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Tradition for the Ages and All Ages Over the last few years Ascension Thursday has developed some delightful traditions in our home, and while this is seemingly a feast that isn't as expressly celebrated, it dates back throughout the ages. In the writings of both St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. John Chrysostom we can find mention of the festivities surrounding the Ascension. In fact, St. Augustine writes about it as well expressing that this was celebrated long before his time. It fascinates me that by being intentional about living out the joy of this feast day, we are continuing a tradition that dates all the way back to the early church. I mention this because of how profound tradition is, by its nature of transmitting truth and happiness from generation to generation. It links us to the past but also provides a way for us to move forward in unison and hope. The Minor Rogation Days Something noteworthy that is also tied to the Solemnity of the Ascension are the rogation days! You may not have heard about them because we are no longer obligated to observe them, but they are quite similar to the ember days which have been back on the rise. I myself had to do some research not long ago because my Catholic planner has them marked and my interest was piqued. There is a major rogation day that happens on the feast of St. Mark, April 24th, and minor rogation days that take place the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday preceding Ascension Thursday. In short, these are days set aside for prayer and fasting during the Spring planting season in hopes for a bountiful harvest. The word “rogation” has its origins in the Latin word “rogare," which means to supplicate or ask God for His mercy, to turn away His anger, and to ask Him to bless the fruits of the earth while protecting us from natural disasters. Traditionally these were observed with abstinence but not fasting since they take place within the Easter season. And I say to you: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Luke 11:9-10, from the Gospel for the Rogation Mass Why a Picnic? Our annual picnic developed from a combined understanding and appreciation for the meaning behind the Ascension and the rogation days. The Ascension, celebrated 40 days after Easter, is the culmination of Jesus' earthly life in which He returns to the Father, body and soul. This divine event is not to simply be interpreted as Christ leaving us, but an encouragement for us to wait and watch for His return. It is a feast that should inspire hope within us as well as anticipation for His return and our eternal life with Him in Heaven. With that, and the anticipatory rogation days, we decided that it was a fitting tradition to sit outside, eat fresh foods, and look towards the beautiful sky. After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11 What to Pack in Your Pic-a-nic Basket If you opened my picnic basket this is what you would find: some sort of cooked bird, food that resembles clouds, fresh fruit and veggies, and something with grapes... usually wine. ;) See below for all the fun and traditional connections! In keeping with the theme of the Ascension, and upward flight or ascending into the sky, we usually have some sort of bird. Here are some recipe examples to get you started! Small Birds, Big Flavors Quail Recipes 40 Chicken Sandwich Ideas You could also do foods that resemble clouds in light of the Scripture passage mentioned earlier. Meringue Clouds Berries and Cool Whip Jell-o Cloud Parfaits In honor of the blessing of the Spring crops, make sure you pack some sort of fruit and/or veggies. Strawberry Cinnamon Butter Spread Fruit Kabobs 20 Great Vegetable Recipes Incorporate your own culture into the menu. We reflected on Italian tradition per our family culture and found that they would bring grapes and beans to Church to have them blessed. Afterward they would then be used as feast for the dead in Heaven. With that in mind we will either keep it simple and have grapes incorporated into a fruit bowl, or I will make something that is grape flavored. Wild Rice with Roasted Grapes and Walnuts Grape and Prosciutto Crostini 5 Minute Grape Sorbet Bless, O Lord, these new fruits of the vine which Thou hast brought to maturity by the dew of heaven, by plentiful rains and by tranquil and favorable weather. Thou hast given us this fruit for our use that we may receive it with thanks in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Time to prepare a menu for us this year, but I'm glad that you read along and I hope you will consider doing this for your family too. If you would like to see what I ended up making, check in on Facebook where I will share more specifics and pictures. Praying for you and your families, please pray for mine too!

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.

