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Throughout July we celebrate the monthly dedication to the Precious Blood of Jesus. As a way to bring this topic into our food and drink recipes I thought I'd try my hand at a blood orange beverage. I'm so glad I did because this cold, fresh, and summery drink was just what I needed on a hot July summer day. As we sipped our drinks we read about the Precious Blood of Jesus and I came across this profound quote that I have to share with you. "The Precious Blood which we worship is the Blood which the Savior shed for us on Calvary and reassumed at His glorious Resurrection; it is the Blood which courses through the veins of His risen, glorified, living body at the right hand of God the Father in heaven; it is the Blood made present on our altars by the words of Consecration; it is the Blood which merited sanctifying grace for us and through it washes and beautifies our soul and inaugurates the beginning of eternal life in it." Make this recipe with me so you can sip and read more too! Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 5 minutes Servings: 2 drinks Ingredients 1. 6 oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice 2. 2 oz lime juice 3. 3 oz tequila 4. 2 oz orange liqueur 5. 2 tsps sugar Combine all your ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake it for 30 seconds and pour your margarita into a glass lined with salt and filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon, lime, or blood orange wedge. Cheers! Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday. For more resources on building Catholic tradition, check out the blog section of my website or follow me on Facebook or Instagram to see what Catholic things I am doing to make our day to day life more joyful.

In honor of the Irish folklore and tradition which surrounds the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, we make an annual blackberry dessert. Last year I made cobbler which you can find here, and if you'd like a full guide to celebrating this feast day you can find that here. If you are here for the first time or have never heard the story, it goes like this. It is said that when Satan was kicked out of Heaven that he landed in a blackberry patch! He returns every year to curse and spit on the fruit that he landed on, making them sour so they cannot be picked after the feast of Michaelmas. This custom intriguingly springs forth from the natural cycles because blackberries are typically in season from May to September. To the delight of my wallet, blackberries were also on sale because of this reason, so we stocked up for the upcoming feast day. Blackberry turnovers are on the menu this year and I chose them because it's inevitable that as we transition into Fall I crave pies. A turnover is technically made with a puff pastry but to make my feast day baking simpler I use store bought pie crust. Often when turnovers are made with pie crust they are then called "hand pies." My husband thinks they resemble one of his favorite Italian foods so in my house they are jokingly referred to as "fruit calzones." This is all I can think of... Tie up your apron and let's get started! Prep Time: 20 minutes Bake Time: 17 minutes Yields: 10 servings Ingredients 2 and 1/2 cups fresh blackberries 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 lemon zested 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon cornstarch 2 store bought pie crusts 1 egg, whisked, for egg wash Granulated sugar, for topping Begin by preheating the oven to 400 degrees and take the pie crust out of the wrapper to sit on the counter until room temperature. While the oven is heating, place 2 1/2 cups blackberries, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 lemon fully zested, and 1 tbsp & 1 tsp cornstarch. To release a little bit of the blackberry juice into the mixture, I lightly pressed on them with a fork. Don't mash them! Mix these ingredients together and set them aside for 10 minutes while you prepare the pie crust. Using a 4-5 inch bowl, cut out small circles in both pie crusts. You can use the scraps from both pie crusts to make a few more cut outs. Spoon your blackberry mixture into the center of the small pie crust circles. Don't over do it or the blackberry juice will pour out making it hard to seal the edges. Fold the crust in half and use your hands to press the edges together. Then use a fork to crimp the seal, and a knife to cut two small slits in the top so the steam can escape. Place them on your lined baking sheet so that it looks like this! Use your egg wash to brush the tops of each hand pie. If you want to add a splash of water into your egg wash you can do that too before brushing on. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown. Serve as is or with a scoop of ice cream and pray the St. Michael the Archangel prayer with me. Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Enjoying your blackberry turnover/ hand pie/ fruit calzone? Share it with me on social media or in the comments so that I can see it. FB: @hisgirlsunday IG: @steffani_hisgirlsunday

On September 29th we celebrate St. Michael and the archangels. This is a very honored feast given the amount of devotedness that surrounds St. Michael, but is also a day that follows the Fall Ember Days, and ushers in the Fall season. For those that are unfamiliar with the Ember Days you can see my most recent post below to learn more about them. I've noticed a funny little difference in how Catholics pronounce the name of this feast day. Many Northern Catholics say (Mickle-mas) and a lot of Southern Catholics say (Mai-kle-mas). How do you say it? You can tell me in the comments! What's in this guide? A Brief About What to Eat How to Decorate Ways to Pray St. Michael's Lent Who is he? St. Michael is the archangel who fought against Lucifer, the fallen angel, and cast him out of Heaven. Did you know that today was a holy day of obligation until the 18th century? A few years ago I read Lamb’s Supper by Scott Hahn with my honors Theology students. In the book he touches on angels and the spiritual warfare that goes on with little to no awareness on our part. We were all intrigued by this point, that there is a battle for our souls which the angels of God are fighting for us and with us. Many of my students explained that they had just simply, never thought about it before. This is a great day to begin contemplating that reality on our own and with our families, and to give thanks for the many supernatural things they do on our behalf. What to eat? 1. Blackberry Desserts Have you heard of this traditional Irish folk tale about St. Michael and Lucifer? It is said that when Satan was kicked out of Heaven that he landed in a blackberry patch and he returns every year to curse and spit on the fruit that he landed on making them sour so they cannot be picked after the feast of Michaelmas. This story intertwines beautifully with the agrarian cycle given that blackberries are only in season from May to September. Every year around this time when I plan for our annual blackberry dessert tradition they are on sale at our local grocery store. Last year I made Blackberry Cobbler which you can find here. And this year I'll be making blackberry turnovers, which my husband calls fruit calzones. 😂 Nothing is sacred... 2. Carrots Scottish custom explains how they would dig a triangular hole in the ground which represented St. Michael's shield so that they could better access the root of the carrots while harvesting them. Here are some carrot recipes that I recommend. Honey Glazed Carrots Roasted Carrots with Garlic Breadcrumbs Whiskey Glazed Carrots 3. Goose He who eats goose on Michaelmas day; Shan’t money lack or debts pay. The tradition of eating goose on Michaelmas comes from certain areas within the United Kingdom, in fact some still refer to the feast of St. Michael as "Goose Day." A couple of legends point to the origins of this story but without entire certainty as to which was true. The first story states that when Queen Elizabeth I heard of the defeat of the Armada she was at dinner having goose. She saw goose as a token of good luck and promised to have it on Michaelmas every year. This custom spread and more people throughout the UK began doing it too. You can see that reflected in the rhyme above that those who eat goose will have good fortune. The other story explains that Michaelmas was around the time that the farming debts were due and that those who were trying to persuade their landlord to leniency would have sought to convince them with geese. You can see how this also relates to the rhyme. Either way, goose is a traditional dinner to have but if that is too expensive or difficult to find you could always adapt by doing turkey or roasting a whole chicken. How to decorate! The Aster flower, also known as the Michaelmas Daisy, is in bloom. The Michaelmas Daises, among the dede weeds, Bloom for St Michael’s valorous deeds. And seems the last of flowers that stood, Till the feast of S. Simon and St Jude. As the seasons change and the Spring and Summertime flowers begin to die, the little pointed and colorful astor flower named after St. Michael blooms. It gets its name in honor of the angel who fought against evil because this small yet brilliant flower fights against the impending gloomy, cold, and dark days of winter. It's in bloom all autumn and is fully of symbolism. It is difficult for me to find Aster flowers where I am so I usually just go grab a happy bouquet of daisies to put on the dinner table. What to pray! There are a wealth of St. Michael prayers out there and like everyone else I have my go-tos. To help you narrow in and avoid spending time scouring the internet for the perfect prayer, I'll share my three favorites. 