stronger, and it made me realize the grace of healing God has brought me. Of course I knew better than to push it, missing her so much this time of year, and being her birthday to boot….so Michael said a beautiful spontaneous prayer, {A} said a Hail Mary with the kids in a huddle, and we were on our way.

The center candle was lit and is burning for her.  It will burn for 6 days.

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Can’t Miss the Gift Shop

From there we went to the gift shop, and spent a good hour there. Helping little ones figure out for themselves what they want to buy can be a time-consuming and exhausting feat.  And it certainly was this night.  In the end, the little ones each chose a necklace, and a holy water bottle which they are chomping at the bit to fill up on Sunday at church.  {A} bought a statue of her favorite saint, St. Michael the Archangel, and a pocket coin of some sort.  All of the kids got in line, and paid for their own purchases by themselves.  Which their Daddy and I loved to witness.  The little ones were so darn proud, taking care of buying their own things, with their own money, and proudly taking their bag as they responded to the cashier, “Thank you, and Happy New Year to you too.”

The Frozen Shutter Hand Incident

We decided we were starving, and wanted to eat somewhere on the way home as the cafeteria options weren’t inspiring us.  Daddy-Boy, {A} and some of the little ones also determined it was way-too-bitter cold to even think about walking around.  (As in, dangerously low and frigid temperatures.) I agreed.  However.  I needed my photos of the festival of lights.  It’s the highlight of the La Salette Shrine!  Now understand….to really experience the festival of lights at this shrine, you just need to see it with your own naked eyes. To really take it all in cannot even begin to be done with a camera.  (It’s not easy to photograph either.).  But, I was taking photos anyway.

Thankfully, my family understands that taking photos sometimes IS a NEED for me, more than a want.  So as starving and tired as they all were, Michael drove the van around the lot, and I hopped out here and there to attempt to photograph this and that. I started with the Bridge of Angels, and caught a couple on the way back to the van. It was BITTER COLD.  Like…hard to breathe, can’t feel your face in 2 seconds, kind of cold.

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Jumped back in the van, and thought I’d just open the door, stand out from where I was, and take a shot of this.  Not sure I like it, as there were 3 kings on camels all lined up but anyway…….

La Salette Festival of Lights

Then we were coming around to the stuff I really wanted to try and capture.  An amazing HUGE nativity scene, lots of stone steps, statues and light set ups everywhere.  I especially love the light snowflakes everywhere. Now all of these were quite a hike for me from the running warm van with my family in it.  Lots of snow, ice, wind, and sub-zero temps.  But I needed my photos…..

La Salette Festival of Lights La Salette Festival of Lights La Salette Festival of Lights La Salette Festival of Lights

As I came back around to the van, many parts of me were frozen numb.  But before I climbed back in I had to take a shot of this one last statue……

La Salette Festival of Lights-Jesus-anchor

And then I got in the van…..and began to experience THE most excruciatingly painful shutter hand thaw I have ever had to suffer! I am telling you….it was all I could do not to cry out loud.  I tried to suffer quietly and get through it, but my little ones in the back kept asking me what was wrong, as I whimpered.  To which our oldest daughter answered them “Mama is suffering her natural consequences“…with a hint of satisfaction in her voice.  I talk to my kids ALL the time about ‘natural consequences that come with the choices they make.’. And I did HAVE to take photos, despite the sub-zero temps, right? How right she was, my little smarty pants.  I really thought I was going to lose 3 fingers. In fact, if it would stop the pain, I was almost hoping they would just fall off.   Finally, the pain subsided, and I was able to keep them.

We headed to dinner at a really nice pizza place, and then took the long ride home.  It was another night we were happy to get to bed.  But the next morning, (this morning), I had a photography gig very, very north.  My daughter/assistant came with me, and it was a good job we were happy to do…despite how tired we were.

Hope in Faith For the Coming Year

So here we all are on the 2nd day of the year. I feel hope and happiness about the year ahead, in my heart.  Excitement. That’s what the new year brings me every year, with maybe just a tinge of fear that the year may hold something not so good.  But that is what our Catholic faith is for. Our Heavenly Father takes care of us.  He always has, when we give all we can to Him. And doing so brings us greater faith, hope, and inner peace. So let us begin living the year of 2009, and when the year comes to a close, may we feel we have grown closer to Him, to each other, and be closer to the kind of people He created us to be.

