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Last June we decided that we were going to do a Home Enthronement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I had never heard about it before but I was overwhelmed with excitement that our home would forevermore be a sanctuary which Jesus reigns over. I have always wanted to build a home that imitated a little monastery, full of glorifying work, humble prayer, and Christ-centered growth in love and virtue. It has been a enriching devotion that has granted our lives immense strength from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Fully knowing that we cannot achieve that on our own merits, giving this home to the most self-sacrificing, beautiful heart of Jesus was the only way to go. We had a lovely, intimate ceremony last year with a dear priest friend and shared a meal afterwards with our loved ones. In celebrating the anniversary of our enthronement we rededicated ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (prayer after the recipe) and I made a more intentional meal in honor of the French nun that Jesus revealed his heart to. This traditional, classic French dish is one that is true to the region that St. Margaret Mary Alacoque came from! It made for a delicious dinner in celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus feast day and can also be used again on her feast day which is October 16th. To see my full Home Enthronement Companion, click here. Prep Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes Servings: 4-6 Ingredients 1. 4-6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, or the traditional way by using a whole chicken cut into 10 pieces. 2. Kosher salt 3. Black pepper 4. 4-5 strips of bacon 5. Sliced mushrooms or baby bellas 6. 4 oz chopped onions or 6 oz pearl onions 7. 1 large carrot, peeled and sliced 8. 2 cloves minced garlic 9. 1 tbsp tomato paste 10. 2 tbsp all purpose flour 11. 2 cups red wine, traditionally Burgundy or a full-bodied red wine like Shiraz or a Cabernet Sauvignon 12. 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 13. 1 tbsp brandy or rum 14. Small bunch thyme 15. 3 tbsp butter 16. Freshly chopped parsley for serving, optional Let's get started! Before you begin cooking peel and cut your carrots, onions, mushrooms, and garlic then set it aside. Take your chicken out of the package and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Use as many chicken thighs as you have family members, hungry children, or guests. Set that aside and get your cutting board, cut the bacon into 1" strips. You can cook this in your dutch oven, no need to dirty more dishes than necessary. ;) Cook until crispy and golden brown. My bacon almost didn't make it passed this part of the recipe. Use a spatula to take the bacon out of the dutch oven and onto a paper plate or bowl lined with a paper towel. In the same dutch oven or pot, brown the outside of the chicken. Work in batches and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side. Don't worry about cooking the chicken all the way through, we will get to that later. Flip! Remove the chicken to a plate. Drain all but about 4-5 tablespoons of oil from the pot, you want a nice coating along the bottom for your veggies. Grab your carrots... and your onion... and your mushrooms... Then dump them all into your dutch oven! Cheater alert, I buy fresh, packaged mushrooms already sliced. Also, the traditional recipe calls for pearl onions but I personally don't really like them so I went with a smaller amount of white onion. Cook for about 5 minutes or until they are golden. Then add the garlic for about another minute, moving it around so as to not burn. Put in one tablespoon of tomato paste and stir it around so that it spreads over the vegetables. Next add two tablespoons all purpose flour and stir that in until the vegetables are coated. Measure out 2 cups of wine for your dish and one cup of wine for yourself. Cheers! Slowly pour the wine over your vegetables. Now would also be a good time to preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then, measure and pour in 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth. Next, measure out 1 tablespoon brandy and add to the pot. Since we didn't have brandy I went with a brandy substitute, rum! Other substitutes...alcoholic version: bourbon or non alcoholic version: apple juice Stir all your ingredients around until thoroughly combined and get your plate of browned chicken. Put the chicken back in the dutch oven and sprinkle in half of the bacon. If you have more self-control then I do there will probably be more in your pot than mine. Add in a few sprigs of thyme and sprinkle in a little more salt and pepper. Stir around and bring to a boil. Cover the dutch oven and place in the oven which should be at 350 degrees. Cook for about 20-25 minutes or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. After 20-25 minutes check the temperature of your chicken, if they have reached 165 degrees remove them from the pot and put them on a plate. Cover the chicken with foil to keep them warm. Put your dutch oven back on the stove over medium heat and add in 3 tbsp butter and simmer until the sauce is thickened. This part of the process took about 15 minutes or so. Once it has thickened plate your chicken and pour the sauce over it. Sprinkle the rest of your bacon on top and add fresh parsley for plate appeal. C’est délicieux! As a side you could do mashed or small roasted potatoes, a big green salad, and dinner rolls. Don't forget to pour yourself a fresh glass of red wine before you delight in this delicious meal. Consecration of Families to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer O most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thou didst reveal to the blessed Margaret Mary Thy desire to rule over Christian families; behold, in order to please Thee, we stand before Thee this day, to proclaim Thy full sovereignty over our family. We desire henceforth to live Thy life, we desire that the virtues, to which Thou hast promised peace on earth, may flower in the bosom of our family; we desire to keep far from us the spirit of the world, which Thou hast condemned. Thou art King of our hearts by our love of Thee alone, with which our hearts are on fire and whose flame we shall nourish by frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist. Be pleased, O Sacred Heart, to preside over our gathering together, to bless our spiritual and temporal affairs, to ward off all annoyance from us, to bless our joys and comfort our sorrows. If any of us has ever been so unhappy as to fall into the misery of displeasing Thee, grant that he may remember, O Heart of Jesus, that Thou art full of goodness and mercy toward the repentant sinner. And when the hour of separation strikes and death enters our family circle, whether we go or whether we stay, we shall all bow meekly before Thine eternal decrees. This shall be our consolation, to remember that the day will come, when our entire family, once more united in heaven, shall be able to sing of Thy glory and Thy goodness forever. May the immaculate Heart of Mary and the glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph vouchsafe to offer Thee this our act of consecration, and to keep the memory thereof alive in us all the days of our lives. Glory to the Heart of Jesus, our King and our Father! Amen For more information on Home Enthronements and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, check out this prayer companion that I created for you. https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/product-page/home-enthronement-prayer-companion Keep in touch for more liturgical living recipes and prayer companions. Let me know how your dinner goes and share with me some of the things your family likes to do for the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Follow along on FB @hisgirlsunday or IG @steffani_hisgirlsunday!