1. The ever-so classic, St. Michael Prayer Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. 2. The St. Michael Chaplet Click here to see the full text and print. 3. St. Michael Novena “We honor you as a powerful protector of the Church and guardian of our souls. Inspire us with your humility, courage and strength that we may reject sin and perfect our love for our Heavenly Father. In your strength and humility, slay the evil and pride in our hearts so that nothing will keep us from God. St. Michael the Archangel, pray that we may be blessed by God with the zeal to live our lives in accordance with Christ’s teachings. St. Michael the Archangel, you are the prince of angels but in your humility, you recognized that God is God and you are but His servant. Unlike Satan, you were not overcome with pride but were steadfast in humility. Pray that we will have this same humility. It is in the spirit of that humility that we ask for your intercession for our petitions… (state your petitions) Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen." St. Michael's Lent In short, St. Michael's Lent is the period of prayer and fasting in which St. Francis of Assisi received stigmata. It became tradition in the history of the Franciscans to imitate St. Francis in his prayer and fasting but that has sense fallen out of practice. Thanks to the fervor of the laity this has been on the rise in homes across the US and is regaining popularity. You can learn all the details in my older post here. . . . . I pray that you were able to gather helpful ideas for bringing the cultural richness of this feast day into your home. Tell me how you pronounce this day and what you will be doing to celebrate in the comments.

Want to end the liturgical living guess work? Browse these five, straight-forward, authentic ways to get started from the heart of my home to yours. You may have seen this on social media, but the blog post has practical examples and guiding questions for you to consider that the social posts didn't! 😊 Tell me in the comments which of these ideas you practice in your home. Concrete Examples: My husband is Italian American, so every Christmas Eve we partake in the delicious and overwhelmingly wonderful feast of seven fishes. Growing up in East Texas so close to Louisiana, we always had a vibrant Shrove Tuesday experience complete with gumbo, parades, and the last bite of king cake for the season. Guiding Question: What culture or heritage do you come from? What about your spouse? Is there something from your ancestry that has been passed down to you? Are you able to look back into your family and find a meaningful tradition? Look up ways that your culture celebrated Catholicism and begin a new tradition! Concrete Examples: Mass is a priority for us every single Sunday! There are times where it is more challenging or we are exhausted, but we never skip out on Mass because we both fully believe that our liturgical life is nothing without this. If you haven't made Mass a priority, start by doing this! We accomplish daily prayer as a family through the simple act of prompting the other to pray before bed time. If I haven't asked my husband then he will ask me and vice versa. We have learned to hold each other accountable to praying together as a family once a day and also during meals that we share together. Guiding Question: About Mass Is there a Mass time that works best for you and your family? Do you sometimes let other things get in the way of going to church on Sunday? Do you have a regular life of confession so that you can receive the Eucharist in a state of grace? About Family Prayer Do you make time for personal prayer, prayer time with your significant other, and prayer time with your entire family? Have your children ever seen you and your spouse pray together? Is there a certain way that you prefer to pray? Are you holding realistic or unrealistic expectations when it comes to praying with children? Concrete Examples: 1. We usually celebrate at least one saint feast day a month and the usual way we do that is with dinner or baking a tasty treat. On these special days, I don't cook alone, my husband joins me in the kitchen and we cook together. Often talking about the saint we have chosen to honor and where the meal comes from. On the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, my husband and I make a clementine cake together because she likens the sweetness of Christ to a clementine. I then make us cups of tea and we enjoy our refreshing dessert in honor of my confirmation saint. 2. Sunday dinner is a tradition that my mother and father-in-law began and we are deeply indebted to them for this family custom. It doesn't matter what is going on, Sunday dinner will happen! Many of my brothers and sisters-in-law will be in the kitchen cooking alongside my mother-in-law and it is a joyful time filled with great conversation and laughter. There's usually always a guest, often times priests, who will come to participate in our large family and glad offering. Then we all sit down to eat together and relax there for hours while enjoying "family dinner." Guiding Questions: About Cooking Meals Have you tried cooking or baking for a feast day? Do you feel the burden of having to do it all yourself or do you invite your family to help you cook? Have you used the Liturgy Kitchen resources to make your planning simpler? About Sunday Dinner Could you begin a simple Sunday dinner tradition in your home? What if you made it an open door policy for your family and friends? When could you reasonably start this tradition and would it be weekly or monthly? Concrete Example: Often times I see others overwhelmed by liturgical living because they are attempting traditions that aren't meaningful to them. Take for example the custom of honoring the Sacred Heart. This devotion is not particularly special to everyone, but it is for my family. We had our home enthroned to the Sacred Heart and so that image is kept in a prominent place in our home. My mother and father-in-law also had their home enthroned which felt that much more special when we did it. Guiding Questions: What special devotions, customs, or practices do you have in your family? If you feel like you don't have any, which ones would you like to start? How can you narrow in on the feasts, seasons, or memories that are most important to you and your family instead of trying to do them all? Concrete Example: Seasonal decorating is a beloved gift that my parents handed down to me. Each time a new season or special day came around the entire house felt and smelled of that time in the year. I can still smell the Fall candles and decor that my mom kept in our hutch. I have always held that dear to my heart and now my home is decorated for each season. Guiding Question: What are authentic ways that you can bring a season or a feast day to life? What do you and your family enjoy doing and how can that be applied to the liturgical year? (Take my seasonal decorating as an example.) Have you asked yourself if your liturgical life is offering God praise or is it becoming a to do list? These are the things going on in my home throughout the year, but I would love to know what you do. I like to think of the saints in this instance, each one of them is so different yet they each gave God praise in their own way. Just like the saints we too extend love and offerings to Him in a way that makes sense to each one of us. If some of these tips are helpful, I encourage you to use them, but if it doesn't fit then try something else. Tell me all about it in the comments!

