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

As a short guide and aid to your Holy Week and Easter Octave liturgical living, I have compiled some quick tips, ideas, and links to bring joy and festivity into your domestic church. catholic, liturgical living, april feast days Feast days that you will find in this post! 1. Palm Sunday 2. Holy Week 3. Easter Sunday 4. Divine Mercy Sunday The Month of March is Dedicated to St. Joseph The Month of April is Dedicated to the Holy Eucharist Palm Sunday About Palm Sunday is the last Sunday before the Easter Triduum. Palm Sunday is also called Passion Sunday. On this day, we recall Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just days before he was to die. The celebration of Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. Quick Links 1. Palm Sunday with Kids 2. Palm Sunday in Your Home 3. Palm Sunday Worksheets Palm Sunday Prayer Dear God, Thank you for sending your Son and paving the way for our lives to be set free through Jesus' death on the cross. Thank you for what this day stands for - the beginning of Holy Week, the start of the journey towards the power of the cross, the victory of the Resurrection, and the rich truth that Jesus truly is our King of Kings. "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord..." We give you praise and honor for your ways are righteous and true. We give you worship for you are holy and just. We will declare that your love stands firm forever. For your lovingkindness endures forever. Thank you that your ways are far greater than our ways, your thoughts far deeper than our thoughts. Thank you that you had a plan to redeem. Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you that your face is towards the righteous, and you hear our prayers, and know our hearts. Help us to stay strong and true to you. Help us not to follow after the voice of the crowds, but to press in close to you, to hear your whispers, and seek after you alone. We praise you, we bless you Lord! Thank you that you reign supreme and we are more than conquerors through the gift of Christ! In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen. Food 1. Pax Cakes Recipe Here! Holy Week About Holy Week Prayer O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, Jesus. That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. Amen. Food 1. Hot Cross Buns Easter Sunday About The word "Easter" comes from Old English, meaning simply the "East." The sun which rises in the East, bringing light, warmth, and hope, is a symbol for the Christian of the rising Christ, who is the true Light of the world. The Paschal Candle used during the Easter Vigil is a central symbol of this divine light, which is Christ. It is kept near the ambo throughout Easter Time and lit for all liturgical celebrations. The Easter Vigil is the "Mother of All Vigils" and Easter Sunday is the greatest of all Sundays. The season of Easter is the most important of all liturgical times, which Catholics celebrate as the Lord's resurrection from the dead, culminating in his Ascension to the Father and sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. The octave of Easter comprises the eight days which stretch from the first to the second Sunday. It is a way of prolonging the joy of the initial day. There are 50 days of Easter from the first Sunday to Pentecost. It is characterized, above all, by the joy of glorified life and the victory over death expressed most fully in the great resounding cry of the Christian: Alleluia! All faith flows from faith in the resurrection: "If Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty, too, is your faith." (1 Cor 15:14) "What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel of wheat, perhaps, or of some other kind;…So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible. It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious. It is sown weak; it is raised powerful. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one. So, too, it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living being," the last Adam a life-giving spirit. But the spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one." (1 Cor 15:36-37, 42-49) (USCCB) Quick Links 50 Ways to Celebrate Easter Easter Activities & Printables Easter Season Resources Easter Prayer We praise you in this Easter season. Change our lives, change our hearts to be messengers of Easter joy and hope. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever. Amen. Food Italian Easter Bread Divine Mercy Sunday About Mankind’s need for the message of Divine Mercy took on dire urgency in the twentieth century, when civilization began to experience an “eclipse of the sense of God,” and therefore, to lose the understanding of the sanctity and inherent dignity of human life. In 1931, Jesus appeared to Sr. Faustina in Poland and expressed his desire for a feast celebrating his mercy. The Feast of Mercy was to be on the Sunday after Easter and was to include a public blessing and liturgical veneration of His image with the inscription “Jesus, I trust in You.” This promise of mercy has been affirmed by the Church, which has made Divine Mercy Sunday an occasion for receiving a plenary indulgence, “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven” (CCC, no. 1471). The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under the usual conditions (Confession, Eucharist, prayer for the intentions of the pope, and complete detachment from sin, even venial sin). The faithful may either take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy in any church or chapel or recite the Our Father and Creed in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus. There are many aspects of the Divine Mercy devotion, including the Chaplet, the Divine Mercy image, and the “hour of great mercy” (3:00 p.m.). The popularity of these devotions, focused on the Lord’s infinite mercy, has grown rapidly in recent decades. Regarding the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus said to her, “At the hour of their death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person “ (Divine Mercy in My Soul, no. 811). (USCCB) Quick Links Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet Divine Mercy with Kids Divine Mercy Sunday Activities Divine Mercy Prayer O Jesus, eternal Truth, our Life, I call upon You and I beg Your mercy for poor sinners. O sweetest Heart of my Lord, full of pity and unfathomable mercy, I plead with You for poor sinners. O Most Sacred Heart, Fount of Mercy from which gush forth rays of inconceivable graces upon the entire human race, I beg of You light for poor sinners. O Jesus, be mindful of Your own bitter Passion and do not permit the loss of souls redeemed at so dear a price of Your most precious Blood. O Jesus, when I consider the great price of Your Blood, I rejoice at its immensity, for one drop alone would have been enough for the salvation of all sinners. Although sin is an abyss of wickedness and ingratitude, the price paid for us can never be equalled. Therefore, let every soul trust in the Passion of the Lord, and place its hope in His mercy. God will not deny His mercy to anyone. Heaven and earth may change, but God's mercy will never be exhausted. Oh, what immense joy burns in my heart when I contemplate Your incomprehensible goodness, O Jesus! I desire to bring all sinners to Your feet that they may glorify Your mercy throughout endless ages. (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 72). Food Divine Mercy Sundaes: My Recipes & Ideas Happy Feasting! If you used any of these ideas, share with me on Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

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

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

