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It is hot as all get out here so making popsicles for the feast of the Immaculate Heart was a no brainer. I decided to make my own so that we could stick with a healthier, less sugary version of this yummy summer treat. To honor Our Lady I chose blueberries to remind us of the color she wore and the shape of a heart to call to mind this sacred image and devotion. I initially made these with a watermelon mold that I had on hand but you can get heart molds here. What is the Immaculate Heart of Mary? This term refers to Mary's pure and perfect heart which gave the profound fiat to God's will. According to Catholic dogma, Mary was sinless throughout her entire life and she remained meek and cooperative with the redemptive mission as the Mother of God. It is her heart that helps us learn how to love God fully and faithfully. I'm ready to get started, are you! 💙 immaculate heart, blueberry popsicle, Marian feast day Prep Time: 5 minutes Freeze Time: 3 1/2-4 hours Yields: 4 servings Ingredients 2 cups frozen blueberries 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey Heart shaped molds preferable or any mold you have on hand Measure two cups frozen blueberries and place those in your blender. I used my smoothie Ninja and that worked just the same. Note: You can use this exact same recipe with other fruit too! For strawberries, kiwi, and other fruits that are less dense I would change the measurement to 2 1/2 cups. Pour in 2 tablespoons lemon juice to add flavor and flair! And drizzle in one tablespoon of maple syrup or honey to give it a sweetness. I was going to go with honey but apparently I ran out so I did a quick, on the spot, substitute with maple syrup. Give that a good blitz until it is smooth and thoroughly blended. Some like little fruit chunks in their popsicles, I'll let you decide the consistency yourself. Fill your mold all the way to the top, add your popsicle sticks, and close the mold securely to be placed in the freezer for 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Tip: To take these out without breaking them, like I did 😒, run room temperature water from the kitchen sink over the outside of the mold for about 30 seconds. These were so good! The natural fruit taste is so much better than the artificial flavors and sweeteners, I just know your going to love these. Pack them in a cooler for a picnic, take them out poolside, or just kick back on the couch and enjoy. Before eating, pray this Immaculate Heart prayer to bring the spirit of liturgical living into your home. Immaculate Heart Prayer O God of infinite goodness and mercy, fill our hearts with a great confidence in our Most Holy Mother, whom we invoke under the title of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and grant by us her most powerful intercession all the graces, spiritual and temporal, which we need. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Keep in touch for more liturgical living recipes and resources. Follow along on FB @hisgirlsunday or IG @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

The Church has dedicated the month of June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and it also has its own special feast day on June 16th, the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost. A devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has long existed in the history of the Church but was revitalized through St. Margaret Mary. sacred heart, liturgical living, June dedication What is the Sacred Heart of Jesus? The symbol which many of us have seen before is one that profoundly expresses Jesus’ undying love for the Church. The heart, a universal symbol for love, is wrapped in thorns to express the self-sacrificing nature with which He offers us redemption. According to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the thorns also represent the sins that we commit which prick the heart of Jesus. The lance pierced side depicts the outpouring of His blood which nourishes and gives life to us all. The significance of this calls to mind the Blessed Sacrament, our spiritual sustenance given to not only enliven us but draw us into an intimate relationship. Not to forget about the flames, a biblical symbol of divinity but also an expression of passionate and all consuming love. The Church highly values this devotion as a way of fighting off the evils of the world and emboldening us in faith, morals, and piety. We can always take refuge in the heart of our Savior who will not forsake His children. "Consider often that it is only the humble of heart that can enter into the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ and converse with Him, Love Him and be Loved by Him." St. Margaret Mary Getting to Know St. Margaret Mary She was born to a prosperous French country family in 1647 and as a little girl she loved spending time with them as well as her godmother. Sadly, her father died of pneumonia early on in her life and it left the family in very difficult financial times. As a result, she was sent to school with the Urbanist Sisters of Charolles. She adored life at the convent and was even