Happy feast day to wives and mothers! Today we celebrate a woman who suffered a very difficult marriage with her Pagan husband Patricius who was prone to unfaithfulness and violence towards her and he refused to let their three children be baptized. As the well known story goes, she also had a very painful relationship with her son, St. Augustine, who fell into worldly and sinful ways when she desperately wanted him to become Catholic. She prayed unceasingly for both of these men even when there seemed to be no hope of conversion for either of them and persevered through her heartache until both her husband and son became Catholic. I love this quote from Franciscan Media, as if St. Monica isn't relatable enough this really showcases it. "The circumstances of St. Monica's life could have made her a nagging wife, a bitter daughter in law, and a despairing parent, yet she did not give way to any of those temptations." To celebrate her feast day I made these delicious homemade pretzels. The pretzels are symbolic, folded like her arms were in prayer and the sprinkled salt reminds us of the many tears she cried. If you don't make them for her own feast day you could certainly make them for St. Augustine's which is tomorrow! Prep Time: 15 minutes Rise Time: 1 hour Bake Time 12-14 minutes Yields: 8-10 Pretzels Assemble the Team! For the Dough 1½ cups warm water 1 tablespoon light brown sugar 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2¼ teaspoons active dry or instant yeast (1 packet) 4½ cups all-purpose flour 4 tablespoons unsalted melted butter Coarse salt for sprinkling before baking For the Baking Soda Water Bath 10 cups water 2/3 cup baking soda For the Egg Wash 1 egg yolk 1 tablespoon water After slightly warming 1 1/2 cups water pour it into a glass mixing bowl. Pour 1 tbsp light brown sugar into the warm water. Sprinkle in 2 tsp kosher salt and whisk it around until it is completely dissolved. Should look like this after about 2-3 minutes of whisking. Now pour out one packet of yeast, don't worry about whisking it in! Let the yeast sit on the top of the mixture for about 5 minutes until it begins to foam. While you are waiting you can go ahead and melt 4 tbsps of butter. Before 5 minute picture below. After 5 minute picture below. Nice and foamy! Transfer the mixture to the bowl of your stand mixer and add the melted butter. Pour in 4 1/2 cups flour, I started by pouring in about half before running the mixer and the other half with it on low. Once the mixture is more combined increase the speed to medium until the dough becomes smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. I then lightly floured the counter and my hands so that I could knead it for 5-10 minutes. You can knead it in the stand mixer but my personal preference is to do this by hand. The dough should now be smooth but still a little tacky. Grab a clean and well oiled bowl for the dough to rise in. Put the dough in, roll it around so that the dough is coated on all sides, and cover the bowl with cling wrap. Let it rise for about 45 minutes to an hour, while waiting I spent some time praying and journaling. What are you doing to do? 😊 Look at this monster, it should be at least doubled in size. Before you get started on shaping your pretzels, get the baking soda water bath ready. This is a combination of 10 cups water and 2/3 cup baking soda, bring this to a boil. While we are waiting for that to boil get out two baking sheets and line them with either parchment paper or baking mats. You can also take this time to preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Punch down the air from your dough and place it on the counter. You are going to divide it into 8 pieces but if you want smaller pretzels you could make about 12. After dividing the 8 pieces you are going to roll each one out into roughly 24 inch long ropes, then shape it into a "U". To make the pretzel shape, take the ends and cross them at the top. Give them one more twist and then pull that down the center and pinch the ends to keep them in place. When they are shaped and look like this place them on the baking sheets. Put the pretzels into the boiling water two at a time for about 30 seconds. Take them out with a spatula and place them back on the baking mat twist side up! Now for the egg wash! Mix together one tbsp water and one egg yolk. Brush the top of each pretzel so they have a nice shine. Sprinkle them with course salt and put them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Let them cool for about 5 minutes before serving. In the meantime get out your favorite dips and serve warm, yum! PRAYER TO ST. MONICA Exemplary Mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son, not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God. Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray. 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. For more liturgical living resources check out the blog section of my website or follow me on Facebook to see what Catholic things I am doing to celebrate feast days.

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

We enter into what I've heard some call the "Triduum of Fire," beginning February 1st with the Feast of St. Brigid. Following that on February 2nd we celebrate Candlemas (the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord), and then on February 3rd is the Feast of St. Blaise. These days appropriately mark the midway point between winter and spring, short daylight and darkness, in that each feast is highlighted by fire! More specifically, they each characterize the prophetic words of Simeon "a light to reveal you to the nations," which we can see closely related to each feast. (Lk 2:32). In doing some reading about these feast days I noticed that some like to focus on the Catholic weirdness of these celebrations, getting your candles or throat blessed. Don't get me wrong I am right there with them, being a Catholic is fun and at times very interesting, but there is so much more than that. There is theological depth that makes these feast days quite profound, specifically Candlemas, and completely understated. St. Brigid of Kildare (February 1st) St. Brigid of Kildare was born around 450AD to a Christian woman and slave that was baptized by St. Patrick. She was said to be a very giving and thoughtful girl who became consecrated to a religious order and later became an abbess. The most popular story is about her cloak which she was carrying as she approached the King to give her land to build a monastery. As to be expected he denied her, but in her pleading she countered him by asking for as much land as her cloak would cover. When she and the others there helped her stretch out the cloak, it covered several acres which she was permitted to use for a monastery. Tradition tells us that at the monastery she founded, the