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The Reminder to Pray in Thanksgiving of the Eucharist The Solemnity of Corpus Christi is this coming weekend and the 1st Communions are rolling. This last weekend I went to Mass at a near by parish, not knowing that the first communicants would be there, and the priest did something at the end of Mass that really stood out to me. He came down from the altar and asked the children to say thank you to Jesus for giving us His body and blood, and sharing that with us in the Eucharist. Father then went on to instruct them to say a prayer of thanksgiving with him for Jesus' sacrifice. This small gesture actually made a big impact on me because I do not remember being taught to pray after communion, or after Mass. It wasn't until the beginning of college that I became cognizant of the need to pray after Mass when I noticed other people doing that. I remember initially thinking, why are they all praying after Mass when we just spent the entirety of Mass in prayer? Then I realized in a more personal way that it is important to give thanks and praise to God for receiving Him within the intimacy of our hearts and minds. And it is equally important to take a moment to just rest in the reality that we have been physically united with Christ. Prayer Is at the Heart of Liturgy and Liturgical Living Over the years I have collected a few go-to prayers either in preparation of receiving communion or after. Some of these I say by myself, others I say every Mass with my husband. I mention that because I think it should be said that we cannot have a prayer life with our family if we don't have one on our own. At the center of liturgical living and building Catholic tradition in the home is a prayer life rooted in the faith. Liturgy is the divine worship of the Church, so to live liturgically is to extend the liturgy into your day to day life. The heart of worship is our offering and prayers of thanksgiving and praise to God! Personal Prayer Builds Family Prayer It took many years to cultivate that for myself, and with all honesty, I used to think that having a prayer life didn't really matter all that much. I felt I knew God by learning about Him in school, I experienced him with other Catholics, and I was very involved in the life of the Church. Essentially, even writing that list I see, that I was making a lot of excuses for myself. I didn't realize that what I was lacking was a personal, intimate relationship with Christ. Me + Jesus I share that because I couldn't give to others what I didn't have. And when I got married, I realized that the prayer life between us would be lacking, if I didn't have one first. That's not to say that the two can't develop simultaneously, personal prayer and marital prayer, but they both have to exist! My Personal Favs So, in honor of Corpus Christ, the solemnity that focuses our attention on the source and summit of our faith, I want to spotlight the prayers that helped build my relationship with Christ during Communion. Prayers Before Communion O my God, help me to make a good Communion. Mary, my mother, pray to Jesus for me. All you holy Angels and saints, pray for me. My dear Angel Guardian, lead me to the altar of God. A Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas After Communion I thank You, Lord, Almighty Father, Everlasting God, for having been pleased, through no merit of mine, but of Your great mercy alone, to feed me, a sinner, and Your unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion may not be for my judgment and condemnation, but for my pardon and salvation. Let this Holy Communion be to me an armor of faith and a shield of good will, a cleansing of all vices, and a rooting out of all evil desires. May it increase love and patience, humility and obedience, and all virtues. May it be a firm defense against the evil designs of all my visible and invisible enemies, a perfect quieting of all the desires of soul and body. May this Holy Communion bring about a perfect union with You, the one true God, and at last enable me to reach eternal bliss when You will call me. I pray that You bring me, a sinner, to the indescribable Feast where You, with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, are to Your saints true light, full blessedness, everlasting joy, and perfect happiness. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Anima Christi Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O Good Jesus, hear me. Within your wounds hide me. Permit me not to be separated from you. From the wicked foe, defend me. At the hour of my death, call me and bid me come to you That with your saints I may praise you For ever and ever. Amen. Meditation of St. Therese O how sweet it is, the first kiss of Jesus to my soul. Yes, it is a kiss of love. I feel I am loved, and I too say: “I love Thee, I give myself to Thee forever!” Jesus asks nothing of me, demands no sacrifice. Already for a long time past, He and I have watched and understood each other. This day our meeting is no longer a simple look but a fusion. No longer are we two. I have disappeared as the drop of water which loses itself in the depths of the ocean. Jesus alone remains: The Master, the King. Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary O most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of gentleness and mercy, I, a miserable and unworthy sinner, fly to thy protection with every sentiment of humility and love; and I implore of thy loving kindness that thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to be near me, and all who throughout the whole Church are to receive the Body and Blood of thy Son this day, even as thou wert near thy sweetest Son as He hung bleeding on the Cross. Aided by thy gracious help, may we worthily approach this august Sacrament. Amen. Everyone has their go-to prayers, I'm sure you do too, leave a comment and share your favorites. See You in the Eucharist! His Girl Sunday

Recently I collaborated with Telos Art Shop on the Dress for Mass Series, which is intended to inspire both women and men to think about their attire for Mass. It was reinvigorating to be able to reflect on the meaning of beauty, feminine expression, and how that is carried out in my clothing choices. Instead of writing a list of dos and donts, which we all know hardly ever goes over well, I took some time to reflect on what mass it, what it means to me, and how I can most fully participate in that. You can the full article below, or click the link to see it on Telos Art Shop! https://telosartshop.com/blog/2021/5/8/dressed-for-the-occasion-the-wedding-feastnbsp Dress For Mass Series Dressed for the Occasion: The Wedding Feast BY STEFFANI AQUILA, HIS GIRL SUNDAY The Mass, The Wedding Feast Of all the images used to describe the Mass, the one that speaks most profoundly to me is that of the wedding feast. Christ as the bridegroom unites Himself intimately with the Church, His bride, every time Mass is celebrated. At this glorious feast, Jesus offers Himself in superabundant love for us. Through that sacrificial offering of Himself, Christ freely gives His whole person, and we respond in exact imitation of that, body and soul, by partaking in the Eucharist. Consider this, every Sunday when we go to Mass, we are responding to Christ’s invitation to our own wedding feast. This is not just divine imagery, but a reality that we are called to fully participate in. Revelation 19:7 says, “let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.” In the Sacred Liturgy, the Church embodies this verse by calling us to prepare ourselves before going to the altar of the Lord. One of the most significant ways we prepare ourselves is in how we dress. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.” REVELATION 19:7 The Perfect Gown While attending Mass every Sunday might not inspire the same wedding associations and sentiments, when I reflect on the Eucharist there are so many things about it that bring me back to my own wedding day. One of which is the way that I prepared myself both internally and externally to be an offering for my spouse. As most brides do, I spent hours going to multiple dress shop to find the dress that I felt would outwardly express that which I had been preparing inwardly for months. The time and intentionality spent on this task is not to be mistaken for vanity, but my true desire to be a beautiful gift before the Lord and my future spouse. I wanted a gown that would reflect the occasion of three people giving of themselves to the other: myself, my spouse, and God. In fact, the way that I felt in that dress brought me back to another holy day that is strikingly similar: my first communion. I have the sweetest memory of just how lovely I felt as I stood there in that satin dress with the lace veil. Just a little bride, waiting to process up to the altar to taste the precious body of Jesus that He so charitably offers me. God, in His infinite love and mercy not only gives of Himself to me like a spouse in the excitement of a wedding day or first communion, but in every single Mass. This is the lifelong continuation of the eternal wedding feast! The Interior Matches the Exterior The Holy Sacrifice does not substantially change or become more profound, honorable, or elevated on those specific sacramental occasions such as weddings, even though it often feels that way for us. And while I might not wear a long white gown to Mass every Sunday, I still try to dress as if I am attending my own wedding feast. Growing up in the South this was also culturally expected. I was not to wear jeans, anything low cut, short, or tight, and absolutely no shorts. Sunday best meant that you were to dress in the nicest outfit that you had in the closet because you are going to Church to worship God. With that perspective I learned very quickly that Mass was about giving all that we had to God, it was not about me or getting dolled up to be seen. In fact, I do not really feel any different when I approach getting ready for Mass versus getting ready to attend a friend’s wedding. And we really should not, because every Sunday we are accepting an invitation to the Heavenly wedding banquet that is being shared with us on earth. With that being said, I know from experience that this can sometimes be easier said than done! It is very tempting on a sleepy or chaotic Sunday morning to make common objections to wearing something nice. Things like, personal convenience, comfort, “God does not care what I have on as long as I’m there”, “the parish I am attending is casual”, etc. all begin to take a hard stand in my mind. While some of those thoughts might be true, there is something that is even more true: Jesus Christ is fully present, body, blood, soul, and divinity before me in Mass. If I really believe in the real presence of God in the Eucharist, offering His whole self to me, then I want to respond to the King of my heart in a similar manner with my whole self, including my outfit. In a way, this has less to do about appearance and more to do with what is in our hearts. Not every wedding dress has the same cost, but remember in the Gospel of Mark (12:41-44) the widow’s two coins given with a humble and loving heart are worth more than the fashionably dressed who give large sums only from their surplus wealth. Dressing for the Occasion More concretely, this does not look the same from Sunday to Sunday. And as I got older, I learned that getting dressed up for Mass is not always going to receive the same amount of effort and attention either, and that is okay. There is however one thing that cannot change, and that is whatever it is that I decide to wear from week to week, should have the same amount of expressed reverence. I liken it to my years as a pre-professional classical dancer. I would have never shown up to a class or audition in anything but the correct ballet attire. I was also taught by strict dance instructors to never wear that same ballet attire anywhere else but the studio. Essentially, I was trained to understand that there is a time and a place for what I wear, and this goes for Mass too. By dressing modestly, beautifully, and reverently I am not only expressing my belief, but also signaling to myself my interior state of readiness for Christ. This is what the occasion demands, out of respect for God, when I go to Mass to give worship, praise, thanksgiving, and sacrifice to our Lord. I am responding to my own wedding invitation, by offering my beloved the very best I have to give. Steffani Aquila is a Communications Director for a parish and school, Catholic blogger, and ballet dancer. She is the owner of His Girl Sunday, a small business which seeks to provide families and parishes with resources to reinvigorate Catholic tradition. When she’s not doing those things, you can find her reading theological books, hosting parties for family and friends, or dancing down the aisles of Hobby Lobby. She has a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and a Master of Arts in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary.