how to, holy week, liturgical living, catholic lent A Brief History Holy Week is the period of time just before Easter Sunday that commemorates the events leading up to and including the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Tradition tells us that this used to be called the "Great Week" and it included Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. We can confirm that by the 4th century, Christians were making pilgrimages to Jerusalem to celebrate this week, that which we now call Holy Week. Interestingly enough, the Church found the writings of an early Church Christian woman named Egeria that dates back to 381AD which explain the prayers, liturgical experiences, and devotions from that week. As you can see, Christians throughout centuries have observed Holy Week and throughout the history of the Church it has only grown further. The profound aspect about this is that now it is our turn to partake and carry on the traditions that many have done long before us. Understanding the Triduum Triduum is a term that is used to express the solemn three days of prayer that commemorate the Paschal Mystery. It begins at sundown on Holy Thursday through Sundown on Easter Sunday. It is the most significant part of the liturgical calendar and while this does span three individual days, it is considered one consecutive liturgy. From Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday we see the fulfillment of the Jewish Passover and the redemption offered through Christ's great sacrifice for the human race. He is the Paschal lamb, the spotless victim, that is offered for our sins. We receive and partake in the Paschal Mystery every time we receive the Holy Eucharist. Let's Get Started If you are subscribed to my e-newsletter "Liturgy Collective" or you follow me on social media, you may have seen this graphic. It is certainly great for a quick glimpse, but there is so much more that I wasn't able to include, so that is why we're here. 😃 The purpose of this post is to share with you all the liturgical living traditions that come with each day so that you don't have to sift through the internet to consider what might be good for you or your family. I've got it all right here, and if you know of a tradition that I missed, comment on the post and I'll add it. This liturgical living endeavor is communal so feel free to jump in! And the other thing that is worth considering is what tradition will help you grow closer to Jesus. This may look different from person to person or family to family, and that is okay friend! Monday of Holy Week: Extravagant Monday The "Why": In the Aquila home this day is titled, "Extravagant Monday" because in the readings Mary takes a liter of costly perfume and anoints the feet of Jesus with it. She offers an extravagant gesture of love for Christ that is meant to be an imitation of the offering that Christ makes of Himself. To Do: In honor of this profound act, we do an EXTRAVAGANT dinner! I usually print menu cards, do the table up all fancy like, make bread from scratch, serve a multi-course dinner, and invite as many friends over as we can. Just as Mary serves Jesus, we serve our beloved friends and family. This was the menu from a couple of years ago that you can use as is or play off. 1. Focaccia bread made from scratch 2. Fresh mozzarella bruschetta 3. Brown sugar rub slow bake ribs 4. Garlic butter rice 5. Fresh salad 6. Roasted brussels sprouts 7. Chocolate chip cookies from scratch For drinks I usually serve water, tea, wine, and a specialty cocktail. Tuesday of Holy Week: Ten Commandment Tuesday The "Why": The Tuesday of Holy Week is what I call, Ten Commandments Tuesday. This tradition comes straight from my younger years. As many of you might know, I did not grow up in a Catholic or even religious household, but I was always drawn to things relating to God and faith. Right before Easter, a local channel would air the old Charlton Heston version of the Ten Commandments and I used to watch it every year on my own. This may sound strange for a child to sit down and watch this by themselves, but I did. It was my own little tradition and I loved it. It's funny to end up here sharing Catholic tradition after going through life's many twists and turns, but upon writing this it looks like I ended up back at my roots. And little did I know at the time, but it actually ties in perfectly with the Holy Week and the Easter vigil. During the Easter vigil, we sit and listen to all of those Old Testament covenants in the dark. It’s actually one of my favorite parts because it shows how Christ came to fulfill all of the promises that were made before Him that man could not keep. It also reminds us that God has had a plan to pursue us and save us from the very beginning. To Do: Today we will watch the Ten Commandments and pray the Litany of Old Testament Saints, you can find that here. You can also make tablet cookies out of Nutter Butters or Madeleines (pictured below) or just go crazy and pick 10 snacks to go with your 10 Commandment movie night. I'm a little "extra" when it comes to these things but you gotta keep life fun, right? There is no special recipe for this, just cookies, white chocolate coating (you can see this in the first picture), and icing to pipe the numbers. Wednesday of Holy Week: Spy Wednesday The "Why": Spy Wednesday is the day that Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, and is traditionally known in this way because of his sneakiness in talking to the high priest. We all experience betrayal in some way, but Jesus understands this very well as it was His very own friend that turns Him over for a price. We too betray God to the things and people in our lives, myself included, sometimes without even thinking about it. In a way, we all have a price. On this day when we reflect upon that free decision of Judas to let Satan enter him, I have found it so important to think of something that I too need to let go of that stands between me and God and to not let that be the reason that I turn my back on Him. To Do: Today we watch a film noir Spy Movie (my favorites), go to confession, and donate an additional $30.00 to our parish. If you have children, you could also play I Spy or hide 30 coins in your home for them to find. And more than anything, I think it’s important on Spy Wednesday to try to spend time in prayer; reflecting, asking for forgiveness, and also encouraging our children to think about how we can remove any barriers that may be standing between us and Christ. Seeking forgiveness and reconciliation are major themes for this day. My top five vintage spy movie recommendations: 1. Charade (1963) 2. North by Northwest (1959) 3. Notorious (1946) 4. Ministry of Fear (1944) 5. The 39 Steps (1935) Thursday of Holy Week: Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday "The Why": Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, commemorates the feast of the Last Supper where Christ gave His mandate, "mandatum," to love one another as He has loved us. There are several important things that we partake in on this day such as the Mass of the Lord's Supper where the priest performs the washing of feet, the tabernacle is left empty and the Eucharist is put in repose for adoration, and the altar is completely stripped. It may look like the Mass has ended, but it actually hasn't, and won't until Saturday evening. The altar of repose is an altar other than the main altar where the consecrated host is kept for adoration and reserved for use on Good Friday. To Do: On Maundy Thursday we typically go out to eat Mediterranean food, an intentional choice made in remembrance of the Last Supper. From there we go to the Holy Thursday liturgy and following that we partake in the 7 churches tradition. This is credited to St. Philip Neri and his friends who would prayerfully join together to go on a "pilgrimage" to seven churches. It came out of a desire to increase prayer and keep with Christ's request to "remain here, and watch," hence why it is called Night Watch (Mark 14:34). By keeping with this custom we become pilgrims staying with Christ in the garden and consoling Him in His agony. Three prayer recommendations to use for this evening of adoration: 1. Anima Christi 2. Tantum Ergo 3. Pange Lingua Friday of Holy Week: Good Friday "The Why": On this day we remember the Crucifixion of our Lord who died for our sins. It is a somber day, challenge yourself to meditate upon this great mystery and take time for silence. The communion service is typically held at 3:00PM, the hour that our Lord took His last breath. We walk into our parish with the altar completely bare, the Eucharist is not in the Tabernacle, and the door is left open for us to see its emptiness. Today is the only day in the year in which the Mass is not celebrated, we are still partaking in what began yesterday on Holy Thursday. To Do: A time honored Good Friday tradition is to venerate the cross. This comes from St. Helen who was said to have discovered the wood of the True Cross. After sharing this with the Church, faithful Catholics would journey to see it and honor the cross by kissing the wood. We imitate this practice by kneeling before the "instrument of salvation" to kiss it as a way of showing honor and reverence. In addition to venerating the cross with our parish we go to Tre Ore and Tenebrae. Afterwards, we come home and seek to make our home a little monastery of quiet reflection. To practically do this we try to observe one full hour in silence. Usually while we are doing that I make traditional hot cross buns. The other form of prayer that is highly recommended for Good Friday are the Stations of the Cross. Many parishes will offer it on this day, and some even arrange the Way of the Cross, a procession of praying through the Stations. My family usually does this prayer at home, so I encourage you to pray them in whatever way makes sense for you. If you would like more explanation and ideas for Good Friday, you can read more from me here. Other Prayers for Good Friday 1. The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary 2. The Prayer to Be Joined With Christ in Death 3. Prayer Before the Crucifix Saturday of Holy Week: Holy Saturday The "Why": We Wait. We sit next to the tomb of of Christ, mourn His death, and imitate Mary in faithful anticipation of the Resurrection. Today we also commemorate the harrowing of hell, when Christ goes down to Sheol (the abode of the dead “hell”) to free the just souls who had gone before Him when the gates of heaven were not open yet. You may have noticed that we say this in the creed, which seems like a rather peculiar event. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 633, explains this further to us if you would like to reference it. Through this act the holy souls are delivered to Heaven. We are also taught that this is the last phase of Jesus’ Messianic mission. To Do: You can honor this day by praying the Liturgy of the Hours, cleaning and decorating for Easter, dying Easter eggs, baking or preparing for Easter lunch tomorrow, and by going to the Easter Vigil this evening. For many, myself included, this is a day to slowly and intentionally prepare our hearts, homes, and families for the Resurrection. What is the Easter Vigil? Tonight we will encounter the most gloriously dramatic liturgy of the entire year which takes place in the evening to celebrate the triumphant Resurrection of Christ. The vigil has four parts: the Liturgy of Light (Lucernarium), the Liturgy of the Word, the Baptismal Liturgy, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We also welcome the catechumens and candidates who will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. Easter Sunday The "Why": Jesus has Risen from the dead, ALLELUIA! We celebrate the empty tomb as a real event and encounter. We praise God for fulfilling the covenants, for confirming His promises, and offering to us the resurrection of our body and life everlasting. Remember, Easter is a 50 day season, the feast proper is celebrated for an octave, and then Eastertide goes until Pentecost. This is a beautiful time to rejuvenate our dedication to prayer and living liturgically. "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:14). To Do: For Easter we spend the day with family eating, drinking, playing games, dying Easter eggs, and doing an egg hunt. I usually make an Italian Easter Bread that I bring to share and you can find that recipe here. We do the best we can to extend our traditions and joy out over the season. I have a list of 50 fun Easter ideas for you here. This is the beauty of the Catholic faith, there's no need to rush or try to cram everything into one day. For us, Easter is a lifestyle! On Easter, the tradition of the Church is to bring back the Alleluia that we buried on Shrove Tuesday and to begin singing the Regina Caeli. You might also consider using the Blessing for the First Easter Meal, see below. Blessing of the First Meal of Easter A minister who is a priest or deacon says the prayer of blessing with hands outstretched; a lay minister says the prayer with hands joined. God of glory, the eyes of all turn to you as we celebrate Christ's victory over sin and death. Bless us and this food of our first Easter meal. May we who gather at the Lord's table continue to celebrate the joy of His resurrection and be admitted finally to His heavenly banquet. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. I hope that sharing this makes the meaning behind each day of Holy Week more clear, and gives you enough options to take and/or adapt as you need. At the heart of it all should be praise, that is a liturgical life. So remember, as you are trying new traditions, prayers, and experiences think to yourself, "is this helping me to give God praise?" If yes, then keep it, adapt it, do it again next year too. If not, then ditch it and try something else. Praying for each of you as we step closer to the cross.

There's not one festive occasion that I can remember where deviled eggs weren't a featured part of our appetizers. I notably remember having them at Easter, summertime BBQs, and most of our football & tailgate parties. They are a bite sized party classic that's easy to whip up and sure to add a pop of flavor to your menu. This year we served them for Easter and jokingly nicknamed them our appetEASTERs. 😉 We're here all day, folks. 😂 I am going to give you some noteworthy tips to achieve the perfect deviled egg. Shall we begin? (deviled eggs, classic, easter recipe, liturgy kitchen) Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes Yields: 12 eggs Ingredients 1. 6 large eggs 2. 1/4 cup mayonnaise 3. 1 tsp dijon mustard (plain can be used at the same proportion) 4. 2 tsps hot sauce 5. Salt, to taste 6. Pepper, to taste 7. Paprika to garnish 8. Green onion or cilantro to garnish Begin by boiling about 10 cups of water in a pot. When the water comes to a boil, use a slotted spoon to lower the eggs into the water. Place the lid back on the pot and lower the heat to medium-low allowing the eggs to boil for 10 minutes. Tip for Easy Peeling: In a large bowl, pour in 2 cups of ice and 2 cups of cold water. When the eggs are finished boiling place them in the ice water and let them cool for about 5 minutes. Then crack them and peel, the shell will very easily slide off. (One egg was already in the works before I took this picture, but you should have 6 peeled eggs.) Using a fine, straight knife, cut the eggs in half lengthwise. Remove the egg yolk from each side and put it into a small mixing bowl. Into the same bowl as the egg yolk, add 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tsps hot sauce, and 1 tsp dijon mustard. Using the back of a fork, mash the ingredients together until it has formed a smooth & creamy mixture. Then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and mix one last time. You can go about filling the eggs in a couple of ways! 1. You can spoon a heaping dollop of the egg yolk mixture into the egg white. or... 2. You can fill a piping bag fitted with a star tip with the egg yolk mixture and pipe it into the egg white. Ziploc Piping Bag Tip: As you will see from the photos I did option #2. I actually didn't have a piping bag that fit the large star tip that I had so I used a ziploc bag by cutting a corner off and gripped the star tip with a rubber band. Piping Trick: As you are pressing the mixture out, keep the tip lower towards the egg white so that the mixture balloons out and fills the egg white before you pull away to create the point. When all of your eggs are filled with the mixture, go back over them and sprinkle with paprika. I used a sieve for this so that it would be lightly dusted. Lastly, you can garnish with either green onion or cilantro, this time I went with green onion. Finely chop the onion and sprinkle onto the yolk mixture. Place your eggs on a lovely serving platter and if you have time, chill them before serving. This is the serving plate that you see in the picture, click here. Enjoy, friends! Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media, Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

paschal candle, guide, Catholic Easter custom Liturgically Rich Symbol The Paschal Candle is a liturgically rich symbol of the Catholic faith and we receive a new one every year at the Easter Vigil. The evening of Holy Saturday, a fire is lit in a metal bowl, called a brazier. This is important because we receive this new and blessed fire which serves to light the Paschal candle. This is then processed in to the dark Church as a way of showing Christ's light and resurrection. The candle is a representation of Christ Himself, and because of this it is purposefully positioned upon on a Paschal candle stand that is set next to the altar. During the vigil, the priest will press five grains of incense into the candle. These grains are molded into wax nails and inserted into the candle to represent the five wounds of Christ. The incense calls to mind the spices that were used to prepare Christ's body for the tomb. During the entire 50 days of Easter you will see the candle remain in the sanctuary and it will be lit for all liturgies during this time. After Pentecost the candle is moved next to the baptismal font where it will be lit during all baptisms throughout the year. This indicates to us that the light of Christ is being passed to each person that comes into the Church, beginning with the Catechumens at the Easter Vigil. You might also see the candle lit at a Catholic funeral Mass which is meant to remind us that the baptism which the deceased received was a death to self and a resurrection into the life of Christ. Now they are entering into physical death and hopefully a new life with Christ. For Your Own Home The Paschal Candle is one of the most sacred and enduring elements in Christianity, so we bring this custom into our home too. We use it at Sunday family dinner, family and personal prayer time, and when we are feeling like we need the light of Christ in our day. We do this to bring into our home all that the Paschal Candle represents; Jesus being our light, dispelling spiritual darkness, our own baptisms and the promises we made, and the hope of the resurrection. You can get one here! What else would you like to learn about the Paschal (Easter) Candle? Sign up to write a comment!