This blog post was written in collaboration with my followers, and together we have compiled the most supreme booklist that every Catholic household should own. You will certainly want to bookmark this post for later as you stock your Amazon carts and peruse your local book shops. From liturgy, to saints, to spirituality, this list has all of the essentials. If we missed one, I warmly welcome you to leave a comment so that other viewers can see your recommendations too. No more dilly-dallying, let's get to the books. Keep in mind this would be in addition to the two obvious must-haves, the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Always keep the holy book in your hands, that it may nourish your soul by devout reading. -St. Jerome The Imitation of Christ by Thomas á Kempis The Raccolta Monastic Diurnal Divine Intimacy Household Blessings The Noonday Devil: Acedia, the Unnamed Evil of Our Times The Liturgical Year by Dom Gueranger, 15 Volumes Lives of the Saints Daily Missals Pope Benedict's Jesus of Nazareth Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen Confessions by St. Augustine The Didache The Summa Theologiae by St. Thomas Aquinas Mere Christianity by CS Lewis Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton Only God knows the good that can come about by reading one good Catholic book. -St. John Bosco Tell me in the comments which of these books you've read and if any of them are your favorite. If you found this post helpful I invite you to subscribe for more. Every day I put out practical tips and tricks for engaging in the liturgical year with lots of theology to help you understand the "why." Pull up a chair, friend!

On September 8th we celebrate the Nativity of Mary, happy birthday, Mother Mary! For this special feast we decided to make homemade cinnamon cupcakes with cinnamon icing! This flavor was chosen because of the special memory of our betrothal, which took place four years ago on September 8th. And our wedding that followed only a short couple of months later had cinnamon wedding cake that went in a flash. Honestly, I almost didn’t get a piece of our own cake, our baker did an amazing job by making it so delicious we decided to recreate this in Mary's honor! Mary has always had her arms wrapped around this marriage, and so this day is filled with many Marian connections for us that we like to honor and celebrate. It is liturgically fixed to this date because it comes 9 months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Help others celebrate too by sharing this useful graphic! The Immaculate Conception is the Catholic dogma which states that Mary was conceived without sin as the child of Sts. Joachim and Anne. This holy couple was infertile but fervently prayed for a child when Anne received the promise that their child would play an integral role in salvation history. “The Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive, and shall bring forth, and your seed shall be spoken of in all the world.” To see why we throw a birthday party like her dad, St. Joachim did, read this post. I also have two Mary's Birthday Treat Toppers for you! It's an easy digital download that comes with two options: St. Anne holding baby Mary, and St. Anne standing by child Mary. Get it here! Let's get to baking! Prep Time: 20 minutes for the cupcakes & homemade icing Bake Time: 15-17 minutes Yields: 12 cupcakes The Ingredients For the Cupcake 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup light-brown sugar, lightly-packed 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup buttermilk 2 large eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract For the Icing 4 tablespoons butter, softened 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 tsp cinnamon 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar For Mary's birthday cupcake I wanted a cute party liner and found these with adorable polka dots. You could also go with the classic Marian blue! You can also go ahead and preheat your oven to 350 degrees, while we are baking your oven can warm up. In a glass bowl combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, and 1 1/4 tsps baking powder. I love using brown sugar in cupcakes, in my experience they always turn out to be more moist. Sprinkle in 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/8 tsp ground cloves. I'm trying to not jump ahead too much with the fall feels, but this combination of spices is just giving all those vibes! 🍁 1/2 tsp sea salt can be added to this dry mix too! Whisk all of that together until it is thoroughly combined and without any clumps. Set that aside and we will begin the wet ingredients in a separate glass bowl! Pour in 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1/2 cup buttermilk. Crack in two eggs, then pour in 1 1/2 tsps vanilla extract. And whisk, whisk, whisk to combine! Make sure you get those eggs that like to run away while you're mixing. Then pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Back to that very helpful arm exercise of whisking! Don't over mix it, but make sure that it is smooth. Using an ice cream scoop, pour the batter into your cupcake liners until about 3/4 full. Bake for 15-17 minutes, I did 17 minutes, and tested it out by inserting a toothpick into the center. If the toothpick comes out clean, it's finished! Then place the cupcakes on a cooling rack and wait until they are completely cooled off before icing, about 35 minutes. While the cupcakes are cooling you can whip up your icing! Begin by combining 4 tablespoons butter and 4 ounces of cream cheese in your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until smooth. When smooth pour in 1 tsp vanilla extract and combine. Once these three ingredients are combined, sprinkle in 1/2 tsp cinnamon and mix again. Change the setting to low and sprinkle in 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar. Mix until the powdered sugar is completely incorporated and is nice and creamy like this! Ice your cupcakes in whatever way you feel comfortable. If that means simply spreading it over the cupcake tops, great! Maybe you are going to use a piping bag with fun tips and let the family have fun decorating, great! Do what you desire, this is not the Great British Baking Contest! 😃 I used a piping bag with a large round tip and slightly hovered the piping bag over the center of the cupcake and kept pressing the icing out until it created a nice round shape then pulled up. This is what is within my grasp to make a nice looking cupcake. If you are more advanced than that, go for it lady! 🙌🏼 Have a wonderful and joyful time celebrating Mary's birthday with family and friends. Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media: Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday. 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

