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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 feast day in the Advent season, but will be a very good start. Feast days that you will find in this post! 1. St. Nicholas 2. Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 3. Our Lady of Guadalupe 4. St. Lucy Note: This is not a full list of resources on my blog for feast day celebrations, activities, and recipes in the month of December. Go browse around for saints and feast days that are special to you. Enjoy! 😊 St. Nicholas About St. Nicholas (died c. 350) was the bishop of Myra in what is now Turkey, where he was famous for his generosity to the poor. The details of his life have not come down to us, but a host of legends have sprung up to fill the void, almost all of them emphasizing Nicholas’ goodness to people in need. It is said that St. Nicholas rescued three innocent men who had been falsely accused of robbery and were about to be executed, and that he saved the crew of a ship that had lost its mast in a storm and was about to sink. The most famous legend tells of a widowed merchant whose business went bankrupt. He and his three unmarried daughters survived by pawning their valuables, one by one. At last there was nothing left to sell and no hope that any man would ask for the hand of a young woman who was a pauper; the father feared that his daughters would be forced to become prostitutes. St. Nicholas heard about the family’s desperate situation, and, so, after dark one evening he walked to the merchant’s house and tossed a bag of gold coins through an open window. Now the eldest daughter had enough for a respectable dowry. The next night, he went again to the merchant’s house and threw in a second bag of gold for the second daughter. Finally, on third night, the merchant and his daughters were waiting for him. As the third bag of coins sailed through the window, the grateful family flung open the door and rushed outside to thank their benefactor. The story of the three bags of gold is the origin of giving gifts on St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6). But how he became the patron saint of children comes from another legend, which is not for the squeamish. Nicholas was traveling, and when night came he stopped at an inn where he asked for a room and a meal. The inn-keeper, proud of the opportunity to entertain a bishop, declared he would serve Nicholas a splendid dinner, including meat that had been delivered fresh that day. Bishop Nicholas did not say a word, but pushed the man aside and walked into the kitchen. There, in the middle of the room, stood a large wooden tub brimming with fresh meat. Nicholas made the Sign of the Cross over the tub, and the meat vanished, replaced by three little boys. The innkeeper had murdered the children and planned to serve them to his guests. After his death, St. Nicholas’ tomb in his cathedral in Myra became a destination for pilgrims. Then, around the year 1085, the Seljuk Turks conquered Myra. Christians across Europe feared that the Turks would desecrate or destroy the saint’s relics. In Italy, city officials in Venice and Bari resolved to rescue St. Nicholas, but the men from Bari got to Myra first. They took the saint’s casket from the cathedral, and on May 9, 1087, sailed into the Bari harbor bearing the relics of the saint. The relics are still in Bari, enshrined in a crypt beneath the Basilica of St. Nicholas. For centuries, St. Nicholas was one of the most popular saints, with many churches, chapels and altars raised in his honor. Before the Reformation, there were more than 400 churches dedicated to St. Nicholas just in England. He was named the patron of Greece, Russia, Sicily, the French province of Loraine, as well as many cities and towns. Newlyweds, longshoremen, sailors, pawnbrokers, thieves and children venerated him as their patron saint. Today, St. Nicholas is still widely venerated in the Orthodox Church and among Catholics of the Eastern rites, and in many parts of Central and Northern Europe his feast day is still celebrated, especially by children. But in the United States, devotion to the saint is virtually nonexistent. Blame it on Clement Clarke Moore, a professor of biblical studies at the Episcopal Church’s General Theological Seminary in New York City. In 1823 Moore published a poem titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” better known today as “’Twas the Night before Christmas.” There was a popular trend among New Yorkers of the early 19th century to try to “recapture” their city’s Dutch heritage. Influential men such as Moore and the author Washington Irving (who wrote the stories of Rip Van Winkle and the Headless Horseman) invented a host of traditions and folklore that they claimed had been part of day-to-day life in old New Amsterdam. Moore, Irving and their friends were especially enchanted by the stories of St. Nicholas, and so claimed that the first Dutch colonists arrived in Manhattan aboard a ship bearing a figurehead of St. Nicholas (it didn’t); that the first church in New Amsterdam was dedicated to St. Nicholas (it wasn’t); and that the Dutch colonists celebrated St. Nicholas Day (they didn’t). Moore took these innocent fabrications and used them as the basis for a full-blown treatment of a brand-new Christmas legend, complete with eight flying reindeer, a sleigh full of toys and an elderly overweight man in a red suit who climbed up and down chimneys. It is a delightful poem; and in Santa Claus, Moore has given the world one of the most memorable characters ever, one that is recognized all across the globe. Moore’s poem kicked off a Santa Claus phenomenon, but it had an unintended side effect — it all but guaranteed that devotion to the real St. Nicholas would not take root in the United States. We shouldn’t be surprised: How could anyone be expected to pray to a saint who is described as “a right jolly old elf”? We don’t have to choose between St. Nicholas and Santa Claus; they are two different figures, and we can have them both. Let Santa keep what’s his — the big chair in the department store, the reindeer and the sleigh, the magic of presents under the Christmas tree. And let St. Nicholas have what is his — the Mass in his honor on Dec. 6, the tradition of giving children a little gift or some chocolates on his feast day as a prelude to Christmas. Most importantly, let us honor St. Nicholas by imitating his virtues, especially his generosity to people in need. (Simply Catholic) Quick Links Classroom Activities Unique Ideas for Celebrating St. Nicholas Ideas and Printables for St. Nicholas St. Nicholas Prayer O good holy Nicholas, you who brought joy to children, put in my heart the spirit of childhood about which the Gospel speaks. Teach me how to sow happiness around me. Amen. Food Candy Cane Coffee Cake Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation) About Why do we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception? Since the beginning of the Church, the Blessed Virgin Mary has been regarded as the holiest and the most blessed of all disciples. The celebration of the Immaculate Conception began in the 7th century under the title, “Conception of Mary by Saint Anne” and was changed to “Immaculate Conception” with the definition of the doctrine in 1854. We can say that the Immaculate Conception was the beginning of our salvation and is now one of the central doctrines of our faith. Because of this, we celebrate the Feast Day to highlight the significant place Our Lady has in salvation history. This Feast is so essential that the Church has raised it to the rank of a Holy Day of Obligation. (National Shrine) Quick Links Ideas for Teens and Adults Activity Ideas Coloring Pages Prayer to Our Lady Immaculate Most holy Virgin, who wast pleasing to the Lord and became His Mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on the wretched who implore thy powerful patronage. The wicked serpent, against whom was hurled the first curse, continues fiercely to attack and ensnare the unhappy