Let's chat about why we are making a recipe with sun-dried tomatoes for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima! In the series of dates associated with the apparitions that occurred in Fatima, Portugal there is one to be noted, October 13, 1917. On this day a crowd witnessed what is known as the Miracle of the Sun. Thousands of people stood in awe of this event, but there is a special witness that we have from a source who said he was there. Dr. Goncalo de Almeida Garrett, a Professor of Natural Sciences at Coimbra University passed the story down to his son, Dr. Jose Almeida Garrett who shares with us what his father saw that day. I was looking at the place of the apparitions, in a serene, if cold, expectation of something happening, and with diminishing curiosity, because a long time had passed without anything to excite my attention. Then I heard a shout from thousands of voices and saw the multitude suddenly turn its back and shoulders away from the point toward which up to now it had directed its attention, and turn to look at the sky on the opposite side. Here he describes very clearly what the sun looked like as it broke through the clouds and the way it surpassed all scientific understanding. It must have been nearly two o’clock by the legal time, and about midday by the sun. The sun, a few moments before, had broken through the thick layer of clouds which hid it, and shone clearly and intensely. I veered to the magnet which seemed to be drawing all eyes, and saw it as a disc with a clean-cut rim, luminous and shining, but which did not hurt the eyes. I do not agree with the comparison which I have heard made in Fátima—that of a dull silver disc. It was a clearer, richer, brighter color, having something of the luster of a pearl. It did not in the least resemble the moon on a clear night because one saw it and felt it to be a living body. It was not spheric like the moon, nor did it have the same color, tone, or shading. It looked like a glazed wheel made of mother-of-pearl. It could not be confused, either, with the sun seen through fog (for there was no fog at the time), because it was not opaque, diffused or veiled. In Fátima it gave light and heat and appeared clear-cut with a well-defined rim. During the solar phenomenon, which I have just described in detail, there were changes of color in the atmosphere. Looking at the sun, I noticed that everything around was becoming darkened. I looked first at the nearest objects and then extended my glance further afield as far as the horizon. I saw everything an amethyst color. Objects around me, the sky and the atmosphere, were of the same color. An oak tree nearby threw a shadow of this color on the ground. Fearing that I was suffering from an affection of the retina, an improbable explanation because in that case one could not see things purple-colored, I turned away and shut my eyes, keeping my hands before them to intercept the light. With my back still turned, I opened my eyes and saw that the landscape was the same purple color as before. Dr. Garrett describes his state of mind as a way to affirm what he saw and explain that this was not a hallucination. And in fact everything, both near and far, had changed, taking on the color of old yellow damask. People looked as if they were suffering from jaundice, and I recall a sensation of amusement at seeing them look so ugly and unattractive. My own hand was the same color. All the phenomena which I have described were observed by me in a calm and serene state of mind, and without any emotional disturbance. It is for others to interpret and explain them. This miracle sparked an intense devotion to Our Lady that we can see is still alive and well respected today. If you would like to learn more about the apparition and promises associated with this devotion, you can read my other blog post here. Marinade Time: 30 minutes - 8 hours (Optional) Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes Yields: 6 servings Italian Chicken Marinade Ingredients (Marinade Process Optional) 4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 cup virgin olive oil 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Ingredients 1 1/2 lbs Italian marinated chicken, cubed 1 1/2 tsp dried basil 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved 1 1/4 cup pesto (if you want homemade here is my recipe) 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes Salt and pepper, to taste Parmesan cheese for topping, optional Pasta or rice for serving over (we did cauliflower rice) Directions Using a sharp knife, cut chicken into one inch cubes on a cutting board. Sprinkle with kosher salt and place in a large ziploc bag. In a large measuring cup whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tsps Italian seasoning, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pour that over the chicken cubes in the ziploc bag and squish the ingredients around so the chicken is thoroughly covered. Set the chicken bag in the refrigerator to marinade for at least 30 minutes. You can marinade the chicken for up to 7-8 hours if you desire. Note: The marinade process is optional, you can cook the chicken as you like and follow the rest of the directions as listed, but just know that you will be missing out on some amazing Italian chicken. Using a medium skillet, heat 2 tbsps olive oil over medium-high heat. Put the chicken in the skillet in a single layer and cook for about 3 minutes on one side. Flip the chicken and add 1 pint halved cherry tomatoes, 1 1/2 tsp dried basil, and 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for about 4 minutes or until the chicken gets to 165 degrees. Serve over a bed of rice, risotto, or cooked pasta, and add a dollop of pesto (store bought or homemade) and a sprinkle of shredded parmesan cheese. Enjoy, friends! Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media, Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

Quick Links & Resources for Catholic Liturgical Living in May As a short guide and aid to your May liturgical living, I have compiled some quick tips, ideas, and links to bring joy and festivity into your domestic church. This is not a list of every single May feast day, but will be a very good start. Feast days that you will find in this post! 1. St. Joseph the Worker 2. Our Lady of Fatima 3. Ascension of the Lord 4. Pentecost 5. The Visitation Note: This is not a full list of resources on my blog for feast day celebrations, activities, and recipes in the month of May. Go browse around for saints and feast days that are special to you. Enjoy! 😊 The Month of May is Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary St. Joseph the Worker- May 1st About To foster deep devotion to Saint Joseph among Catholics, and in response to the “May Day” celebrations for workers sponsored by Communists, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker in 1955. This feast extends the long relationship between Joseph and the cause of workers in both Catholic faith and devotion. Beginning in the Book of Genesis, the dignity of human work has long been celebrated as a participation in the creative work of God. By work, humankind both fulfills the command found in Genesis to care for the earth (Gn 2:15) and to be productive in their labors. Saint Joseph, the carpenter and foster father of Jesus, is but one example of the holiness of human labor. Jesus, too, was a carpenter. He learned the trade from Saint Joseph and spent his early adult years working side-by-side in Joseph’s carpentry shop before leaving to pursue his ministry as preacher and healer. In his encyclical Laborem Exercens, Pope John Paul II stated: “the Church considers it her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work, to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated, and to help to guide [social] changes so as to ensure authentic progress by man and society.” Saint Joseph is held up as a model of such work. Pius XII emphasized this when he said, “The spirit flows to you and to all men from the heart of the God-man, Savior of the world, but certainly, no worker was ever more completely and profoundly penetrated by it than the foster father of Jesus, who lived with Him in closest intimacy and community of family life and work.” (Franciscan Media) Quick Links 1. Celebrate St. Joseph in Your Home 2. Feast Day Crafts and Activities 3. Loyola Press Little Lesson St. Joseph Prayer O Glorious Saint Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance for the expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations; to work with thankfulness and joy, considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience, never shrinking from weariness and trials; to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self, keeping unceasingly before my eyes death and the account that I must give of time lost, talents unused, good omitted, and vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thy example, O Patriarch, Saint Joseph. Such shall be my watch-word in life and in death. Amen. Food 1. St. Joseph Bread Recipe Here! Our Lady of Fatima About May 13 is the anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady to three shepherd children in the small village of Fatima in Portugal in 1917. She appeared six times to Lucia, 9, and her cousins Francisco, 8, and his sister Jacinta, 6, between May 13, 1917 and October 13, 1917. The story of Fatima begins in 1916, when, against the