As a short guide and aid to your September 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 September feast day, but will be a very good start. Note: This is not a full list of resources on my blog for feast day celebrations, activities, and recipes in the month of September. Go browse around for saints and feast days that are special to you. Enjoy! 😊 The Month of September is Dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Click the graphic below for a recipe to celebrate this feast day. The Nativity of Mary About The Church has celebrated Mary’s birth since at least the sixth century. A September birth was chosen because the Eastern Church begins its Church year with September. The September 8 date helped determine the date for the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. Scripture does not give an account of Mary’s birth. However, the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James fills in the gap. This work has no historical value, but it does reflect the development of Christian piety. According to this account, Anna and Joachim are infertile but pray for a child. They receive the promise of a child who will advance God’s plan of salvation for the world. Such a story, like many biblical counterparts, stresses the special presence of God in Mary’s life from the beginning. Saint Augustine connects Mary’s birth with Jesus’ saving work. He tells the earth to rejoice and shine forth in the light of her birth. “She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth the nature inherited from our first parents is changed.” The opening prayer at Mass speaks of the birth of Mary’s Son as the dawn of our salvation, and asks for an increase of peace. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links Throw Mary a Birthday Party Nativity of Mary Crafts Things to Do for the Nativity of Mary Nativity of Mary Collect Prayer Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace, that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin may bring deeper peace to those for whom the birth of her Son was the dawning of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Food 1. Cinnamon Cupcakes 2. Mary's Birthday Treat Toppers Our Lady of Sorrows About The Story of Our Lady of Sorrows For a while there were two feasts in honor of the Sorrowful Mother: one going back to the 15th century, the other to the 17th century. For a while both were celebrated by the universal Church: one on the Friday before Palm Sunday, the other in September. The principal biblical references to Mary’s sorrows are in Luke 2:35 and John 19:26-27. The Lucan passage is Simeon’s prediction about a sword piercing Mary’s soul; the Johannine passage relates Jesus’ words from the cross to Mary and to the beloved disciple. Many early Church writers interpret the sword as Mary’s sorrows, especially as she saw Jesus die on the cross. Thus, the two passages are brought together as prediction and fulfillment. Saint Ambrose in particular sees Mary as a sorrowful yet powerful figure at the cross. Mary stood fearlessly at the cross while others fled. Mary looked on her Son’s wounds with pity, but saw in them the salvation of the world. As Jesus hung on the cross, Mary did not fear to be killed, but offered herself to her persecutors. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links Staying Focused on the Meaning of the Feast 10 Ways to Honor Our Lady of Sorrows Things to Do for Our Lady of Sorrows Our Lady of Sorrows Prayer O most holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, the crucifixion, and death of your divine Son, look upon me with eyes of compassion, and awaken in my heart a tender commiseration for those sufferings, as well as a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that being disengaged from all undue affection for the passing joys of this earth, I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem, and that henceforward all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed towards this one most desirable object. Honor, glory, and love to our divine Lord Jesus, and to the holy and immaculate Mother of God. Amen. Food Lemon Bars To remind us of the bitter, sour taste of suffering. St. Padre Pio About Padre Pio was born on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina, southern Italy. He was tutored privately until his entry to the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars at the age of 15. Of feeble health but strong will, with the help of grace, he completed the required studies and was ordained a priest in 1910. On September 20, 1918 the five wounds of our Lord’s passion appeared on his body, making him the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Catholic Church. Countless persons were attracted to his confessional and many more received his saintly counsel and spiritual guidance through correspondence. His whole life was marked by long hours of prayer and continual austerity. His letters to his spiritual directors reveal the ineffable suffering, physical and spiritual, which accompanied him all through his life. They also reveal his deep union with God, his burning love for the Blessed Eucharist and Our Blessed Lady. On January 9, 1940, Padre Pio announced his grandiose plans to develop a Home for the Relief of Suffering (the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza). The Casa opened its doors on May 5, 1956 as a 300 bed facility, built on the small, sincere and spontaneous donations and prayers of his followers. He also developed an international network of prayer groups for the support of the Casa and its ministry that continues to live on and grow today. Padre Pio considered the Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza (Casa) his “Work”, inspired and blessed by God, to be a haven of relief from suffering for all of God’s children in pain in body or soul. It is a model community of Catholic Christian health delivery, and has grown into a regional referral center of international renown. Today, with over 1,000 beds and services comparable to most academic research centers of excellence, the Casa is thriving by God’s graces in one of the most remote, desolate and poorest areas of Italy…atop Mount Gargano, four hours from Rome. Worn out by over half a century of intense suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio was called to his heavenly reward on September 23, 1968. After a public funeral, which attracted over 100,000 mourners, his body was entombed in the crypt of Our Lady of Grace Church. Increasing numbers flock to his tomb from all parts of the world and many testify to spiritual and temporal graces received. On the 16th of February 1973, the Archbishop of Manfredonia, Msgr. Valentino Vailati, consigned the documentation to the Sacred Congregation of the Causes of Saints so as to obtain the “nihil obstat” for the beginning of the process of his Beatification. On December 18, 1997, by the reading of the decree on the heroic virtues, the Holy Father John Paul II declared Padre Pio “Venerable.”, and on June 16, 2002, over 500,000 Padre Pio devotees gathered in Rome to witness Pope John Paul II proclaim Padre Pio, “Saint Pio of Pietrelcina”. (saintpiofoundation) Quick Links Ideas for Celebrating St. Padre Pio Video: St. Padre Pio's Secret to Holiness Video: The Story of St. Padre Pio Prayer to St. Padre Pio O God, You gave Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, Capuchin priest, the great privilege of participating in a unique way in the passion