children of Eve. Do thou, then, O Blessed Mother, our queen and advocate, who from the first instant of thy conception didst crush the head of the enemy, receive the prayers which, united with thee in our single heart, we implore thee to present at the throne of God, that we may never fall into the snares which are laid out for us, and may all arrive at the port of salvation; and, in so many dangers, may the Church and Christian society sing once again the hymn of deliverance and of victory and of peace. Amen. Food All White Dinner Our Lady of Guadalupe About The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe The feast in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe goes back to the 16th century. Chronicles of that period tell us the story. A poor Indian named Cuauhtlatohuac was baptized and given the name Juan Diego. He was a 57-year-old widower, and lived in a small village near Mexico City. On Saturday morning December 9, 1531, he was on his way to a nearby barrio to attend Mass in honor of Our Lady. Juan was walking by a hill called Tepeyac when he heard beautiful music like the warbling of birds. A radiant cloud appeared, and within it stood an Indian maiden dressed like an Aztec princess. The lady spoke to him in his own language and sent him to the bishop of Mexico, a Franciscan named Juan de Zumarraga. The bishop was to build a chapel in the place where the lady appeared. Eventually the bishop told Juan to have the lady give him a sign. About this same time Juan’s uncle became seriously ill. This led poor Juan to try to avoid the lady. Nevertheless the lady found Juan, assured him that his uncle would recover, and provided roses for Juan to carry to the bishop in his cape or tilma. On December 12, when Juan Diego opened his tilma in the bishop’s presence, the roses fell to the ground, and the bishop sank to his knees. On the tilma where the roses had been appeared an image of Mary exactly as she had appeared at the hill of Tepeyac. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links Crafts for OLG and St. Juan Diego Celebration Ideas for OLG OLG Story Play Script Prayer to the Virgin of Guadalupe O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the True God and Mother of the Church! You, who from this place reveal your clemency and your pity to all those who ask for your protection; hear the prayer that we address to you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole Redeemer. Mother of mercy, Teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to you, who come to meet us sinners, we dedicate on this day all our being and all our love. We also dedicate to you our life, our work, our joys, our infirmities and our sorrows. Grant peace, justice, and prosperity to our people; for we entrust to your care all that we have and all that we are, Our Lady and Mother. We wish to be entirely yours and to walk with you along the way of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His Church: hold us always with your loving hand. Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, we pray to you for all the bishops, that they may lead the faithful along paths of intense Christian life, of love and humble service of God and souls. Contemplate this immense harvest, and intercede with the Lord that he may instill a hunger for holiness in the whole People of God, and grant abundant vocations of priests and religious, strong in the faith and zealous dispensers of God’s mysteries. Grant to our homes the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Fair Love, protect our families, so that they may always be united, and bless the upbringing of our children. Our hope, look upon us with compassion, teach us to go continually to Jesus and, if we fall, help us to rise again, to return to him, by means of the confession of our faults and sins in the Sacrament of Penance, which gives peace to the soul. We beg you to grant us a great love for all the holy Sacraments, which are, as it were, the signs that your Son left us on earth. Thus, most holy Mother, with the peace of God in our conscience, with our hearts free from evil and hatred, we will be able to bring to all true joy and true peace, which come to us from your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. Pope John Paul II Food Mexican Hot Chocolate St. Lucy About St. Lucy is a virgin and martyr of Syracuse in Sicily, whose feast is celebrated on December 13th. According to tradition, Saint Lucy was born to rich and noble parents in the year 283. Her father was of Roman origin, but his early death left her dependent upon her mother, whose name, Eutychia, seems to indicate that she was of Greek heritage. Like so many of the early martyrs, Lucy had consecrated her virginity to God, and she hoped to devote all her worldly goods to the service of the poor. Her mother, Eutychia, arranged a marriage for her, but for three years she managed to postpone the marriage. Lucy prayed at the tomb of Saint Agatha to change her mother’s mind about her faith. As a result, her mother's long haemorrhagic illness was cured, and she consented to Lucy's desire to live for God. Saint Lucy’s rejected bridegroom, Paschasius, denounced Lucy as a Christian. The governor planned to force her into prostitution, but when guards went to fetch her, they could not move her even when they hitched her to a team of oxen. The governor ordered her to be killed instead. After a gruesome torture which included having her eyes torn out, she was surrounded by bundles of wood which were set afire, but the fire quickly died out. She prophesied against her persecutors, and was then executed by being stabbed to death with a dagger. According to later accounts, Lucy warned Paschasius he would be punished. When the governor heard this he ordered the guards to gouge out her eyes; however, in another telling, it was Lucy who removed her eyes in an attempt to discourage a persistent suitor who greatly admired them. When her body was being prepared for burial, they discovered her eyes had been restored. This and the meaning of her name ("light" or "lucid") led to her patronage with eyes; the blind, eye trouble, and other eye ailments. (Catholic News Agency) Quick Links St. Lucy Customs St. Lucy Feast Day Celebration St. Lucy's Day in Italy St. Lucy Prayer Relying on Your goodness, O God, we humbly ask You, through the intercession of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr, to give perfect vision to our eyes, that they may serve for Your greater honor and glory. Saint Lucy, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. Amen. Food Saffron Buns Happy Feasting! If you used any of these ideas, share with me on Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday. See you in the Eucharist, Steffani

These liturgical life traditions and customs will change your Advent! ...If you use a couple of them with intentionality. With an abundance of beautiful liturgical traditions swirling around this time of year, I highly recommend that you browse through them and pick what works best for your season of life. It can be very easy, especially with one swipe of the screen, to see so many Advent ideas that you either find yourself thinking you have to achieve them all or you end up doing nothing out of sheer overwhelm. I want to help by encouraging you to consider your own personality type, and what means of prayer you find most effective. I would also ask that you think about your lifestyle and that of your family, what does it look like in your home day to day? And who will be partaking in these traditions? Factoring in these things will help you to discern the custom that will work best for you so to enhance this season, and not create further clutter. Here is my simple breakdown for you to use as a springboard! 1. Blessing of a Christmas Tree Blessings set things apart as sacred and express to God our Gratitude. I would especially encourage you bless your Christmas tree because it is easy to do immediately following the tree decorating customs of your home. You can find that here on the USCCB website and print this for your family and or friends to pray aloud together. 