backdrop of the First World War which had introduced Europe to the most horrific and powerful forms of warfare yet seen, and a year before the Communist revolution would plunge Russia and later Eastern Europe into six decades of oppression under militant atheistic governments, a resplendent figure appeared to the three children who were in the field tending the family sheep. “I am the Angel of Peace,” said the figure, who appeared to them two more times that year exhorting them to accept the sufferings that the Lord allowed them to undergo as an act of reparation for the sins which offend Him, and to pray constantly for the conversion of sinners. Then, on the 13th day of the month of Our Lady, May 1917, an apparition of ‘a woman all in white, more brilliant than the sun’ presented itself to the three children saying “Please don’t be afraid of me, I’m not going to harm you.” Lucia asked her where she came from and she responded, “I come from Heaven.” The woman wore a white mantle edged with gold and held a rosary in her hand. The woman asked them to pray and devote themselves to the Holy Trinity and to “say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and an end to the war.” She also revealed that the children would suffer, especially from the unbelief of their friends and families, and that the two younger children, Francisco and Jacinta would be taken to Heaven very soon but Lucia would live longer in order to spread her message and devotion to the Immaculate Heart. In the last apparition the woman revealed her name in response to Lucia’s question: “I am the Lady of the Rosary.” (CNA) Quick Links 1. Honoring Our Lady of Fatima 2. Our Lady of Fatima Feasting 3. 13 Things to Know About Our Lady of Fatima Our Lady of Fatima Prayer Mother of all individuals and peoples, you know all their sufferings and hopes. In your motherly heart you feel all the struggles between good and evil, between light and darkness, that convulse the world: accept the plea which we make in the Holy Spirit directly to your heart, and embrace with the love of the Mother and Handmaid of the Lord those who most await this embrace, and also those whose act of entrustment you too await in a particular way. Take under your motherly protection the whole human family, which with affectionate love we entrust to you, O Mother. May there dawn for everyone the time of peace and freedom, the time of truth, of justice and of hope. Amen Food 1. Sun Fruit Tray Recipe Here! The Ascension of the Lord About The Ascension refers to the day celebrated 40 days after Easter when Catholics celebrate the fact that Jesus returns to God after being with his disciples after the resurrection. It is a central element of our tradition and is included in the creed recited at Mass each Sunday. It is also a Holy Day of Obligation and Catholics are required to go to Mass on that day. (Busted Halo) The scriptural basis for this comes from Acts 1:9-11. And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Quick Links Annual Ascension Picnic 3 Ways to Celebrate the Ascension Ascension Day Traditions Ascension Prayer Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Right before your Ascension into heaven you told your apostles to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth upon receiving the Holy Spirit. May I be similarly inspired to spread your Gospel message in word and deed, according to your will for me. And may I do so prudently and joyfully, with your help, your guidance, and your grace! And remembering this glorious event, help me to seek what is above, Heaven, where you are seated at the right hand of God the Father! Amen. Food Strawberry Cinnamon Butter Recipe Here! Pentecost Sunday About "In the Christian tradition, Pentecost is the celebration of the person of the Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles, Mary, and the first followers of Jesus, who were gathered together in the Upper Room. A "strong, driving" wind filled the room where they were gathered, and tongues of fire came to rest on their heads, allowing them to speak in different languages so that they could understand each other. It was such a strange phenomenon that some people thought the Christians were just drunk - but Peter pointed out that it was only the morning, and said the phenomenon was caused by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit also gave the apostles the other gifts and fruits necessary to fulfill the great commission - to go out and preach the Gospel to all nations. It fulfills the New Testament promise from Christ (Luke 24:46-49) that the Apostles would be "clothed with power" before they would be sent out to spread the Gospel." (CNA) Quick Links 7 Ways to Celebrate Pentecost Come Holy Spirit Into Our Homes Understanding the Lost Octave Pentecost Prayer We beseech you, O Lord, let the power of the Holy Spirit be always with us; let it mercifully purify our hearts, and safeguard us from all harm. Grant this through Christ our Lord, Amen. May the Comforter, Who proceeds from You, enlighten our minds, we beseech you, O Lord, and guide us, as Your Son has promised, into all truth. We ask this through Christ, our Lord, Amen. Holy Spirit, Sweet guest of My Soul, Abide In Me and Grant That I May Ever abide in Thee. Amen Food 1. Fruits of the Spirit Salad Recipe Here! The Visitation About This is a fairly late feast, going back only to the 13th or 14th century. It was established widely throughout the Church to pray for unity. The present date of celebration was set in 1969, in order to follow the Annunciation of the Lord and precede the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. Like most feasts of Mary, it is closely connected with Jesus and his saving work. The more visible actors in the visitation drama (see Luke 1:39-45) are Mary and Elizabeth. However, Jesus and John the Baptist steal the scene in a hidden way. Jesus makes John leap with joy—the joy of messianic salvation. Elizabeth, in turn, is filled with the Holy Spirit and addresses words of praise to Mary—words that echo down through the ages. It is helpful to recall that we do not have a journalist’s account of this meeting. Rather Luke, speaking for the Church, gives a prayerful poet’s rendition of the scene. Elizabeth’s praise of Mary as “the mother of my Lord” can be viewed as the earliest Church’s devotion to Mary. As with all authentic devotion to Mary, Elizabeth’s (the Church’s) words first praise God for what God has done to Mary. Only secondly does she praise Mary for trusting God’s words. Then comes the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Here, Mary herself—like the Church—traces all her greatness to God. (Fransiscan Media) Quick Links What to Do for the Feast of the Visitation Teaching Kids About the Visitation Help a Mom in Need Visitation Prayer “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Amen Food 1. Heart Cake Recipe Here! Happy Feasting! If you used any of these ideas, share with me on Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

red egg tradition, mary magdalene, he is risen Along with Mary Magdalene's mission to proclaim the resurrection, it is believed that she also was seeking to have Pontius Pilate removed from his role as governor of Judea for having an innocent man, Jesus, sentenced to death. After the emperor witnessed the eggs change color he did in fact honor her request by taking away his authority and having him sent to Gaul. There is also another story which states that Mary Magdalene brought a basket of white hard boiled eggs with her to the tomb of Jesus, maybe as a meal for herself and the others that joined her that morning. When she arrived at the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty, she also witnessed that all the eggs in her basket had turned from white to red. While I can't say that either of these situations factually or historically took place, I like to think that at least one of them did and with great faith I believe in the stories of our Catholic tradition. In fact, as I share that I am reminded of my time spent in Rome. I went on a tour of St. Paul outside the walls which has all the past pope's images along the wall of the Cathedral. The story goes that the second coming will happen when the last pope's image completes the lineup. A few of my travelling companions asked our Italian tour guide if this was true along with a string of questions, "How can we believe this?" "Is there any proof for this?" "How do you know this?" As the questions rolled the tour guide shook her head and said, "you Americans, you always think you need a concrete answer for everything." I couldn't help but chuckle to myself because there really is so much truth to this. Sometimes we overthink and overanalyze every part of our faith that we take the belief, wonder, and mystery out of it. All to say, let's keep the wonder of this story, and the truth that it communicates alive. The egg is considered to be a symbol of the Resurrection because it signifies new life. The hardness of the shell has been likened to the tomb that Jesus was laid in after His passion and death. And it is significant note that according to the Gospels, Mary Magdalene was the first person to witness the resurrection of Christ. She proclaims to those around her that Jesus Christ is risen, and the fact that the story of the egg connects us to her means that we can bear witness to this truth just as she did. I can't leave you with the story alone; I have a couple of ways that I think will spread the joy of the Easter story to those in your community. Don't think that it is too late to dye or decorate with red eggs. Eastertide goes through the octave into an entire season, and I think it's worth saying that it is okay to not just move on to the next thing, but to keep our hearts focused on the resurrection as much as we can. Secondly, you can share a red egg just as Mary Magdalene does to someone around you. How special would that be to pick a couple of your friends to mail a wooden red egg to with the message "He is Risen" and the story that I have shared with you today. Perhaps you can gift your children's teachers with one or your neighbors. I really like that this has such "pay it forward" potential. You share a red egg, and perhaps you inspire someone else to do it too. Before you know it, the custom of proclaiming the resurrection is spreading within your community. Share your red egg stories or crafts with me. Sign up to leave a comment or follow along on FB @hisgirlsunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