Rejoice, friends! It's Laetare Sunday and in case quarantine has you distracted from the liturgical calendar, it's STILL Lent. Over the last couple of weeks it seems like all I've done is attempt to reorganize and create a new normal which I'm sure we are all doing. The virus has brought challenges to all of our lives to say the least yet I have also been struck by the blessings in disguise it has brought for those who are blessed with their health. Overall, it has forced all of us to re-prioritize, to think about the lives that we were leading and what we want them to look like going forward. What a surreal experience! It took something like this to make the entire world reorient ourselves to our families, prayer, home life, and genuine leisure, Josef Pieper style. In addition to that I see this beautiful and genuine desire for unification with our Parish community which is truly a work of the Holy Spirit. I'm going to go through a few topics that are circling around me and hopefully they will be helpful in getting us through our current situation and create lasting family traditions for all of us. Unplugged Prayer Social media has been flooding my feed with lots of great online resources since all of this has happened and I'm going to have a moment of truth and say that I have been sucked into scrolling, ALOT! I had to remind myself to find the resources that I like for our family and then get off and go live them out. Following streaming prayers and liturgies is a great way to stay connected with the community in prayer, but we also want to make sure we are engaging in private prayer. I know the silence can be uncomfortable but it can also be very nurturing to our relationship with God, how often do we sit and let God speak? We can also take this time away from our technology to pray together, perhaps a family rosary, read about a saint together, offer up a prayer for each child, read scripture together, etc. I would highly recommend integrating the Liturgy of the Hours into your family's prayer life. It is a part of the Church's communal prayer and allows us to obey the exhortation to "pray without ceasing". The Liturgy of the Hours is prayed throughout the world each day and, now more than ever, can unite us to the Universal Church. If you are interested in doing this check out this resource! https://www.ibreviary.org/en/tools/ibreviary-web.html You could also use the "Laudate" or "iBreviary" apps. This link below will walk you through how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. https://www.keepthelordsday.com/?fbclid=IwAR1xA0kvoODVfI3vukZ7Scyu8Ge_oQByqgciWZ-s8LA-cI6AZCJNGzDRng8 "Family prayer has for its very own object family life itself, which in all its varying circumstances is seen as a call from God and lived as a filial response to His call." Familiaris Consortio, 59 Annunciation The Solemnity of the Annunciation is Wednesday and is one of only two times during Lent that we can sing the Gloria so open those windows and belt it out! Look at this quote I found today while reflecting on the Annunciation. "Him whom the Heavens cannot contain, the womb of one woman bore." St. Augustine We still have so much to pray and be thankful for on this day in which the Word becomes flesh, God becomes incarnate! This day we celebrate with heaven that the Angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her she would be the mother of our Lord. I think it’s time to pull the "Imitation of Mary" off the shelf and give it a re-read. In Sweden, Christians will eat waffles on the Feast of the Annunciation, because the feast's name, in Swedish, is called Vårfrudagen ("Our Lady's Day") which sounds awfully similar to the Swedish word Våffeldagen (Waffle Day). Honestly, if I were saying either word they would probably be spoken incorrectly but there is one thing I can get right, waffles! We do breakfast for dinner and we pray a rosary together, consider doing this in your home too. Catholic Resources Below are some resources for prayer, activities, and learning For a Plenary Indulgence https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/20/200320c.html?fbclid=IwAR0nnUbzh0VZH-8bkhu-xPipfw4asyHaA2XJQ6Nn9dgkDEjSPa5i4KStRXQ Free Online Access to the Magnificat https://us.magnificat.net/?fbclid=IwAR1xA0kvoODVfI3vukZ7Scyu8Ge_oQByqgciWZ-s8LA-cI6AZCJNGzDRng8 For Catholic Crafts https://www.catholicicing.com/ Spiritual Resources for Prayer, Reflection, and Mass in English and Spanish https://www.archgh.org/spiritualresources?fbclid=IwAR1xA0kvoODVfI3vukZ7Scyu8Ge_oQByqgciWZ-s8LA-cI6AZCJNGzDRng8 Ascension Presents w/ Father Mike Schmitz https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVdGX3N-WIJ5nUvklBTNhAw USCCB Prayer Resources During Covid https://catholiccurrent.org/covid19/?fbclid=IwAR1uS8X8XawpHWmmYo3YcnUbhp68pFcyTHzI6LqIsoSEQRjD0qoy_kVY9V4 Virtual Catholic Men's Conference April 3-5 https://www.virtualcatholicconference.com/Mensconference2020?r_done=1&fbclid=IwAR3Qq6y7mZLFKAup1Izyab0yM6gUXAgO00l8VqTQD9pzu7si50i9KCABKg8 Catholic Education https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/ Streaming Masses While the obligation to attend Mass has currently been lifted due to our circumstances, the Church has still called us to keep the Lord's day by praying together as a family in our homes. If participation in the Eucharistic celebration becomes impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause, it is strongly recommended that the faithful take part in a liturgy of the word if such a liturgy is celebrated in a parish church or other sacred place according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop or that they devote themselves to prayer for a suitable time alone, as a family, or, as the occasion permits, in groups of families. Canon 1248 Where Do I Find Mass Online? For many of us still trying to participate in the Mass to some extent from home this means we will be watching it on our TV. Please remember that Mass on TV is not a substitute for actually attending the Sunday liturgy, I only say this because I worry about confusion once we return to public liturgies. However, most parishes are offering either a live stream or pre-recording of their Mass for you to watch at home which I encourage you to engage in for the time being. It is still highly important that we unite ourselves to the Church through prayer and the Paschal Mystery. Here is a link for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston that has streaming times for all of our parishes as well as additional broadcasts from Guadalupe Radio Network, EWTN, and the Vatican. https://www.archgh.org/onlinemass?fbclid=IwAR21yyN_TL3avvHyMpid5HKdQKwxpsg2NEaIR9MmPI_BIQ1ZsPXEd7pXQxs Preparation and Reverence If you are streaming the Mass, prepare and participate in the usual ways. It is very easy to watch the Mass like we do our favorite programs because of our mental associations between screens and entertainment. I would recommend waking up, getting ready, and putting on your Mass clothes. Just by doing this we are physically reminding ourselves that we are doing something Sacred in our homes. Join the live stream early so you can prepare yourself just as you would show up to Church early. Have your computer or TV in a prayerful environment, perhaps do this by removing all other distractions, including cell phones, and lighting one candle next to it. While you are watching Mass, participate in the same ways that you usually would by saying the responses, kneeling/standing, following along with the readings, etc. Reverence before the Blessed Sacrament still needs to happen, even though we are bound by time, space, and TVs, Christ is not! He is there before you, gaze upon the sacrifice of the Eucharist with an adoring heart. What is Spiritual Communion? This term has come up a lot this week because of the current situation and I think it can be a very fruitful way for us to unite ourselves to the Eucharist. When a person cannot attend Mass they can make an Act of Spiritual Communion which stems from a long understanding in the Church of how we can increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion. From the Council of Trent: “With respect to the use [of the Eucharist], however, our fathers rightly and wisely distinguished three types of reception of this holy sacrament [of the Eucharist]….others receive only spiritually [without receiving it sacramentally], namely those who have the desire to eat the heavenly food that is set before them, and so experience its effect and benefit by a lively faith working through love.” [Session 13, chapter 8]. In other words, watching Mass on the TV or joining in family prayer is drawing us into a type of spiritual communion with the larger Church, but more formally speaking by making the Act you are intentionally cultivating a desire in your heart to receive the Eucharist and you are allowing that grace to help you avoid sins and grow in faith. Here is the Act of Spiritual Communion prayer! A prayer for Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, Come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there And unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen. Thanks for stopping by, I hope the resources are helpful and I look forward to seeing all of your waffle dinners this Wednesday. Feel free to share or drop a comment, I'd love to hear what you find helpful as a Quarantined Catholic.