2. Advent Calendars Do you like to countdown days or have small children that are anxiously asking if Christmas is almost here yet? This daily Advent interactive will prompt you to anticipate the coming of Christ. There are a lot of options to choose from; cardboard, wooden, individually wrapped gifts or books, bags, tree ornaments, the list goes on! This is the Liturgy Market Advent Calendar, my own hand painted design that has drawers for tiny saint peg dolls. The dolls are placed in the drawer that represents their feast day. I also provide activity cards so each day you can pray or do something fun together as we wait for the birth of Christ. 3. Hay for the Manger This practice can be great motivation for inspiring and practicing virtue in the home. While this is typically done with young ones, you could adapt the good deed opportunities for older children too. You create or prompt opportunities throughout Advent for the children to add straw or yarn to a manger so that baby Jesus has a soft bed to lay on. These moments for virtue can include working on a behavior that your child may be struggling on (impatience, lack of courage, anger, etc.), striving to perform acts of kindness, and any other ways to enhance positive character. Here are two different baby Jesus and manger options if you would like to give this a try. Don't forget to buy hay or yellow yarn so that when your children do a good deed, they see their action provide a more hospitable place for the Christ child to lay. Option One Option Two 4. Nativity Scene This is the perfect way to visualize the Nativity story in your home. Hold off on putting baby Jesus out until Christmas, and the Magi until Epiphany. You can also find the Blessing of a Nativity Scene here. This tradition holds a special place in my heart, as you know from my story, my family wasn't incredibly religious. Yet we had a lot of seasonal traditions and decorating our house for Christmas was one of them. Every time we pulled the Nativity Scene out I felt a welling up of emotions in my heart, it was so beautiful to me, that little porcelain baby Jesus. It was my role in the family to set it up, and while no one else probably noticed, I cherished this moment of unboxing each figurine immensely. It was a scene that was handed down to my dad and when I moved out it was passed on to me. Your Nativity Scene can become an heirloom too, these things have to begin with someone, why not you? 5. The O Antiphons This beautiful prayer is most fitting for those that would like to incorporate more chant into their Advent or begin looking more into Vespers from the Liturgy of the Hours. The Church has been singing the O Antiphons since the 8th century and they are traditionally prayed from December 17th-23rd. Each one with the imperative "come" insights the biblical imagery of hope throughout the Old Testament and leads us to fulfillment in the New Testament. You can use my free O Antiphon printable to assist you in praying. 6. Jesse Tree For those seeking to dive deeper into scripture this Advent, I would highly encourage you to try this. The Jesse Tree is a tradition that is intended to help us better know the ancestry of Jesus and the stories of His family. By praying with these stories you will have the opportunity to create Jesus' family tree. Try this option, it comes with free coloring pages too. Catholic Sprouts has a great video that you can watch here on using the Jesse Tree with little ones. And for those doing the Jesse Tree without children, this is a book that I think would help you along the journey. 7. St. Andrew Christmas Novena Are you seeking to integrate more prayer into your Advent and you like doing a novena? This is perfect for you! The more you pray it, the easier it is to remember which is what I really like about it. It begins on November 30th, the feast of St. Andrew, and goes until Christmas Eve. It is piously believed that whoever recites the St. Andrew Christmas Novena Prayer FIFTEEN times each day from the feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) until Christmas Eve will obtain the favor requested. There is something about this prayer that actually makes you feel like you are there with Our Blessed Mother and Joseph in the dead of night waiting for the birth of a child. Here is the prayer, and you can also find it in my Advent Booklet as a printable. Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen. 8. Advent Wreath Counting down the weeks of Advent can really come to life in your home by using an Advent wreath. Growing up I can remember not doing much of anything for Advent, we just went right into celebrating Christmastime after Thanksgiving. I actually learned this practice from what I saw in the Church, and it taught me a very countercultural lesson. Wait. Pause. Slow down. Anticipate. Cultivate hope. The Advent wreath suspends our anticipation, and we begin to experience waiting with the Holy Family. List of Symbolism The flame of the candle represents the light of Christ. 3 purple candles represent penance, prayer, and preparation. 1 rose candle represents our rejoicing! This is why it is called Gaudete Sunday, and is usually the day that my family decorates for Christmas. There is one candle for each week and also symbolizes the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve to the birth of Christ. The circular wreath represents the eternity of God. Evergreen is traditionally used because it represents everlasting life. I hope that you enjoyed your crash course to Catholic Advent traditions and customs. I would love to hear more about what you have chosen and why you decided to go with that. There are also individual saint customs that we can celebrate throughout these four weeks as well and you can find more ideas for doing that on my Facebook or Instagram. Always remember that no matter what you do, let it be something that draws you and your family nearer to God this Advent season. If all fails, cling to your basics; go to Mass, run to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and find some time in your day to rest and pray. God loves you!

You are just a sprinkle of cheese away from the best bread that you will ever eat! Don't you feel better knowing that? I sure do! For having such simple ingredients and steps this normal loaf of bread is about to be packed with flavor. I made this as a Thanksgiving appetizer and with Christmas around the corner I might just do that again. However, this would also be the perfect side for a spaghetti dinner, soup night, or even a game day treat. Heck why do we even need a reason, it's comfort food! Gather the troops and let's get going! Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 30-40 minutes Yields: 8-10 servings Ingredients 1 lb. round sourdough bread loaf 1 8-oz. jar prepared pesto or make my fresh pesto ahead of time here 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 2 fresh sprigs rosemary, chopped 1 tbsp garlic powder Nonstick cooking spray Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut using a bread knife into 1 inch slices, then turn your loaf 45 degrees and cut again into 1 inch slices. After you are finished you should have diamond shaped pieces and a loaf of bread that looks like it is blooming! Spread 8 ounces of store bought or fresh pesto in between the bread slices. Be generous, no one has ever been mad over there being too much pesto. Sprinkle in 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 2 chopped sprigs of rosemary, and 1 tbsp garlic powder. Try to fill every slice with all the ingredients so that each piece will have cheese on it. Place your loaf on a baking sheet and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes then remove the loaf from the oven, take off the foil, and bake for about 10 minutes longer or until the cheese is bubbling. "Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty.Through Christ, our Lord. 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.