able to make her first communion early. However, Margaret had to come home after she became very sick and was bed-ridden for about four years. After some time for healing she led a fairly normal life as a teenager but received a vision after coming home from a dance. It was of Christ being scourged, she interpreted that as having betrayed Jesus for worldly pleasures. At that point she decided to enter the convent at only 22 years old. After a few years there she began to have a series of visions that lasted a year and a half. The core message of these visions was Jesus asking her to spread a devotion to His Sacred Heart. The explanations of her visions were not received well, but a priest by the name of Father Claude de la Columbiere, now a saint, wrote them down and helped her spread the devotion. Over time, Margaret Mary was able to lead her convent in many ways to the Sacred Heart of Jesus until she became very sick at the young age of 43. Her final words were, “I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus.” 12 Promises from the Sacred Heart In an apparition to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus promised abundant graces to those who devote themselves to His Sacred Heart. 1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life. 2. I will give peace in their families. 3. I will console them in all their troubles. 4. They shall find in my heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death. 5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings. 6. Sinners shall find in my heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy. 7. Tepid souls shall become fervent. 8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection. 9. I will bless the homes in which the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored. 10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts. 11. Those who promote this devotion shall have their name written in my heart and it shall never be effaced. 12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence: they will not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving the Sacraments. My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment. Lived Devotion to the Sacred Heart 1. Consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 2. Engage in the First Fridays novena. In an apparition to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus requested that people go to confession, attend mass, and receive the Eucharist on the first Friday of 9 consecutive months. 3. Strive to imitate Jesus self-sacrificing heart in your daily life. Maybe it’s less complaining, more service work, helping a friend or family member, or praying more regularly. Take time discerning this in your prayer life. 4. Enthrone your home, if you have this booklet you’ve already made a step! 5. Pray for the reparation of sin and grace to live out a vocation of love. Try These Prayers Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you and with a lively sorrow for my sins. I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure, and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessings on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within your heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to you with humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus, help me. Amen Prayer from St. Margaret Mary Alacoque O Sacred Heart of Jesus, For whom it is impossible not to have Compassion on the afflicted, Have pity on us miserable sinners And grant us the grace Which we ask of you, Through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your tender mother and ours. Amen Prayer of Gratitude to the Sacred Heart Lord, you deserve all honor and praise, because your love is perfect and your heart sublime. Me heart is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the many blessings and graces you have bestowed upon me and those whom I love. Forever undeserving, may I always be attentive and never take for granted the gifts of mercy and love that flow so freely and generously from your Sacred Heart. Heart of Jesus, I adore you. Heart of Jesus, I praise you. Heart of Jesus, I thank you. Heart of Jesus, I love you forever and always. Amen Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Pray for 9 Consecutive Days In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of… (Mention your Intention Here) Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of… (Mention your Intention Here) Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of… (Mention your Intention Here) Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours. Amen. Serve This Up Flaming Strawberry Heart Cupcakes Coq au Vin Out of all the ideas I recommend picking a few that fit your personal or family Catholic culture. For us, we partake in the First Friday devotion, we enthroned our home so we regularly pray in front of our Sacred Heart image, and I make flaming strawberries on the feast day as a fun dessert. What would you pick? Can't wait to see how you live closely to Jesus' merciful and loving heart! You can share with me in the comments or on social media. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on Us!