Once again, we wish you all a new year filled with your own happiness, health, blessings, peace and every-growing faith.

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Filed Under: Celebrations, Faith, Faith/ Catholic, The Big Picture Tagged With: Catholic, Catholic faith, Catholic-blogs, Catholic-family, Catholic-family-activity, La-Salette-festival-of-lights, La-Salette-Shrine-Attleboro-MA, New-Year's-Day

Christmas at Home

December 28, 2008 By Laura 6 Comments

Christmas-tree-ornaments-lights

We hope your Christmas was as beautiful and filled with peace as ours was.  Of course, I don’t necessarily mean auditory peace, if you have a house full of excited kids as we do, but you know, inner peace.  That quiet kind of Christmas joy you feel in your heart, that tends to bring such moments of clear perspective of your whole life, all that truly matters, and all that you are blessed with.  I love those Christmas moments, and hope you all had many of them.

While I did take lots of photos of our kids on Christmas Eve and morning, I won’t be posting all of those.  Suffice it to say, they had such a wonderful Christmas, that seemed to go on for days here.  To see them embrace every moment with such beaming happiness and anticipation in their eyes, is truly a big part of our Christmas joy.   They even each had such beautiful and surprise gifts for us. And the HEART they put into them. <sigh/melt> Now we know what all of their ‘Club Days’ in big sister’s room was all about. We really had no idea.  I can’t tell you how much fun they have been having for weeks.  But here are just some fun Christmas shots I took around our home here and there, now and then, in quiet moments, and moments of loud celebration.

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Below is one of my new favorite Christmas ornaments.  A friend of mine made it for me, and I just think it is so cute and fun!  I smile every time I see it on my tree. It has a soft white feather on it too-you can barely see.   I love polka dots.  : )

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{A} made waffles, one by one, for like 3 hours one day a few days before Christmas, and threw them in the freezer.  They were delicious as part of our late-morning Christmas breakfast.  Thanks Honey!

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Chocolate Buddies.

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There’s a few more Christmas-sy areas of our home I may take some shots of and share over the next couple of days as well, just for fun. We really enjoy making our home reflect the Christmas season, and many other holidays as well.  Thanks for coming to see!

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Filed Under: Celebrations, Faith, Faith/ Catholic, Holidays, Home Decor, The Big Picture, The Homestead Tagged With: Catholic, Catholic-Christmas, Catholic-families, celebrations, Christmas, Christmas decorations, Christmas-nativity-sets, decor, decorations, home, home decor, homestead, nativity-sets, photography, photos

We Interrupt This Advent Season, for Daddy-Boy’s Birthday!….

December 20, 2008 By Laura Leave a Comment

number-40-pancakes

……Just as we do EVERY Advent Season.  What a time to have a birthday, right before Christmas! Huh?? Birthdays are so important to us, and Michael/Daddy joined me in the 40 Club yesterday!  So it was extra special.  But every year, I always feel like we’re ‘squeezing’ his celebration in, amidst the preparations for Christmas.  Switching gears and temporarily redirecting our attention, pretending we’re not frazzled by it. I feel guilty! There is usually lots of nonchalant planning for the rest of our birthdays in our family here…which are all in the summer and fall.   But 6 days before Christmas we’re all just pre-occupied with last-minute-things-to-get-done. (And we have SIMPLE Christmas’s next to most anyone we know.)   But when I realize his birthday is in a few days, I’m afraid I’ll forget! (Good thing I have the kids…they would never forget such a thing.)  I’m just saying….I wish his conception was at least a month or so before it actually was.  Just so we’d be able to give him the absolute undivided attention he SO deserves.  But you know….what’s ‘done is done’.  And we know who did it.   ; )

So he did want a low-key day anyway, as a snow storm was due to come in, and he didn’t want plans to go anywhere in a blizzard.  {A} actually got up early to make his birthday breakfast of our traditional birthday pancakes. And I actually jumped out of bed early to help her.  I was the one that made the coffee and burnt the sausages.  : )   But breakfast together was very nice!  I don’t think the kids took their eyes off the windows the whole time though, waiting for that snow to start falling.  They also gave him their cards they made for him.  Note:  {A} has called her Daddy, ‘Daddy-Boy’ since she was 3 or so.  And she still does at 11. The story of that is a post for another time.  Just thought I’d mention it in case you’re puzzled by that.