The Solemnity of St. Joseph is not just a typical feast day but is elevated even beyond that in importance. Couple that with it being the year of St. Joseph and we've got ourselves a reason to really go all out! There are many traditions that can be done, so I am going to list out some of my favorites for this specific Solemnity and for the year. From there you can choose a few or even adapt some for the needs of your own family. My family's Italian culture is something that we like to continue and there is so much to be shared so I will dive in to that as well. This is really a beautiful opportunity for us to increase our devotion to St. Joseph and not only celebrate him today, but seek a relationship. There are so many graces in store for us by imitating his virtue as protector of the Church and families. Image: Catholic.org St. Joseph in a Nutshell Most chaste spouse of Mary. Foster father of Jesus. Carpenter/wood worker Descended from the line of David. Feast day is March 19 Patron saint of basically...everything On two different occasions an angel appears to him in a dream. He was tasked with protecting the holy family. He is only mentioned in the Gospels. Referred to as a righteous man. La Festa Di San Giuseppe La Festa Di San Giuseppe or the Feast of St. Joseph is celebrated all over Italy, but has a more pronounced sense of festivity in the region of Sicily. The Sicilians consider him to be their patron saint because as the story goes, he was credited with saving them from a drought. They prayed for his intercession and promised that if he would bring rain, then they would be devoted in honoring him. St. Joseph came through, and when the drought ended they were able to grow their crops again. The harvest came and the Sicilian people kept their vow and prepared a great feast for him. Image: Wikimedia The traditional St. Joseph's Table or Altar stems from this story and is a beautiful sight for bread lovers. Sicilians still take pride in their tables, which you may see displayed in homes, churches, and even some Italian cafes. Typically this table will be placed in an area for all to see and partake in. They will set their table nicely with a cloth and fill it with gifts of food and religious significance as a sign of thanks to the saint that saved them. Take a look at the list of the many traditional items you could put on your St. Joseph table! Of course, don't forget to adorn it with a statue or image of this reverenced saint. Home made bread in the shape of carpenter's tools, sandals, crosses, etc. Selection of fish (However, St. Joseph's Solemnity this year will fall on a Friday so you can eat meat. Traditionally speaking, because it is within the Lenten season, you should serve fish.) Pastries Citrus fruit Flowers St. Joseph's Sfingi or Zeppole, which to some Italian regions is not the same thing. Fava beans, which is said to be one of the spared crops so it is there for good luck and abundance. This table is meant to be shared, so invite friends and family to contribute to the table and delight in it together! Wow! A-mazing! Image: Nola.com St. Joseph Traditions for All Families on the Solemnity or Throughout the Year! Practice the St. Joseph's Seven Sundays Devotion. https://yearofstjoseph.org/devotions/ Take a trip to a St. Joseph parish in your area. St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio! Partake in the Consecration to St. Joseph. Many parishes are hosting them this year, see if yours will be. Build something today, even if it's small, start a project in honor of his work as a carpenter. Put out lilies near your home altar or on your dinner table. Do a St. Joseph craft like make paper lilies, create your own St. Joseph prayer card, color an image of him, or modge podge an image of St. Joseph to a piece of wood. Take a family portrait to place in your home in honor of the holy family. Pray together as a family that we can emulate the Holy Family in virtue and deep love for God. Eat meat today! St. Joseph’s feast day ranks as a solemnity which is the highest of feast days. When a solemnity falls on a Friday you can eat meat because of its significance and celebratory status! Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Pick a virtue of St. Joseph to work on throughout the year. Read a book about St. Joseph. Image: Catholic Company "I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of [St. Joseph] which he has failed to grant… To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succour us in some of our necessities, but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succours us in them all…” (Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila) Take comfort and courage in the words of St. Teresa of Avila, who looked to St. Joseph in her times of need. One last thing, as a small reflection from my Ignatian Spiritual Exercises daily retreat. A few months ago, the readings for that week were focused on the Holy Family. They were the usual Scripture passages that we delve into around Christmas time. I honestly expected to enter into a deeper relationship with Mary, which I have been working on for some time now. To my surprise as I read and sat in contemplative silence, St. Joseph tapped on my shoulder and showed me his experience. The Holy Spirit pressed on my heart to not just ask for St. Joseph's intercession sometimes, but to really know him. I reflected deeply on what it was like for him when Mary accepted God's will. It was a intense prayer encounter to imagine myself standing next to him as Mary told him that she was with child. I considered the emotions and thoughts he must have had as he was looking forward to marrying a devoted young woman and having a family. Even more so what he must have feared would happen to them in this situation. Joseph's fiat shouldn't go without great recognition! All that he anticipated was changed under very difficult circumstances, yet he accepts God's will having no idea what was to come. He takes Mary as his wife and Jesus as his child and protects them with his entire being, despite the difficult emotions he may have had. Just when it seems he stuck in yet another challenging position as a husband and father, God is right there to guide. God is faithful and abounding in grace to the yes that Joseph gives to him with each and every sacrificial act of love. Joseph isn't a man of many words in the Bible, but his actions speak louder than what could be said. He is gentle, loving, courageous, pure, and strong! All the virtues that we desire to be as spouses and as faithful followers of God. I left that time of contemplation feeling a much deeper understanding for who St. Joseph is, and how God loves us as a spouse and father. We see that love carried out in the life of Joseph and what a great blessing for you and me. I hope to be graced with more time like that throughout the year that is dedicated to him. There is nothing that I want more than to live out my vocation as he did! Prayers for you all and if you try out some of these ideas, share them with me + follow along on Facebook @HisGirlSunday!