About five years ago my husband and I took a pilgrimage to Italy with our parish and were very blessed to have visited a multitude of beautiful places, one of them being Padua. Before that I had not known much about St. Anthony accept to ask him to help me when I lost things, which is often! "Tony, Tony, look around. Something’s lost and must be found!" As a way to celebrate St. Anthony of Padua and other saints, I will look up the region that they come from and make something that stems from that culture or geographical area. For tonight we are serving up skillet Italian sausage with fresh peppers and onions. Tie on your apron and let's begin! (st. anthony of padua, italian sausage, feast day) Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Yields: 4-6 servings Ingredients 2 tbsps olive oil 1 lb sweet Italian sausage 1/2 white upon sliced 1/2 red onion sliced 1 red bell pepper, sliced 1 green bell pepper, sliced 1 orange bell pepper, sliced 3 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes 1/2 cup chicken broth (for flavor) dried basil, for garnish Begin by slicing the onions and peppers. A dish with lots of color makes me happy! Then, over medium-high heat, warm up 2 tbsps olive oil. Cook the sausage links for 2-3 minutes on each side or until they are browned. Note: They will not be cooked through at this point. When you're finished browning the Italian sausage, slice them into 1 inch pieces and set them aside for later. Add 1/2 white onion (sliced) and 1/2 red onion (sliced) to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes while stirring. Add in the sliced red, green, and orange bell peppers and sprinkle everything with 1 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Toss the peppers and onions to mix in the seasoning and cook for about 5 minutes. Pour in 1/2 cup chicken broth and stir to combine. Return the Italian sausage back to the pan and lower the heat to medium. Cover the pan with a lid and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Note: To help the liquid evaporate I then uncovered the pan and turned the heat up to medium high again for 2 minutes. If it is not evaporated in this time I strain the dish myself so to not overcook the sausage. Serve as is, over pasta, or a bed of rice and sprinkle with dried basil! How easy was that? Getting to know St. Anthony He was born in 1195, only 13 years after St. Francis, to a faithful family and discerned very early on in his life, age 15, to join the religious order of St. Augustine. However, after witnessing the return of five Franciscan martyrs that died for preaching about Christ in Morocco, he felt called to "put on the habit of your [the Franciscan] order." He was never able to go to Morocco to preach like he wanted to because he became sick, but after healing he ended up in Sicily where his renowned preaching began. So the story goes that after attending a Dominican and Franciscan Ordination, they got together to have dinner and the provincial suggested that one of them give a sermon. Like most people when put on the spot in a group they pulled what my family would call a "nose goes" and St. Anthony was then asked to speak. With lacking education and living as a hermit they didn't expect much, but to everyone's surprise St. Anthony had a gift for speaking about the Gospel. The Hammer of Heretics & His Incorruptible Tongue There are stories upon stories about not only the beauty of his words but the fearlessness of his preaching, which gave him the name "Hammer of Heretics". One of my favorite stories is the popular "sermon to the fishes". One day St. Anthony's preaching fell on the deaf ears of heretics so he went down to a river near Padua and preached to the fish. The legend goes that when the fish heard him they all swam to shore and poked their heads out of the water to listen! He wanted so badly for souls to be won over for Christ that he dedicated his life to traveling and presenting the truths of Christianity. At times St. Anthony could have had anywhere up to 30,000 people listening to him speak. He loved the poor and helped to satisfy them in anyway that he could. In fact, when we went to Padua we were able to see his tongue which is incorruptible, you have to go look this up! What is the story behind St. Anthony holding baby Jesus? Ever wondered why he is seen holding the baby Jesus? One night while staying as a guest with a benefactor, the owner walked by his room and noticed rays of light pouring out from under the door. As he walked by he saw St. Anthony kneeling in ecstasy and holding a loving, caressing child. The owner knew from the uncharacteristic beauty that the child was Jesus. St. Anthony had such great purity of faith that he is also seen holding a lily. In fact, there is a blessing of lilies on the feast of St. Anthony which you can ask your priest to do for you. One more story, I can't help myself! In France during a time of Church persecution many priests and nuns were being murdered along with convents and churches being destroyed. Many faithful Catholics would go to a surviving church on his feast day to leave lilies and months later the beautiful lilies that adorned that parish were still fresh. Even if you can't get your lilies blessed I would highly recommend placing some on your kitchen table or home altar in honor of St. Anthony. You could also make a traditional St. Anthony bread for this feast day. Pick what will be engaging and meaningful for your family like paying tribute to our trip will be for ours! The Blessing of Lilies on the Feast of St. Anthony The priest vests in