Tacos are a weekly staple in my kitchen. We always have the ingredients on hand and let's just call it like it is, they are easy and everyone likes it. I mean who doesn't like tacos? This recipe of mine is also readily adaptable, here's what I mean by that. During Lent we switch out the usual chicken we make with shrimp, and when are are seeking to eat healthier I abandon the tortilla for romaine lettuce. My shrimp tacos are simple and flavorful, they remind me of the way my grandmother used to make them for my brother and I when we were younger. I hope these bring good dinner memories for you too! Let's get ready for a no fuss, delicious dinner. I use three seasonings in this recipe: sea salt, Mi Tienda seasoning, and oregano. Mi Tienda is one of my favorite premixed seasoning because it has all the things that I would sprinkle in myself: onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and dried celery. Highly recommend having this on hand, I basically put this or Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning on everything. If you don't have it just do a light mix of what I listed above in italics. Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Yields: 6-7 servings Ingredients 1 red bell pepper 1 yellow bell pepper 1/2 yellow onion 1 tsp Mi Tienda Seasoning 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp oregano 1/2 lb peeled and deveined shrimp Olive oil for cooking Romaine lettuce leaves or Tortillas Other Toppings to Consider Spanish cauliflower rice or regular spanish rice Lettuce Salsa Cheese Jalapenos Beans Pour in 2 tbsps olive oil into the skillet on medium heat. Slice the red and yellow bell peppers and 1/2 yellow onion then toss them into the skillet. Season with 1 tsp Mi Tienda and 1 tsp sea salt. Saute the peppers and onion until they are soft, about 10-12 minutes. Note: Start your rice at the beginning of this recipe, this will go quickly and as you know, rice takes a little while. For a week night while on the whole30 I used this pre-packaged cauliflower rice. If you like to make your Spanish rice from scratch, I recommend this recipe. When the bell peppers and onions are soft, set them aside in a bowl, cover them, and pour 2 tbsps olive oil in the skillet to cook the shrimp. Work the shrimp in batches so they will cook evenly. On each new batch sprinkle 1/4 tsp of the Mi Tienda on the shrimp and 1/4 tsp oregano. Cook on each side for 2-3 minutes or until they are opaque. Be careful not to overdo it either, you don't want gummy shrimp. Note: My dad taught me that a good way to know if your shrimp are overcooked is if they curl up too tight, close to making the shape of an "O". If they are still "C" shaped then you haven't reached that point yet. O= overcooked C= cooked When all the shrimp are finished put them in a serving bowl and cover to keep warm. See the note above regarding Spanish Rice. If you are doing tortillas, this is the best way to do it! Take a stick of butter and rub the end all over the skillet. Place your tortilla on the skillet and when it begins to bubble up, flip over and repeat. You don't need to do anything else! My grandmother showed me this and I love how the butter gives the tortilla a little flavor and they also have a bit of a crunch to them. In fact, my grandma used to put them directly on top of the gas burner! When you are finished, put them in a sheet of foil to keep warm for serving. If you don't have butter, don't use anything at all, oils won't do the trick. We did these while on the Whole30 so I didn't use tortilla but instead replaced that with romaine lettuce. I wash and half them so that they are easier to fill and hold on to. This is a good low carb option for those of you that like to be conscientious of that. Yum! Loving the real dinner quality photos here, had to snap a couple of shots for you blogger style. Let's close or begin dinner time with a Lenten prayer. Heavenly Father, as I enter another week of my Lenten journey, guide me to the path that leads to you. Fill my heart with gratitude, patience, strength, and peace as I strive to become the-best-version-of-myself, honestly admitting my shortcomings and sins. As I renew my resolve each day to become a better person, let me hear your voice in the deepest reaches of my heart. Give me rest in you.Help me to accept others, showing them your great love instead of casting judgment. Stay with me through the busy days this week and remind me that when I need comfort, solitude, wisdom, or guidance, I can always turn to you. Help me develop discipline and generosity through fasting and almsgiving, and come closer to you through prayer this Lent. In your name I pray, Amen. Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday. For more resources on building Catholic tradition, check out the blog section of my website! If the liturgy is for you, then so is liturgical living.

As many of you know, I typically cook and bake for feast days. You can see that by the way I have chosen to organize Liturgy Kitchen by month, for easy access to saint feast days, and by the name of each recipe. Yet, there are other times when I make what I call, 'any season' meals, still keeping with the mission of intentional liturgical and season living. While I'd like to think I am so organized and over the top energized that I could cook each day for a saint, that just isn't the case. And I think we all need those healthy, tasty day in-day out recipes. This is an addition to that, but I am taking it a step further. I have been practicing the Whole 30 with my husband, mostly for health reasons, and it has been a challenge to say the least. Oh I forgot to say, a good challenge, not one of those never will I ever hurdles. It has been a learning curve to meal plan, which I am already bad about, and another climb to find recipes that are Whole30 approved that we enjoy. That being said, what we have accomplished has felt physically, mentally, and emotionally uplifting. I feel as if I'm not as weighed down by the amount of processed foods and sugar that we typically take in. All this combined, especially during the Lenten season, has been the spiritual exercise that I needed too. This was a recipe that I thought was worth documenting and one that I thought you might like as well. Every ingredient used is Whole30 approved! I even went two steps further to make sure that the bacon and the sausage met the standards. I have listed the specific brand in the ingredients to take that extra work out of it for you. Let's serve up a bowl of health and happiness! Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Yields: 4-6 servings Ingredients 1 pack Aidell's chicken apple sausage, cut into rounds 1 pack Pederson's Bacon, no sugar added, uncured, cut into 1 inch pieces 1 lb brussels sprouts, bottoms cut and halved 1 lb cubed butternut squash, bought cubed 2 small gala apples, cubed Marinade 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup coconut aminos 1 tbsp dijon mustard 1 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp sea salt Take one package of bacon and cut the strips into 1 inch pieces. Lay them out on a lined baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees for 8 minutes. While that is baking, cut the bottoms off 1 lb of brussel sprouts and then half them. When you are finished put them in a large mixing bowl. Pour in a 1 lb package of cubed butternut squash, and 2 small apples cubed. Lastly, add 1 package, 4 links, of sliced sausage. Prepare the marinade by combining 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup coconut aminos, 1 tbsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp chili powder, and 1/2 tsp sea salt into a mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly to combine. Pour the marinade over your bowl of ingredients and mix to thoroughly coat. When the bacon pieces are finished take them out of the oven and pour the bowl of ingredients onto the sheet pan. Stir everything on the sheet pan so the bacon and bacon grease combine with your sausage and veggies. Bake in the oven at 425 for 18-20 minutes or until the vegetables have browned to your liking. We added cauliflower rice to this meal and it was absolutely delicious and filling. Save the leftovers for tomorrow's lunch! 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!