of Your Son, grant me through his intercession the grace of … which I ardently desire; and above all grant me the grace of living in conformity with the death of Jesus, to arrive at the glory of the resurrection. Glory be to the Father… (three times) Food Homemade Cappuccino For the Capuchin friar! Michaelmas/ The Feast of the Archangels About The Catholic Church confirms the existence of angels, and that they are active in our lives. So, what is an angel? What is an archangel? And what makes them so special? The Catechism states, "The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls 'angels' is a truth of faith," (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 328). The word, "angel," comes from the Greek word, "aggelos," which means, "messenger." The Bible recognizes, "nine choirs" of angels. Each choir has a name and a purpose. The Bible also mentions archangels. Archangels are recognized as leaders, and they are entrusted by God with special duties. The Bible and the Church recognizes seven archangels, although just three are known by name, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The name Michael means "one who is like God." His will is focused, immovable, and entirely driven toward accomplishing goodness; he is the protector of souls and wields his powerful sword against the poisonous and indictive aspirations of the devil who Jesus calls a "murderer from the beginning" and the "father of lies" (John 8:44). St. Michael the Archangel visited three children at Fatima, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta in 1917 to prepare them for the work of the Blessed Virgin. St. Michael the Archangel said to them, "Fear not. I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me." Then he prostrated himself and repeated three times: "My God; I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee! I beg Thee forgiveness for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love Thee!" During a visit to the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel, Pope John Paul II said, "The battle against the devil . . . is the principal task of Saint Michael the archangel." Scripture narrates the same truth: "Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. Although the dragon and his angels fought back, they were overpowered and lost their place in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent known as the devil or Satan, the seducer of the whole world, was driven out; he was hurled down to earth and his minions with him" (Revelation 12:7-9). Gabriel means "God is my strength". He was sent from God to Nazareth, "to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, . . . and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you" (Luke 1:27-28). Pope St. Gregory the Great wrote: "He [Gabriel] came to announce the One who appeared as a humble man to quell the cosmic powers. Thus, God's strength announced the coming of the Lord of the heavenly powers, mighty in battle" (excerpt from Homily 34, 8-9). Raphael means "God is my health". He is one of seven angels "who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord" (Tobit 12:15). The meaning of Raphael's name reflects the fact that he touched Tobit's eyes in order to heal them of blindness. St. Augustine teaches in reference to the angels' office and nature: "Angel' is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the name of their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit,' from what they do, 'angel.'" In other words, the office of the angels is one of mission, as messengers of God, while their nature is defined as non-physical, personal spiritual beings created by God. The Catechism teaches in reference to the angels' office: "With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven' they are the mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word'" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 329; Mt 18:10). The angels are truly beautiful. As we reflect upon them, we are drawn toward a deeper and clearer understanding of God's love for man; for billions of angels, to be sure, are given the personal charge of looking after God's children as their guardian angels. Every moment of each day, day after day, year after year, our faithful guardian angels stand at our side, focused on our well-being with far greater power and intensity than we ourselves can summon, since the strength of their angelic will is far greater than ours. Let us thank God each day for their protection and guidance, giving to us great advantage here below, for they see the reality of our life in clarity, which is something we often fail to do. God has commended to each of us an angel for our very own. What love has God for his children, for those he has created in the image of his incarnate Son! (Catholic.org) Quick Links 7 Things to Know & Share Things to Do for the Archangels Celebrating Michaelmas St. Michael the Archangel Prayer St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day. Amen. Food Blackberry Cobbler Read the story in the recipe post. 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

St. Michael's Lent is the period of prayer and fasting in which St. Francis of Assisi received stigmata. The St. Michael's Lent begins on August 15th and ends on September 29th, Michaelmas. A lovely St. Michael feast day dessert can be found here. Just like the Lent prior to Easter it goes for 40 days and excludes Sundays. This is a period of fasting that we receive from St. Francis of Assisi, who while widely known for being the bird-bath saint, was actually a man of intense interior spiritual life and complexity. He was known for secluding himself from his community at times for solitude and a deepening of prayer. Two years before he died he went away to Mount La Verna where he fasted and prayed in honor of St. Michael the Archangel. It was during this time that he received stigmata, the holy wounds of Jesus, traditionally known to be on September 17th. This Lent became popular among the Franciscans before widely falling out of practice, but many Catholics are bringing this back. In the 13th century book, The Little Flowers of St. Francis, he says to his brothers, “My sons, we are drawing nigh to our forty days’ fast of St. Michael the Archangel; and I firmly believe that it is the will of God that we keep this fast in the mountain of Alvernia, the which by Divine dispensation hath been made ready for us, to the end that we may, through penance, merit from Christ the consolation of consecrating that blessed mountain to the honor and glory of God and of His glorious mother, the Virgin Mary, and of the holy angels.” This time, which we too are encouraged to participate in, is intended to give attention to deepening our relationship with Jesus and St. Michael who is our most powerful intercessor in fighting against spiritual enemies. While we often times think that penance is reserved for the traditional season of Lent, the liturgical year and the saints prompt us to regularly partake in this form of prayer. Feasting and fasting go hand in hand, and it is through both means that we can grow to live more closely to the divine life of Christ.