surplice and white stole, and says: P:Our help is in the name of the Lord. All:Who made heaven and earth. P:The Lord be with you. All:And with thy spirit. P:Let us pray. God, the Creator and Preserver of the human race, the Lover of holy purity, the Giver of supernatural grace, and the Dispenser of everlasting salvation; bless + these lilies which we, Thy humble servants, present to Thee today as an act of thanksgiving and in honor of St. Anthony, Thy confessor, and with a request for Thy blessing. Pour out on them, by the saving sign + of the holy cross, Thy dew from on high. Thou in Thy great kindness hast given them to man, and endowed them with a sweet fragrance to lighten the burden of the sick. Therefore, let them be filled with such power that, whether they are used by the sick, or kept in homes or other places, or devoutly carried on one's person, they may serve to drive out evil spirits, safeguard holy chastity, and turn away illness--all this through the prayers of St. Anthony--and finally impart to Thy servants grace and peace; through Christ our Lord. All:Amen. Then he sprinkles the lilies with holy water, saying: P:Sprinkle me with hyssop, Lord, and I shall be clean of sin. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Pray for us, St. Anthony. All:That we may be worthy of Christ's promise. P:Let us pray. We beg Thee, O Lord, that Thy people may be helped by the constant and devout intercession of Blessed Anthony, Thy illustrious confessor. May he assist us to be worthy of Thy grace in this life, and to attain everlasting joys in the life to come; through Christ our Lord. All:Amen. After this the lilies are distributed to the people. Keep in touch for more liturgical living recipes and resources. Follow along on FB @hisgirlsunday or IG @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

Tomorrow is the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity! This feast falls the Sunday after Pentecost and it is on this day especially that we celebrate a fundamental dogma of the faith. The Trinity is the term used to signify the central teaching of the Catholic faith that in the unity of the Godhead, there are three persons, each one being truly distinct from one another while simultaneously possessing the same eternal and divine nature. We believe in one God, three divine persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as expressed in the Creed. What is a dogma you ask? A dogma is... Doctrine taught by the Church to be believed by all the faithful as part of divine revelation. All dogmas, therefore, are formally revealed truths and promulgated as such by the Church. they are revealed either in Scripture or tradition, either explicitly (as the Incarnation) or implicitly (as the Assumption). Moreover, their acceptance by the faithful must be proposed as necessary for salvation. They may be taught by the Church in a solemn manner, as with the definition of the Immaculate Conception, or in an ordinary way, as with the constant teaching on the malice of taking innocent human life. (Modern Catholic Dictionary) To bring this divine reality to life, I thought it would be fun and fitting to make Tres Leches cake. One cake, three divine milks. You could also do a tri-colored pasta, scoop up some Neapolitan ice cream, or even a sip margarita made with triple sec. (tres leches, trinity, sunday, solemnity) Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes Bake Time: 30 minutes Yields: 12 servings Cake Ingredients 1 cup flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 5 eggs 1 cup sugar, divided 2 tsps vanilla extract 1/3 cup whole milk Milk Mixture Ingredients 12 oz evaporated milk 9 oz sweet condensed milk 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream Frosting Ingredients 1 pint heavy whipping cream 2 tbsps sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract ground cinnamon, to garnish strawberries, to garnish Let's start by buttering a 9x13" baking dish and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Set out three mixing bowls and in the first one sift together 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites into the other two bowls. Sprinkle in 3/4 cup sugar to the egg yolks and beat with a hand mixer on high until the mixture is pale yellow. This took me about 2 minutes. Then pour in 1/3 cup milk and 2 tsps vanilla extract and whisk together until combined. Set that bowl aside and beat your egg whites with the hand mixer until you form soft peaks. Then pour in 1/4 cup sugar and beat for another minute or so. We want the egg whites to be fluffy and and formable. Set that aside and pour the egg yolk mixture into the flour and stir together with a baking spatula until everything is thoroughly combined. Slide in the egg whites and gently fold them into the cake mixture. Don't overdo this part! Look at how nice and fluffy this turned out. Pour the cake batter into your buttered baking dish and spread it out evenly. I baked mine for 30 minutes and checked it with a toothpick which should come out clean when finished. While that baked I made the milk mixture. In a large measuring cup I combined one can evaporated milk, one can sweet condensed milk, and 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream. Set that aside and when your cake is finished take it out of the oven and give it plenty of time to cool down before pouring the milk on top. You can do this in one of two ways: by taking it out of your baking dish and setting it on a platter to cool or by putting the baking dish into the fridge for about 30 minutes. I did the latter! ...30 