As a short guide and aid to your March 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 March feast day, but will be a very good start. Feast days that you will find in this post! 1. St. Katharine Drexel 2. St. Patrick 3. St. Joseph 4. The Annunciation Note: This is not a full list of resources on my blog for feast day celebrations, activities, and recipes in the month of March. Go browse around for saints and feast days that are special to you. Enjoy! 😊 The Month of February is Dedicated to the St. Joseph St. Katharine Drexel- March 3 About If your father is an international banker and you ride in a private railroad car, you are not likely to be drawn into a life of voluntary poverty. But if your mother opens your home to the poor three days each week and your father spends half an hour each evening in prayer, it is not impossible that you will devote your life to the poor and give away millions of dollars. Katharine Drexel did that. Born in Philadelphia in 1858, she had an excellent education and traveled widely. As a rich girl, Katharine also had a grand debut into society. But when she nursed her stepmother through a three-year terminal illness, she saw that all the Drexel money could not buy safety from pain or death, and her life took a profound turn. Katharine had always been interested in the plight of the Indians, having been appalled by what she read in Helen Hunt Jackson’s A Century of Dishonor. While on a European tour, she met Pope Leo XIII and asked him to send more missionaries to Wyoming for her friend Bishop James O’Connor. The pope replied, “Why don’t you become a missionary?” His answer shocked her into considering new possibilities. Back home, Katharine visited the Dakotas, met the Sioux leader Red Cloud and began her systematic aid to Indian missions. Katharine Drexel could easily have married. But after much discussion with Bishop O’Connor, she wrote in 1889, “The feast of Saint Joseph brought me the grace to give the remainder of my life to the Indians and the Colored.” Newspaper headlines screamed “Gives Up Seven Million!” After three and a half years of training, Mother Drexel and her first band of nuns—Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored—opened a boarding school in Santa Fe. A string of foundations followed. By 1942, she had a system of black Catholic schools in 13 states, plus 40 mission centers and 23 rural schools. Segregationists harassed her work, even burning a school in Pennsylvania. In all, she established 50 missions for Indians in 16 states. Two saints met when Mother Drexel was advised by Mother Cabrini about the “politics” of getting her order’s Rule approved in Rome. Her crowning achievement was the founding of Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic university in the United States for African Americans. At 77, Mother Drexel suffered a heart attack and was forced to retire. Apparently her life was over. But now came almost 20 years of quiet, intense prayer from a small room overlooking the sanctuary. Small notebooks and slips of paper record her various prayers, ceaseless aspirations, and meditations. She died at 96 and was canonized in 2000. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links 1. Feast Day Activities for Littles 2. 5 Ways to Celebrate St. Katharine 3. Learning More About St. Katharine St. Katharine Prayer Ever loving God, you called Saint Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the Gospel and to bring the life of the Eucharist to the Black and Native American peoples. By her prayers and example, enable us to work for justice among the poor and oppressed. Draw us all into the Eucharistic community of your Church, that we may be one in you. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Food 1. New Orleans Beignets because she founded Xavier University in New Orleans. Recipe Here! St. Patrick- March 17 About On March 17, Catholics celebrate St. Patrick, the fifth century bishop and patron of Ireland, whose life of holiness set the example for many of the Church's future saints. St. Patrick is said to have been born around 389 AD in Britain. Captured by Irish raiders when he was about 16, St. Patrick was taken as a slave to Ireland where he lived for six years as a shepherd before escaping and returning to his home. At home, he studied the Christian faith at monastic settlements in Italy and in what is now modern-day France. He was ordained a deacon by the Bishop of Auxerre, France around the year 418 AD and ordained a bishop in 432 AD. It was around this time when that he was assigned to minister to the small, Christian communities in Ireland who lacked a central authority and were isolated from one another. When St. Patrick returned to Ireland, he was able to use his knowledge of Irish culture that he gained during his years of captivity. Using the traditions and symbols of the Celtic people, he explained Christianity in a way that made sense to the Irish and was thus very successful in converting the natives. The shamrock, which St. Patrick used to explain the Holy Trinity, is a symbol that has become synonymous with Irish Catholic culture. Although St. Patrick's Day is widely known and celebrated every March the world over, various folklore and legend that surround the saint can make it difficult to determine fact from fiction. Legends falsely site him as the man who drove away snakes during his ministry despite the climate and location of Ireland, which have never allowed snakes to inhabit the area. St. Patrick is most revered not for what he drove away from Ireland, but for what he brought, and the foundation he built for the generations of Christians who followed him. Although not the first missionary to the country, he is widely regarded as the most successful. The life of sacrifice, prayer and fasting has laid the foundation for the many saints that the small island was home to following his missionary work. To this day, he continues to be revered as one of the most beloved Saints of Ireland. In March of 2011, the Irish bishops' conference marked their patron's feast by remembering him as “pioneer in an inhospitable climate.” As the Church in Ireland faces her own recent difficulties following clerical sex abuse scandals, comfort can be found in the plight of St. Patrick, the bishops said. They quoted The Confession of St. Patrick, which reads: “May it never befall me to be separated by my God from his people whom he has won in this most remote land. I pray God that he gives me perseverance, and that he will deign that I should be a faithful witness for his sake right up to the time of my passing.” (CNA) Quick Links Living the Feast Day With Kids Celebrate St. Patrick A Better Way to Celebrate St. Patrick Irish Prayer As I arise today, may the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me. May the eye of God look before me, the ear of God hear me, the word of God speak for me. May the hand of God protect me, the way of God lie before me, the shield of God defend me, the host of God save me. May Christ shield me today. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen Food 1. Irish Soda Bread St. Joseph- March 19 About The Bible pays Joseph the highest compliment: he was a “just” man. The quality meant a lot more than faithfulness in paying debts. When the Bible speaks of God “justifying” someone, it means that God, the all-holy or “righteous” one, so transforms a person that the individual shares somehow in God’s own holiness, and hence it is really “right” for God to love him or her. In other words, God is not playing games, acting as if we were lovable when we are not. By saying Joseph was “just,” the Bible means that he was one who was completely open to all that God wanted to do for him. He became holy by opening himself totally to God. The rest we can easily surmise. Think of the kind of love with which he wooed and won Mary, and the depth of the love they shared during their marriage. It is no contradiction of Joseph’s manly holiness that he decided to divorce Mary when she was found to be with child. The important words of the Bible are that he planned to do this “quietly” because he was “a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame” (Matthew 1:19). The just man was simply, joyfully, wholeheartedly obedient to God—in marrying Mary, in naming Jesus, in shepherding the precious pair to Egypt, in bringing them to Nazareth, in the undetermined number of years of quiet faith and courage. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links Traditions for St. Joseph Making a St. Joseph Altar St. Joseph Activity for Kids St. Joseph Prayer To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities. O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness. As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen. Food St. Joseph Bread Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord- March 25 About The Feast of the Annunciation is one of the most important in the Church calendar. First, it celebrates the actual Incarnation of Our Savior -- the Word made flesh in the womb of His mother, Mary. Second, it is a principal Marian feast. Two other feasts honoring Our Lord's mother, the Assumption (August 15), and the Immaculate Conception (December 8), are celebrated as Holy Days of Obligation in the United States. New Year's Day, January 1, is observed as a Solemnity of Mary. Many Catholics who are deeply concerned with the defense of the life of unborn children believe that it would be most fitting if the Feast of the Annunciation were also to be accorded this status. Although it seems unlikely that the American bishops will add another obligatory feast to the Church calendar, we can certainly take on the 'obligation' ourselves to attend Mass, if at all possible. In any case, it is most appropriate that we encourage special celebrations in the "Domestic Church"-- even, perhaps, in our parishes. The biblical account of the Annunciation is in the first chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke, which describes the news given to Mary that she was to become the mother of the Incarnation of God, records the "angelic salutation" of Gabriel to Mary, 'Hail, thou who art highly favored. The Lord is with thee." This is the origin of the repeated "Hail Mary" prayer of the Rosary); and Mary's response to God's will, "Let it be done to me according to thy word." Her exultant hymn, the Magnificat, found in Luke 1:46-55, has been part of the Church's liturgy of the hours, at Vespers (evening prayer), and has been repeated nightly in churches, convents and monasteries for many centuries. The significance of this Christian feast on Western culture is made clear from the fact that New Years Day used to be celebrated on March 25. This was the case in England until as late as 1752. Another remnant of the historic universality of Christianity in the world is the universal use of BC (before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini -- The Year of Our Lord) to denote periods of time in history. Although there has been an attempt in some circles to change 'BC' to 'BCE' (before the common era), AD to CE (common era), and although it is true that the religious significance of our system of dating has been effectively obliterated, nevertheless, Christians and non-Christians alike consent to the birth of Christ as the "fulcrum" of the dating the events of human history. ****Family observance of the Annunciation**** In families with young children, this feast would be a good time to begin teaching youngsters important lessons about the inestimable value God places on human life. First, that He loved us so much that He chose to become one of us -- to take on our humanity so completely that he "became flesh", as utterly weak and dependent as any human infant is. Second, God became "like us in all things except sin" at the moment of His conception in Mary's womb, not at some later time. The Feast of the Annunciation is a celebration of the actual Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Children may, quite naturally, think that the birth of Jesus is the time when Our Savior first 'became Man,' especially since Christmas has become the Christian holiday in our culture. We understand best what we can see, what is visible. The invisible, the hidden is, no less real for our lack of seeing it. (We think of the baby in its mother's womb, known and felt, though unseen, only to her.) Even very young children can know the truth about the growth of a baby inside its mother's body, especially If the mother of the family (or an aunt, perhaps) happens to be pregnant on the holiday. The exactly nine months' wait from March 25th to December 25th for the Baby to be born would be interesting to most children. (God made no special rules for His own bodily development!) What better way than the reading first chapter of Luke to gently begin teaching children about the beginning of each new human life? Children should be told how important it is to every person that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1), and parents can find this feast a valuable teaching moment. The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Article 3 of the Creed, "He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was born of the Virgin Mary" (#436-511), should be read by parents. This will not only give adults a timely review of Catholic doctrine, but it can be a great help to us in transmitting important truths of the faith to our children. The summary at the end can help formulate points we want to emphasize. Excerpts from the Catechism could be read aloud to older children. (EWTN) Quick Links Celebrate the Annunciation Learn More About the Annunciation Respect Life Annunciation Action Guide Annunciation Prayer I greet you, Ever-blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Throne of Grace, miracle of Almighty Power! I greet you, Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity and Queen of the Universe, Mother of Mercy and refuge of sinners! Most loving Mother, attracted by your beauty and sweetness, and by your tender compassion, I confidently turn to you, miserable as I am, and beg of you to obtain for me from your dear Son the favor I request in this novena: (Mention your request). Obtain for me also, Queen of heaven, the most lively contrition for my many sins and the grace to imitate closely those virtues which you practiced so faithfully, especially humility, purity and obedience. Above all, I beg you to be my Mother and Protectress, to receive me into the number of your devoted children, and to guide me from your high throne of glory. Do not neglect my petitions, Mother of Mercy! Have pity on me, and do not abandon me during life or at the moment of my death. Amen. Food Waffles for the Annunciation Happy Feasting! If you used any of these ideas, share with me on Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

You are 4 simple ingredients away from a Goldilocks daiquiri! The classic daiquiri is one of the most popular drinks to make for Mardi Gras. I have tried many recipes looking for the perfect balance and I think mine is the Goldilocks of all daiquiris, every ingredient is just right. Not too fruity, not too boozy! These are quick to mix up, don't blink or you just might miss it. Total Time: 3-5 minutes Yields: 1 servings The recipe below makes one serving, this makes it easy for you to multiply or just make for yourself. Ingredients 2 oz white rum 1 oz lime juice 1 oz simple syrup 1 cup ice Note: You can also throw in 1 whole banana, or 1 cup frozen mango, or 1/2 (10oz) bag of frozen strawberries to make a deliciously fruit flavored daiquiri too. The measurements for the fruit are for one glass as well. Directions Put 2 oz white rum, 1 oz lime juice, 1 oz simple syrup, and 1 cup of ice in a blender. Give it a few pulses, or to the consistency that you like, and serve in a glass. Garnish with lime or fruit of your liking, or let’s be honest with whatever is in the fridge. Strawberry for me! Have fun, y’all! Laissez les bons temps rouler! // Let the good times roll! 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!