nuns kept an eternal fire burning for her. In fact, this fire is said to have lasted from St. Brigid's death in 525 to 1220! It was also said to have been lit again later and burned for 400 years until the Protestant Reformation. Hence, the association of St. Brigid with the perpetual flame. However, I can't go without mentioning, given the words I quoted earlier from Simeon, the fire that Christianizes the Irish pagan rituals. There was a Celtic goddess also named Brigid that was worshipped by many and embodied the element of fire. Before Christianity a fire was kept lit in Kildare (the place St. Brigid is from) for the Celtic goddess Brigid, and women would tend to this ritual fire while praying for good harvests. However, as Christianity began to spread, this ritual flame that was once used as a pagan symbol was Christianized. The many followers that once worshipped the goddess then became followers of Christ through Celtic saints like Brigid. Just as Simeon says, "a light to reveal you to the nations", nations being interpreted as all people, Jews and Gentiles (pagans). Christ is the light that burns perpetually for us to see what is true and makes a way for us to salvation. (Image: Patheos) Candlemas (February 2nd) The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, also known as Candlemas, is celebrated 40 days after Christmas. On this day Joseph and Mary took baby Jesus to the temple to make an offering and dedicate their child to God. In the 1962 missal this feast would have been referred to as the "Purification of Mary," which refers to Mary being considered unclean after giving birth and in need of ritual purification and readmittance into the liturgical life of Israel. Even though this feast day isn't a part of the Christmas season, it is considered a "Christmas feast" given that it is the last one pertaining to Christ's infancy. Candlemas comes from the Canticle of Simeon and the liturgical practices that developed in relation to it. "Lord, now you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people: a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel." Luke 2:29-32 The blessing and procession of candles on this feast day became a common tradition that tapered out for some parishes but is definitely back on the rise. Even if your parish doesn't bless candles as a part of the Mass, you can always bring them with you and ask your priest to bless them for you. After you get home with your blessed candles you can use them for the rest of the liturgical year by putting them on your home altar/ prayer space, lighting them on feast day dinners, lighting them for baptismal anniversaries (especially if you can't find your baptismal candle like me), or putting them in your Advent wreath. Remember, after they are blessed the candles are considered sacramentals, so they are not to be disposed of, but rather burned or buried when you are finished using them. Here is our home altar with the blessed candles on it. (Image: His Girl Sunday) Why the Christmas Tree is Still Up For the last several years I have noticed the charitable disagreement about when Christmas ends and when their tree comes down. Some take their decorations down immediately after Christmas day, others wait until Epiphany, and some the Baptism of the Lord. As for my house, after the Baptism of the Lord when the Christmas Season ends according to the General Roman Calendar, I take down my Christmas decorations. However, I do not take down anything down that directly relates to the infant Jesus or light. More specifically I leave up the nativity scene, Christmas tree, and lit garland which I do because it makes more theological sense. I have actually found in building Catholic tradition and having formally studied theology, that you get the most richness of the Church's traditions when you blend the old and new calendars. So, that is what we do! Candlemas, while technically not in the Christmas season anymore and some would argue never actually was, is still a Christmas feast! We are powerfully reminded that Jesus is the light born for the world in Christmas, and looking forward he is the light of salvation in Easter. Through the words of Simeon, with Christ we can truly see, our eyes are opened! Through liturgical living I want to capture this and be physically reminded of all this meaning and tradition in my home. So, on Candlemas the tree and garland are lit, the candles all have their flames, and we pray on this last infancy feast day for the great gift of the Christ child. (Image: His Girl Sunday) St. Blaise (February 3rd) The "Triduum of Fire" is concluded with the feast of St. Blaise who was a 3rd century bishop that was known for his pastoral care of the faithful. When Blaise was ordered to be arrested he was able to escape by fleeing to the wilderness. It was there that he met a woman in his ministry who later would bring him candles to light his dark and dreary cell when he was eventually captured. It is interesting that we see here again the canticle repeated, not explicitly of course but in meaning. St. Blaise is persecuted under the Roman Empire, pagans, imprisoned by them and kept in darkness. Yet here again there is light: through St. Blaise and his love for Christ, the woman and her care for St. Blaise, and ultimately Christ who transforms everything in His light including Rome which is eventually Christianized. The Blessing of Throats tradition comes from a miracle that St. Blaise performed on a young boy who was said to be choking. St. Blaise blessed the child and he was healed of his ailment. The practice of blessing throats comes from this story and perhaps it is done with two candles sticks crossed over one another in remembrance of the woman that helped St. Blaise light his prison cell. Again, with this feast day and its traditions we are reminded through the flame of the candles that Christ is the light that dispels all darkness. As a way to celebrate all of these feast days I thought I would give brief and easy suggestions for each. Building Tradition at Home St. Brigid: Light a fire in your fireplace or outdoor fire pit and make St. Brigid crosses together. Candlemas: Go to mass and have the candles that you will use in your home for this liturgical year blessed by a priest. Have a candlelit dinner with your lit Christmas tree and/or garland for the last time this season. St. Blaise: Have your throat blessed at Mass and cook fish for dinner. I hope you enjoy the next few days of celebrations with your family and if you need more ideas follow along with me at His Girl Sunday on Facebook. You can also subscribe to get once a month notices of ways to build Catholic tradition at home, fun recipes, and more theology! Let me know what you did at your house by commenting below or sharing with me on Facebook. Have a blessed "Triduum of Fire"!