minutes later... Time to poke some holes. Many will use a fork but what I found is that when you pull the fork out it sometimes takes little chunks of the cake with it, even if you clean the fork between pokes. I don't like this because it means the milk is going to pool in that area, so instead I use a toothpick to create holes across the top of the cake. Note: Don't poke too many holes. The key to a really good tres leches cake is for it to be moist, not soggy! Slowly drizzle the milk mixture over the cake and make sure to get around the edges! Initially I started pouring from the measuring cup but found this too hard to control, so instead I spooned the mixture onto the cake allowing it to seep in before adding more. This took a little bit of time but paid off in the end. Note: The milk mixture made almost 4 cups, I didn't use about 1 1/2 cups because I could tell it was going to be too much. Let the cake soak for about 30 minutes to absorb all the milk. While that is happening we can make the whipped cream. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 pint heavy whipping cream, 2 tbsps sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla. Beat the ingredients together with a hand mixer until it is thick, this took about 10 minutes. Even Oliver appreciates a good bowl of whipped cream. Spoon the whipped cream over the cake and spread it evenly. Now you can dust the top with ground cinnamon and top each piece with strawberries. I make little strawberry fans by creating a row of slits across the strawberry up to the stem but not through it. Then gently push the strawberry to the side like you are opening a fan. Look at how delicious, you have to make this sometime soon. Happy Solemnity, dear friend! Keep in touch for more liturgical living recipes and resources. Let me know how your dessert making goes and share with me some of the things your family likes to do for the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity! Follow along on FB @hisgirlsunday or IG @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

Our family has perfected a new meatless meal for Fridays that is fresh, light, and healthy. All you have to do is make a simple marinade to flavor your salmon and pop it in the oven for an easy bake. Before we get to our recipe, let's talk about why are aren't eating any meat on a Friday outside of Lent. Many Catholics have never heard that they are to abstain from meat on Fridays and often when I share this there is some level of confusion. Here is a concise and meaningful explanation from the NCR. Contrary to common misconception, abstinence from meat on Fridays throughout the year has never been abolished from Roman law. It was not abolished by Vatican II. It was not abolished by Pope Paul VI or Pope St. John Paul II. It was not abolished by the 1983 Code of Canon Law. It remains the universal law of the Latin Church. From the 1983 Code of Canon Law Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons. Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent. 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. There is much more to be said on this topic and if you are interested, this is the article that I am referring to here. In all honesty, I didn't always know this either, and it wasn't well into my adult years that I found out. Since then, my family has truly sought to abide by this as Friday represents a mini-Good Friday and Sunday represents a mini-Easter. If you're looking to partake in this Catholic liturgical custom, then this Lemon Herb Salmon will make for a delightful and simple dinner. meatless meal, catholic, Friday, salmon Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 12 minutes Yields: 4 Salmon Fillets Ingredients 1. 4- 5oz salmon fillets 2. 2 tbsps lemon juice 3. 4 lemon slices 4. 1/4 cup olive oil 5. 1 tbsp dill 6. 1 tbsp parsley 7. 1 tsp kosher salt 8. 1/2 tsp black pepper Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees 2. In a small glass mixing bowl, combine 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tbsps lemon juice, 1 tbsp dill, and 1 tbsp parsley. Whisk together until thoroughly combined. 3. Lay the salmon in a baking dish with the skin down. Note: You can prepare the salmon with the skin off but it's actually preferable to leave it on. The skin will create a protective layer against the sheet pan or baking dish which will keep it from burning. It also helps the fish to bake evenly and maintain the juices. 4. Generously coat the salmon with the marinade by using a baking brush. 5. Season all four pieces with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. 6. Lay one thin lemon slice on top of each piece of salmon and put it in the oven. 7. Bake for at least 10-12 minutes or until you have reached your desired internal temperature. Salmon Temperature Guide Hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media, Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