Peaches are in season and I'm craving some Southern summer comfort food. Warm peaches and ice cream will surely put a smile on everyone's face. I even ate this the next morning with a cup of coffee, ssshhhh, don't tell on me! It has oats in it, I mean it's basically breakfast right? Prep Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes Total Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients for the Peach Filling 1. 1 1/2 lbs fresh peaches, peeled and quartered 2. 1 tbsp lemon juice 3. 1/3 cup sugar 4. 1 tbsp cornstarch 5. 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 6. 1/8 tsp salt Ingredients for the Streusel Topping 1. 6 tbsps light brown sugar 2. 6 tbsps flour 3. 1/4 cup rolled oats 4. 1 tsp ground cinnamon 5. 1/8 tsp nutmeg 6. 1/8 tsp salt 7. 1/4 cup butter, softened I baked this in a 1 quart baking dish. Vanilla ice cream and cinnamon for serving! Start by peeling and quartering your peaches. This is probably the longest part of this recipe, and if you have a helper they can do the peaches while you make the filling. For the filling we are going to begin by pouring in 1 tbsp lemon juice into a medium size mixing bowl, then add in 1/3 cup sugar. Add in 1 tbsp cornstarch to the lemon juice mixture. This will give our filling a little bit of thickness for those peaches. To give this a nice flavor pour in 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Then sprinkle in 1/8 tsp salt and mix together with a fork working out any small clumps. Your filling should look like this! Throw in your quartered and peeled peaches and completely coat them. You can use a baking spatula or spoon to do this, but we just used our clean hands. In a separate bowl we are going to make the Streusel topping and this will go quickly so why don't we preheat our ovens to 350 degrees. Combine 6 tbsps brown sugar and 6 tbsps flour into a mixing bowl. Add in 1/4 cup rolled oats to the flour mixture. Give that 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, and 1/8 tsp salt. Whisk all of those ingredients together then grab your butter. It should have been sitting out this entire time so it's nice and soft. I cut mine into slices, tossed it into the flour mixture, and broke it down by hand. I initially started with a spoon but that was just taking too long. You do what works! This is what our completed product should look like, very crumbly! If you were to double this recipe you would use a 2 qt baking dish but I used a small 1 quart and it held everything perfectly. Grease your baking dish and evenly lay the peaches at the bottom. Pour the streusel topping over the peaches and smooth it over with a baking spatula. Don't pat it or smash it down, just lightly and evenly distribute the topping. Bake for 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and bubbling. Isn't that something? It smells absolutely delicious. Give your bowl a spoonful and a scoop of ice cream. Then top by sprinkling cinnamon through a sieve and serve! Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday. For more resources on building Catholic tradition, check out the blog section of my website or follow me on Facebook or Instagram to see what Catholic things I am doing to make our day to day life more joyful. In Christ, His Girl Sunday

St. Agnes, whose name means lamb, is celebrated every year in Rome through a beautiful tradition that many have never even heard of. The Pope observes a time-honored tradition of blessing two lambs on the feast of St. Agnes. It is customary for the lambs to both be under one year old and carried in to see the Pope in baskets. One lamb wears a white crown which symbolizes the purity of St. Agnes and the other lamb wears a red crown to symbolize her martyrdom. The wool from those lambs is then used to create a pallium for each new Archbishop. I find this tradition to be so impactful given that we don't know much about this small child saint, yet her littleness has brought about a century old tradition that clothes the great Archbishops of our Church. Consider this, the meaning of her namesake and the example that she gave of her purity brings forth a yearly custom of blessing little lambs and calls us back to seek innocent and pure love with Christ. This feast day can be honored in many ways in your home through prayer, sweet lamb crafts, books, etc. The way we like to welcome St. Agnes into our domestic church is through a meaningful dinner, garlic lamb chops, and prayer. Remembering her over a family dinner and asking her intercession reminds us to imitate her love for Christ through purity and self-sacrifice. I invite you to make dinner alongside me by using this recipe! Its fragrant ingredients will naturally call everyone to the kitchen. To learn more about why you should make lamb for Holy Thursday, read this. And of course you know the connection between lamb and Easter, but if you'd like to know more read this. Prep Time: 10 minutes Bake Time: 15 minutes Yields: 4 servings The Ensemble 1 package of fresh rosemary, chopped 5 cloves garlic, minced kosher salt black pepper 1 1/2 tbsps olive oil 4 lamb loin chop Begin by taking out your rosemary sprigs and while firmly holding the base of the stem, gently pull down against the leaf. Once you have removed as much of the herb from the stem, chop it up! Peel and mince 5 cloves of garlic. Sprinkle with kosher salt and black pepper. Mix those four simple ingredients together and gently press your lamb loin chop into the mixture. Flip and repeat! After you have repeated that step for each piece, set aside and heat 1 1/2 tbsps olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. When your oil is hot begin by working in manageable batches. Cook the lamb on each side for 4-5 minutes letting it obtain a nice brown color. Note: Don't cut or poke into the meat yet, we want to keep as much of the juice and tenderness as we can. Once the lamb is browned on both sides and you believe it to be done, you can check the internal temperature with a thermometer. Use this guide to help you reach the preparedness that you prefer. Medium Rare Pull off of the stove top at 135 degrees, it will raise 10 degrees after allowing it to rest for about 5 minutes. 145 degrees is your final temperature for medium rare. Medium Pull off temperature 150 degrees, after resting it will reach 160 degrees. Well Done Pull off temperature at 160 degrees, after resting 170 degrees. Plate and serve with rolls, crostini, asparagus, side salad, brussels sprouts, or rice. Happy Feast Day, St. Agnes! Use this prayer to add on to your Catholic prayer before meals. St. Agnes Prayer Saint Agnes, who had for nothing human glory and with joy suffered death by martyrdom for the One, who died for all of us, I ask you humbly, deign to intercede for me in every minute of this day and obtain for me the grace (mention your request). Let your prayer give me comfort in times of trials and torments. Amen. Holy Thursday Prayer of Surrender Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, My memory, my understanding And my entire will, All I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me. Amen. Prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola Easter Meal Prayer Creative God and Lord of life, you who call forth from the darkness of death all those who love you, we rejoice, on this Easter Sunday, in the Resurrection from the dead of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Visit our home and this table with your bright blessing of peace and life. We pause in the midst of this prayer to remember all the holy dead of our family who live now in you and who await the final and glorious resurrection of the dead. May they and we, because of our faith in you, our God, taste in the victory of life over death. May the Risen Christ, our Lord and Savior, be our guest as we celebrate his Resurrection with this Easter Sunday dinner. Bless those whose work to prepare this meal has truly been a work of prayer, and bless all of us who shall share it with Easter love and joy. May you then bless this table and this food, and each of us in your holy name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday. For more resources on building Catholic tradition, check out the blog section of my website or follow me on Facebook to see what Catholic things I am doing to make our day to day life more joyful.