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We THOUGHT we’d at least have some snow fun on the way that day.  So we got packages ready to send out that morning, and got those to the shipping place.  But it didn’t even start snowing until almost 3:00,  right before it started getting dark out, and Michael had decided by then he really wanted to go visit his 96 year old friend, and make sure he didn’t need anything before the storm really came.  So he went and had a nice long visit with him.  This sweet old man is dear to all of us.  You may remember our post about him, Mr.Bill, on Veteran’s Day.  But Michael has become especially close to him, and goes to his home to visit with him 1 or 2 times a week if he can.  Michael completely enjoys Mr. Bill’s company in a very sincere way. He’s there for hours sometimes, and comes home smiling with lots of stories.  And the same happened on his birthday.  Which is nice. Even though I was worried while he was gone because he was still out in blizzardey conditions.  But he came home safe and sound, cheerfully telling us how, in light of his birthday,  Mr. Bill shared tips with him about how you live to be his age. While was gone, {A} baked his cake. (She insisted. She insists on making her own on her own birthday.  I know I’m starting to look really bad here, and I’m afraid it gets worse.)

Then it was time to start preparing his birthday dinner of choice. Well….the thing is, what he really wanted was his own specialty dish….his family’s pizza. (There is a pizza recipe/tradition in his family)  So yes….<gulp>…..he pretty much made his own birthday dinner.  I really tried to get him to choose something else that I could make but he said no, that he didn’t mind at all. (He never minds making his family pizza. I think it’s a bit of work, since he even makes the dough.  But…. it’s a family tradition.)  He’s really not about that ‘special treatment’ on his birthday. He doesn’t ask for foot rubs like I do, or anything.  He’s ‘all set’.   The pizza was good though, as ALWAYS.  Doesn’t it LOOK good??

pizza-close-up

Afterwards, we had cake.  Which happened to be the Thunder Cake we posted about, from our studies of Patricia Polacco, because that’s what he wanted.  Just so you don’t think that I really did NOTHING, I did frost the cake, and sliced the strawberries (and let’s not forget about the coffee making and sausage burning in the morning).  Doesn’t it look lovely??

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It tasted good too!

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The rest of the night we spent generally parenting. You know,…helping the kids with their showers getting to them to bed, and taking care of some Christmas stuff.  It surely wasn’t the day of fun int he snow we thought we were going to have, but he enjoyed his day none-the-less. Had a nice long visit with his friend, got all of his favorite foods, etc….what more could a birthday boy want?

I am sure you’re thinking…”Are there any pictures of the birthday boy in this post?   And to that I have to say….Of course there is!!!

fishin

He’s a looker, huh??  Even handsomer than the days we were ‘courting’, as he calls it. He’s getting that distinguished look, that comes with age.  He is just so handsome.  Ask my sister.

Anyway….today, the day AFTER his birthday as I post this, we DID get the fun in the snow we were looking for!!  The kids….the big one and the 4 younger ones, went sledding, and I took photos.  I’ll be sharing photos of that in the next post.  Just need to go through them and be reasonable about how many to keep and/or post.  Sure was fun taking photos of them having a (snow)ball!!!    (I know…OH BROTHER!!)  I’m a witty one, huh??

Happy Birthday, Daddy-Boy and Love of My Life!!

Filed Under: Celebrations, The Big Picture Tagged With: birthday, Catholic-blogs, Catholic-families

Veteran’s Day & a Special Visit

November 11, 2008 By Laura Leave a Comment

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Today we wanted to share a personal story with you.