Lent is just around the corner, a prayerful and somber time in the Church, yet come Friday evening it used to be chaos and stress about what's for dinner in the Aquila house. Of course our family would observe the fasting and abstinence prescribed, but planning ahead for it and grocery shopping used to be a major struggle! This became even more pronounced when we decided that we were going to do meatless Friday every Friday, because you know that's actually still a thing. There I was with a picky eater (especially with regard to fish), about two meatless recipes (winning), and hopefully a lot of Fridays in my future. I made it a point to start trying different recipes and then logging them away so that I would have an easy to use collection. This little endeavor was needless to say, overwhelming! Sifting through the ridiculous amount of meatless options was a challenge, but I took one for the team and made many of them to get to the good ones. Now that I've got a couple of years under my belt I thought I would share my go tos with you. To get you through Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during Lent 2021 I have picked 8 of my favorite meatless dinners that your family is sure to love. Tried and true by... well me, because I love fish and I'll eat just about anything. Some of these I make as they are and others I adapt so don't hesitate to be brave. At the bottom of the post you will find a list of recommended sides to go with the main course. Penne a la Betsy A hearty pasta, shrimp, and basil dish with a creamy red sauce. This dish is sure to make left overs and great for feeding a lot of people. https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11085/penne-a-la-betsy/ (Photo: The Pioneer Woman) Homemade Pizza This is a great way to get everyone involved in the kitchen on a Friday night. This pizza dough from scratch is one from yours truly and great for meatless Fridays, just top with anything but meat! https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/post/my-favorite-pizza-dough-from-scratch (Photo: His Girl Sunday) Chipotle Lime Shrimp Sheet Pan Easy recipe for a busy or tired Friday evening, throw the shrimp on the pan with any of your favorite veggies! The chipotle lime gives it a little kick and is delicious as it is, or over pasta or rice. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/sheet-pan-chipotle-lime-shrimp-bake/ (Photo: Taste of Home) Cheesy Pesto Pasta Classic, quick, and delicious dinner that only takes about 20 minutes to whip up. If you prefer to make your pesto from scratch I have a delicious recipe here! https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/post/my-tried-and-true-pesto https://ohsweetbasil.com/20-minute-cheesy-pesto-pasta-recipe/ (Photo: Oh, Sweet Basil) Honey Garlic Shrimp The perfect sweet and savory dish is light and filling. I like making this one and pouring it over a bowl of rice or quinoa. https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/quick-healthy-dinner-20-minute-honey-garlic-shrimp/ (Photo: Sally's Baking Addiction) Fish Tacos What I like about this recipe is that you can customize it as much or as little as you want. Fish options can range from salmon, shrimp, tilapia, or even cod. https://www.spendwithpennies.com/fish-tacos-recipe-onion-slaw/ (Photo: Spend with Pennies) Dinner Salads I couldn't just pick one so I attached the link that has a list of some of my favorites. These are so simple and inexpensive, because sometimes you get off work on a Friday and just do not feel like cooking. Throw your favorite ingredients in a bowl of lettuce and call it a night! https://www.loveandlemons.com/salad-recipes/ (Photo: Love and Lemons) Tuscan Tortellini Skillet You can't go wrong with tortellini and this dish actually tastes like you spent a lot longer on it than you actually did. https://www.thekitchn.com/tuscan-tortellini-pasta-260311 (Photo: Kitchn) Now for some side ideas, given that we are in Lent I try to keep these simple because we are called to be penitential. A priest once said during a homily that it's not a real sacrifice if you are just replacing the steak dinner with lobster, I agree. However, for most, this is the one full meal of the day so it's got to be just enough and making it healthy is a bonus. Simple Side Ideas (These go well with all of the dinner options that I recommended.) Buttered rolls or biscuits Oven baked asparagus or brussel sprouts (pick your family's favorite veggie) Small side of rice, pasta, or quinoa Side salad Caprese Salad Don't forget to bless your food! "Bless us Oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen." Closing meal time with prayer has been on my mind this year, if you want to join me here is the prayer after meals. "We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen." + Praying for all of you this Lent that you can journey with Jesus in closeness through the desert. If you need more resources you might be interested in this for celebrating Shrove Tuesday with family members of all ages. https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/post/tips-resources-and-printables-for-shrove-tuesday To cook alongside me for feast days and the liturgical seasons follow along with the recipe section of my blog. https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/blog/categories/feastdayrecipes Peace & Good to You & Yours!

October 1st is the feast day of one of my favorites, St. Therese of Lisieux. I always call her my best friend in Heaven and even though to some that may sound a bit odd, I truly feel that way. It was St. Therese and a few other saints that helped me convert my heart when I was about 20 years old and I have had a devotion to her ever since. A Little Bit About Her At the age of 13 on Christmas Eve she had a powerful experience that changed her life which she called the "Christmas Miracle". After living as a stubborn, "bratty" little girl her heart was changed from thinking constantly of herself to thinking of the salvation of others. In fact, her mother St. Zelie said, "As for [Therese], one cannot tell how she will turn out, she is so young and heedless... her stubbornness is almost unconquerable. When she has said no, nothing will make her change; one could leave her all day in the cellar without getting her to say yes. She would sooner sleep there!" It was at this "Christmas Miracle" in which she realized that she was to no longer approach things with a sense of selfishness and overreaction, but of joy and gratitude out of love for God. At the age of 15 she entered the Carmelite convent upon permission of the Pope! There she lived a cloistered life that was filled with small acts of love and hidden sacrifices. My Friendship with St. Therese I came to know her more through reading her very popular autobiography, "Story of a Soul", which she describes her life, conversion, time as a nun, and spirituality. I was intrigued by the fact that such a young girl could decide so fervently to live what I considered to be quite an extreme vocation, the cloistered life. I say extreme from my initial perspective because I didn't grow up in an area where there were very many religious. I didn't meet or know a sister or anyone belonging to religious life until college! However, the part that struck me most was that St. Therese was probably one of the first saints to convince me that I had a chance at Heaven, that I could be a saint too just like her! Her "little way" was simple yet profound, quiet sufferings for the salvation of souls and small acts done with great love. I saw that as my way to get to Heaven too and for much of my 20s I imperfectly learned that spirituality and let it become a part of who I am as a wife, teacher, friend, godmother, and daughter of God. St. Therese says, "I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifice to all ecstasies. To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul." I believe that this is the life I would most likely lead, not one with mystical visions or experiences, but an ordinary life! A life of doing dishes, teaching students, cooking for a husband, coping with the anxieties of life, having brunch with friends, and all the other things that I know you do too. Essentially she taught me to sanctify the life that I am in, and to make that an offering for God. Even though I have never met her, I love her for her life's example and what she has done for my journey. I believe that she played a major role in the discernment of my vocation which you can read about here. https://www.spokenbride.com/blog/2019/9/11/dominick-steffani Celebrating St. Therese ...with Food! She was born in Alencon, France to every year I try to do some kind of French food. Here are some ideas! French Toast Crepes Quiche Ratatouille French Onion Soup ...with Crafts! 1. Paint a wooden peg doll of St. Therese https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/product-page/st-therese-of-lisieux 2. Make St. Therese Sacrifice Beads https://www.showerofrosesblog.com/2011/09/st-therese-sacrifice-beads.html 3. Make these paper or felt roses and decorate your home http://dozidesign.blogspot.com/2008/05/paper-flower-tutorial.html 4. Color this printable St. Therese statue craft https://www.catholicicing.com/st-therese-printable-statue-craft-for-kids/ 5. Sacrifice cards for kids https://www.catholicicing.com/sacrifice-with-st-therese/ Paper rose craft! I have also done this with felt and it was really easy. My goddaughters middle name is Rose so when she was born I gifted her with a felt rose mobile to hang above her crib. ...with Prayer! 1. A Morning Prayer Written by St. Therese O my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to Its infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love. O my God! I ask of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all Eternity. Amen. 2. St. Therese of Lisieux Rose Novena 3. Novena that begins on her feast day https://www.showerofrosesblog.com/2009/10/novena-to-saint-therese-beginning-on.html 4. A Prayer to St. Therese of Lisieux O little St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in your hands. Make my troubles your own - speak a word for me to our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you were - to that Queen of heaven 'who smiled on you at the dawn of life. ' Beg her as the Queen of the heart of Jesus to obtain for me by her powerful intercession, the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment, and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life. Defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy eternity. Amen 5. Litany to St. Therese of the Child Jesus https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-to-st-therese-of-the-child-jesus-261 ...with Books! For children 1. Olivia and the Little Way https://www.amazon.com/Olivia-Little-Nancy-Carabio-Belanger/dp/0923568921?ie=UTF8&tag=shoofros-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969 2. St. Therese and the Roses https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Therese-Roses-Vision-Books/dp/0898705207/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=st+therese+and+the+roses&qid=1601562477&sr=8-1 3. The Little Flower: A Parable of St. Therese of Lisieux https://www.amazon.com/Little-Flower-parable-Therese-Liseux/dp/1681924986/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+little+flower+a+parable&qid=1601562456&sr=8-1 4. Little Catechism of St. Therese of Lisieux https://www.amazon.com/Little-Catechism-Therese-St-Lisieux/dp/1933184868/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+little+catechism+of+st+therese&qid=1601562425&sr=8-1 5. Little Lessons from St. Therese of Lisieux https://www.amazon.com/Little-Lessons-St-Therese-Lisieux/dp/1944008101 For teens/adults 1. The Story of a Soul https://www.amazon.com/Story-Soul-Autobiography-Little-Classics/dp/0895551551/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=story+of+a+soul&qid=1601562533&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE5SFBOTlU1WkpJRkomZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4MDk2NzkxT1BBVFhJMVlDOUtEJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0Mjk0MTkyUFdJTVNYS01WRExBJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== 2. Shirt of Flame: A Year with St. Therese of Lisieux https://www.amazon.com/Shirt-Flame-Year-Therese-Lisieux/dp/1557258082/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=shirt+of+flame&qid=1601562593&sr=8-3 3. I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on the Teachings of St. Therese https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Love-Personal-Retreat-Teaching/dp/1928832288/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=i+believe+in+love&qid=1601562632&sr=8-1 4. The Way of Trust and Love https://www.amazon.com/Way-Trust-Love-Retreat-Therese/dp/1594171653/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+way+of+trust+and+love&qid=1601562680&sr=8-1 5. The Extraordinary Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux https://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Parents-St-Th%C3%A9r%C3%A8se-Lisieux/dp/1612789641/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=St.