Happy Eastertide, Friends! It has been a whirlwind over here in Quarantine-ville! We had a glorious Holy Week, even with the deep sadness of not being able to attend Mass, Good Friday was particularly somber and prayerful for me. Mostly I've been learning how to teach Theology online which comes with its ups and downs, build some self-care tools into my routine, and spend time (5 minutes min) in silence everyday. All things considered, I have been counting my blessings and realizing that I may not be as extroverted as I thought I was, maybe that changes as you get older, who knows. Needless to say, I've grown more comfortable with silence, I've rediscovered the joys of delving into the adventures of a good book, and I've spent hours laboring over delicious loaves of bread. This Easter I made Pane di Pasqua, Italian Easter Bread, and it was a huge success, after the first couple of tries. There is something so comforting about making bread, except when you forget the yeast and have to throw your beautiful little unbaked lump of dough in the trash. Yes, the one thing that absolutely has to go in RISEN bread was forgotten, but I tried again with great success. Given that we are still celebrating the joy of the Resurrection I thought this would be a great recipe to make with or for the family! It's also the perfect addition to a Springtime table with its fresh, citrus taste and its bright colored eggs. Before we get started this bread has dyed Easter eggs tucked into it, this is optional, but if you do want them make sure you have an Easter Egg Dye Kit on hand or some vinegar and food coloring. Prep Time: 45 min Rise Time: 1:30-2:00 Bake Time: 20 minutes The Ingredients! This is for a large loaf which will feed about 10-12 people. You can half the entire recipe for a small loaf or keep the proportions the same and make two smaller loafs. A small loaf will feed about 5-6 people. For the Bread 1. 1/2 cup milk, warmed to about 105F 2. 1/4 cup sugar 3. 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp) 4. 4 cups flour 5. 1 tsp salt 6. 2 oranges zested and juiced (about 1/2 cup juice) 7. 2 egg, beaten 8. 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 9. 1/2 tsp anise extract For the Egg Wash 1. 1 egg, beaten 2. 1 tsp water Begin by measuring the 1/2 cup milk and warm it in the microwave to about 100-105F. Put the warmed milk and the 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl and stir it until its dissolved. Whisk, whisk, whisk! Add the whole packet of yeast to the milk mixture. Whisk it in, cover it with a tea towel, and set aside for 5-10 minutes to activate the yeast. Take a little peak! Next up will be our dry ingredients, so grab a large bowl. Measure out 3 cups flour into your large mixing bowl. Add 1 teaspoon salt to the flour. Whisk until everything is thoroughly combined. Set that aside with your yeast mixture and get a medium bowl for the wet ingredients. First, lightly beat one egg. Then put 1/4 cup butter in a glass bowl to melt in the microwave. Set the melted butter aside and in another glass bowl zest two oranges. Take your orange and juice 1/2 cup it into the bowl along with the zest. This is the best part and gives the bread that fresh spring flavor! Add the beaten egg to the orange zest and juice like so! Then add the melted butter to that mixture! Measure 1/2 teaspoon of pure anise extract. My family loves this flavoring, we use it in pizzelles too, it tastes like licorice and makes a delicious flavor combination with the orange. Whisk the ingredients together and gather your three bowls. You should have a bowl with the orange mixture, another with the flour mixture, and a third bowl with the yeast mixture. Your yeast mixture should look like this now, foamy! Pour the yeast mixture into the dry ingredients and give it a little mixing, then pour the orange mixture in too. I started with a whisk and then changed my mind, grab a wooden spoon for this step. If you don't want as much of an arm workout you can always throw this into the stand mixer. Add the remaining 1 cup flour a little at a time, mixing it in until it is all moistened. Lightly flour your surface and turn the dough out so you can knead it for 5-10 minutes. You'll know it's ready to rise once it has all come together in a soft, smooth ball of dough. It should feel soft and tacky! Oil a large, clean bowl, then place the dough inside and roll it around so it gets a nice top coat of oil too. Cover it with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and place in a warm environment to rise for 45 min to an hour. Here is my risen dough after an hour! Note: If the dough is not doubled in size within the hour give it more time. If you need to you can also put it in the refrigerator overnight, this will slow the down the activity of the yeast but it won't stop it so you may have to punch down the dough. When you are ready to bake the bread, take the dough out of the refrigerator and let it get to room temperature. Lightly flour your surface again so that you can make the braid ring. On your floured surface cut the dough into three equal parts. Roll each piece into 24" ropes. I have learned that if the dough continuously springs back, cover the dough with a damp towel for about 5 minutes to relax the gluten. 3- 24" ropes! Pinch the ropes together so that you create one unified end. Braid the dough on your floured surface and connect it at the ends to form a ring. Now you can add your beautifully decorated eggs. I do a little trick by tucking one egg into braid where it is connected to hide that part. I only added two eggs to this one, but my larger loaf I did four eggs. Feel free to go crazy with it, it's Easter for goodness sake! Make your egg wash by beating one egg and adding a splash of water, 1 tsp if you like to be exact! Brush the egg wash on the braid for a little added color and shine, be careful not to let it touch the dyed egg because the coloring will bleed onto the bread as it bakes. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let the ring rise until almost doubled for about 45 minutes to an hour. Preheat your oven the last 5 minutes of your rise time to 350F. Bake the bread for 15-25 minutes. 20 minutes in my oven is sufficient but check on it often until the ring is golden brown. You can check to see if it is finished by tapping the bread, if it sounds hollow then it is done. Let it rest a few minutes on the baking sheet before placing it gently on a wire cooling rack. This. is. perfection! Cooled and ready to cut open! This is the best little loaf for a spring or summer brunch and should be light, airy, fluffy, and rich. This is one of our favorite cultural Catholic traditions, give it a try and see if it works for your family too. This is also a fun recipe to do with kids, while a little lengthy, it has many parts for them to join in on. Nothing brings people together like food! He is Risen! Alleluia! Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media Facebook @HisGirlSunday. For more Catholic tradition resources check out the blog section of my website or follow me on Facebook to see what Catholic things I am doing to celebrate feast days.

Don't worry about taking the twist tie off the bread this morning because we are switching it out for sweet potatoes. You can make this quickly in the oven and it's the perfect way to use up left over sweet potatoes. Last night we made fries with half of a large sweet potato in our air fryer, and this morning we are slicing them up and popping them in the oven for breakfast. This also makes for a lovely brunch item or a healthy mid-day snack. The best part is that this is grain-free and gluten-free and filled with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. If you are seeking to be more intentional about your health, this is your breakfast answer! Sweet potato toast can also be prepped the night before. Just bake according to the directions below, refrigerate overnight, and warm up in the microwave or in a skillet to get a little crisp back. And what I like most is that you can customize the toppings to suit your cravings. You can scroll down to see all the variations that I think would be delicious. All this chit chat is making me hungry, let's fire up the oven! Prep Time: 5 minutes Bake Time: 20 minutes Yields: 4-5 servings Ingredients for the Toast 1 large sweet potato Avocado or Olive Oil for cooking Sea Salt Ingredients for the Toppings Spreads Almond Butter Cashew Butter Mashed Avocado Ricotta Cheese Honey Peanut Butter Fig Jam Fruits/Veggies Sliced Apples Sliced Bananas Blueberries Raspberries Sliced Strawberries Blackberries Dried Cranberries Microgreens Dried Cherries Raisins Dried Dates Sliced Cucumber Sliced Red Onion Sliced Tomatoes Nuts/ Grains/ Seeds Granola Mix Hemp Seeds Pumpkin Seeds Almonds Pecans Sunflower Seeds Chia Seeds Flax Seeds Proteins Bacon Sausage Smoked Salmon Egg And don't forget to sprinkle with your favorite seasoning or spices! Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees 2. Wash and scrub the sweet potato, leave the skin on 3. Cut the ends off of the potato, then slice lengthwise into 1/4 inch thick pieces 4. Lay them evenly across a lined baking sheet 5. Rub each piece with avocado oil or olive oil and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt 6. Bake for about 15 minutes then flip them over and bake for another 15 minutes or until they are tender Note: You want to be able to insert a fork through them but make sure they don't get too soft. 7. Take them out of the oven and top them using your favorites from the suggestions above Note: You can also refrigerate them for up to 3-4 days For mine, I went with almond butter and a berry mix. What would you choose for your sweet potato toast? Tell me in the comments! Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday. For more resources on building Catholic tradition, check out the blog section of my website! If the liturgy is for you, then so is liturgical living.