As a short guide and aid to your January 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 January feast day, but will be a very good start. Feast days that you will find in this post! 1. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 2. St. Agnes 3. St. Sebastian 4. St. Thomas Aquinas Note: This is not a full list of resources on my blog for feast day celebrations, activities, and recipes in the month of January. Go browse around for saints and feast days that are special to you. Enjoy! 😊 The Month of November is Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus St. Elizabeth Ann Seton About Mother Seton is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church. She founded the first American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage. All this she did in the span of 46 years while raising her five children. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a true daughter of the American Revolution, born August 28, 1774, just two years before the Declaration of Independence. By birth and marriage, she was linked to the first families of New York and enjoyed the fruits of high society. Reared a staunch Episcopalian, she learned the value of prayer, Scripture and a nightly examination of conscience. Her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, did not have much use for churches but was a great humanitarian, teaching his daughter to love and serve others. The early deaths of her mother in 1777 and her baby sister in 1778 gave Elizabeth a feel for eternity and the temporariness of the pilgrim life on earth. Far from being brooding and sullen, she faced each new “holocaust,” as she put it, with hopeful cheerfulness. At 19, Elizabeth was the belle of New York and married a handsome, wealthy businessman, William Magee Seton. They had five children before his business failed and he died of tuberculosis. At 30, Elizabeth was widowed and penniless, with five small children to support. While in Italy with her dying husband, Elizabeth witnessed Catholicity in action through family friends. Three basic points led her to become a Catholic: belief in the Real Presence, devotion to the Blessed Mother and conviction that the Catholic Church led back to the apostles and to Christ. Many of her family and friends rejected her when she became a Catholic in March 1805. To support her children, she opened a school in Baltimore. From the beginning, her group followed the lines of a religious community, which was officially founded in 1809. The thousand or more letters of Mother Seton reveal the development of her spiritual life from ordinary goodness to heroic sanctity. She suffered great trials of sickness, misunderstanding, the death of loved ones (her husband and two young daughters) and the heartache of a wayward son. She died January 4, 1821, and became the first American-born citizen to be beatified (1963) and then canonized (1975). She is buried in Emmitsburg, Maryland. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links 1. Activities & Recipes 2. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Crafts 3. Teaching Catholic Kids About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Prayer O God, You called Elizabeth Ann Seton to be an instrument of your loving mercy. Despite loss and sorrow, she was an example of hope and love. Inspire us with your Blessed Sacrament to live our life for others. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Teacher. Amen. Food 1. Apple Pie St. Agnes About Almost nothing is known of this saint except that she was very young—12 or 13—when she was martyred in the last half of the third century. Various modes of death have been suggested—beheading, burning, strangling. Legend has it that Agnes was a beautiful girl whom many young men wanted to marry. Among those she refused, one reported her to the authorities for being a Christian. She was arrested and confined to a house of prostitution. The legend continues that a man who looked upon her lustfully lost his sight and had it restored by her prayer. Agnes was condemned, executed, and buried near Rome in a catacomb that eventually was named after her. The daughter of Constantine built a basilica in her honor. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links Celebrating a Martyrs Feast With Kids St. Agnes Activity Sheet Learning About St. Agnes With Children St. Agnes Prayer Let us gain courage for our own battle by honoring the martyrdom of the glorious virgin Agnes. St. Agnes, vessel of honor, flower of unfading fragrance, beloved of the choirs of Angels, you are an example to the worth of virtue and chastity. O you who wear a Martyr's palm and a virgin's wreath, pray for us that, though unworthy of a special crown, we may have our names written in the list of Saints. Food Garlic Lamb Loin St. Sebastian About Almost nothing is historically certain about Sebastian except that he was a Roman martyr, was venerated in Milan even in the time of Saint Ambrose and was buried on the Appian Way, probably near the present Basilica of St. Sebastian. Devotion to him spread rapidly, and he is mentioned in several martyrologies as early as 350. The legend of Saint Sebastian is important in art, and there is a vast iconography. Scholars now agree that a pious fable has Sebastian entering the Roman army because only there could he assist the martyrs without arousing suspicion. Finally he was found out, brought before Emperor Diocletian and delivered to Mauritanian archers to be shot to death. His body was pierced with arrows, and he was left for dead. But he was found still alive by those who came to bury him. He recovered, but refused to flee. One day he took up a position near where the emperor was to pass. He accosted the emperor, denouncing him for his cruelty to Christians. This time the sentence of death was carried out. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs. He was buried on the Appian Way, close to the catacombs that bear his name. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links Read About His Life Watch His Story St. Sebastian Activities St. Sebastian Prayer Dear Commander at the Roman Emperor's court, you chose to be also a soldier of Christ and dared to spread faith in the King's of King's, for which you were condemned to die. Your body, however proved athletically strong and the executing arrows extremely weak, so another means to kill you was chosen and you gave your life to the Lord. May athletes be always as strong in their faith as you so clearly have been. Amen. Food Chocolate Fruit Skewers St. Thomas Aquinas About By universal consent, Thomas Aquinas is the preeminent spokesman of the Catholic tradition of reason and of divine revelation. He is one of the great teachers of the medieval Catholic Church, honored with the titles Doctor of the Church and Angelic Doctor. At five he was given to the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino in his parents’ hopes that he would choose that way of life and eventually became abbot. In 1239, he was sent to Naples to complete his studies. It was here that he was first attracted to Aristotle’s philosophy. By 1243, Thomas abandoned his family’s plans for him and joined the Dominicans, much to his mother’s dismay. On her order, Thomas was captured by his brother and kept at home for over a year. Once free, he went to Paris and then to Cologne, where he finished his studies with Albert the Great. He held two professorships at Paris, lived at the court of Pope Urban IV, directed the Dominican schools at Rome and Viterbo, combated adversaries of the mendicants, as well as the Averroists, and argued with some Franciscans about Aristotelianism. His greatest contribution to the Catholic Church is his writings. The unity, harmony, and continuity of faith and reason, of revealed and natural human knowledge, pervades his writings. One might expect Thomas, as a man of the gospel, to be an ardent defender of revealed truth. But he was broad enough, deep enough, to see the whole natural order as coming from God the Creator, and to see reason as a divine gift to be highly cherished. The Summa Theologiae, his last and, unfortunately, uncompleted work, deals with the whole of Catholic theology. He stopped work on it after celebrating Mass on December 6, 1273. When asked why he stopped writing, he replied, “I cannot go on…. All that I have written seems to me like so much straw compared to what I have seen and what has been revealed to me.” He died March 7, 1274. (Franciscan Media) Quick Links Celebrate St. Thomas Aquinas Pray This Eucharistic Hymn That He Wrote Discuss This Question Collect Prayer O God, who made Saint Thomas Aquinas outstanding in his zeal for holiness and his study of sacred doctrine, grant us, we pray, that we may understand what he taught and imitate what he accomplished. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Food Grilled Pork Chops Lazio Style Happy Feasting! If you used any of these ideas, share with me on Facebook @HisGirlSunday or Instagram @steffani_hisgirlsunday.

If you want to have a soft, rich, and absolutely delicious muffin to continue on with the last bit of the Christmas season, then drop everything and scroll down. These are easy to make and such a delight on a cool evening with a small cup of coffee or tea and a good book... and a Pomeranian. Panettone is an Italian sweet bread, a small loaf cake, that originated in Milan and is usually enjoyed for Christmas and/or New Years, however, you could also make it for Twelfth Night! Traditionally this is a dome-shaped cake with a light & airy texture, but a rich taste. This used to be a major celebration as the last of the 12 days and the eve of Epiphany. At the start of the evening, “Twelfth Night” cake was eaten, which is a rich cake made with fruit, butter, nuts, & spices. Panettone (Italian Christmas Cake) is the closest thing we have to Twelfth Night cake and goes wonderfully with the season. You should be warned in advance that you will need the proper mold for traditional Panettone. I did not get this in enough time so I adapted and made Panettone Muffins. It is essentially the same thing without the rising process needed to make the bread cake. Prep Time: 15 minutes Dried Fruit Soak Time: 1 hour Bake Time: 18-20 minutes Yields: 12 Muffins Ingredients 1 1/2 cups diced (or whole) dried fruit *We chose raisins, cherries, & cranberries.* I have seen others that do apricots, pineapple, dates, your choice! 1/4 cup mixture of juice of your choice & whiskey *Rum can also be used be we are more whiskey people. 