+Therese+of+Lisieux&qid=1601562726&s=books&sr=1-4 Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin ...with Catholic Artisan Items for All Ages! 1. St. Therese of Lisieux Sensory Rosary for Babes - Lion and Lamb Woodcraft https://www.etsy.com/listing/760173749/st-therese-of-lisieux-the-little-flower?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=st+therese+of+lisieux&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&organic_search_click=1&bes=1 2. St. Therese of Lisieux Stickers for Teens - Gratia Design Co Shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/817130869/st-therese-of-lisieux-sticker-sunflower?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=st+therese+of+lisieux&ref=sr_gallery-1-5&organic_search_click=1&frs=1&bes=1 3. St. Therese Prints for All Ages - Mrs Torres Creates https://www.etsy.com/listing/727399910/saint-therese-of-lisieux-saint-print?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=st+therese+of+lisieux&ref=sr_gallery-1-9&organic_search_click=1&frs=1&bes=1 4. The Therese Candle for Home - Sword and Crown Store https://www.etsy.com/listing/700380186/the-therese-everything-is-grace-st?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=st+therese+of+lisieux&ref=sr_gallery-1-22&organic_search_click=1&cns=1 5. St. Therese of Lisieux Notecards for Teens and Adults - Meyer Market Designs https://www.etsy.com/listing/657628612/saint-therese-of-lisieux-note-cards-if?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=st+therese+of+lisieux&ref=sr_gallery-1-12&organic_search_click=1&pro=1 6. St. Therese of Lisieux Pillowcase for Children- Meyer Market Designs https://www.etsy.com/listing/583312963/st-therese-of-lisieux-pillow-st-therese?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=st+therese+of+lisieux&ref=sr_gallery-1-30&organic_search_click=1&frs=1 7. St. Therese Decade Rosary Bracelet for Teens and Adults- Vianney Beads https://www.etsy.com/listing/851182623/st-theresesacred-heart-solid-bronze?ga_search_query=therese&ref=shop_items_search_26&frs=1 8. St. Therese of Lisieux Fabric- Faith and Fabric https://www.etsy.com/listing/629831510/fabric-tiny-catholic-saints-female-st?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=st+therese+of+lisieux&ref=sr_gallery-1-34&organic_search_click=1&bes=1 9. St. Therese of Lisieux Little Way of the Cross- Just Love Prints https://www.etsy.com/listing/649035094/st-therese-of-lisieuxs-little-way-of-the?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=st+therese+of+lisieux&ref=sr_gallery-1-45&organic_search_click=1&frs=1 10. St. Therese of Lisieux Quote- Sweet Little Ones https://www.etsy.com/listing/713305832/8x10-5x7-st-therese-of-lisieux-quote?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=st+therese+of+lisieux&ref=sr_gallery-2-13&organic_search_click=1&frs=1 Whatever you may choose from this long list of ideas I highly suggest one thing, do some small sacrifice with great love! This is the little way, and the spirituality that St. Therese taught us. I am praying you have a blessed feast day filled with family and joy. St. Therese of Lisieux, Pray for us!

The domestic church has taken on a new meaning for many of us in this challenging and unofficial lock down mode. Not being able to gather to worship our Lord, receive the Eucharist, and be with our communities can be a very difficult sacrifice. The virus brought turmoil, panic, and discomfort into our lives by disrupting our routine and leaving many of us feeling powerless. While Covid is creating a lot of discord, God has used it to bring about something good, something that we so desperately needed and that is a reemphasis on our families. It has also given us the opportunity to work from home, do more things that we find enjoyable, and hopefully spend more time in prayer. I see many families seeking ways to unite themselves to the Church from home as more parishes have chosen to suspend Masses and services during this time. As "little churches", we can use this time to establish a prayer routine that will not only sustain us right now, but for the future. This is a blessing in disguise, giving us the perfect opportunity to reprioritize our faith and daily vocation to the people we love. No great saint went without seeking God in the midst of struggle and suffering, God is calling us too! If we are the domestic church, that means that our homes should be places that we go back to after being in the world where we find peace and the presence of Christ. Yes, I know that this sounds crazy, you may be thinking "you haven't seen my home" or "you don't know my kids" but Jesus wants to dwell with us. I have personally learned that Mass once a week and a few minutes of daily prayer is not enough for me to truly conform myself to His love, I need more than that! However, since many of us have not been called to consecrate ourselves, that means that it has to be integrated into our daily life. In other words, your life becomes the prayer as a wife or husband, mother or father, sister or brother. I always look to this quote from St. Gianna Molla, who was a wife, mother, doctor, and one of my favorite intercessors. Imitating the Saints St. Gianna Molla had a life just like us, a husband who traveled a lot for work, several children, was a working doctor, and actively volunteered in her community and Church. In fact, the child that she sacrificed her life for actually goes around now doing speaking engagements about her mother. Imagine that being your child saying, "my father or mother... the saint!" This didn't mean she was perfect, this means that she made a decision to dedicate her home to Christ so that He could reign over all that they did. Let's imitate this by letting God have control over our lives and our families because our community and culture needs this. St. John Paul II says, "when the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the world in which we live." When you can't go to Mass, go to that peaceful and beautiful place in your home to be with God. Schedule a time in the day, now that your children are home from school, to pray and learn about the Faith. Let there be a space in your home that acts as a reminder that He is there! Home Enthronement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus A couple of years ago we did a Home Enthronement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and I reorganized our home altar. Hands down this was the best thing that we have ever done for our little church. I use our altar almost daily and it has become one of my favorite places to pray and recharge. If you don't have a home altar I want share with you what I have created and where I got things. Religious items can be adapted to fit your private devotion but for a Home Enthronement you must have the Sacred Heart of Jesus image. I have attached the link for the Home Enthronement Prayer Companion that I have created for you with the entire ceremony written out with prayers and blessings. You can also find other easy, printable PDF prayer companions in my digital shop. https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/product-page/home-enthronement-prayer-companion Definitely take a minute to check out the link and let me know if you have questions, this is a truly beautiful dedication of your home which I highly encourage you to consider. Let's Get Started! Find a corner of your home that can be dedicated to prayer. I recommend a room or place where you usually don't do work and there aren't any electronics. These Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary images were purchased off Amazon, they are canvas and turned out to be great quality. I took them both to Hobby Lobby while they were having a 50% off sale to have them nicely framed. We needed these for the home enthronement, the Sacred Heart of Jesus image has to be in a prominent place of the home. This is our relic of St. Padre Pio! The shadowbox is working for me now until we can save up for a beautiful reliquary. The brass double candlestick holder behind the shadow box was found at a Church rummage sale and has gorgeous floral detail on it. You can find a lot of antique, vintage items at your local thrift shop, I love finding little treasures on the cheap. The lanterns are special because they were used at our wedding. I bought them on Facebook Market but I made the floral toppers myself. They are a lovely reminder of that joyful day and I firmly believe all married couples should have reminders from their wedding in the home. I think it acts as a powerful reiteration of the vocation that we have committed to. Do you have something boxed up from your wedding that you can add to your home altar? Get creative! The tall, slender, bronze candle sticks came from Goodwill, I got a set of three for next to nothing. The small image of St. Therese of Lisieux was a gift to me. She was a powerful intercessor in my discernment process and remains a dear Heavenly friend. The lace runner was purchased off of Amazon and adds a nice touch to give it that altar look. I bought this image of St. Dominic already framed from a local Catholic gift shop and the home incense kit came from an online Catholic Supply company. The power of scent can help to put me in a prayerful state of mind, especially when I smell those delightful fragrances of the Church in my home. It also brings a smile to my face to open the windows, light the incense, and blare Gregorian Chant... the neighbors love me. This Life of Christ book is a gem, it’s actually signed by Ven. Fulton Sheen and stands in our prayer table as a reminder of his saintly life and well, the life of Christ! The much needed Rosary holder is a part of most prayer tables. I have also seen a lot of people using rosary hangers which you can make yourself with a board and hooks or purchase from a Catholic vendor. Either way, you will certainly need a place to keep your sacramentals. Saint statues can also be added, especially those saints that we frequently ask the intercession of or want to be reminded of their example. I’m in the process of getting a couple more because I find that a beautiful statue can help elevate my soul closer to God through art and craftsmanship. Altar cross can be purchased online, Amazon or Church supply store, for a fairly reasonable price depending on size and detail but this is a simple one that I keep on a floating shelf. The shelf came from At Home but you can also find them at TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Ikea, or Home Depot. The Mary statue was given to me and she’s placed below the crucifix because as St. John Paul II often talked about, we can get to Jesus through Mary. During many feast days we will offer her flowers and I frequently ask her to intercede for me and draw me nearer to her Son. She is my daily reminder to true and authentic femininity so I couldn’t imagine a prayer table without her. White pillar candles came from the dollar store! The furniture that is acting as the prayer table itself is an old dresser that came from my family. It’s a great piece and also acts as a place for extra storage. You can find something like this for very cheap on Facebook market, local Goodwill, or resale shop. If you don’t like the color of the dresser or table you find but the price is right you can always paint it or put a nice table cloth over it. I think that this would be a great project for you and your family while there is some time off. It is certainly something that will provide more opportunities for spiritual exercises in your home and hopefully help to draw your family closer to the Lord to give you strength and hope. “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.” (Psalm 73:28) Stick around for more liturgical living where you can find resources, picture by picture feast day recipes, printable prayer companions for your domestic church, and more of my Catholic adventures! Did you create a Home Altar after reading this? I'd love to see it, share it in the comments section or send it to me on Facebook @HisGirlSunday.