March is the perfect month to highlight how liturgical living can be done in a multitude of ways. I think so often we get focused on what we see immediately in front of us, typically what is shown on social media because that is where most of us spend our time, that we forget there are other ways to arrive at the same destination. Celebrating saint's feast days is what is predominantly shown online as liturgical living. When that becomes the repeated message then we may automatically begin to associate those two things as one in the same. Of course saint feast days are a special and integral part of this lifestyle, but it is only a slice of the pie. Think of it like this, the destination is a life of holiness and Heaven, the vehicle that we are getting there in is the liturgy, sacraments, and a liturgical life, and the roads that we take to arrive are many! Calm Liturgical Living I was recently told by Steph Weinert, God love her for this incredibly high praise, that I was "calm about my liturgical living." My heart was so happy to hear this, because it is out of a place of peace with Christ that joy comes forth. Everyone can, and should, approach a liturgical life in a way that makes sense to you as a person, your family, your friends, and your community. When we seek to attain things that are inorganic or inauthentic to who we are, our charisms, spirituality, devotions, etc. then we can deeply feel liturgical living as burdensome. Pay attention to your heart, when you feel that living the liturgical year is irritating or pesky then go back to your roots. At the heart of this year long practice should be praise of God. Praise of God shouldn't be stressful, it should be revitalizing! Let's look at March as our guide and apply these principles to all the months following. The Natural Seasons This month brings us the Ember Days, this is a three day period in each of the four seasons that are set apart for prayer, abstinence, and fasting. They are often referred to as a "little Lent" given the way it imitates the sacrifices we make in that season. They are beautifully woven into the natural seasons and cycles of farming and harvesting. This is a time intended to give thanks to God for the gift of creation and the fruits that it brings to us which play integral and important roles in the liturgical life of the Church. I encourage you to partake in the Ember Days as they are a deeply impactful in reminding us of nature, which we can oftentimes lose appreciation for in our busy lives. And what I'd like to share more about here is the connectedness that our liturgical living can have to the natural seasons. These two things are more woven together than you might think, the seasons were here long before the liturgical calendar. Let nature be your guide for how to honor and give glory to God day in and day out. This means that we can focus on and perfect one or two things for longer periods of time. For example, when we are in the months of winter seek to rest, practice more silence, and grow interiorly. Imitate the the plants and flowers, there might not be blooms on the surface, but there is always internal and unseen growth happening in the roots. When spring comes, allow yourself to imitate the rebirth of nature. Wake up early, seek to get more sunlight, and be a light of the resurrection for others through what you learned and meditated on in the winter months. The Liturgical Season I am currently writing this within the season of Lent and I think there is lots to be said for just focusing on the general principles and themes of the liturgical seasons. Lent is a seemingly obvious one to make this point with because when we Catholics get to Lent, it is all consuming. Everything we do, hear, and see in the Church and in our homes is geared towards helping us live this overall season. We do this in imitation of Jesus's 40 days in the wilderness. To me this message is clear, if Jesus needed 40 days of focus, prayer, and fasting then I certainly need weeks, if not months, to grow and offer God the highest praise. I think it's curious that we don't approach other seasons this way. Upon second thought, I suppose as a whole we are fairly committed to actively living out the season of Advent, but even when the Easter and Christmas seasons roll around we tend to taper off. There's much to be said regarding our lack of ability for prolonged periods of joy and praise, but that will have to be written on a later date. For now, I encourage you to approach each liturgical season like we do Lent. Consider the guiding principles of that season and ask, "how can I give God praise, honor, and glory during this time?" Approach this as working out a relationship with God for the long haul. Much like a marriage that takes daily tending to, communication, attention, patience, etc. we need to have that kind of longevity with Our Lord. To better praise Him we have to better get to know Him and ourselves. The longer weeks and months of a liturgical season can position you to do that without the scramble of celebrating lots of smaller feast days. The Month's Dedication The monthly dedication is great for those that would like to zoom in a little closer. Perhaps you are going to focus more on the general seasons and you can stand for a little more oomf in your liturgical living. Look no further than the devotion of the month. For March, we are considering St. Joseph in all that we do. Instead of celebrating him on just one day, we can grow to be like him over the next four weeks. In practicing the monthly dedication I get the opportunity to make St. Joseph inspired habits, virtues, that I think will honor the saint more than even my delicious homemade zeppole. What I think of with this kind of approach to liturgical living is the commonly known phrase, practice makes perfect. Prayer, virtue, and a liturgical life takes practice and the more we do it, the better we become. It also allows space for creativity and less of a rush in accomplishing our liturgical living ideas. I don't feel like I have to fit all my St. Joseph ideas into just one day anymore because I know that I can sprinkle in things throughout the month with ease. We can do the 30 day Novena to St. Joseph, make Italian pastries for a St. Joseph altar, seek to emulate his virtue, etc. over the span of a month. If you have children this is the way to go, because kids especially need repeated experiences of things to get to know it more intimately. For convenience here is the list of monthly dedications for 2023. These tend to stay the same from year to year but on occasion can and might change. January The Holy Name of Jesus February The Holy Family March St. Joseph April The Holy Eucharist May The Blessed Virgin Mary June The Sacred Heart of Jesus July The Precious Blood of Jesus August The Immaculate Heart of Mary September The Seven Dolors of Mary October The Holy Rosary November The Holy Souls in Purgatory December The Immaculate Conception Once we look to these three things, then we pepper in our saints. I don't go overboard with this, I look at the calendar and consider which saints me and my husband have more personal relationships with. For March I have chosen three: St. Joseph, St. Patrick, and Sts. Perpetua and Felicity. That's right, there are only three feast days that we are focusing on! We live liturgically for the other 28 days of the month with the natural seasons, liturgical seasons, and monthly dedication through prayer, reading, practicing virtue, going to Mass, regular confession, and spending joyful time together and with our community. This creates a sense of balance in our house so that our interior joy can come out in a meaningful way. It also gives us the opportunity to create ongoing interior joy, this too is a virtue and one that I have to practice. I don't always "feel" joyful or "feel" like giving God praise, but regardless of how I feel He deserves it always. I have to allow myself time to cultivate this disposition in my heart though, I don't just wake up prepped for praise every day. We really have to know ourselves to be able to bring the liturgy into our daily lives. I like to say that living the liturgical year should not be like a firework that goes off, everyone is in awe, and then it dissipates. More so it should be like a candle that burns steadily and slowly for Christ. Hopefully this gives you some things to consider as you are building your own personal approach to liturgical living. If you need help or ideas along the way, stay for a while, you are welcome here.