Quick Links & Resources for Catholic Liturgical Living in June As a short guide and aid to your June 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 June feast day, but will be a very good start. (liturgical living, june feast days, saints, tradition) Feast days that you will find in this post! 1. The Most Holy Trinity 2. Corpus Christi 3. Sacred Heart of Jesus 4. Immaculate Heart of Mary 5. Sts. Peter & Paul Note: This is not a full list of resources on my blog for feast day celebrations, activities, and recipes in the month of June. Go browse around for saints and feast days that are special to you. Enjoy! 😊 The Month of June is Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus The Most Holy Trinity About "This week we return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. This Sunday and next Sunday, however, are designated as solemnities, special days that call our attention to central mysteries of our faith. Today, on the first Sunday after Pentecost, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. This feast invites us to consider what we believe about God, who has revealed himself to us in the Trinity—one God in three persons." (Loyola) Quick Links 1. Popular Celebrations 2. Family Symbols Poster 3. Love More Like the Trinity Most Holy Trinity Prayer Glory be to the Father, Who by His almighty power and love created me, making me in the image and likeness of God. Glory be to the Son, Who by His Precious Blood delivered me from hell, and opened for me the gates of heaven. Glory be to the Holy Spirit, Who has sanctified me in the sacrament of Baptism, and continues to sanctify me by the graces I receive daily from His bounty. Glory be to the Three adorable Persons of the Holy Trinity, now and forever. Amen. Food 1. Tres Leches Cake Recipe Here! Corpus Christi About "The fact that the Church celebrates the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ makes good sense, given the Eucharist’s centrality in the life of the Church, neatly described by the Catechism of the Catholic Church as the “sum and summary of our faith” (No. 1327). And there’s the Second Vatican Council’s famous reiteration of this reality in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, calling the Eucharist the “source and summit of the Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, No. 11). These truths about the Eucharist seem to be at the heart of why the medieval saint Juliana of Liège was moved to guide the Church toward celebrating this yearly solemnity, more commonly known as Corpus Christi." (Simply Catholic) Quick Links 1. Celebrate Corpus Christi at Home 2. Living the Feast of Corpus Christi 3. Process With the Community Anima Christi Prayer Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from Christ’s side, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within thy wounds hide me. Suffer me not to be separated from thee. From the malicious enemy defend me. In the hour of my death call me and bid me come unto thee, that I may praise thee with thy saints and with thy angels, forever and ever. Amen. Food 1. Homemade Bread Recipe Here! The Sacred Heart of Jesus About The Month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart. The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost. In addition to the liturgical celebration, many devotional exercises are connected with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Of all devotions, devotion to the Sacred Heart was, and remains, one of the most widespread and popular in the Church. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a wonderful historical expression of the Church's piety for Christ, her Spouse and Lord: it calls for a fundamental attitude of conversion and reparation, of love and gratitude, apostolic commitment and dedication to Christ and his saving work. Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are numerous. Some have been explicitly approved and frequently recommended by the Apostolic See. (Catholic Culture) Quick Links Pray the Litany to the Sacred Heart Consecrate Your Home to the Sacred Heart Enthrone your Home to the Sacred Heart Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you and with a lively sorrow for my sins. I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure, and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessings on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within your heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to you with humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus, help me. Amen Food Flaming Strawberry Heart Cupcakes Recipe Here! Immaculate Heart of Mary About Around the 16th century, the Church began to dedicate each month to a specific devotion to help us sanctify our actions and give order to our days. With this in mind I can say, the beauty of the liturgical year really is something to behold and be delved into. Mother Church, in her infinite wisdom, knows that we need daily, weekly, and monthly encouragement to strengthen our relationship with God, Mary, and His saints. Sometimes these dedications change or rotate, but it is a tradition of the Church to have a monthly focus. Let's take advantage of this opportunity to learn something new or grow stronger in a devotion that we might already have. Quick Links Celebrate the Immaculate Heart Learn About the Immaculate Heart The Interior Life of Mary Immaculate Heart of Mary Prayer Immaculate Heart of Mary, my Mother, I come to you in childlike prayer. I earnestly desire that all the people of the world may be brought back to the humble knowledge and love of the Sacred Heart of your dear Son. I pray, dear Mother of my God, that the wonderful beauty and purity of your own Immaculate Heart may so win our souls that we may detest all sin and dedicate our lives to the honor and glory of the God who created us. You revealed the secrets of your own sad heart at Fatima and begged for penance, prayer, and conversion of the world to God. What more can I do than unite my heart to yours in this great yearning? What can I add but the fervent prayer that all the world may listen to your pleading? I give my heart to you, my heavenly Queen, and in confidence I leave to you what is best for me in answer to my prayer for love and reparation. Immaculate Heart of the Mother of my God, I implore through your powerful intercession, the conversion of the hearts of men, complete victory over sin, and the return of the peace which you have promised. Amen Food 1. Heart Cookies Recipe Here! Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul About On June 29 the Church celebrates the feast day of Sts. Peter & Paul. As early as the year 258, there is evidence of an already lengthy tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the same day. Together, the two saints are the founders of the See of Rome, through their preaching, ministry and martyrdom there. Peter, who was named Simon, was a fisherman of Galilee and was introduced to the Lord Jesus by his brother Andrew, also a fisherman. Jesus gave him the name Cephas (Petrus in Latin), which means ‘Rock,’ because he was to become the rock upon which Christ would build His Church. St. Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles. His letters are included in the writings of the New Testament, and through them we learn much about his life and the faith of the early Church. Before receiving the name Paul, he was Saul, a Jewish pharisee who zealously persecuted Christians in Jerusalem. Scripture records that Saul was present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen. (CNA) Quick Links Why Do We Celebrate Them on the Same Day Learn More About These Saints Bishop Barron Explains This Feast Sts. Peter & Paul Prayer Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that we may be sustained by the intercession of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, that, as through them you gave your Church the foundations of her heavenly office, so through them you may help her to eternal salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen Food 1. Lemon Herb Salmon- Fishers of Men Dinner Recipe Here! Happy Feasting! If you used any of these ideas, share with me on Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

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

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

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

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

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

Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! One ha’ penny, two ha’ penny, Hot cross buns! If you have no daughters, Give them to your sons One ha’ penny, Two ha’ penny, Hot Cross Buns! Hot Cross Buns are a delicious spiced bun traditionally made on Good Friday in countries all over the world. Each bun is marked with a cross on the top to symbolize and remind us of the crucifixion of Christ. They are also packed with spices to signify the spices that were used on Jesus during the burial ritual. Another intriguing addition to the recipe is the use of orange zest. The addition of this citrus fruit is meant to remind us of the bitterness that comes with the cross. These delicious and theologically rich Hot Cross Buns are a Good Friday tradition for us. On this day we typically seek to maintain one hour of silence as we mourn the death of Jesus, and during that hour I make these. They also provide simple sustenance for a day of fasting and abstaining. I usually make soup to go along with them too. If you'd like to learn about the meaning behind Good Friday and receive more ways to live liturgically, you can read that here. And you know that I couldn't do this without making a full guide to Holy Week for you which you can find here. hot cross buns recipe, catholic good friday, lent Prep Time: 25 minutes Bake Time: 22 minutes Rise Time: 1 hour 15 minutes Yields: 12 buns Bun Ingredients 2 packages of active dry yeast 1/3 cup sugar 1 1/4 cup warm milk (between 105-110 degrees) 4 1/2 cups flour 2 tsps cinnamon 2 tsps allspice 1 tsp nutmeg 3/4 tsp salt 1 1/4 cup currants (or raisins) 2 eggs 1/4 cup butter Cross Ingredients 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup water Glaze Ingredients 1 tbsp apricot jam 2 tsps water Directions Activate the yeast. In a medium size bowl, combine 2 packages of active dry yeast, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1 1/4 cup milk warmed to a temperature between 105-110 degrees. Whisk these three ingredients together then cover the bowl with a tea towel and set aside in a warm place for 5 minutes. Note: After about five minutes the yeast should look foamy. In your stand mixer with the dough hook attached, thoroughly whisk together 4 1/2 cups flour, 2 tsps cinnamon, 2 tsps allspice, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1 tsp nutmeg. You could also sift these ingredients together. Then take 1/4 cup butter and crumble it into the flour mixture with your hands. Into the flour mixture add in 2 eggs, 1 1/4 cup currants (or raisins), and the yeast mixture. Yummy looking isn't it? Combine with the dough hook on medium speed for 3-4 minutes or until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl. Note: If the dough is not pulling away, I sprinkle in more flour one tablespoon at a time. Then turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter surface and knead for another 3-4 minutes or until the dough is smooth and springy. Poke it with your finger to test it out! Take a large bowl and with cooking spray of your choice, give it a good grease. I use avocado oil. Then place the dough into the bowl rotating it around until it is completely coated. Cover it with a tea towel, set it in a warm place, and let it rise for 45 minutes to an hour. When the hour is finished, the dough should