Our Family Values and Goals When my husband and I got engaged we sat down several times to talk about what we thought would be most important to have in our marriage. We wanted to have a common goals and values that would give our marriage purpose and really learn about what the other envisioned for our future family. These hopeful conversations not only gave us something to look forward to in marriage, but something to begin developing during engagement. These are the things that we found to be most important, apart from our own love and affections for one another, and in no particular order... The Sacraments Tradition Prayer Community In short, we valued celebrating our faith and being surrounded by people we love and care about. The topic of traditions came up a lot, there's a quality of comfort and connectedness that comes with them that we both value. When you celebrate something it's because see and affirm the good in the world or in your life as a gift from God. You immortalize that good by repeating the festivity, or tradition, because it is still meaningful and relevant! Josef Pieper states that, "a festival becomes true festivity only when it affirms the goodness of his existence by offering the response of joy." (In Tune with the World, 29). For us, our new life together as a family, and all that may come our way, is a gift from God. Our faith is a gift from God. Our existence is a gift from God. Our ordinary life is a gift from God. All of that is worth celebrating, and what a boring life to only work day by day, without any joy. Secular Calendar Meet Liturgical Calendar! It's no wonder we are itching for entertainment and excitement! The work week is so draining by the time we actually get home we use that little time to make dinner, accomplish the few tasks we may have to do, and muster up enough energy to crash on the couch and watch a couple episodes of our favorite show. I also know that we are not alone in that but as a true questioner I've asked myself many times, why am I allowing this secular routine to be imposed upon me? Other than the fact that we do like to get paid and eat, it echoed in my heart that that is not living. I'm going to take a popular phrase from Blessed Fulton Sheen and say that "life is worth living", and not just on the weekends! We found that by reprioritizing the secular calendar with the liturgical calendar our lives became more celebratory. We look forward to coming home from work to celebrate a feast day, to make a special dessert, or do some fun activity/ Catholic date night. Having those days peppered into our routine brought us into a closer relationship with each other, our family, friends, and ultimately with God. In short, it helped us to live out our family values! Catholic Liturgical Calendar One Doesn't Simply Outgrow Liturgical Living I started by doing what anyone else would do, I sat down and Googled it. I'm just going to be up front here, there was not a lot to work with and here is why. Liturgical living as a Catholic or even Christian cultural practice has been completely thrown to the wayside by modernism and most liturgical living resources have been tailored to younger school aged children. Even as a high school Theology teacher I sought out resources for teens to adapt and integrate into my classroom and couldn't find much. I've said this before and I'm going to reiterate my belief that liturgical living is for everyone, because the rich tradition of the Catholic faith is for everyone, even for us as adults. We don't just outgrow celebrating and living our faith, that is exactly what the Gospel message proclaims for us to do. I don't care if you are single, engaged, newlyweds, married with young children, married with grown children, or empty nesters, your life and relationships will be enriched by doing this. By rekindling this we just might be able to get our Catholic culture back but it first begins at home! Corpus Christi Procession Practical Tips & Tricks I started by thinking about what we each enjoy doing, as people, and as a couple. Then I reached into the wealth of family traditions that we have as well as cultural traditions. I took all of those ideas and organized them into three simple categories for celebrating a feast day. Food/Drinks Prayer Activities- Date nights, friend gatherings, games, movies, etc. Organizing makes my heart sing so I really enjoyed the next part! I took to making a calendar by sitting down and writing all of the feast days for that month that we wanted to celebrate. We looked at saints that meant a lot to us, solemnities, holy days of obligation, and other major feasts. Once I put those in the planner I then went back to look at traditions and asked myself these questions. First, does my family already have a tradition for this feast day that we want to continue? If not, what is the culture of this saint? Are there any specific traditions that the region used to do or still does? How can I recreate that at home? Is there a recipe, prayer, beverage, or activity that we could do? Remember, for activities/date nights lean on what you both already enjoy doing. If you like watching movies together, see if there is one about the saint. If you both enjoy cooking together, find a recipe true to the culture or region of that feast day. If you like hosting, have friends over and play a game, make a drink, or have pot luck in honor of that saint. Here are a few examples of things we do to get you started. St. Benedict of Nursia- July 11- We do a home brew, I gave my husband a kit many years ago and we both love craft beer. (Activity & Drinks) Sts. Aquila & Priscilla- July 8- For our family name day we started Aquilamas, a day where we have family and friends gather around to pray and eat. Celebrate your name days! (Activity & Prayer) Ember Days- Dates Vary- Fasting and abstinence as a couple in thanksgiving for the harvests. (Prayer) Solemnity of the Ascension- May 24- I made homemade whip cream and strawberry shortcake for our family picnic. (Food) Start imagining what this will look like for your own family, start by making small efforts. The sacraments are the first place to start, attending weekly mass (in person or virtually for now), and getting a routine for going to confession. Then with those graces find ways to fill your home with the joys of the sacraments.