Gumbo is a staple of Louisiana Cajun culture. In one big black pot you get the perfect blending of ingredients, community, and tradition that speaks of a people that know how to welcome a good time. To many in the South this is a weekly meal, to others this might be the perfect bowl of warmth as the months grow chillier, and for some it makes for a festive Mardi Gras dinner. Growing up about an hour the Louisiana border we found a lot of Cajun culture and experience floating around our small town. Our frequent trips to the neighboring state certainly added to our way of living and it is something that I've always cherished. Over time I inevitable picked up their love for life, color, jazz & zydeco music, dancing, good food, and togetherness. These are a people that know hospitality in their bones, not one that is manicured as we can sometimes do when we want to put our best foot forward when hosting a dinner, but a kind of welcomeness that treats you as if you are family. If possible I want to extend as much of that Southern hospitality to you as I can through this family recipe, especially as we approach Mardi Gras. My dad's recipe is packed with flavor and spice, it will surely bring your gathering or simple dinner at home with family to life. Settle in because we are going to be here for a while! Did you know? Gumbo is a roux based dark stew that incorporates what is popularly known as the Holy Trinity: onion, bell pepper, and celery, along with a protein of your choice. Prep Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 3 hours Yields: 8-10 servings Gumbo Making Tip: *Low and Slow* The Roux 1 cup flour 1/2 cup vegetable oil The Ingredients 1 lb of Andouille sausage cut into one inch pieces 4 boneless skinned chicken breast, or thighs if you prefer Holy Trinity 1 white onion, chopped 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped 2 celery sticks, chopped 2 quarts water 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce Creole seasoning, to taste 1/2 tsp dried thyme Dash of hot sauce, to taste 5 green onions, chopped 1 tsp File powder, add more to taste, optional White or brown rice, for serving Additional green onion, for garnish Note: Filé powder, sometimes referred to as gumbo filé, is a spicy herb made from the dried and ground leaves of sassafras tree. This is optional as some folks don't prefer the taste of this ingredient. The Directions 1. In a big pot, cook the sausage for about 5 minutes or until browned. Keep the drippings in the pan and set sausage aside. 2. Cook the chicken in the same pot with the sausage drippings until browned, not cooked through. Set the chicken aside and keep the drippings in the pot. 3. Now for the roux! Making a roux takes time and attention, so from personal experience, don't put this on and walk away. If you would like to use a store bought roux you can do that too. We make ours at home and this is how you do it. There are a lot of different shades of roux that you can make, but the best roux for a gumbo is dark brown in color. Over medium low heat, add 1/2 cup vegetable oil to the pan of drippings and slowly sprinkle in the flour while stirring constantly. Cook and stir over the same heat setting for 35-40 minutes or until chocolate brown. I found this roux cooking chart that I really like from "Tastes Better from Scratch" and I thought you might appreciate it too! 4. When your roux is finished stir in your Holy Trinity: 1 chopped onion, 1/2 chopped green bell pepper, and 2 chopped celery sticks. Cook until these ingredients are tender. 5. Add about 2 quarts water, bring to a boil while stirring your ingredients. 6. Add in the chicken, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, Cajun seasoning to taste, and 1/2 tsp dried thyme. Simmer on low for 1 hour. 7. Add in sausage, 5 chopped green onions, and 1 tsp file powder (optional) then simmer for another 45 minutes on low. 8. Remove from heat, serve with a scoop of rice, and garnish with chopped green onions. 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!