The feast of St. Dominic is a very special day in the Aquila home because we have three generations of Dominics in our family and with many people praying I hope that one day our future son can be the next. Needless to say, we really love St. Dominic in this house and we like to celebrate both St. Dominic Savio in May and St. Dominic de Guzman in August. So not only are we going to give glory to this amazing saint because it is his feast day, but I also want to say that this is a name day and you should also think about celebrating name days. In fact, before we ventured out into celebrating other saints during the liturgical year we have always had fun on name days. Essentially it's a day where you get to pick dinner, we go out for ice cream, and you get a little Catholic gift. I think that it is really important to remember who you are named after, take for example how and why names in scripture are very special. On several occasions we see a name change associated with a specific mission that God has chosen them for to draw themselves or others closer into sanctification. When we celebrate our name day we give ourselves that annual reminder of whose name and mission we must strive to emulate. For me, because there is no St. Steffani, yet ;) , we celebrate St. Stephen, the masculine form of my name. We also celebrate Aquilamas, the name I have given the feast of Sts. Aquila and Priscilla, because of the last name we bear and the way that we feel called to live as they did. And now for a little more on St. Dominic de Guzman! Who is St. Dominic de Guzman and What's Going On With the Dog & Torch? He was born in Spain in 1170 AD to nobility, his father was a royal village warden and his mother is actually a blessed, her name is Joan of Aza. His mother had long struggled with infertility when she decided to go on a pilgrimage to the Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos to pray for the gift of a child. As she was traveling there she dreamed that a dog jumped from her womb with a torch in its mouth and set everything around them on fire. Not long after this she conceived a son and named him after the Abbey that she had visited. The dream must of had a part in his name too, as a play on words with the Latin term domini canis, which means dogs or hounds of the Lord. As a side note, I would love to see a Catholic vet, groomer, or doggy day care use this as their business name! These two will be your first customers! St. Dominic was highly intelligent and learned in theology and the arts. He dedicated himself thoroughly to his school work but became distracted by the frailty and abuses of others around him and strove in many ways to serve them. In one instance he sold all his school books so that he could buy food and clothing for the poor. In another he attempted to sell himself into slavery so that he could try to gain freedom for others. Before St. Dominic started the Dominican Order, he was actually a Benedictine superior! But around 1204 AD the Albigensian heresy was flourishing and St. Dominic was a part of a group of Benedictines that were tasked with their conversion. While many monks took a more pompous and arrogant approach, St. Dominic remained austere and it was through his way of explaining the truths of the faith that he won many souls. It is said that he was so good at debating with them that they didn't know how to defend themselves. It was at this point that St. Dominic knew that in order to keep that positive momentum going he would need to establish a convent in order to maintain the work he had done. In 1206 AD the first Dominican monastery was founded and it was also a place where children could be educated and women could be kept safe from heretics. What Can We Do to Celebrate His Feast Day? 1. Go outside and star gaze St. Dominic is the patron saint of astronomers. 2. Pray a rosary with your family St. Dominic was very devoted to Our Lady and it is said that she gifted him with a rosary for him to use as an instrument of conversion and salvation. This is a short explanation for why Dominicans wear a rosary as a part of their habit. 3. Pray the St. Dominic Prayer Saint Dominic, your dedication to the truths of the Catholic faith gives beautiful witness to the faithful. Help us to emulate your poverty, charity, and chastity in our daily lives, and to strive to obtain your erudition and verve in evangelizing others in our words and deeds. 4. Adorn your dining room table or home altar with lillies. St. Dominic is often depicted holding one stalk of white lilies. 5. Visit an animal shelter or a pet shop When I was little I used to love going to the pet shop to play with the puppies. This could be a fun little afternoon out in honor of the dream St. Dominic's mother had. 6. Go out for churros Churros are a fried dough that originated from Spanish cuisine. Eat this treat in honor of his Spanish culture. Have fun celebrating St. Dominic today, friends! We certainly will be too. :) I love seeing your treats, outings, and all the ways that you live liturgically, feel free to share your memories with me. God love you, His Girl Sunday

liturgical living, transfiguration, august feast day The Scripture Account Jesus Is Transfigured Matthew 17: 1-8 Six days later, Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And in their presence he was transfigured; his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will make three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud cast a shadow over them. Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were greatly frightened. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Stand up, and do not be frightened.” And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one, but only Jesus. What's Happening Here? The Transfiguration is considered one of five major events in the life of Christ. The others being His Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. You can find the account of the Transfiguration in all three synoptic Gospels: Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9: 2-9, and Luke 9: 28-36. We can tell from the timing of this event that it must have happened during the Jewish Feast of Booths which is a week long holiday that takes place in the Fall. During this time Our Lord, about one year before His passion, death, and resurrection, takes Sts. Peter, James, and John up to Mt. Tabor. And while there He reveals His glory to them; His face shone, His clothes were dazzling white, and rays poured over His body. Jesus reveals to them the fullness of who He is, He is the Son of God. Initially, they were pleased to have seen the radiance of Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here." We then hear Moses and Elijah speak of Jesus' suffering and death which is a foreshadowing of what is to come. And towards the end of this account we hear God's voice claiming Jesus as His beloved Son. The disciples are immediately struck with fear at the sound of this, but Jesus walks to them and with a simple touch commands them to stand. Throughout this account we can see that Jesus is preparing them for what is to come. He is encouraging and strengthening them with these profound accounts so that their belief is reinforced and they can carry on with courage. Why are Moses and Elijah There? During the Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John notice that Moses and Elijah are there as well and many can't help but wonder, why. In short, their presence on either side of Jesus shows that Christ fulfills the Law, represented by Moses, and the prophets, represented by Elijah. In fact, many theologians will refer to Jesus as the New Moses, who brings the law to completion. There are many parallels that illicit this title such as the transfiguration taking place not long after the multiplication of