Liturgical living during Quarantine has been absolutely delightful, I'm home for the summer and that can make it a lot easier to organize things. It feels like I have all the time in the world to sit down and meal plan, order groceries, invite friends over, and intentionally pray! This may be a really good time for you to begin too while life is a little slower. Despite my tendency to want to lounge for hours on end and watch my program, I have actually been able to motivate myself to organize all the liturgical living that we do without all the extra hustle and bustle. Starting off we had a lot of traditions to work with which was great, the Aquila family had already established so much and we were tremendously grateful to have that gift. I also had ideas of what I wanted our family to be in the routine of doing and so we were very committed to establishing two things for ourselves; tradition and prayer. However, I know that this can also be a very overwhelming endeavor especially if you are trying to get started because there is just so much information out there. Create Long Lasting Traditions Many associate liturgical living with catechetical crafts or activities to do on a saint's feast day, even I have resource lists filled with them. These adorable, catchy, and fun ideas are perfect for littles and young children learning about our faith, but I also like to remind people of something that I believe is absolutely key! Traditions are based on things that we value or believe to be supremely good so we hope to repeat them and pass it down for generations. They embrace the entire family or community in that shared value and elevate all of our hearts to God. These are things that your small children play a part in, your teenagers look forward to, and your adult children come back home for. To create something that withstands the test of time, think about what will bring joy and togetherness for your family and friends, then add in the cute and fun stuff. I Bet Your're Doing it Already! You're probably already living liturgically if you put up a Christmas tree, dye Easter eggs, or send a Valentine's day cards! See, I knew it! All we have to do now is create a deeper awareness of festivity and prayer (just like with Christmas and Easter) throughout our daily life. When I made this shift in mentality I couldn't help but ask myself, why am I only living the joy of these feast days three times a year? The Church wants us to experience the brilliance of our faith all the time! Life can become so routine, ordinary, and boring without bringing it to life with our love for God and holy people. "...feasts reach them all. The Church's teaching affects the mind primarily; her feasts affect both mind and heart and have a salutary effect upon man's whole nature." -Pope Piux XI Where Do I Start? To organize ALL THE THINGS I started by looking at a few foundational pieces that I think would be good to consider when trying to take the first steps. You can make this your own and personalize it to fit your family! Remember, this is not a list of things to do entirely, but a place to get your thoughts going. Things to Consider 1. Your Sacramental Life/ Mass and Confession- All liturgical living is an extension of the graces we receive from the sacraments. Start by considering your own mass and confession attendance! *During quarantine time, if you don't feel comfortable going to mass pray the liturgy of the hours at home and make a spiritual communion.* 2. Holy Days of Obligation- This is an easy place to start, the days that are so important to our faith that the Church says we must attend and be together to celebrate so mark your calendar for maybe an extra day of mass in the week. For a list of these dates check out this link from the USCCB. http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/canon-law/complementary-norms/canon-1246.cfm 3. Special Birthdays or Name Days- See what feast day is celebrated on birthdays or try to connect a saint name with the members of your family. There isn't a St. Steffani *yet ;) but there is a St. Stephen which is the male derivative of my name so we celebrate that. Since our last name is the name of a saint, Aquila, we decided to celebrate Aquilamas every year with family and friends. 4. Previously Established Family Traditions- If you grew up with a family that had even one or two traditions that you enjoyed, keep that and bring it into your own family life. I didn't grow up in a Catholic household but we had a few traditions that I loved so I have kept those and "baptized" them by adding in more Catholic elements. 5. Your Family's Culture- Many cultures have a wealth of Catholic history and tradition that I absolutely love tapping into. See what the locals do on a specific feast day that is dear to you. 6. Devotions- If you have a love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Rosary, or the Divine Mercy, just to name a few, begin celebrating feast days dedicated to those things or their visionaries. 7. Put Up a Calendar- I sit down every month and plan for the month to come. I open the USCCB calendar and I write every feast day that we want to celebrate in my planner, otherwise it is not going to happen! Then, if we don't already have a tradition for that day, I go online and I browse traditions that I think fit my family and we give them a try. If we like it then we keep it for the next year and if we didn't then we try something new. I kept a journal going of all the things we did so that I could remember for the following year. http://www.usccb.org/about/divine-worship/liturgical-calendar/upload/2020cal.pdf 8. Create a Home Altar- Designate a space in your home for prayer, you can check out my other blog post for details! https://www.hisgirlsunday.com/post/mass-cancelled-you-need-a-home-altar 9. Sacrament Anniversaries- Celebrate a Baptism anniversary by relighting the Baptismal Candle, or a First Communion anniversary by baking bread together, or a Confirmation anniversary by using the gifts of the Holy Spirit to share your faith! These are just some ideas but you get the point. Sacramental anniversaries help us to remember and more deeply devote ourselves to the graces we received on that day. 10. Meatless Fridays- Yes, it's still a thing! It actually still remains a universal law in the Latin Church and despite misconception, it was never abolished. Try to begin meatless Fridays with your family by offering up this small luxury as a penitential act. In order to more fully enjoy the feast we must also accept the fast. My Go To Ideas 1. Food- Something to eat. 2. Prayer- Something to thank God for. 3. Activity- Something for everyone to do together. Things to Remember You can start this anytime you want, it doesn't have to be at any certain time and you can add things in little by little. For a while we started small just with the traditions that were mostly already established from our own parents. Then the next year we added a few more and we also took some away which is perfectly fine! We realized that there were some things that we wanted to keep going forward with and things that we just knew wouldn't really last. In order for a tradition to be such it has to be seen as valuable and you're not a bad Catholic if you don't celebrate everything. If any of it has to be done it would be mass, confession, and holy days of obligation. The point of liturgical living is not to stress you out or create a longer to do list, but to bring a sense of festivity into your home life. I think we all need this, life can become so overwhelming, how sad if we never find a time or place to come alive. Our faith calls us to live our faith joyfully, so go for it! If you need ideas, resources, or updates then please stick around! You can find lots of help right here or on my Facebook @HisGirlSunday. See You in the Eucharist!

The Second Greatest Feast This Sunday the Church begins the second GREATEST feast of the liturgical year, Pentecost! It ranks just below Easter of course because what's Pentecost without the Resurrection? That's right! I used to think that Christmas would have been the second but I stand corrected. The name of this high feast comes from the Greek word for "fiftieth" and rightly so because we celebrate it fifty days after Easter Sunday. Some of you may refer to it as Whitsunday which comes from "White Sunday" and refers to the vigil of Pentecost when those coming into the Church would be baptized in white garments. Either way we are giving praise to God for sending the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the disciples just as He promised. My Theological Thoughts Jesus has ascended to Heaven and now the apostles are in the upper room seeking to learn how to say yes to God's will from Mary. Who better to learn this from than Jesus' mother, she knows her Son better than anyone and expressed her fiat with her whole life. Something else that I found interesting is that this great theophany happens in the midst of their humble prayers. A lesson that can be truly internalized when I think about remaining close to Our Lady in her virtue and example as well as seeking intimacy with God in my prayer life. God does not abandon us, that's what Pentecost proclaims to us following his ascension, and He provides what we need to have a real relationship with Him and evangelize. Of course we know there is the visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire, but there is also an internal, unseen reality which is the conversion and fervor of the disciples which had not been there before. They converted three thousand people that day, the same men that had not long before that denied Jesus. How can there be such a drastic change? The Holy Spirit. "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4) Since this is an octave, which means that the Church celebrates Pentecost for 8 days, I want to equip you with prayers and activities to do with the whole family. Some of these will just be for a more engaging at home catechetical experience and others may begin meaningful traditions to keep for years to come. Pray as a Family Throughout the Octave The core of liturgical living must be prayer, taking what we experience in the Divine Liturgy as well as the sacraments and extending that grace and lived encounter to our homes. The Pentecost Sequence, "Veni, Sancte Spiritus" is something that can be prayed every day, perhaps in the morning before everyone begins their day. Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home Shed a ray of light divine! Come, Father of the poor! Come, source of all our store! Come, within our bosoms shine. You, of comforters the best; You, the soul’s most welcome guest; Sweet refreshment here below; In our labour, rest most sweet; Grateful coolness in the heat; Solace in the midst of woe. O most blessed Light divine, Shine within these hearts of yours, And our inmost being fill! Where you are not, we have naught, Nothing good in deed or thought, Nothing free from taint of ill. Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour your dew; Wash the stains of guilt away: Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray. On the faithful, who adore And confess you, evermore In your sevenfold gift descend; Give them virtue’s sure reward; Give them your salvation, Lord; Give them joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia. "Come, Holy Spirit Prayer" Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of thy love. V. Send forth thy spirit and they shall be created. R. And thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Let us pray.  O God, who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in his consolation.  Through Christ our Lord. Amen. "Prayer to the Holy Spirit" by St. Augustine Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. OR! Follow this link to pray the Liturgy of the Hours together. Click to download the Evening Prayer printable PDF. https://www.catholicyyc.ca/uploads/6/5/5/7/65570685/0531_eve_sun_pentecost.pdf Pentecost Activities for All Ages Younger Kids 1. Make tongues of fire hats for the kids to wear. https://www.catholicicing.com/easy-pentecost-craft-for-kids/ 2. Learn how to make an origami dove and hang them up as decoration. https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/origami-peace-dove-instructions-2540776 3. Talk about spiritual gifts and vocations with your children. This link from the USCCB has full lesson plans for grades K-8! http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/educators-and-youth-leaders/lesson-plans/lesson-plans-for-national-vocation-awareness-week-grades-k-8.cfm 4. Celebrate diversity and the many tongues the disciples experienced when evangelizing that day. Learn how to say I love you in different languages. Older Kids 1. Give witness to your faith, share something about it on social media. 2. Do a charitable work today, encourage them to spend time doing a service project for a community they feel passionate about. This can be a great opportunity to develop spiritual insights and work can be a center for prayer. 3. For those confirmed, this is a commemoration of our own personal "Pentecost". Consider having your teen lead the family in prayer, learn something more about the saint they chose, touch base with their sponsor, or recall the story of your own confirmation with your children. 4. Discuss the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the gifts they feel they have, and/or discernment of vocations. This is a great article about how a Parish sparked interest in the priesthood and religious life for their teens. https://catholicexchange.com/parish-gets-teens-excited-about-vocations For the Entire Family 1. Red is the liturgical color for this season so give your dining room table or home decor a festive touch. Have the family decorate with streamers, construction paper/ tissue paper flames, or cut out doves to hang by the windows or above the table. 2. Light seven candles for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. 3. Put red roses out on the home altar to remind you of the Pentecost flame. 4. Consider having a priest or religious over for dinner, this is a great way of celebrating with other members of the Church community and raising awareness of vocations in your home. You could also do a potluck dinner with friends from varying cultures! I think I'll have to try that one next year, I love to host friends. 5. Everyone wear red today, this is an easy one! 6. Make red velvet cake... MMmmmmMMMhhhmmmmMM! This is one of my favorite cooking blogs, check it out. https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/red-velvet-layer-cake-with-cream-cheese-frosting/ 7. Bonfire in the backyard anyone?! I need a backyard... This would be SO FUN for the family, invite some friends over, and roast some marshmallows! Thanks for stopping by again, I'm not sure which of these we will be doing yet but you can stay in touch and find out by following my @HisGirlSunday Facebook page. Praying for you this Pentecost!

When I was a girl some of my fondest memories involved being together as a family or with neighbors to celebrate Christmas, Easter, or the summer heat with a big bucket of crawfish & a game on in the background. There was something about the tradition, the routine, and the way my dad poured out his heart into hosting that brought me a sense of belonging and joy. I now see that it's no wonder I enjoy event planning and hosting, I love to see other people feel happy and taken care of. Sometimes I can vividly recall, even in my senses, the days my dad would get up on the house to hang our Christmas lights or the way my mom would so very intentionally and beautifully decorate our home for the holidays. We had a gorgeous cherry wood china cabinet that so regally displayed my grandmother's ruby red china set. In the bottom drawers of that cabinet we stored our nice holiday table settings and candles that we used for special occasions, and I can truly still smell the aroma from those candles when I think about opening its drawers. I also really enjoyed the family routine of landscaping, there was never a shirt that went without my dad cutting off the sleeves, the smell of fresh cut grass, the hot Texas air on my face, and the hopefulness of getting to ride on the lawn mower. Sometimes things in life will trigger these memories and I will catch a whiff of the china cabinet drawer, feel the softness of a shirt that reminds me of the cut off sleeves, or pause in the hot still air and shed a tear. As I got older and life began to change, as it realistically does, those traditions inevitably began to evolve until one day they seemed to almost entirely disappear. It was then that I realized we had traditions and routines in our family that were good, they brought happiness, but they weren't rooted in valuing tradition nor were they centered on Christ. I was not raised in a Catholic household, so it only naturally follows that our traditions were based on other things, like family routine, major holidays, & things we enjoyed together. I reached an awareness out of my personal love for Christ and the Church that maybe our traditions were being lost because they weren't built on the right foundation, the Sacraments. I tried to institute weekly family dinner, monthly game nights, prayer before meals, but it didn't stick. I realized that I was barely out of my teen years and I was attempting to establish something within a family that was already set in its ways. It's very hard to carry out traditions alone but as the years went by I learned, studied theology, researched varying traditions, and created little ones for myself. Along the way I met a lot of great Catholic friends and a wonderful Catholic guy, all of whom came from families that had their own traditions, most of them centered around the faith. I was invited in on these things sometimes with friends but as my boyfriend and I got more serious I became a part of many of their traditions. I remember facing a real spiritual obstacle at this point, I was finally a part of the Catholic traditions that I had been longing for so you would think I'd be over the moon, but really my heart was irritated. I was so, so internally mad because I felt out of place, these aren't my traditions, this isn't my family, this wasn't the way that I wanted it. I pushed back from God and the great gift of the village that He was providing to me. This was actually an answered prayer, all these people and their hospitality were drops of grace on a wound. I prayed often and stubbornly, like a petulant child, for God to help me accept what would become a new life of tradition for me. This was, after all, what I wanted for my own life and my own future family, and you know what God did? He answered yet another prayer! A handful of years went by with getting used to celebrating and learning new traditions with my boyfriend's family which we eventually took into our engagement, and marriage. I was gifted with a husband, a family of my own to celebrate the life of the Church with. We have had many conversations about which traditions we wanted to continue and new ones that spoke to our faith as a married couple. While I didn't know the term "liturgical living" this is essentially what we were doing and had been doing for years. We were celebrating feast days, solemnities, saints, and the life of Christ as a community and we thrived off of that. They have become an extension of living out the sacraments, an opportunity for fun in the monotony of daily life, and a constant reminder for spiritual growth. This has been one of the highlights of our first year of marriage which people don't often truthfully tell you comes with many challenges! I found more joy than I can express in carrying out cultural and familial traditions with my husband. Tradition, liturgical living, is for everyone and for the good of your faith & family. Peace & Good, Steffani

Thanksgiving is next week and we are about to enter into a season filled with family, friends, and traditions. While it may not be specifically Catholic to the culture, it is inherently Catholic in meaning. Thanksgiving in Greek is Eucharistia, Eucharist, the most precious gift of the Body and Blood of Christ which is the Thanksgiving sacrifice and meal. This means that the Mass is the greatest prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving that we can offer to God, our truest and most fitting response to His great sacrifice. Gratitude is therefore a core, and in my opinion undervalued virtue, of our faith and is at the center of our journey to sainthood. Look to Eucharistic Prayer II, “It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Father most holy, through your beloved son, Jesus Christ, your word through whom you made all things, whom you sent as our Savior and Redeemer, incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin. Fulfilling your will and gaining for you a holy people, he stretched out his hands as he endured his Passion, so as to break the bonds of death and manifest the resurrection.” It is our response to God for the many natural or material blessings that he has granted us but more than that it is our expression of thankfulness for the greatest gift, which is our salvation. In a real way I have tried to consider the question, how do I thank someone for dying for me? What could I possibly do that would be a sincere and proportional response to that? The saints have been my help in answering that question, and the response is to live a life loving and honoring in God in all that I do. Letting my actions be a true and authentic expression of my love for Him even in the midst of my fallen nature and through all of my daily experiences. On Thanksgiving, we do this together as a community with a Eucharistic focus, to be a people of gratitude for all that we have and really recognizing all that we may be taking for granted. Last Thanksgiving, I was immersed in getting married, but I am looking forward to combining some of our shared traditions! Here are a few ways that you can build your Catholic Thanksgiving Traditions. 1. The best way to make your Thanksgiving centered on Christ, the Eucharist, and community is to go to mass as a family! 2. My family was always very good about saying a prayer of thanksgiving together as a whole group, we did this in conjunction with blessing our food. 3. Stay at the table together, my husband’s family is so great at this, they take their time to enjoy each other! Don’t rush through the meal, talk, eat, play games at the table and take advantage of the time you have. 4. Go around the table and express words or stories of gratitude. How many "jokes" do we hear about the family feuds of the holiday season? Be bold, create an environment where we can share our blessings with each other and let your loved ones hear how you appreciate them, this can be a great way to nurture those relationships. Indulge in some quotes on gratitude! 1. "When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." -G.K. Chesterton 2. "In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks." -St. Teresa of Avila 3. "To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything." -Thomas Merton 4. "Jesus does not demand great action from us but simply surrender and gratitude." -St. Therese of Lisieux 5. "The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems with joy." St. Teresa of Calcutta