be doubled in size. Punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured counter. Roll the dough into a large smooth ball, and with a pastry cutter, butter knife, or bench scraper cut the dough into 12 even pieces. This is the bench scraper that I use, highly recommend for its quality. To form smooth top buns I lightly press one finger down in the center while stretching the dough up with the other hand. Then I pinch it together and lay that side down. Be sure to prepare your pan by first coating it with oil, don't forget this step. ☺️ The pan I recommend using is a 9x13" that has deep sides. You can see all these directions with pictures below. Cover the buns with a tea towel and put it back in the same warm place to rise for another 30-45 minutes. Halfway through the rise time preheat your oven to 350 degrees and begin making the paste for the crosses. For the crosses: In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup water, whisk together to form a paste. See the image below of the ziploc bag for a visual, but think toothpaste consistency. If it's too runny, sprinkle in a little more flour until you get it right. When the rise time is up, pipe the paste all the way across one row of buns, then go to the next row, and the next row. Turn your pan and do the same thing to make the second line of your cross. I find this is easier than making a full cross over each individual bun. Tip: Be sure to go slow and let the paste fall to each side of the bun, hugging the edges. Put the buns in the oven at 350 degrees for 22 minutes or until the surface is golden brown. For the glaze: Scoop 1 tbsp apricot jam and 2 tsps water into a small bowl. Heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds, stir it together, and brush across the top of each bun as soon as they come out of the oven. Orange is another flavor that would compliment these spices well. Serve them up while they are warm! Picture by Picture Directions Before we can really get this show on the road, we first have to activate the yeast. In a medium size bowl, combine 2 packages of active dry yeast, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1 1/4 cup milk warmed to a temperature between 105-110 degrees. Whisk these three ingredients together then cover the bowl with a tea towel and set aside in a warm place for 5 minutes. After five minutes is up the yeast mixture should look foamy like this. In your stand mixer with the dough hook attached, thoroughly whisk together 4 1/2 cups flour, 2 tsps cinnamon, 2 tsps allspice, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1 tsp nutmeg. You could also sift these ingredients together. Then take 1/4 cup butter and crumble it into the flour mixture with your hands. Into the flour mixture add in 2 eggs, 1 1/4 cup currants (or raisins), and the yeast mixture. Yummy looking isn't it? Combine with the dough hook on medium speed for 3-4 minutes or until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl. Note: If the dough is not pulling away, I sprinkle in more flour one tablespoon at a time. Then turn it out onto a lightly floured counter surface and knead for another 3-4 minutes or until the dough is smooth and springy. Poke it with your finger to test it out! Take a large bowl and with cooking spray of your choice, give it a good grease. I use avocado oil. Then place the dough into the bowl rotating it around until it is completely coated. Cover it with a tea towel, set it in a warm place, and let it rise for 45 minutes to an hour. And with just one scroll the hour is up! The dough should be doubled in size like so. Punch it down and turn it out onto a lightly floured counter. Roll the dough into a large smooth ball, and with a pastry cutter, butter knife, or bench scraper cut the dough into 12 even pieces. This is the bench scraper that I use, highly recommend for its quality. To form smooth top buns I lightly press one finger down in the center while stretching the dough up with the other hand. Then I pinch it together and lay that side down. Be sure to prepare your pan by first coating it with oil, don't forget this step. ☺️ The pan I recommend using is a 9x13" that has deep sides like this one. Cover the buns with a tea towel and put it back in the same warm place to rise for another 30-45 minutes. Halfway through the rise time preheat your oven to 350 degrees and begin making the paste for the crosses. In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup water, whisk together to form a paste. See the image of the ziploc bag for a visual, but think toothpaste consistency. If it's too runny, sprinkle in a little more flour until you get it right. Spoon the flour paste into a ziploc bag and make a tiny cut on the corner to pipe crosses on each bun. When the rise time is up, pipe the paste all the way across one row of buns, then go to the next row, and the next row. Turn your pan and do the same thing to make the second line of your cross. I find this is easier than making a full cross over each individual bun. Tip: Be sure to go slow and let the paste fall to each side of the bun, hugging the edges. Put the buns in the oven at 350 degrees for 22 minutes or until the surface is golden brown. For the glaze, scoop 1 tbsp apricot jam and 2 tsps water into a small bowl. Heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds, stir it together, and brush across the top of each bun as soon as they come out of the oven. Orange is another flavor that would compliment these spices well. Serve them up while they are warm! 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.