loaves and fishes miracle. Moses too was able to feed the Israelites with Manna while he led them out of the wilderness. We can also call to mind the the account of Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai, after seeing God Scripture tells us that his face was radiant and many images depict his hair being completely white. The connection with Elijah is also intriguing, specifically in reference to the word and action of the exodus. During the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah speak about Jesus' departure. The Greek word that we see Luke use for departure is exodos, and how fitting is that connection with Moses who leads his people in an exodus to the promised land. And yet it is also appropriate in helping us understand why Elijah is there too. There are so many profound prophets that could have stood next to Jesus, yet we have Elijah. This is because he had an exodus of his own kind too, in that he didn't die, but was carried up body and soul into Heaven by flaming chariot. You can read more about this in the second book of Kings. And lastly, the prophecy of Malachi must be noted here which states that Elijah will be sent back to earth before "the great and terrible day of the Lord comes." Again, through Elijah's presence we see fulfillment of the prophets. Fun Liturgical Fact The Solemnity of the Transfiguration wasn't really celebrated in the Western church until the 11th century. Before then it was more commonly honored by the Eastern church, specifically the Syrian, Byzantine, and Coptic rites. This feast was officially integrated into the liturgical calendar in 1457 to commemorate the victory of over Islam in Belgrade. On July 22, 1456, Crusaders defeated the Turks at Belgrade. When news of the victory reached Rome on August 6th, Pope Callistus III placed the feast on the Roman calendar the following year. Have Your Grapes Blessed I encourage you to partake in this ancient tradition by having grapes blessed. This has lived on in the Church since the 4th century! In fact, we have the oldest prayer for the blessing of fruit from the Apostolic Constitution from the 4th century. There is a Prayer of Thanksgiving for new fruits from St. Hyppolytus from around 220AD. And from the 6th Ecumenical Council (680-681AD) we have Canon 28 which tells us that new wheat and grapes are to be blessed on this day. Grapes are an obvious connection to the Eucharist in that they become the wine which in turn becomes Christ’s blood. Creation is transfigured into something new and brilliant. When we partake in the Eucharist we too are transfigured as we become what we have received, the body of Christ. Christ then transfigures the world. On this day, God reveals to us the splendor that we were made for, the restoration of all that we are through His own transfiguration. If you don’t get to have your grapes blessed, then have a glass of wine, eat grapes, or make a meal with grapes. Other Ways to Celebrate Look at pictures of the Church of the Transfiguration situated on Mt. Tabor. Decorate your solemnity table in all white, read more about that here. Make food that resembles clouds, like mashed potatoes, meringue, or berries with cool whip. 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

The feast of St. James the Great, settled deeply into the “dog days” of summer, is a welcome punctuation in these often hot, dry days. St. James’ Day brings James' remarkable witness and wisdom to us, of course and as well as seaside breezes, fresh citrus, and candlelit summer nights. It’s a holiday that so beautifully illustrates the liturgical calendar's knack for traveling far & wide, grafting regional customs into its lineage of tradition and letting those regional customs reflect back into its canon of holiday celebration. St. James' faith was legendary, along with his brother the Apostle John, these two "sons of thunder" were the first disciples to follow Jesus, and they were also present at the Transfiguration. Tradition tells us that James went on to preach the gospel in both the Holy Land and in Spain, where his influence still shines brightly. Then, after his martyrdom at the hand of Herod Agrippa I, legendary tales tell of St. James' body being returned to Spain, miraculously covered in shells after being shipwrecked. The presence of St. James' remains in the Santiago de Compostela have inspired generations of pilgrimages for well over a thousand years, and I find that continuity of devotion to be so moving. I'm reminded that we're all on a pilgrim journey, wherever we are, whatever our circumstances. Enjoying the classic Tarta de Santiago (Spanish for "Cake of St. James") for the feast of St. James is both delicious and illuminating, calling to mind all of these elements of his devotion! Spanish for "Cake of St. James," this humble tarta evokes the saint's ties with Spain, his miraculous appearance at the Battle of Clavijo, hence, the sword-pointed Cross of St. James imprinted on the cake, and his association with pilgrimage, if you walk the Camino de Santiago today, you can still find tartas for sale at every cafe and rest stop on the way! This flavorful almond cake dates back to the Middle Ages, though the earliest written reference hails from 1577 under the name Torta Real, or "royal cake," at the time. It's simple, quick, and perfect for a hot summer day! (Writing and Recipe by: Kristin Haakenson) I am so honored to have Kristin from Hearthstone Fables share her recipe for the feast of St. James. As a previous Camino pilgrim this feast day and cake are near and dear to my heart. A big, warm thank you for being a guest contributor at Liturgy Kitchen. tarta, st. james, spanish cake Prep Time: 15 minutes Bake Time: 30 minutes Yields: 8-10 slices of cake Ingredients 4 eggs 1 cup sugar 2 cups almond flour Zest from one lemon Optional: 1 tbsp grape liquor (called orujo is traditional) ½ teaspoon cinnamon 2 tbsps powdered sugar (for dusting the top) St. James Cross Stencil, download below (Photo: Hearthstone Fables) Instructions Preheat oven to 350F. Grease the sides and bottom of a round cake pan. Mix together the 4 eggs and 1 cup sugar, until somewhat frothy. Stir in the lemon zest. If using liquor, add 1 tbsp liquor and gently stir. Add the 2 cups almond flour and 1/2 tsp cinnamon to the egg mixture and stir gently. Pour batter into cake pan and bake for about 30 minutes. Allow to cool before removing from the pan. When completely cool, place a stencil of the Cross of St. James in the middle of the cake. Put powdered sugar into a fine-mesh strainer and gently tap to release the sugar over the top of the cake. Carefully remove the stencil when done. (Photo: Hearthstone Fables) (Photo: Hearthstone Fables) As a thank you to the His Girl Sunday readers, Kristin has offered us a discount code for her St. James printable paper scene. Here's the discount code for 75% off her St James printable! Code: HGS2023 https://www.etsy.com/listing/1509402396/printable-scene-digital-st-james-day?click_key=51936d110321b6182aaf96d243363e32c38b85e2%3A1509402396&click_sum=a97cd496&ref=shop_home_feat_2 Did you make this recipe? If so we would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to us on social media. Want to see more of the great liturgical and seasonal insights of Kristin? Go follow her! Substack: http://www.hearthstonefables.com Instagram: @hearthstonefables Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/hearthstonefables And if you're not following along with the Liturgy Culture & Kitchen community, I welcome you to join us. His Girl Sunday Facebook His Girl Sunday Instagram For more resources on building Catholic tradition, check out the blog section of my website or follow me on Facebook or Instagram to see what Catholic things I am doing to make our day to day life more joyful.