Celebrating Christmas as an adult looks and feels drastically different when I reflect on my childhood. Some of you may have seen me write that I did not grow up in a particularly Catholic household, and if I'm being honest it wasn't really Catholic at all. Nonetheless it was filled with the warmth of baking, the beauty of decorations like you've never seen, and neighborhood cheer. In fact, I remember a small town Christmas shop that we used to visit every year to buy lovely new ornaments and glittery trinkets. We did what everyone else does, after Thanksgiving we immediately put everything out and right after Christmas we took it all down. Christmas songs played in the car all December, especially the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but that too stopped after celebrating the birth of Christ. December 26th had great strength and it snapped us right back into ordinary days without warning! Somehow our culture developed this pattern and many American families, like my own, have been misinformed to live by it. In what only grace can accomplish, I was given a gift of not just being informed by our culture, but by the Catholic Church, a Catholic college education, and then a Masters in Theology which opened my eyes to a world of knowing and expressing God's love like I had not experienced before. It was in those years that I learned more about how to quietly prepare myself during Advent while the world is jumping into festivity, and to truly celebrate during the Christmas season, that extends well beyond December 25th, while the world has gone back to its ordinary routines. This isn't proven, but I think in general people have disconnected the birth of Christ with the profound theological reality that is the incarnation, God became a man! When Christmas is put into perspective, I think that we can all agree it deserves as much preparing and ongoing celebration as we can sincerely give it. And that is also true of Christmas, the octave, the 12 days, and the season. Much to our neighbors surprise, my tree stays up until February 2nd as we walk through the season of light. Celebrating the 12 days of Christmas is something that I really like doing because it not only embraces the octave, but extends out to Epiphany which ends with the blessing of our home with chalk and the Italian tradition of making panettone. Here are some things that we like to do that you should try too! If you are interested in learning more about the history of the 12 days of Christmas, you can read more here. Day One: Drive around and see Christmas lights. I do this at the start because most people begin to quickly take them down so don't wait too long. Day Two: Host a Christmas party. Invite friends and neighbors to come over to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Do a white elephant swap, play Christmas games, listen to Christmas music, make treats & eggnog. Day Three: Build gingerbread houses. This year I made my own Gingerbread cutouts from scratch and we enjoyed sitting by the Christmas tree with coffee, gingerbread cookies, and cool whip to chat and relax. Day Four: Watch a Christmas movie and make hot cocoa. Day Five: Deliver Christmas cookies or pies to friends. This year we made a couple of pumpkin pies and an assortment of cookies and sweets that we boxed and delivered! Day Six: Attend daily Mass. This is something that most families don't get to do because we are at work and the kids are at school, but find a day off within the 12 days to go together on a week day. Day Seven: Puzzle & Game Day. We love doing this one, our family inevitably breaks out a card or board game while relaxing in our jammies. Day Eight: Have your priest over for dinner. While this isn't the liturgical marathon that is holy week and Easter, it's still immensely busy! After Christmas, while they may have a couple of days off, take the opportunity to to enjoy a good meal together and have time for community. Day Nine: As you get closer to the Epiphany, bundle up and go outside to stargaze. Stargazing is a connection to the Magi that followed the star to find the Christ child. We like to do this off the back patio with a fire, a good book, and cup of hot coffee. Day Ten: Go out to the theatre for a play or movie. My entire family used to do this, especially if there was a Star Wars movie coming out. Day Eleven: Use the fireplace to roast s'mores! Day Twelve: Bless your home with Epiphany chalk and make panettone. If you need a recipe just click here. https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/post/panettone-muffins These are some of our favorite things to do and maybe not in the particular order but we look at our family's schedule and rearrange them to fit what we can do. As with all liturgical living things, we seek to find ways that authentically express our excitement and happiness for the season, and seek to not just "add more things" that will stress us out. I invite you to look at this list and do the same! And for all the dinner and treat ideas, feel free to use this Catholic Christmas Table Prayer! Praying for you and yours this Christmas season! Hoping that it's filled with lots of family time, delicious food, extra sleep, and most importantly... Christ. God love you, Steffani

Happy Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception! Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the solemn dogma defined by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1854. She is the patroness of the United States of America and this is a holy day of obligation in the United States. Many people confuse the Immaculate Conception to be about Jesus being born without sin. However, this is actually in reference to Mary being born without sin. This Dogma of the faith revealed by God that the Blessed Virgin Mary "in the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin" (Denz.-Schonm, 2083). Mary was granted the gift of her Immaculate Conception because she was chosen to be the Mother of God. She received the original grace of purity and the final state of the blessed life that we hope to have one day through accepting and living by God's grace. In other words, Mary's Immaculate Conception shows us the perfect and pure relationship that God desires and has in store for us. In honor of the Blessed Mother's purity and sinlessness, we make an all white dinner and because it's a solemnity I do a full table setting. I like to make treats and special dinners on feast days but on solemnities I will do a more elevated table setting to show in our home that this is one of the highest ranking of liturgical days. The Menu 1. White chicken breast 2. White wine sauce 3. White rice 4. Rolls (white in the inside) 5. White wine to drink 6. Salad... green... checked with Mary and she said it was ok to make this exception for the sake of attempting healthy eating. I also like the green leaf connection between Eve and Mary being the "New Eve". The Table Setting White table cloth and napkins White dinnerware White flowers for the dinner table and our home altar. Prep Time: 10 minutes Bake Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Yields: 4-6 servings Meet the Ingredients For the chicken 1 tbsp olive oil 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (you could also use tenders) salt & pepper garlic powder For the white wine sauce 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1/2 large ellow onion diced 4 garlic cloves minced Salt & Pepper 1 C. White Wine 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream Fresh chopped parsley or basil as garnish (optional) Note: I did not do pictures for this one but will add them in the future just in case you feel you need them. Let's Get Started! 1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, I use a cast iron so this takes about 2 to 3 minutes. 2. While that is heating, season the chicken with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Just give it a little sprinkle, sprinkle! I don't measure for this, just roll with it. 3. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes on each side. I use a kitchen thermometer and wait until it gets almost to 165 degrees. I say almost because the chicken is going to cook a little longer after this in the white wine sauce and nobody likes dried out chicken. 4. Once all your chicken has reached that cooking temperature, remove it from skillet and put it on a plate. 5. Next we will get to the white wine sauce. You do not need to wipe or drain your skillet, just let the excess juice and olive oil stay. 6. Add 1 tbsp butter to skillet and melt over medium-high heat. 7. Toss in 1/2 diced onions and cook for 3 minutes, or until softened. 8. Stir in 4 cloves minced garlic then sprinkle with salt, and pepper; cook for about 30 seconds. 9. Pour in 1 cup white wine and bring to a simmer, stir so as to scrape the bottom of the skillet and mix all together. Cook until half of the wine has reduced, about 5-6 minutes. 10. Sprinkle in 1 tsp thyme and a 1/2 cup half-and-half. 11. Reduce heat to medium- low and put the chicken back in the skillet. Let it simmer until the white wine sauce thickens, this took about 8 or so minutes for mine. 12. Once the sauce has thickened you can garnish with parsley or basil and serve. We really enjoy this dinner and hope that you will to! It's certainly one that we eat more than just at the Immaculate Conception but it's also a great celebratory meal. 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 liturgical living 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. Cheers!