Note: I hope you enjoy this little story of mine, I wrote it back in 2019 for Spoken Bride and thought it might be fitting to share as we celebrate the feast of St. Valentine. Novenas, roses, and a fateful road trip to Wisconsin. Steffani knew, coming back from a trip in 2012, that Dominick would be her future husband. But they wouldn’t be married until six years later. Their love story is a beautiful reflection of patience, prayer, and deep friendship that poured over into marriage. At their gorgeous autumn wedding, in true southern style, they made their vows before God and joyfully waltzed the night away with family and friends. From the Bride: Dominick and I met in 2012 during my senior year of college. We were on a road trip with a group of friends to Wisconsin for a mutual friend's wedding. Dominick was an altar server and I was a bridesmaid. When we arrived in Wisconsin, we all spent an evening outdoors at a quaint house settled in the middle of acres of land and corn fields. Dominick gave me his shoes to sit on in the grass, and we immediately clicked over a mutual love of beauty in nature, books, music, art, and theology. We spent the rest of the trip like this: escaping to take nature walks to talk about life and each other, dancing, and star gazing. It all sounds so cliché, but it really was adventurous, romantic, and sweet. It was exactly what I had been praying for after a couple relationships that left me feeling hopeless. I had been writing letters to my future spouse since 2010 about how God was converting my heart. I said countless novenas to St. Joseph for the grace to prepare me and the husband I did not yet know. I also prayed the novena to St. Therese of Lisieux frequently, in which it is said she will deliver a rose as an affirmation of her intercession. When we returned from Wisconsin I knew, perhaps from intuition, that Dominick was the man I was going to marry. Perhaps it was Divine Providence that he asked me to be his girlfriend with a single rose he picked from the garden at the University of St. Thomas, Houston. I took it as a blessing delivered by St. Therese. I didn’t know it was the same garden where he would ask me to be his wife almost six years later, and I would present him with the letters I had been writing and holding on to for almost eight years. God and his saints have a way of planning things better than I ever can, and I kept this reality present and true while preparing for our wedding day. Preparation for the vocation of marriage and not just the wedding day was the heartbeat of our engagement. That was the most common advice shared with us by married couples, and we took that very seriously. We went to confession and Mass often, prayed together more, and read books like Three to Get Married by Venerable Fulton Sheen and By Love Refined by Alice von Hildebrand for discussion. We reminded each other often of the wise words from our sponsor couple: “marriage is not about you, it’s about God.” The highlight of our engagement was our betrothal ceremony, which we performed on the Nativity of Mary to dedicate our sacramental engagement to her Immaculate Conception. We did it with the prayer that Mary might help purify and perfect the “giving of our troth” to each other. We wanted our nuptial Mass to be an expression of God’s gift of beauty. This was our goal, to give back to God what he had given abundantly to us. My husband is a liturgist, and I am a theology teacher and Catholic event planner, so liturgy is a common topic in our relationship. It would no doubt be our top priority and the longest part of our planning. Dominick and I spent much of our relationship going to Mass at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, a Dominican parish filled with gorgeous, detailed architecture, woodwork, and stained glass, so we knew we wanted to get married there. In fact, this was where Dominick would have proposed to me, but it took him too long to get the words out. And so we ended up at the rose garden instead. Coincidence? Not likely! We both love the Traditional Latin Mass, which Dominick grew up with. I was drawn into it during a major conversion through youth ministry and was more accustomed to the Novus Ordo (the most commonly used form of the Mass after Vatican II, usually spoken in the vernacular), as were many of our guests. After we considered doing the Traditional Latin Mass, we decided to use more traditional elements within the Ordinary Form such as chanting the Mass parts in Latin and singing the antiphons with more contemporary songs as the preludes. It was the perfect package of old and new. We wanted to pick readings that were truly expressive of our shared faith, so I picked the Old Testament reading, and he picked the New Testament reading. As a romantic, I chose lines from the Song of Songs which have always spoken to my heart. It is the story of the lover and the beloved, of God pursuing me and my relationship with Dominick being a delightful reflection of that. Dominick chose Ephesians 5, a tough passage, but a reading that we reflected and prayed with throughout our engagement with the help of the deacon who led our marriage prep. It is a reading we encouraged each other to live out, and one that we wanted our guests to hear and hold us accountable to. The highest point of the entire nuptial Mass was receiving the Eucharist with my husband. My soul experienced something in that moment that was beyond understanding. It was an elevation that brought me to tears, and I was fully aware that I was now united to this man in a way I would never be united to any other human being--by sharing Jesus’ Eucharistic sacrifice in an intimate way as husband and wife. My entrance song was “Eternal Source of Light Divine” composed by Handel. We coordinated a schola choir with our musically-talented friends who gifted us with their voices and sang the Ode, which was a heavenly piece as Dominick and I saw one another for the first time. We decided not to do a first look to preserve this moment, but had a private moment of prayer instead and said the last day of our St. Josemaria Escriva novena for a faithful and happy marriage. We were married in November, so we decided on an “autumnal southern charm” styled wedding. The décor was filled with deep, rich gem tones and mauve and gold accent colors. Being very much a southern girl, I knew I wanted a Gone with the Wind, antique, grand feel to our wedding and reception--but on a budget. We found a large plantation-style venue tucked away on a pecan orchard to capture the look we wanted. It was so dreamy. We were extremely fortunate that many of our friends and coworkers donated items we needed like printing, invitations, and decorations. I did a few DIY projects like floral lantern toppers, grand entrance bell wands, and “bride” and “groom” chair wreaths. We splurged here and there on antique pieces, like the mirror we used for our seating arrangement and frames. Our nostalgic invitations echoed our theme as well with mauve calligraphy and deckled edge paper. Our guest book was a poster of two characters made to look like us, and it now hangs nicely in our home. Since my husband is Italian-American, our sweets table was filled with some of our favorite treats made by my mother-in-law. We added Catholic touches by incorporating saints that played important parts in our lives on our table numbers. I got ready before the wedding at Link Lee Mansion, where we also had our rehearsal dinner. It is such a stunning location at our alma mater. I soaked in time with my best friends and listened to their stories about marriage and motherhood while drinking mimosas and being pampered by our hair and make up team. They also gifted me with a basket of wine; one bottle from each of them for a major moment in our marriage with handwritten cards fit to make a bride cry. My favorite moments after Mass were filled with dancing! Our first dance was a waltz to “La Vie En Rose.” My husband and I love to ballroom dance, so we showed each other off with our practiced waltz step. At every Aquila wedding his family circles up and sways back and forth, singing at the top of their lungs, and kicking their legs