For all of the years Michael and I have gone to our parish, we have always just pew-hopped.  Even as our family grew, there was never one spot where we always sat. Not even a side of the church.  But in recent months, it somehow just happened. We all filed into a pew, in a particular spot one day, and it just ‘felt right’.  We’ve sat right there every week for Sunday mass, ever since.

The spot happened to be right behind ‘Mr. Bill’, as we’ve come to call him.  Mr. Bill is the absolute sweetest old man, you could ever want to meet. And dapper as they come.  Every Sunday morning, at the last mass of the day, he has shown up, looking his personal best.  Well groomed, in a suit, and sporting a charming bow tie. He drives himself there, and most everywhere else. That is impressive, (if not a little worrisome), at the age of 96 years old.  NINETY SIX!   A veteran of World War II.

He may be the reason we have been drawn back to that spot each week.  When he is there first, we sit right behind him.  If he comes in after wards, he sits right in front of us. He always greets us and the children so sincerely. He’s the picture of what we hope to be in our elder years.  Kind, compassionate, and very obviously deeply faithful and loyal to the Lord.  We can often hear him mumbling all parts of the mass, including the priest’s parts.  He is immersed completely in such a humbling way, I often can’t help but just watch him.  And I’ve done so without having taking advantage of a moment; always wondering what week we will come in, and he won’t be there in that pew in front of us. Not that week, or ever again. I think all of us have have thought about that time, that is inevitable.  And the sadness was so deep already, just at the thought of him not being there.  His presence of being right in front of us, week in and week out, is as expected as the pew itself.

Wouldn’t you know…..I was sure I noticed he was slowing down over the weeks.  He was slower, and seemed to be more out of breath.  With each passing week, it was apparent he was indeed having health issues. One week, in noticing the kids were holding rosary beads, he said to one of them, “Say one of those for me.”  I felt the tears immediately spring to my eyes as he said those words. Knowing he was quietly suffering.  Struggling.  But never complaining.  The kids did pray for him too….we all have many times.  He is spoken fondly of among us as a family, often because he was brought up by the kids, who he has clearly had an impact on as well.  We just adore him.

In the next week or so, he started showing up with an oxygen tank.  If you only saw the effort he went through to make it to that pew, for mass. As if he NEEDED to come, to hear the gospel. To witness the consecration.  To receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

Then the week came when he wasn’t there.  Nor the next week. We learned he had fallen quite ill, as we suspected was happening in weeks prior.  This past Sunday, we learned he was in a rehab care facility just out of town. And that he also had no one to really advocate for him in any way.  Another kind parishioner we’ve come to know and love, filled us in on his state of health, which had not been good when she last went to see him a few days prior. He was lonely, we heard, and wanted to just go home.

Naturally today, on this Veteran’s Day, we thought of all veterans who have served our country – in peace or war. Those who lived to tell their stories, and those who didn’t.  Those we know, or knew, and those we don’t.  The little ones learned just what Veteran’s Day was all about, and why we remember and pay tribute to these men and women on this day.  And we talked about Mr. Bill, who had been on our minds more than ever, all weekend.  We decided we wanted to do something about it.

The kids all made him a special card of their own, with a special message. They really put their hearts into their work; planning it all out, and trying to do their best.  For Mr. Bill.

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Michael decided he was going to see Mr. Bill today at the rehab center, to sit and have a nice long visit with him, and deliver these cards from the kids.

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Michael did just that.  As it turned out, Mr. Bill was being discharged today.  He was doing better!  Well enough to go home at least.  He was all packed and ready to go when Michael got there – just waiting for his ride.  So they sat and chatted for a good while.  Two women were driving him home, and Michael decided to follow them and help get Mr. Bill into his house safely, and be sure he was all settled.

When Michael got home, he was full of the stories and tidbits Mr. Bill had shared with him. Interestingly enough, the branch of service Mr. Bill is a veteran of is the Air Force.

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He was also very happy to be home, and said someone was planning to pick him up and bring him to mass this Sunday, and that he looked forward to seeing us there.  We sure look forward to seeing him there, too!  To see him back in that pew, will be a blessing each and every time more, that he is. To see him smile, to shake his warm, unbelievably soft-skinned hand at peace time, and to see him so prayerfully celebrate the mass with every bit of his amazing and inspiring faith.