On Saturday night, November 5, 2022, the Houston Astros won the World Series against the Phillies, and this city proved to me what I had already known. First, each and every one of us, whether you call yourself religious or not, is inherently ritualistic. Second, that we in fact do know how to be a strong and bonded community. And third, we can pull together vibrant expressions of joy quite literally over a short span of two days. The Unfulfilled Desire I am immensely proud of our city's baseball team, and while we were more of a basketball family, I appreciate talent, hard work, and sportsmanship in any given arena of athleticism. Yet as elated as I was, I found that a quieter place in my interior life felt sad. And I realized that what initially seemed like melancholy, was truly the disappointment of an unfulfilled desire to see ritual, community, and vibrant joy for Christ in my city. I am uniquely tuned into this city in general through seeking to inspire Catholic culture and tradition on the His Girl Sunday platform, but also through my full-time job as the Director of Liturgical Life. Working right in the center of this city gives me a lens with which I can see the lives of a wide range of demographics from age, to race, to faith, to socioeconomic status. And I daily, weekly, and monthly seek to collect all these individuals across the board to come together and express the goodness and beauty of our faith in Christ. Helping others in person, on the ground, to live the liturgical year is the work of my heart, but is not without its challenges. Inspiring a liturgical and sacramental life is one thing when posting on social media or living within my own home, and it is another type of work to instill this in the larger community. When I saw over 1 million people gather for a parade that came together over a quick weekend, I couldn't help but think to myself, "if only I/we could get this many people to our feast day festivals, Eucharistic processions, or even Mass." Of course, this is not a reflection on the Astros, or to say that they are undeserving, but rather to say that Christ too is worthy of such praise and even more so. Ritualistic by Nature Without knowing it, over a million people in the city of Houston proved what the Church and the wisdom of the Church Fathers have long stated; that we are ritualistic by nature. St. Thomas Aquinas, teaches that it is proper for man to “employ sensible signs in order to signify anything” (Summa Theologiae II–II:85:1). In other words, we communicate through our words, gestures, and actions what we honor. It should be no surprise given our human nature that the ritual action we see within the World Series is so closely related to that with which we express our devotion to God. The crowds wore colors and symbols that are fitting to express a sense of allegiance and respect for the team. They chanted and sang out of praise for their win. Each fan came together as a community to show their love in person as one body and to be present for this monumental occasion. And the fans desired to see the team and to be seen by the team in appreciation for what had been accomplished. Yet, these are not just matters that pertain to baseball, but speak to something greater. Proper attire, song, chant, symbols, colors, community, joy, and the desire to see something special (God in the Eucharist) all speaks of the liturgy. I deeply pray that we can grow to see this intimate connection, and offer all of those actions stated above to God as we do to our sports teams. I long to see the day where there is a parade for Jesus Christ in this city with over a million people in attendance. I will be there with the flaming baton. Meant for Community People could have just celebrated within their home, and perhaps some did, but many decided to put the effort into being together. Within two days an impressive parade took place with many offering their talents in congratulations to the Astros. This only further proves that we were meant for community, and not only are we meant for it, we are at our best when we are together. Unity in belief and praise can be an immensely powerful thing, hence why Christ commands us to keep holy the Sabbath. To go to Mass together in person as a community is the most compelling expression of faith we have. When we are together in person, bonded over shared ideas and belief, we become more human. And in that humanity, we can become more like Christ, sharing in one another’s greatness and refining one another’s weaknesses. It is together that we can best express our gratitude for Christ and for our own lives. This is the heartbeat, of liturgical living, Catholic culture, and tradition. We must re-learn, over and over again, how to come together out of gratitude and love for Christ and our own lives. It is in this lived reality that we see culture and tradition form. Traditions arise when we, as a community, value something enough to see it lived out time and time again. And tradition doesn’t just happen, it takes effort and intentionality. Christ is worth the effort, and you are worth it too. After seeing Catholic schools and churches either close or cancel things to be at this parade, many questions arose within me. Of course, not at their parade attendance, again this is not a commentary on sports team pride, but rather a reflection on the lack of similar fervor for our faith. Why, as Catholic schools and churches do we not cancel or close when Solemnities arise? Why do we not have a much larger attendance, as a community of believers, for our own faith-filled gatherings? Why don’t we have thousands gathered for Eucharistic processions? How can that many attend a parade post Covid, but my community won’t come back to Mass in person? I don’t have answers to these questions, but I felt that they were worth bringing up in hopes that it will spark curiosity. Not a curiosity that will just leave you confused, but rather as something that will help us believers spring into action. Again, what the Astros proved to me was positive, we are ritualistic and communal beings. These are two components that are integral to our participation in the liturgy and then the liturgical life that is to follow. I hope to see the day where Catholics gather in droves out of celebration for our resurrected Lord, to see exuberant Easter parades, lively Eucharistic processions, and feast day gatherings that are bursting with culture and happiness.

As a short guide and aid to your November 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 November feast day, but will be a very good start. Feast days that you will find in this post! 1. All Saints' 2. All Souls' 3. Martinmas 4. St. Elizabeth of Hungary Note: This is not a full list of resources on my blog for feast day celebrations, activities, and recipes in the month of November. Go browse around for saints and feast days that are special to you. Enjoy! 😊 The Month of November is Dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Click the graphic below for this Eternal Rest Frame, handmade by especially for Liturgy Market by Rough2Rustic. All Saints' Day (Solemnity) About All Saints' Day is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church celebrated annually on November 1. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven. It should not be confused with All Souls' Day, which is observed on November 2, and is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven. Although millions, or even billions of people may already be saints, All Saints' Day observances tend to focus on known saints --that is those recognized in the canon of the saints by the Catholic Church. Generally, All Saints' Day is a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation, meaning all Catholics are required to attend Mass on that day, unless they have an excellent excuse, such as serious illness. All Saints' Day was formally started by Pope Boniface IV, who consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs on May 13 in 609 AD. Boniface IV also established All Souls' Day, which follows All Saints. (Catholic.org) Quick Links 10 Fun Ideas for All Hallows' Eve 16 Ways to Celebrate All Saints Celebrating All Saints in Your Home All Saints' Day Prayer Bless the many parted souls who lived their lives with grace. Bless the saints in heaven, gathered in that special place. May we tell their stories and remember all the ways they lived their faith and spent their days. There is glory and reward, even if at first there’s strife. Oh, blessed saints, you help us see a path that’s to eternal life. May we always hold them dear and know their life and place. May we know their inspiration and aspire to their grace. Food Saint Snacks All Souls' Day About On All Souls’ Day the universal Church prays for all those in purgatory, people who were much like us, whose offense may have been less than ours. By pleading for them, we are inspired to lead purer lives. On that day, and during the entire month of November, we remember our departed brethren as we go to the cemetery where they are buried, attain indulgences for them, give alms, do some good work, ask for Masses to be said in remembrance, all on behalf of those close to us and to others we may have neglected during the year. We also light candles, and in some parishes the faithful display pictures of their deceased loved ones in the church. Church bells are sometimes rung to remind everyone to pray for the poor souls in purgatory. Priests are authorized to say three Masses on this holy, somber day. (Simply Catholic) Quick Links All Souls' Day Traditions All Saints' Day & All Souls' Day Lesson Plans All Souls' Day at Home Eternal Rest Prayer Eternal rest grant unto them , O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Food Catholic Soul Cakes St. Martin of Tours About A conscientious objector who wanted to be a monk; a monk who was maneuvered into being a bishop; a bishop who fought paganism as well as pleaded for mercy to heretics—such was Martin of Tours, one of the most popular of saints and one of the first not to be a martyr. Born of pagan parents in what is now Hungary, and raised in Italy, this son of a veteran was forced at the age of 15 to serve in the army. Martin became a Christian catechumen and was baptized when he was 18. It was said that he lived more like a monk than a soldier. At 23, he refused a war bonus and told his commander: “I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ. Give the bounty to those who are going to fight. But I am a soldier of Christ and it is not lawful for me to fight.” After great difficulties, he was discharged and went to be a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers. He was ordained an exorcist and worked with great zeal against the Arians. Martin became a monk, living first at Milan and later on a small island. When Hilary was restored to his see following his exile, Martin returned to France and established what may have been the first French monastery near Poitiers. He lived there for 10 years, forming his disciples and preaching throughout the countryside. The people of Tours demanded that he become their bishop. Martin was drawn to that city by a ruse—the need of a sick person—and was brought to the church, where he reluctantly allowed himself to be consecrated bishop. Some of the consecrating bishops thought his rumpled appearance and unkempt hair indicated that he was not dignified enough for the office. Along with Saint Ambrose, Martin rejected Bishop Ithacius’s principle of putting heretics to death—as well as the intrusion of the emperor into such matters. He prevailed upon the emperor to spare the life of the heretic Priscillian. For his efforts, Martin was accused of the same heresy, and Priscillian was executed after all. Martin then pleaded for a cessation of the persecution of Priscillian’s followers in Spain. He still felt he could cooperate with Ithacius in other areas, but afterwards his conscience troubled him about this decision. As death approached, Martin’s followers begged him not to leave them. He prayed, “Lord, if your people still need me, I do not refuse the work. Your will be done.” (Franciscan Media) Quick Links Celebrating St. Martin of Tours Feast Day Highlights Happy Martinmas Blessing for the Feast of St. Martin of Tours Lord God, source of all that is good, we praise your holy name on this day in which we celebrate the memory of your faithful servant, Martin of Tours. By the example of his life, renew in us the desire to follow daily in the footsteps of Christ, your Son. Bless this nourishment, which we receive from your bounty. May it strengthen us for your service. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Food Roast Goose St. Elizabeth of Hungary About As the daughter of the Hungarian King Andrew II, Elizabeth had the responsibilities of royalty thrust upon her almost as soon as her short life began in 1207. While she was still very young, Elizabeth's father arranged for her to be married to a German nobleman, Ludwig of Thuringia. The plan forced Elizabeth to separate from her parents while still a child. Adding to this sorrow was the murder of Elizabeth's mother Gertrude in 1213, which history ascribes to a conflict between her own German people and the Hungarian nobles. Elizabeth took a solemn view of life and death from that point on, and found consolation in prayer. Both tendencies drew some ire from her royal peers. For a time, beginning in 1221, she was happily married. Ludwig, who had advanced to become one of the rulers of Thuringia, supported Elizabeth's efforts to live out the principles of the Gospel even within the royal court. She met with friars of the nascent Franciscan order during its founder's own lifetime, resolving to use her position as queen to advance their mission of charity. Remarkably, Ludwig agreed with his wife's resolution, and the politically powerful couple embraced a life of remarkable generosity toward the poor. They had three children, two of whom went on to live as as members of the nobility, although one of them –her only son– died relatively young. The third eventually entered religious life and became abbess of a German convent. In 1226, while Ludwig was attending to political affairs in Italy, Elizabeth took charge of distributing aid to victims of disease and flooding that struck Thuringia. She took charge of caring for the afflicted, even when this required giving up the royal family's own clothes and goods. Elizabeth arranged for a hospital to be built, and is said to have provided for the needs of nearly a thousand desperately poor people on a daily basis. The next year, however, would put Elizabeth's faith to the test. Her husband had promised to assist the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the Sixth Crusade, but he died of illness en route to Jerusalem. Devastated by Ludwig's death, Elizabeth vowed never to remarry. Her children were sent away, and relatives heavily pressured her to break the vow. Undeterred, Elizabeth used her remaining money to build another hospital, where she personally attended to the sick almost constantly. Sending away her servants, she joined the Third Order of St. Francis, seeking to emulate the example of its founder as closely as her responsibilities would allow. Near the end of her life, she lived in a small hut and spun her own clothes. Working continually with the severely ill, Elizabeth became sick herself, dying of illness in November of 1231. After she died, miraculous healings soon began to occur at her grave near the hospital, and she was declared a saint only four years later. (CNA) Quick Links Printables and Worksheets for Home Cooking and Crafting Desserts & Decorations St. Elizabeth of Hungary Prayer O God, by whose gift Saint Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and revered Christ in the poor, grant, through her intercession, that we may serve with unfailing charity the needy and those afflicted. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (from The Roman Missal) Food Hungarian Braided Bread Happy Feasting! If you used any of these ideas, share with me on Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday. See you in the Eucharist, Steffani

Hey Friends! I have taken a little break from painting heirloom products to go back to sharing some of the fun traditions that we do in our home. We love pumpkin pie in my family and like the rest of the world, all things pumpkin flavored. This particular tradition goes back to the Aquila family, every year the whole family comes together to make pies from scratch on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving! I cannot explain how much fun we all have together dancing, singing, laughing, and making pies together in the kitchen. In addition to this, my family makes this pumpkin puree so that we can have our own pumpkin pie to share at the Friendsgiving gathering that we host. It is very simple so scroll down to see the play by play. Bake Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 55 minutes Yields: 4-6 cups Ingredients 1, 4-6lb pie pumpkin (picture note: we made 3 pumpkins) Let's get started! Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and then prep your pumpkins. Okay I have seen a lot of pumpkin puree recipes that have you cut the pumpkin in half and take out what I call the "innards" before baking. We don't do that, I'm going to make your life very easy! Put your pumpkins on a baking sheet and using a fork poke holes all the way around the pumpkin. When the oven is finished preheating put the pumpkins inside and bake until soft. Depending on the size of your pumpkins this will take anywhere between 35-45 minutes. Take the pumpkins out of the oven and test them to see if they are ready by inserting a fork into the side. If the pumpkin is soft and finished baking the fork will go in easily and without much effort. Now that they are fully baked you are going to pull back the stem. Technically this is called a penduncle and can actually help you determine the quality of the pumpkin. I learned something new today, couldn't help but share. Begin peeling the skin off of the entire pumpkin, again if they are ready the skin will come off easily! For some reason my family got a kick out of the way this bare pumpkin looked when I was finished pealing it. Perfect-Pumpkin-Peeling right there! Next you are going to flip the pumpkin over so that the bottom is now facing up and take off any remaining skin and pull out the blossom end. Grab a spoon and scoop out the seeds and strands! Very quick and easy to do when everything if soft. You could save the pumpkins seeds and roast them for another tasty holiday snack. Alright folks this is what we are left with, a big bowl of pumpkin pulp. You can go ahead and grab your food processor, blender, or food mill to make the puree. Throw the pumpkin into the food processor and put it on high until it is completely smooth. See all these strands around the side? We DO NOT want that, that does not make for a tasty pumpkin pie so if it is still at this stage put the top back on and hit high. Here is a little close up after I hit high again so you can see the before and after difference. Nice and smooth! Here is the finished product from our 3 pie pumpkins! We put half in the refrigerator to use more immediately and the other half in the freezer. You can keep the puree frozen for up to 4 months if stored properly. This is a great way to have that fresh pumpkin taste in your holiday meals and desserts. I hope that you enjoy it as much as we do by making it a fun yearly tradition. 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 liturgical living 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. Happy Fall! Steffani

I want to share the little journey of how I came to start living Advent in its truest sense, and I hope my experience is an encouragement to you this Advent. Growing up my family was pretty secular, we never celebrated Advent. In fact, as soon as Thanksgiving was over, we jumped right into the joy of Christmas. We busied ourselves for a month with decorating, holiday baking, shopping, and my dad putting lights on everyone’s home in the neighborhood with his cherry picker. It was a fun and exciting time that is full of many wonderful and fond memories, but I also remember a feeling that stands out distinctly. The day after Christmas all of that momentum came to an abrupt stop, and in the blink of an eye all that time came and went without any interior recognition of what we just celebrated. Essentially, we prepared ourselves for the holiday season, but not at all for the birth of Christ. Through the years, with the help of God’s guiding graces I delved further into my Catholic faith and learned about the solemn and reflective season of Advent. These are the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Through my journey of faith I came to see and cherish that as a hopeful Christian, Advent is meant to be a time of prayerful preparation and purifying penance to ready my heart for Christ’s coming. I was so excited to live this, because I didn’t want to feel that twinge of emptiness after Christmas day. I did all the Advent activities that I could and did my best to not worry as much about the hustle and bustle of buying the best gifts and fighting the crowds, but really focusing myself on the birth of our Savior. I did so much Advent “stuff” that when the season ended, my heart still wasn’t ready. It was as if I exchanged all the secular preparation for a lot of Catholic themed activities, only to end up in the same place. I don't want you to fall into the same mix up that I did, and I think it can be very easy to do such given the amount of messages we see during season of Advent that say we need to be "doing" something. I want to speak plainly and share that the only thing you need to do is to slow down, pray, experience some silence in your day, make sacrifices, and perhaps pick one or two Advent activities. Invite your children, husband, and friends to experience these things with you. Through our own imitation of Mary, waiting patiently and prayerfully for the birth of her child, we can more fully experience the elation that is Christmas. This taught me an additional lesson, that Advent is challenging and countercultural. Instead of noise there is silence, instead of celebrating there is waiting, instead of indulging there is penance. Keep in mind that Advent is not only a season that guides us in waiting for Jesus to be born on Christmas day, but for the second coming. We live Advent every single day in the broader scope in that we seek to prepare our hearts, minds, and actions for the day when Christ returns. We want to be ready for this and not caught off guard, or wishing that we had been more intentional. These are same kind of feelings that I had when I had busied myself too much during the season of Advent. The theological correlations are the same, I pray that we can seek to remember them. This year I am approaching this season differently, and I decided to do a couple of small things with great intentionality; I lovingly challenge each of you to do this too! This year I am focusing on more time for silence, less TV, music, social media, checklists, full schedules, etc. and more time to walk with St. Joseph to Bethlehem, befriend Mary in the stable, and to gaze at this little Holy Family with the animals as we await the child that will save us all. Happy start to your Advent, dear friends. God love you, Steffani

About Saint Lucy St. Lucy was a consecrated virgin & martyr who was killed in the early church during the worst persecution. Her name means “light” which is appropriate for a woman who was known for the visible glow she had out of her love for her spouse, Christ. She would bring supplies and food to the poor and Christians in the darkness of the catacombs but would wear a wreath of candles so that she could see better. There are so many fun traditions associated with her feast day, many of them involving light, candles, torches, and even bonfires. Popular Traditions Today the eldest daughter is supposed to wake the household with St. Lucia buns, coffee, and treats while wearing a wreath of candles, a white gown, and a red sash symbolizing her baptism and martyrdom. She can also be accompanied by small brothers known as “Star Boys” who wear white gowns and cone shaped hats decorated with stars and carrying a star tipped wand. These are the traditional St. Lucy Buns, also known as Saffron buns, that I make every year! What We Do In my family, we wait to put up the Christmas tree and lights until this weekend. It's a meaningful way to integrate light on the feast day of Lucy whose name means light, but is also a way to express joy on Gaudete Sunday. Our home is filled with Advent and Christmas decor, but it’s been missing the romantic twinkle of lights. Without the lights I have been reminded of the meaning of Advent, the cold dark winter preparation for the coming of Christ. These physical reminders can be so important to our Catholic life, without them we can easily fall into the busyness of December schedules, parties, work, baking, shopping, and the typical hustle and bustle. A Reflection on the Meaning of Light I’ve been thinking more about the lesson of light that we can take away from St. Lucy’s feast day in honor of her own faith. Hearing about her glow reminds me of when I was engaged or what others tell women when they are pregnant, "you’re glowing"! My engagement period was filled with so much anticipation and joy, it very much felt like the season of Advent. I couldn’t hide the love and happiness that I felt even if I wanted to, and then I imagine St. Lucy and the love she had for Jesus. This young girl glowed out of love for Christ whom she consecrated herself to. We see very clearly the physical reminder of her name with the candle lit wreath that she wore when serving others who were hiding in darkness; but she was also a spiritual light to the message of the Gospel. She could see what others could not through her faith, which reminded me of this reference from the ever popular Chronicles of Narnia. In C.S. Lewis’ book Prince Caspian, Lucy has this exchange of faith with Aslan. Her siblings can no longer see him, even in daylight, but she can and she realizes something else, that he is bigger! “Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.” “That is because you are older, little one,” answered he. “Not because you are?” “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” We can use St. Lucy and Lucy Pevensie as a way to understand that in the light of faith and truth, Christ will grow to be “bigger”. This innocent exchange is so telling of the fact that as we grow older, get busy, or let other things take priority in life, it's very easy to lose sight of how God plays a part in all that we do. On the feast of St. Lucy and the upcoming joy of Gaudete Sunday, let’s refocus on eyes and our heart on Christ, who will shine on all of our circumstances. Praying for you this Advent as we all seek to prepare a place in our hearts and homes for the coming of Christ. And may St. Lucy intercede for us as we draw nearer to the light of Christ. God love you, Steffani

Feast Day: October 15 Patron: Headache Sufferers & Spanish Catholic Writers St. Teresa of Avila is one of the most insufficiently discussed female saints there is, in my personal opinion! She is a triple powerhouse in that she was a beautiful woman, contemplative prayer, and passionate reformer. She was born just a couple of years before the Protestant reformation and died well after the Council of Trent ended. Her dedicated efforts to reform the Church and the Carmelite order for men and women are just one of her many honors, you can read more about that here. Before that, Teresa lived a young person's life that might not be that far from our own: flirting with boys, going to parties, and being overly interested in clothes and materials things. Given her own self-awareness, she wanted to abandon her life of sin and distraction and become more devoted to God, so she joined the Carmelites. And she did this even against the strong discouragement of her father. While there she gave much of her energy to quiet time, mental prayer, serving others, and seeking to make her order and the Church more orthodox amidst the turmoil of the Protestant Reformation. St. Teresa is frequently described by these terms, "beautiful, talented, outgoing, adaptable, affectionate, courageous, and enthusiastic." She was given the title Doctor of the Church along with my confirmation saint, St. Catherine of Siena. One of the reasons I have drawn myself so close to her, and I think other women of a more bold type personality can too, is because at times I have felt that I am "too loud" to be a saint or "too outgoing," and not quiet and demure enough as we often see the saints depicted. Yet her life, example of prayer, and enthusiasm for the Church have been a source of strength for me. I encourage you to look more into her life too, I think she can be a good spiritual friend for all of us women. Through this spiritual master I have learned by means of prayer how to be close to God and live a life in service to others. If you would like to learn more about mental prayer and St. Teresa of Avila I would highly encourage you to read Interior Castle and the Way of Perfection. I would not call these "easy reads" as each line is filled with so much depth, but they are books that bear much fruit by even attempting to give them our attention. Both of these are also available on audio books for those that are juggling many things. All of these practical ideas are taken from her writing, I don't think there is any other saint that presents prayer in the way that she does. It is said that she struggled in prayer for the better part of 18 years, looking at the clock and waiting for her "prayer time" to run up. I too can find myself sitting in prayer and not actually praying, my mind is off on other things or I'm reciting empty words. After reading more from St. Teresa, she would say that this is not actually prayer. However, she does not leave us there, she gives wisdom to lift us up so that we too can truly draw nearer to God. To Do or Consider in Prayer 1. Focus on God when you are praying, and pay attention to what you are saying. "If a person does not think [of] Whom he is addressing, and what he is asking for, and who it is that is asking and of Whom he is asking it, I do not consider that he is praying at all even though he be constantly moving his lips.” (Interior Castle) 2. To not address God while you are thinking of other things. (The Way of Perfection) 3. Talk to Jesus as if He were your husband. "A good wife knows her husband. She understands him, cares for him, and is attentive to him. Similarly, if a soul knows Jesus, understands him, cares about him, and is attentive to him, prayer can be truly meaningful. At the root of prayer is a relationship of love." 4. "St. Teresa warns against reciting the Our Father or attending Mass without thinking about the encounter with Christ. Staying focused in prayer requires effort and discipline; it’s often easier to daydream. But the soul will begin to experience the presence of Jesus in a deeper way when it engages him directly." 5. Seek some solitude in your day. “It is well to seek greater solitude,” she says, “So as to make room for the Lord and allow His Majesty to do His own work in us.” (Way, 31:7) 6. Never forget that God dwells within your little castle (your soul). “If I had understood as I do now that in this little palace of my soul dwelt so great a King, I would not have left Him alone so often.” (Way, 28:11) 7. Humility helps us to lift our hearts to God. “What I have come to understand is that this whole groundwork of prayer is based on humility and that the more a soul lowers itself in prayer the more God raises it up.” (Life 22:11) 8. Don't think so much about your prayer, just show God love. “In order to profit by this path and ascend to the dwelling places we desire, the important thing is not to think much but to love much, and so do whatever best stirs you to love.” (IC 4:1:7) 9. Force yourself, if you have to, to make prayer a habit. “One needs no bodily strength for mental prayer,” she says, “but only love and the formation of a habit.” (Life 7:12) 10. Prayer takes courage. “We must have a determined determination to never give up prayer.” (Way 21:2) 11. Mental prayer is spending time with your greatest friend. “Mental prayer, in my opinion, is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.” (Life 8:7) 12. Integrate fasting into your life beyond Lent. “Prayer and self-indulgence don’t go together.” (Way 4:2) As a bonus, I wanted to direct you to this absolute gem, given to us by St. Teresa, called "The Four Waters of Prayer." Not many people know about it, but she likens contemplative prayer to a garden and water then gives practical explanations for helping us to grow in our prayer life. “Christ and the Woman of Samaria” (detail) by Paolo Veronese Hoping that you have an October full of feasting and fasting that brings celebration to your hearts and homes. I love to see the ways that you are living liturgically so feel free to share that on Facebook @hisgirlsunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday. #hisgirlsunday #liturgyhome God love you, Steffani

In my first week of marriage my husband and I went to high tea and enjoyed some of the finer things in life. Beautiful china was laid out, tasty little sandwiches and spreads were displayed for the choosing, and of course we drank the best quality tea I've ever had. To be honest with you, I didn't even know hot tea existed until I was in my last year of high school. I can't believe I just admitted that to you! Growing up in a small town in Texas with a very southern family, the only kind of tea that was ever on our table was iced sweet tea. And even though I truly prefer that, this is nice too! To celebrate our Heavenly Mother and Queen, I think that it is most fitting to host a tea. This tradition works for anyone of any age, children, teens, adults, a gathering of women, a date with your boyfriend or husband, or even as a parish group. I had one wonderful woman message me and let me know that she saw this idea on the blog and decided to implement it with her faith formation families. My heart burst with joy! This is what I want to get people back to regarding living liturgically: liturgy, parish life, home life, and celebration. If you would like to know more about the liturgical history and theology behind this feast day, click here to read my previous Queenship of Mary blog post. To begin we need to collect all of our ingredients. Yields: 24 Rectangular Sandwiches Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes Sandwich Ingredients 1 Cucumber, peeled and very thinly sliced 1 Loaf of Extra Thin Sliced Bread, crust removed Lemon Herb Aioli Cucumbers and Flowers for garnish Lemon Herb Aioli Ingredients 1 Garlic Clove, chopped coarsely 1 C. Mayonnaise 1 Tbsp Dill Weed 1 Tbsp Parsley 1 Tbsp Chives 1 Tbsp Thyme 2 Tbsps Fresh Lemon Juice 1 Tsp Lemon Zest Take out your mini food processor and pour in 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 clove garlic coarsely chopped. Pulse the food processor until the garlic and mayonnaise are smoothly combined. After you've done that, sprinkle in 1 tbsp thyme, 1 tbsp parsley, 1 tbsp dill weed, and 1 tbsp chives. Pulse the food processor again until all the herbs are combined and coarsely chopped. Now squeeze 2 tbsps of fresh lemon juice and pour into the herb mixture. Using the lemon you squeezed, zest 1 tsp and add it into the food processor. Pulse a few more times until all your ingredients are combined, then set in the fridge to chill while you prep the sandwiches. Remove the crust from your bread and set aside so we can prepare the cucumber slices. After you have peeled the cucumber, slice it as thinly as you can, about 1/8 inch thick. Lay the cucumber slices out on a paper towel and pat them dry. Place your sandwich bread out on the counter, and grab your chilled lemon herb aioli from the fridge to spread it out on one side. Layer two rows of three cucumber slices in each sandwich and spread more aioli on the other slice of bread. Then cut the sandwich in half, in between the rows of cucumbers, to make small rectangles. Arrange on a platter as you like. To garnish the plate, I decided to make cucumber flowers which is much easier than you might think. To watch a tutorial, you can visit my social media page, but here are the directions. Cucumber Flower Directions Place a small x in one slice of cucumber. Stagger three to four cucumber slices and roll them up. Place the cucumber roll in the center of the x Add cucumber flower to your plate of sandwiches I also wanted a touch of femininity and color so I placed tiny white flowers on each sandwich and in the center of my cucumber flowers. I truly hope you delight in your high tea, and don't forget to share with me how it all went. 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. God love you, His Girl Sunday