St. Mary Magdalene is the patron saint of penitent sinners, so in a way she represents all of us in our journey to Heaven. Most people may have commonly heard her referred to as a prostitute, but did you know that this information is not well supported by Scripture? What we do know is that Jesus cast seven demons out of her, she was a witness to the crucifixion, the burial of Jesus, and the first to discover the Resurrection of Christ. After her great conversion she is mentioned by name as a follower of Christ along with the apostles and several other women. The story of St. Mary Magdalene teaches us of the grace and mercy that is needed in all of our lives. In honor of her profound love, fervor, and discipleship we make madeleines which is the French form of the name Magdalen. These delectable tea cakes can be made in four ways thanks to our recipe contributor Casey from Cozy Homemaking Vibes. You can find all Casey's accounts at the bottom of this post, and we are so grateful for her sharing these wonderful recipes with Liturgy Kitchen. st. mary magdalene, madeleines, liturgical living Here is what's in store for you! Honey Lemon Madeleines Honey Orange Madeleines With a Dark Chocolate Coating Gingerbread Madeleines Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Madeleines Prep Time: 20 mins Bake Time: 7-12 mins (ovens can vary) Yields: 12 cookies Honey Lemon Madeleines (Casey's Favorite) Ingredients 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 4 tablespoons honey 2 eggs 3/4 cup whole wheat or white flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 pinch salt 1 tsp lemon zest Oil for the pan Instructions Preheat the oven to 350F. Microwave 3 tbsps unsalted butter in 15 second intervals until just barely melted then set aside to cool while you make your batter. Whisk together the 2 eggs and 4 tbsps honey on high until it’s thick and airy, at least 4-5 mins. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 pinch salt, and 1 tsp lemon zest until well blended. Then fold the dry mix into to the egg mixture with a spatula. Be gentle so it can stay a bit light and airy. Just before the flour is fully incorporated, fold in the melted butter. A proper Madeleine recipe will say to refrigerate for 5-20 mins. I rarely do this, but it's a great time to brush oil on the molds. Spoon heaping tablespoons of the batter into the center of each madeleine mold in the pan. Bake for 7-12 minutes. Oven heat varies so keep an eye on them, they cook quickly. We don’t want the edges to brown! After you take them out of the oven let them rest a minute before transferring to a cooling rack. Dust with powdered sugar. (Photo: Cozy Homemaking Vibes) Honey Orange Madeleines With a Dark Chocolate Coating Ingredients 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 4 tablespoons honey 2 eggs 3/4 cup whole wheat or white flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 pinch salt 1 tsp orange zest 3 squares of good 88% dark chocolate Oil for the pan Instructions Preheat the oven to 350F. Microwave 3 tbsps unsalted butter in 15 second intervals until just barely melted then set aside to cool while you make your batter. Whisk together the 2 eggs and 4 tbsps honey on high until it’s thick and airy, at least 4-5 mins. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 pinch salt, and 1 tsp orange zest until well blended. Then fold the dry mix into to the egg mixture with a spatula . Be gentle so it can stay a bit light and airy. Just before the flour is fully incorporated, fold in the melted butter. A proper Madeleine recipe will say to and refrigerate for 5-20 mins. I rarely do this, but it's a great time to brush oil on the pan. Spoon heaping tablespoons of the batter into the center of each madeleine mold in the pan. Bake for 7-12 minutes. Oven heat varies so keep an eye on them, they cook quickly. We don’t want the edges to brown! After you take them out of the oven let them rest a minute before transferring to a cooling rack. Melt chocolate in a small microwave safe bowl in 20 second intervals, then dip cookies to coat the top of one side. (Photo: Cozy Homemaking Vibes) Gingerbread madeleines Ingredients 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon molasses 2 eggs 3/4 cup whole wheat or white flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 pinch salt ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ginger ⅛ teaspoon cloves ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg Oil for the pan Instructions Preheat the oven to 350F. Microwave 3 tbsps unsalted butter in 15 second intervals until just barely melted then set aside to cool while you make your batter. Whisk together the 2 eggs, 3 tbsps honey, and 1 tbsp molasses on high until it’s thick and airy, at least 4-5 mins. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 pinch salt, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ginger, ⅛ teaspoon cloves, and ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg until well blended. Then fold the dry mix into to the egg mixture with a spatula . Be gentle so it can stay a bit light and airy. Just before the flour is fully incorporated, fold in the melted butter. A proper Madeleine recipe will say to and refrigerate for 5-20 mins. I rarely do this, but it's a great time to brush oil on the pan. Spoon heaping tablespoons of the batter into the center of each madeleine mold in the pan. Bake for 7-12 minutes. Oven heat varies so keep an eye on them, they cook quickly. We don’t want the edges to brown! After you take them out of the oven let them rest a minute before transferring to a cooling rack. Dust with powdered sugar, I like extra on these! 😊 Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Madeleines Ingredients 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp parsley 1/4 tsp paprika 1 teaspoon baking powder 3 eggs 3/4 cup whole wheat or white flour Salt and pepper to taste 2 strips of bacon, chopped Colby Jack cheese sliced thinly into extra small cubes Olive oil for the pan Instructions Preheat the oven to 350F and fry your bacon in a skillet then set aside. Microwave 3 tbsps unsalted butter in 15 second intervals until just barely melted then set aside to cool while you make your batter. Whisk together the 3 eggs on high until it’s thick and airy, at least 4-5 mins. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp parsley, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour, and a dash of salt and pepper until well blended. Fold the dry mix into to the egg mixture with a spatula . Be gentle so it can stay a bit light and airy. Just before the flour is fully incorporated, fold in the melted butter. Place the chopped bacon into the oiled madeleine mold first. Spoon heaping tablespoons of the batter onto the bacon in the pan. I put half the batter in, added small cheese cubes, then the rest of the batter. Bake for 7-12 minutes. Oven heat varies so keep an eye on them, they cook quickly. We don’t want the edges to brown! After you take them out of the oven let them rest a minute before transferring to a cooling rack. These are best served warm with a coffee. Did you make this recipe? If so we would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to us on social media Cozy Homemaking Vibes Blog Cozy Homemaking Vibes Youtube Cozy Homemaking Vibes Instagram His Girl Sunday Facebook His Girl Sunday Instagram For more resources on building Catholic tradition, check out the blog section of my website or follow me on Facebook or Instagram to see what Catholic things I am doing to make our day to day life more joyful.