1/4 cup butter 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2/3 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons cake enhancer **OPTIONAL** 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 1/4 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour 2/3 cup milk 2 tablespoons course white sparkling sugar, for topping and this... and this... That's all I promise, this is what happens when I bake hungry, I forget to take a picture of the entire cast and crew together. Instructions Measure out 1 1/2 cups dried fruit of your choice, dice or keep whole. Raisins! Cherries! and Cranberries, oh my! Measure 1/4 cup juice and whiskey mixture. And a little bit into a lowball glass for yourself! Cheers! In a glass bowl, pour the whiskey juice over the dried fruit. Heat the fruit in the microwave until very hot, 3-4 minutes, then allow it to cool at room temperature for an hour. (This is the route that I chose instead of having the dried fruit soak over night, which you are more than welcome to do, I won't stop you!) Whiskey Bath. While that is soaking prepare your wet ingredients. In a medium- sized bowl, combine 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1/4 cup butter, and 2/3 cup granulated sugar until smooth. Beat together until smooth. Add in the two eggs and beat to combine. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and set aside. Go preheat the oven to 375 so that when you are done combing everything the oven is ready for those sweet little muffins! Now give some attention to your dry ingredients. Whisk together 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 1/4 cup Unbleached All-Purpose Flour. *If you are using cake enhancer, combine 2 table spoons of that with the rest. Pour 2/3 cup milk into a measuring cup and get your wet and dry ingredients ready. Pour small portions of your dry ingredients and milk into the wet ingredients by alternating each one until everything is thoroughly combined. Flour Mixture Milk Flour Mixture Milk Until all is smoothly combined! Stir in the fruit along with any remaining liquid. Put muffin cups/liners into a standard muffin tin and spoon the batter into the tin until each is evenly filled to the very top. Optional: sprinkle the tops of the muffins generously with the coarse sugar. Bake the muffins for 18-20 minutes, mine stayed in for 20, or until they are a beautiful golden brown color. You can insert a cake tester, or good old fashioned toothpick, into the middle of one of them to see if it comes out clean. Remove them from the oven, let them cool on a cooling rack, place on a little plate and eat with a nice cup of Christmas tea. Or just eat it off the cooling rack if you're like me. Fruit is evenly distributed, I would say that's a "good bake". Yum! 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. For more liturgical living resources check out the blog section of my website or follow me on Facebook to see what Catholic things I am doing to celebrate feast days.

Annual cookie baking has begun and we are doing my personal favorite, gingerbread cookies. We made these every year when I was little and this tradition brings back such fond memories of my brother and I baking and icing cookies for the neighbors. I have several large gallon bags of Christmas cut outs that were handed down to me, including a full nativity scene! We really make an evening of it. This recipe has truly been perfected over the years so I hope that you enjoy it as much as we do. When I made these for my husband for the first time I put a cookie in one hand and a bowl of cool whip in the other and said, "try it"! He loved it, I mean even more than I anticipated, and if I could come to your house and do the same to you I would. Since I can't do that, let's make them together and then you can slink into blissfulness! Prep Time: 20 minutes Chill Time: 1 hour minimum Cook Time: 8-10 minutes Yields: About 30 cookies Ingredients 3 1/4 cup flour 3/4 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp ginger 1 tbsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp ground nutmeg 3/4 cup unsalted butter 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (I use light brown but you can use dark brown if you prefer) 1 large egg 1/2 cup molasses 2 tsps vanilla Directions: 1. Whisk together 3 1/4 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp baking soda, 1 tbsp ginger, 1 tbsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg, and 1 tsp cloves. 2. In your stand mixer with the paddle attachment combine 3/4 cup unsalted butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar for about two minutes until it is light and fluffy. 3. Add in 1 egg, 1/2 cup molasses, and 2 tsps vanilla to the stand mixer and thoroughly combine. 4. Put your mixer on low and sprinkle in the flour mixture until the dough has come together. You may have to work this off the sides of the mixing bowl occasionally. 5. Divide the dough into two equal balls then flatten to about an inch thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for a minimum of one hour. Note: You can also chill this dough overnight! The next day when you are ready to shape and bake your cookies, first allow the dough to sit on the countertop for about 15 minutes to soften. Why Chill? Simple, we want the gingerbread cutouts to hold their shape and this does the trick. 6. Take the dough out and let it soften for about 5-10 minutes. 7. Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and cut into your favorite shapes. 8. Place them on a lined cookie sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes. 9. Remove them from the oven and let them cool on a baking rack for at least 5 minutes before decorating them. 10. You can pipe these with white icing for a simple and classic look, or you can go to town with sprinkles, gum drops, and other candies. Sometimes I decorate them and other times I just keep them plain and serve with cool whip and hot chocolate. Whatever you choose to do, I hope that you enjoy them. 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.

Wishing you all a blessed Solemnity of Christmas and lots of joy through the octave and season! Thank you for a year of living liturgically with me, and for supporting my family through Liturgy Market. May you have the gift of faith, the blessing of hope, and the peace of His love at Christmas and always. "God rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son. Through him we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creatures." - Colossians 1:13-15 See you in the Eucharist, Steffani

Have you heard of the three epiphanies? These three distinct but theologically interwoven events in the life of Christ used to be celebrated all within the period of time called Epiphanytide. The term epiphany means to manifest or reveal, and these events are actions that God takes to reveal Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is meant to direct us to the greatest epiphany which will be that of His second coming. The three epiphanies are: 1. The Epiphany: The Magi coming from the East to find the Christ child 2. The baptism of Christ in the Jordan river 3. The wedding feast at Cana where Jesus turns water into wine Dom Gueranger O.S.B. writes in The Liturgical Year, “The Sixth of January… unite[s] three manifestations of Jesus’ glory: the mystery of the Magi coming from the East, under the guidance of a star, and adoring the Infant of Bethlehem as the divine King; the mystery of the Baptism of Christ, who, whilst standing in the waters of the Jordan, was proclaimed by the Eternal Father as Son of God; and thirdly, the mystery of the divine power of the same Jesus, when he changed the water into wine at the marriage-feast of Cana.” (Liturgical Year, Vol. III, p. 108) Epiphanytide has since fallen away in the Novus Ordo calendar of the West, but for many it is a period of time that is still honored. "Instead of having Christmastide turn into...Ordinary Time..., traditional Catholics will celebrate Christmastide, Epiphanytide, Septuagesima, and then finally begin the penance of Lent." (A Catholic Life). In fact, of the privileged Octaves, Epiphany ranks even higher than Christmas. For reference: Privileged Octaves Privileged Octaves of the First Order Octave of Easter Octave of Pentecost Privileged Octaves of the Second Order Octave of Epiphany Octave of Corpus Christi Privileged Octaves of the Third Order Octave of Christmas Octave of the Ascension Octave of the Sacred Heart Common Octaves Octave of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM Octave of the Solemnity of St. Joseph Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist Octave of Saints Peter and Paul Octave of All Saints Octave of the Assumption of the BVM Simple Octaves Octave of St. Stephen Octave of St. John the Apostle Octave of the Holy Innocents You can read more about why we should celebrate Octaves here. As I began to do further reading about the changes to the liturgical calendar, specifically with regard to Epiphany, I came across a lot of discrepancies and even some very popular blog writings with errors. With this in mind I decided I should probably put that Masters in Theology to work and do my own studying, so I read the writings of liturgical theologians, reviewed Roman Missals from over the years, and consulted with a couple of reputable priests. For those of you that appreciate understanding the liturgical calendar, buckle up for an brief overview. The Then & Now View The Catholic Church's liturgical calendar underwent many revisions over the years, including smaller ones between 1955 to 1962. This overview will be of Christmastide according to the 1962 Roman Missal. The Christmas cycle includes 3 main parts, Advent to Christmas, Christmas to January 14th (the day following the feast of the Baptism of the Lord), and from January 14th to Septuagesima Sunday. The Christmas season, also known as Christmastide, begins with Christmas Eve on December 24th. It includes an 8 day octave beginning on Christmas day and ending on January 1st. The octave also contains special feast days like St. Stephen and the feast of the Holy Innocents. Within the same Christmas season we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany which occured on January 6th every year, 12 days after Christmas. As a side note, the first Sunday after Epiphany was the feast of the Holy Family, that feast is now within the Octave of Christmas. Even before this point in 1962 the octave of Epiphany had already been removed as a result of the 1955 revisions. The feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the second epiphany, took place on January 13th in the Christmas season. And on the second Sunday after the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, the Church would recall and celebrate Jesus' first miracle at the wedding feast of Cana, the third epiphany. All three of these epiphanies would fall within Epiphanytide. Epiphanytide is still a part of Christmastide in 1962. I have seen some writers separate these as if the Christmas season ends and the Epiphany season begins, this is not accurate. Epiphanytide is distinct in its liturgical themes and focus, but it is still a part of the Christmas season. It goes from January 14th to Septuagesima Sunday, which is moveable, and the Sundays would be labeled as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. Sunday after Epiphany. After that we would enter into pre-lent, the weeks known as the "gesimas," and that would lead us into Lent. Currently, in the Novus Ordo calendar, there still remains a lack of an Epiphany octave, and there is also not a recognizable Epiphanytide where we use that language to describe the Sundays after the Solemnity of the Epiphany. We celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, traditionally January 6th, for one day and in the United States the celebration of Epiphany is moved to the Sunday between January 2nd-8th. The Christmas season ends on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. While we can still see two of the epiphanies present in the Christmas season of the current calendar, most do not even know that the Baptism of the Lord is considered an epiphany, and the wedding feast at Cana is entirely left out. I could go into why this hurts my theology lovin' heart, and I'm sure that you can gather why, but I won't get into that right now. What I will take time to further explain is how we can engage in the customs associated with each epiphany so that your Christmas season (old calendar style) is filled with meaning and tradition. The Solemnity of the Epiphany 1. Obtain Epiphany water for your home The traditional day for Epiphany water to be blessed was on January 5th, the vigil of the Epiphany. You can read more about the connection between water and the visit of the Magi below. While the feast of Epiphany in the Roman Rite is primarily focused on the visit of the Magi, historically it was more focused on the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. For this reason, there developed a special blessing of Epiphany water in memory of Jesus sanctifying the waters of Baptism. The emphasis of the blessing, however, was less on the commemoration of Jesus’ baptism and more on the symbolic nature of water as a cleansing agent. In this way, the blessing of Epiphany water in the Roman Rite was used to cast out Satan and all his demonic angels. It is a powerful blessing, one that uses strong language to invoke the power of God over evil. It reminds us of the spiritual power of holy water and encourages us to use it in faith, trusting in the protecting help of God over our spiritual enemies. (Philip Kosoloski) To learn more about types of holy water, click here. 2. Bless your home and chalk your doors Partake in this time-honored tradition by chalking your door lintel with the formula 20+C+M+B+23. The CMB hold two meanings, the first being the initials of the Magi: Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar. Secondly, it is the abbreviation for the Latin phrase, christus mansionem benedicat, which translates to, "May Christ bless this house." The "+" represent the sign of the cross and the "20" at the beginning and "23" at the end tell us the year. We do this as a way to ask God to bless our home and all who dwell in it throughout the year. I have Epiphany blessing kits with everything that you need here. While a priest or the head of the household can bless the home and chalk the doors, only a priest can bless the chalk. Again, I have seen it written by bloggers with large followings that the lay faithful can bless the chalk, and it is simply not the case. If you want your chalk to be used as a sacramental then it must have a constitutive blessing that can only come from a bishop, priest, or deacon. If you would like to learn more about constitutive blessings you can read more here. Chalk is customarily blessed on January 6th by a priest using the Rituale Romanum, though nowadays typically only done by more traditional parishes. The chalk is a sacramental, intended for the blessings of homes. It may only be blessed by a priest. (OnePeterFive) For the full Epiphany Home Blessing, click here. 3. Make king cake In many Catholic countries across Europe the feast of the Epiphany would be celebrated with a King Cake in honor of the Magi. Inside this cake would be a small baby Jesus figurine or another trinket and whoever had the small token in their piece of cake would be the king for the day. That individual would also be the one who had to host next year's Epiphany party. You can read more about that or get a small nativity set here. 4. Exchange gifts In imitation of the Magi, I know several families who wait to open or exchange gifts until the feast of the Epiphany. This might be a meaningful way to experience this feast day too, give it a try. The Baptism of the Lord 1. When we look to commemorate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we should really think of our own baptisms and consider how we can renew those promises in our everyday lives. If you click this link, you will find my 10 ways for celebrating this feast day. The Wedding Feast at Cana John’s Gospel … invites us to consider as an “epiphany” the Wedding at Cana, during which, by changing the water into wine, Jesus “manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him” (Jn 2:11). (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, homily) 1. Married couples, remember your own wedding and give thanks to God for the many blessings He has done through your marriage. Do something special together, make it a date night. 2. Have a glass of wine this evening in remembrance of Jesus turning water into wine. 3. Pray this Catholic marriage prayer For one couple: O God, who in creating the human race willed that man and wife should be one, keep, we pray, in a bond of inseparable love those who are united in the covenant of Marriage, so that, as you make their love fruitful, they may become, by your grace, witnesses to charity itself. Through Christ our Lord Amen. (USCCB) 4. Make Italian Wedding cake as a dessert for this evening. By learning more about the liturgical year and the rich theology that it is filled with, I hope that you too are inspired to engage in it through prayer and tradition. The three epiphanies are glorious feast days that can draw us into a deeper awareness of how God divinely manifests Himself in our lives and ready us for when He comes again. As always I am so happy to hear about what you learned and the ways that you will live liturgically. Share with me by signing up to comment or through Facebook or Instagram. FB: @hisgirlsunday Insta: @steffani_hisgirlsunday