St. Polycarp Pillows

History

One wonderful thing we see from the time immediately after Polycarp’s martyrdom is the fervor with which his survivors bury his body and make a point of meeting around his grave in remembrance of the life that he shares in the Spirit. The events of his death were so great a testament to these believers that they saw it important to meet annually at his resting place. The foremost tradition for any saint’s day is to “tradition” or literally “hand down” the faith that these saints embodied, the faith in which we pray for steadfastness and in which we want to instruct our children. As a man of faith who led a life that was clearly modeled after Jesus, St. Polycarp was commemorated by the Church almost immediately.

If you’re looking for a culinary way to share the story of St. Polycarp with your friends or children, a favorite way of ours is to start with the saint’s life itself. In the Martyrdom of Polycarp, the eyewitness account of Polycarp’s final days, we gain understanding of how Polycarp’s death was “a martyrdom according to the Gospel.” The writers give three specific reasons for this claim, but the first is paramount: Polycarp’s death was in harmony with and in all things subject to God’s will.

God’s will that Polycarp should suffer was revealed to him through a vision three days before his martyrdom while he was consumed in prayer. He was already aware that his life was being sought but understood that he must be burned when his pillow appeared to catch fire. Indeed, three short days later Polycarp would be led to the stadium, where his persecutors would kindle a fire and intend to nail him down until he rejects the nails, saying:

Leave me as I am; for He that gives me strength to endure the fire, will also enable me, without your securing me by nails, to remain without moving in the pile.

Not only does Polycarp go willingly to the stadium, but he insists on enduring the fire with cool indifference by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Homemade “Pillows” (Marshmallows)

The marshmallow, then, is a spin off of the pillow from Polycarp’s vision. You could also take this tradition a step further and roast the marshmallows over a fire, or you can simply enjoy them in hot chocolate or even by themselves.

Marshmallows are made by combining activated gelatin powder with a sugar-water mixture and then whisking it for a length of time to whip up many small air bubbles in the mixture. After the marshmallow fluff is made, it is transferred quickly to a dish to set before cutting into cubes. Store the finished marshmallows in an airtight container to avoid having them dry out and form a crust.

Ingredients

powdered sugar for dusting

½ C water

3 packets of powdered gelatin (each 0.25 oz)

½ C water

2 C granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Begin by preparing a dish in which the marshmallow fluff will cool. We used an 8×8″ baking dish, or you could use anything with a rimmed edge no larger than 9×13″ and no smaller than 8×8″. Prepare the dish by lining the inside with plastic wrap and then dusting powdered sugar inside to coat the bottom. You can set it aside for now.
2. Next, combine the first ½ cup of water and the 3 powdered gelatin packets in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Give the mixture a quick stir and then let it rest to thicken.
3. Next, combine the second ½ cup water and 2 cups sugar and bring to a boil until it the sugar has dissolved and the mixture reaches a temperature of 230℉.
4. Remove the sugar-water mixture from the heat, turn on the stand mixer to medium-high speed and gradually pour in the hot sugar water. This can be done relatively quickly.
5. Continue whisking the mixture for 10 minutes. It should double in volume and become white and glossy.
6. After 10 minutes, quickly transfer the marshmallow fluff to your prepared dish and spread evenly using a spatula. Cover with another layer of plastic wrap and transfer it to the refrigerator to cool for 1-2 hours.
7. After the marshmallows have cooled, you can lift them out by pulling up on the plastic and taking a long knife to cut the fluff into cubes.
8. Enjoy the marshmallows by themselves, melted in hot chocolate, or roasted over the fire. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator to avoid a crust forming on the outside for up to one week.