All Saints Gets a Pass

Within the Catholic Church there are certain days that constitute “Holy Days of Obligation” that a Catholic MUST attend Mass. Failure to attend Mass on Holy Days would be considered a serious sin – a Mortal Sin. (Causing a part of the soul to die).

That said, there are conditions that must be met. To commit a mortal sin requires three things: failure to do what is asked is grave matter, the person doing so does it will full knowledge and with full consent of will. To miss a Holy Day simply to sleep in or watch sports would be very bad. An illness, a work schedule that would otherwise cause hardship, or even weather that prevents you from attending Mass, these are all things God understands. Sin can only happen when we are aware that our actions are sinful and are willing participants.

In the United States, Holy Days of Obligation are all Sundays, the Solemnities of Mary (January 1), the Ascension of the Lord (40 days beyond Easter Sunday, always a Thursday), Assumption of Mary (August 15), All Saints (November 1), the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and Christmas (December 25). When I was a little girl, I wondered why Easter wasn’t listed as a Holy Day of Obligation. Then I realized Easter is always on a Sunday, and therefore always a day of obligation. To list it would be redundent.

This year All Saints falls on a Saturday. When a Holy Day such as All Saints falls on a Saturday or Monday, attending Mass on Sunday satisfies that obligation. Within certain diocese Ascension Thursday is also transferred to Sunday worship. The one exception is Christmas. We have attended Midnight Mass on a Saturday, then gone to Mass on Sunday. You can bet the priests will remind you sternly.

So while today is All Saints Day, it gets a pass in that it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. It’s interesting that people (like me) who are retired don’t seem to mind attending Mass two days in a row. Especially if you are receiving Holy Communion. Spending time with the Lord is good for the body and soul. When I was hospitalized twice for my heart, it was at a Catholic Hospital. Deacons from various parishes in the area visited each person, offering to pray with them, read scripture and administer Holy Communion. Naturally I took full advantage of that every day throughout my recovery.

While today might not be a Holy Day of Obligation, praying never hurts.

God, source of all holiness,
You have enriched Your church
With the gifts of the saints.
Direct, O Lord, our actions
By Your holy inspirations,
And Your gracious assistance,
that every prayer and all works of human hands
Begin and end with You, through Christ Our Lord
Amen.

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While not a Catholic thing, I love to serve up something Cajun for All Saints Day.

Cajun All Saints Casserole Breakfast
Cajun Casserole
6 slices Bread
1/2 small Yellow Onion
1/2 Red Bell Pepper
2 Cajun Bell Peppers (optional)
1/4 cup Nacho Jalapeño Peppers
1 link Andouille Cajun Sausage
8 tablespoons Butter
6 Eggs
1 cup Half-and-Half
1 teaspoon Cajun Season or to taste
Tabasco Sauce to taste
1/2 cup Mild Cheddar Cheese

Heat oven to 350-degrees. Lightly grease a 13-inch by 9-inch casserole dish. Tear bread into pieces. Cut onion in half from root to tip. Reserve half for another purpose, peel and dice remaining half. Core bell pepper, discard seeds, dice pepper. Stem Cajun Bells, dice while retaining seeds. Dice Jalapeño Peppers. Set aside.

Cook sausage links according to package directions. Once cooked, remove from skillet, let cool and then dice sausage. While the sausage cooks, scatter torn bread into the prepared casserole dish.

In the now empty skillet melt the butter. (Yeah, it’s a lot of butter, but that’s part of the flavor). Swirl around to distribute evenly. Sauté the onions red bell pepper and Cajun Bells in the butter for about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let cool slightly.

In a large mixing bowl lightly beat the eggs. Whisk in the half and half; Cajun Seasoning and a few shakes of Tabasco. Stir in the onion mixture along with all that butter. Add the Jalapeño Peppers and diced sausage.

Pour the egg mixture over the torn pieces of bread. Scatter shredded cheese over the top of the casserole. Place in the heated oven to bake for about 20 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let rest for about 5 minutes, then slice into square. Serve with Bayou Red Potatoes and Cajun Sausage Links.

Bayou Red Potatoes
1 1/2 lbs Small Red Potatoes
2 small Cayenne Peppers, fresh
2 small Jalapeno Peppers, fresh
1/4 Red Onion
Bacon Grease or Lard as needed
Kosher Salt to taste
Cracked Pepper to taste

Bayou Red Potatoes – Microwave Method: Pierce each potato with a sharp knife, making a small slit. Arrange potatoes in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high for 10 minutes or until potatoes are just cooked. Once cool enought to handle, cut potatoes into bite-size pieces.

Bayou Red Potatoes – Instant Pot Method: Scrub potatoes, cut each in half, then quarter each half. Place in the steamer basket of the Instant Pot. Put 1 cup of water into the insert, then the basket with potatoes. Pressure Cook HIGH for 3 MINUTES. Let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.

While the potatoes are cooking , dice the peppers and onions. Set aside.

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat until almost smoking. Add bacon grease, swirl to coat the hot pan in oil. Add the potatoes, peppers and onions to the hot pan. Season with salt and pepper as desired. Fry over medium heat, stirring as needed, scraping up any little brown bits. Cook until hot and crisp, about 10 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Cajun Sausage
3 links Andouille Cajun Sausage

Place the sausage in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1 cup of water and let sausages steam until cooked through and most of the water has cooked away, about 15 to 20 minutes. Rotate sausages about every 5 minutes for even cooking. Once the water is nearly gone, slice sausages lengthwise in half and place in the pan cut side down to brown. Keep warm until ready to serve.

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Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.