So Happy Veteran’s Day, Mr. Bill.  Thank you, and all veterans, for your service to our country.

And thank YOU, for stopping by again.  Lots of exciting blog plans coming up, so please come again soon!

Filed Under: Celebrations, Crafts & Creations, Holidays, The Big Picture Tagged With: kids-Veteran's-Day-cards, Veteran's-Day

HALLOWTIDE; All Souls Day – Part III

November 9, 2008 By Laura 2 Comments

all-souls-day

We’ve finally arrived at the last part of our Hallowtide theme – Part III.  (You can check out all of the fun we had, in Part I HERE, and Part II HERE.)

Our All Souls Day (Nov 2) began with Sunday morning Mass. We most always go to the last Mass of Sunday mornings, as we did on this day. What a beautiful sight it was walking into the church, with what was left of the vigil candles aglow all over the altar, each burning for each soul of every parishioner who passed away in the last year. Each burning candle had the name of the individual on it, and were meant to be taken home by the families of the lost loved one.   We can only imagine how much more spectacular and moving the first mass of the weekend must have been, before any candles had been taken home, by the families they belonged to.

Later in the afternoon, we gathered around our table together, and talked a bit more about the history and purpose of All Souls Day.  We also focused a bit more, on the lives and souls closer to home for us; those who have perished, who were a great influence in our life, or made a mark in some way. Those we personally knew in some way, and those who we loved so deeply and dearly, and lost, such as close family.  We discussed how as Catholics, we are to pray for the souls of those people, that their souls may be purified and released from purgatory, and into the Kingdom of Heaven.

In that light, we began a new tradition.  We created a scroll, listing the names of the souls of those in our lives who we have lost, and beside their name, the year of their death.  This includes family and friends, and anyone who had been a significant part of our life or family in some way.  This of course required really going back in years, and while we have many names down, many exact years are forgotten and still need to be researched.

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This list of souls is part of our seasonal altar (or table) we have. This table area changes with the liturgical year, as well as the earth seasons. The scroll of names/souls we remember, will remain there throughout the month of November, as it is the month to remember and pray for all souls.   Each year it will be brought back out in tradition, and sadly, be updated, including the new souls we must pray for.  Later, we added the remembrance cards we happened to still have, to the table as well.

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Then we got to making dough, for soul cakes.  Soul cakes (which are more like hot cross buns) have Christian history in Halloween, and in fact are the root of how ‘trick or treat’ began.  In short, these soul cakes were exchanged for prayers by the recipients of the soul cakes, who were mostly beggars and whom went to the doors of the wealthier, for the loved ones lost in the family of the givers. As the saying went:

A soul, a soul, a soul cake.
Please good missus a soul cake.
An apple, a pear, a plum or a cherry,
Any good thing to make us merry.
Up with your kettles and down with your pans
Give us an answer and we’ll be gone
Little Jack, Jack sat on his gate
Crying for butter to butter his cake
One for St. Peter, two for St. Paul,
Three for the man who made us all.

How costume wearing came to be, is also tied into this practice that began long ago, and has interestingly evolved into what it is today.

As Daddy added sprinkles of flour to prevent sticking and to get the dough to a consistency just right to form the soul cakes, the kids mostly took turns kneading the dough….

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….but not always…….

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Once the soul cakes were done, we enjoyed them nice and hot, with our dinner.

soul-cakes

That concludes our Hallowtide festivities report, which in real life, concluded a week ago today!  Come back again soon to see what we have in store for our blog about next.  As quiet as you all are in the commenting department : (  , we know you are all out there, reading along. ; )  We appreciate your visits.

Filed Under: Baking, Breads, Rolls and Muffins, Celebrations, Faith/ Catholic, Holidays, Recipes, Traditions Tagged With: All Souls Day, Catholic, Catholic-blogs, Catholic-family, Catholic-Halloween, Halloween-for-Catholic-Kids, Hallowtide, soul-cakes

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