to the song “New York, New York.” My husband is one of eleven, so the evening was filled with lots of people, joy, and laughter. We also had a private last dance. I stole this idea from a wedding I had worked a couple years before. While people lined up to see us leave, we shared a dance alone in the ballroom to a Glen Hansard song that we sang to each other in our first year of dating. As the song goes, “maybe I was born to hold you in these arms.” Our wedding day was the start of a journey I believe I was truly meant for. Taking time to spiritually prepare the way we did only made our transition into married life that much better. It's not always easy, but knowing that we set a strong foundation of prayer and receiving the sacraments together gives us the graces we need. Savoring all the joy-filled moments of the day and not getting caught up in details I could no longer change put the emphasis back on us, our vocation, and God. We were supported in every step of our engagement by our parish community, family, and friends who constantly poured love and laughter upon us. Dominick and I both believe a relationship is not meant to turn in on itself but is meant to be shared with the Christian community. My cup has run over from the many blessings this provided to us. Photography: Ten23 Photography | Church: Holy Rosary Catholic Church Houston, TX | Reception: The Estates at Pecan Park | Flowers: Mary Tran | Invitations & Stationary- Pax Paper (Dominika Ramos) | Bride's Dress: Allure Bridal | Veil: Custom Cathedral Veil (Cindy Rose) | Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Hair and Makeup: BP Artistry | Rings: Helzberg Diamonds | Groom and Groomsmen Suits: Men's Wearhouse | Cake: Magical Memories Made Simple | DJ: Dave Clark Events

A Quick Glimpse at Our Lady of Lourdes The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is February 11th and one of the most widely known Marian Apparitions to Catholics all over the world. Our Lady appeared to a young girl named St. Bernadette numerous times beginning in 1858 in Southern France. Initially she was met with doubt by local officials who heard her story, but after returning to the grotto several times Our Lady revealed herself to the young girl and many villagers believed her. On March 25th, the feast of the Annunciation, Our Lady revealed herself to Bernadette as the Immaculate Conception. A dogma of the Catholic faith that states, "from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful." Commonly associated with Our Lady of Lourdes is the grotto which she asked St. Bernadette to drink from, water which we now know to be holy water which has healed and cured people of many ailments. You can read more about those miracles here. About This Recipe For this feast day we are making Chicken Cordon Bleu, which sounds much fancier than it actually is to make. This translates to "blue ribbon," which is perfectly fitting for the Marian Apparition where we see Our Lady wearing a wide blue ribbon tied around her waist. Additionally, and not related to Our Lady but still interesting, according to Larousse Gastronomique, a French food encyclopedia, "the phrase dates back to medieval times when the most prestigious order a knight could earn was called the Cross of the Holy Spirit. The honor was signified by a medal that hung from a blue ribbon known as Le Cordon Bleu. Over time, the blue ribbon became a symbol of excellence. The term, meanwhile, became associated with food that meets the highest of standards or that is prepared by the most prestigious chefs." There are a multitude of ways to craft this dinner, but this is how we do it in my home. Let's get dinner going! Prep Time: 12 minutes Bake Time: 30-35 minutes Yields: 4 servings The Ingredients 4 boneless skinless chicken breast, thin sliced 4 pieces of prosciutto 10 slices of swiss cheese 3/4 cup bread crumbs 1 egg Salt Pepper Non-stick cooking spray Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Place the chicken breast on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap or foil and pound down to about 1/4 inch thick. The chicken I purchased, thin sliced, was about this thick. Salt and pepper on both sides. To cover my pieces of chicken I needed two slices of Swiss cheese per piece, perhaps your chicken is a little wider and shorter, just use one piece then. Next, lay the prosciutto across the Swiss cheese. You could also uses slices of ham from the deli, but I prefer prosciutto. Roll the chicken up like a pinwheel, and place a toothpick in the side or the top to keep it secure while it's cooking. Now we are going to dredge the chicken in egg and then breadcrumbs. In one prep bowl, combine one egg and one tbsp water then whisk together. In another bowl, pour in 3/4 cup breadcrumbs. Note: For this part I did have to remove the toothpick momentarily as I placed the chicken roll in the egg, and then the breadcrumbs. Once I completed that process I put the toothpick back in. Bake for 30 minutes then take the chicken out, place half of a Swiss cheese slice across the top, and put back in the oven for about 3 minutes. Check your chicken to make sure it has an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Note: Instead of simply topping with Swiss cheese, you can serve this with a creamy wine sauce or a dijon cream sauce across the top. Slice and serve hot, displaying the side of the pinwheel. Our Lady of Lourdes Prayer for Healing O ever-Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comforter of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings; look with mercy on me. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favours; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with complete confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the grant of my requests. (mention your petition) Through gratitude for your favours, I will endeavour to imitate your virtues, that I may one day share your glory. Amen. Did you make this recipe? If so I would love to see it, drop a picture in the comment or send it to me on social media Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday. For more resources on building Catholic tradition, check out the blog section of my website or follow me on Facebook to see what Catholic things I am doing to make our day to day life more joyful. See you in the Eucharist, Steffani

As a short guide and aid to your February 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 February feast day, but will be a very good start. Feast days that you will find in this post! 1. St. Blaise 2. St. Josephine Bakhita 3. Our Lady of Lourdes 4. St. Valentine Note: This is not a full list of resources on my blog for feast day celebrations, activities, and recipes in the month of February. Go browse around for saints and feast days that are special to you. Enjoy! 😊 The Month of February is Dedicated to the Holy Family St. Blaise- February 3 About We know more about the devotion to Saint Blaise by Christians around the world than we know about the saint himself. His feast is observed as a holy day in some Eastern Churches. In 1222, the Council of Oxford prohibited servile labor in England on Blaise’s feast day. The Germans and Slavs hold him in special honor, and for decades many United States Catholics have sought the annual Saint Blaise blessing for their throats. We know that Bishop Blaise was martyred in his episcopal city of Sebastea, Armenia, in 316. The legendary Acts of St. Blaise were written 400 years later. According to them Blaise was a good bishop, working hard to encourage the spiritual and physical health of his people. Although the Edict of Toleration (311), granting freedom of worship in the Roman Empire, was already five years old, persecution still raged in Armenia. Blaise was apparently forced to flee to the back country. There he lived as a hermit in solitude and prayer, but he made friends with the wild animals. One day a group of hunters seeking wild animals for the amphitheater stumbled upon Blaise’s cave. They were first surprised and then frightened. The bishop was kneeling in prayer surrounded by patiently waiting wolves, lions and bears. The legend has it that as the hunters hauled Blaise off to prison, a mother came with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in his throat. At Blaise’s command the child was able to cough up the bone. Agricolaus, governor of Cappadocia, tried to persuade Blaise to sacrifice to pagan idols. The first time Blaise refused, he was beaten. The next time he was suspended from a tree and his flesh torn with iron combs or rakes. Finally, he was beheaded. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links 1. About the Feast Day 2. The Blessing of St. Blaise 3. Celebrating St. Blaise St. Blaise Prayer O glorious Saint Blaise, who by thy martyrdom didst leave to the Church a precious witness to the faith, obtain for us the grace to preserve within ourselves this divine gift, and to defend, without human respect, both by word and example, the truth of that same faith, which is so wickedly attacked and slandered in these our times. Thou who didst miraculously restore a little child when it was at the point of death by reason of an affliction of the throat, grant us thy mighty protection in like misfortunes; and, above all, obtain for us the grace of Christian mortification, together with a faithful observance of the precepts of the Church, which may keep us from offending almighty God. Amen. Food 1. St. Blaise Pie St. Josephine Bakhita- February 8 About For many years, Josephine Bakhita was a slave but her spirit was always free and eventually that spirit prevailed. Born in Olgossa in the Darfur region of southern Sudan, Josephine was kidnapped at the age of 7, sold into slavery and given the name Bakhita, which means fortunate. She was resold several times, finally in 1883 to Callisto Legnani, Italian consul in Khartoum, Sudan. Two years later, he took Josephine to Italy and gave her to his friend Augusto Michieli. Bakhita became babysitter to Mimmina Michieli, whom she accompanied to Venice’s Institute of the Catechumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. While Mimmina was being instructed, Josephine felt drawn to the Catholic Church. She was baptized and confirmed in 1890, taking the name Josephine. When the Michielis returned from Africa and wanted to take Mimmina and Josephine back with them, the future saint refused to go. During the ensuing court case, the Canossian Sisters and the patriarch of Venice intervened on Josephine’s behalf. The judge concluded that since slavery was illegal in Italy, she had actually been free since 1885. Josephine entered the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa in 1893 and made her profession three years later. In 1902, she was transferred to the city of Schio (northeast of Verona), where she assisted her religious community through cooking, sewing, embroidery, and welcoming visitors at the door. She soon became well loved by the children attending the sisters’ school and the local citizens. She once said, “Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him. What a great grace it is to know God!” The first steps toward her beatification began in 1959. She was beatified in 1992 and canonized eight years later. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links Celebrating St. Josephine With Kids Feast Day Activities for St. Josephine 10 Ways to Celebrate St. Josephine Prayer Food African Peanut Chicken Serves 4 (Fed two adults and a toddler with plenty leftover, so I'm just guessing) Ingredients: 2 lbs skinless bone-in chicken drumsticks and thighs (or equivalent amount of boneless chicken) 1/2 c. peanut butter 1/2 onion (I slice it large so The Husband can pick it out, but if you're cooking for an onion loving crew feel free to increase the amount of onion and chop or mince it) 1 small can crushed tomatoes 3 cloves sliced garlic cumin, cumin seeds, coriander, cinnamon, black pepper (maybe 1 tsp each, or to taste) chili powder, salt (optional) Directions: Put everything in slow cooker and turn to high for 4 hours or until chicken is cooked through. (If you cook for a longer time on low, the chicken will fall apart and you'll need to fish out the bones. If you want more like shredded chicken, I would recommend using boneless thighs.) (Catholic Cuisine) Our Lady of Lourdes - February 11 About On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. A little more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the apparition on March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Bernadette was a sickly child of poor parents. Their practice of the Catholic faith was scarcely more than lukewarm. Bernadette could pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Creed. She also knew the prayer of the Miraculous Medal: “O Mary conceived without sin.” During interrogations Bernadette gave an account of what she saw. It was “something white in the shape of a girl.” She used the word aquero, a dialect term meaning “this thing.” It was “a pretty young girl with a rosary over her arm.” Her white robe was encircled by a blue girdle. She wore a white veil. There was a yellow rose on each foot. A rosary was in her hand. Bernadette was also impressed by the fact that the lady did not use the informal form of address (tu), but the polite form (vous). The humble virgin appeared to a humble girl and treated her with dignity. Through that humble girl, Mary revitalized and continues to revitalize the faith of millions of people. People began to flock to Lourdes from other parts of France and from all over the world. In 1862 Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions and authorized the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes for the diocese. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became worldwide in 1907. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links Ideas for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes Ways to Celebrate Our Lady Feast Day Ideas Our Lady of Lourdes Prayer Ever Immaculate Virgin Mother of Mercy, Health of the sick, refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings; look with mercy on me. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure for their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with complete confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the grant of my requests. Through gratitude for your favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues, that I may one day share your glory. Amen. Food Chicken Cordon Bleu St. Valentine - February 14 About Well, there was a priest named Valentine who lived in Rome in the third century. He was put in prison because he helped some Christians who were going to be executed by a cruel emperor named Claudius. While Valentine was in prison, he healed the chief warder’s daughter, who was blind, and the warder and all his family became Christians. When Emperor Claudius heard this, he said that Valentine should be executed. And so, on February 14 in the year 269, Valentine was clubbed to death. Then his head was chopped off, just to make sure he was dead. In the same year, another man named Valentine, who was the bishop of Terni (about sixty miles from Rome), was also put to death by Emperor Claudius for being a Christian. Neither saint seems to have anything to do with young lovers. So where do the traditions come from? Some say it is because on this day of the year (in the northern hemisphere) birds pair up and start mating. Others say the day is special for lovers because at that time of year there had been a pagan Roman festival named Lupercalia, when young men took part in a kind of lottery to find a partner. But Lupercalia has nothing to do with either Saint Valentine! (Loyola Press) Quick Links 8 Simple Ways to Celebrate St. Valentine Who and What are We Celebrating Date Night Ideas St. Valentine Day Card Printables St. Valentine Prayer Grant, we beseech you, O almighty God, that we who keep the festival of your holy martyr Valentine, may be delivered by his intercession from all dangers that threaten us. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ: Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen. Food Sharing Dishes for the Feast of St. Valentine Happy Feasting! If you used any of these ideas, share with me on Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday.