Most of us associate December with Christmas music, joyful carols, bright melodies, and familiar refrains that fill stores, streets, and homes. But before the celebration of Christmas comes the quiet season of Advent, and it has a soundtrack all its own. I didn’t know this when I first began exploring the beauty of the liturgical calendar. Like many, I moved straight from Thanksgiving dinner to “Joy to the World.” But Advent has its own songs, ancient and yearning for a coming king who will set the world to rights. They are full of hope and longing. And when we make space for them, they shape our hearts for the season ahead. Why Advent Music Matters Advent music sets a tone that’s intentionally different from Christmas music. While carols celebrate Christ’s birth, Advent hymns recognize the world’s deep longing for redemption. They give voice to our waiting, our desire for light, healing, and peace in a world that still groans under the weight of darkness. Take the ancient hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel . With its haunting melody and scriptural lyrics, it reflects the ache of Israel, and of all of us, for a Savior. O come, O come Emmanuel,And ransom captive IsraelThat mourns in lonely exile hereUntil the Son of God appear. The refrain, “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel”—perfectly captures the paradox of Advent: joy promised, but not yet fulfilled. Another powerful Advent hymn is Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending . It shifts our gaze from Bethlehem to Christ’s second coming in glory, reminding us that Advent is about more than looking back. It’s about looking ahead. Lo! He comes with clouds descending,Once for our salvation slain;Thousand thousand saints attendingSwell the triumph of His train.Alleluia! God appears on earth to reign. Advent hymns invite us to feel the weight of our waiting, and to hope more deeply because of it. Resisting the Pull of Christmas Music I’ll admit, it’s not easy to resist Christmas music in December. It’s everywhere, from radio stations to store speakers, and it’s easy to get swept up in its cheer. But by embracing Advent music during this season of preparation, we create a sense of space and anticipation that allows Christmas to shine even brighter when it comes. In our home, we wait until Christmas Eve to begin playing Christmas carols. Throughout Advent, we focus on music that reflects the themes of longing, waiting, and expectation. And when the first notes of O Come All Ye Faithful ring out at our Christmas Eve service, they feel weighty and meaningful in a new way, because we’ve been waiting for them. Advent Playlists to Enrich the Season To help you make room for the songs of this season, I’ve created two playlists, one traditional, one contemporary. You can listen while lighting candles on your Advent wreath, driving to school, or reflecting quietly in the evening. These songs are companions for your waiting. Traditional Advent Playlist This playlist features beloved hymns that have been sung by Christians for generations. Songs like Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence and O Come, Divine Messiah connect us to the long hope of the Church throughout the centuries. They offer a sense of reverence, stillness, and deep theological richness. Contemporary Advent Playlist This playlist highlights modern songs that echo the themes of Advent in fresh and thoughtful ways. Artists like Andrew Peterson, Audrey Assad, and Mission House bring the longing of the season into today’s musical language. It’s a beautiful way to experience the same deep truths with a modern voice. Advent music is a quiet gift. It helps us pause. It gives voice to our waiting. And it roots us in the sacred tension of the season, that Christ has come, and yet we still long for His coming again. By making space for Advent music now, we prepare our hearts more fully for Christmas. The joy, when it comes, will not feel rushed or routine. It will feel earned. It will feel real. So this Advent, I invite you to let these songs fill your home, your heart, and your family’s rhythms. Light a candle, sit in the quiet, and listen. Let the music lead you deeper into the season. Do you have a favorite Advent hymn or playlist? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. HUGE DISCLAIMER! - I get it, it can be hard to give up Christmas music and only listen to Advent music during Advent. A solution that we came up with was to let our kids listen to secular Christmas music all they wanted to during Advent because songs like “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” have nothing to do with Jesus and then we added in lots of Advent hymns.

On the last Sunday of the liturgical year, Christians around the world celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. Though a relatively new addition to the Church calendar, this feast carries deep theological significance. It proclaims what the Church has always believed: that Jesus Christ is not only our Savior, but our King, reigning now and reigning forever. This feast was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in response to the social, political, and cultural upheaval that followed World War I. In the years after the war, Europe was fractured. Millions had died or been wounded, economies had collapsed, and people were turning away from traditional institutions, including the Church. Secular ideologies were gaining influence, and dictators like Mussolini and Stalin were beginning to rise. Pius XI recognized that people were placing their hope in political figures and ideologies, rather than in God. In response, he wrote the encyclical Quas Primas and established the Feast of Christ the King. His goal was to remind the faithful that Christ’s authority extends beyond private religious devotion and into every part of our lives, personal, political, and societal. Christ is not merely King of our hearts; He is King of all creation. The Kingship of Christ When we speak of Christ as King, we mean that He holds authority over all things, over the heavens and the earth, over nations and history, over our minds, wills, and hearts. His kingship is not based on conquest or coercion, but on sacrificial love. Christ reigns not from a golden throne, but from the cross. His crown was made of thorns. His rule is marked by humility, service, and redemption. This is the paradox of the Christian faith: the King of the universe came not to be served but to serve. He gave Himself for us, conquered sin and death through His resurrection, and ascended to the right hand of the Father. From there, He reigns now, even as we await His return in glory. A Present Reality and a Future Hope The Feast of Christ the King reminds us that Christ’s reign is both a present reality and a future hope . Today, He reigns in the hearts of those who submit to His lordship and live according to His Word. His kingdom is breaking in, even now, wherever justice, mercy, and love take root. And yet, we also look ahead with expectation. The feast carries an eschatological weight, pointing us to the day when Christ will return to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will be fully realized. As St. Paul writes in Philippians: “Therefore God has highly exalted himand bestowed on him the name that is above every name,so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.”— Philippians 2:9–11 It is fitting, then, that the Church places this feast at the very end of the liturgical year. We close the year by proclaiming Christ’s victory and sovereignty, and we begin the new year, on the first Sunday of Advent, by waiting for His coming. The rhythm of the Church year reminds us of the great mystery of our faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Stir-Up Sunday Long before the Feast of Christ the King was established, the final Sunday before Advent was already known in the Anglican tradition as “Stir-Up Sunday.” The name comes from the opening words of the collect for the day in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer : “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people;that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works,may by thee be plenteously rewarded;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” Because of this collect, it became traditional in England to prepare and “stir up” the Christmas pudding on this day. Families would gather in the kitchen and stir the batter together, often from East to West in honor of the journey of the Magi. Coins or charms were sometimes hidden inside the pudding, believed to bring blessings to the one who found them on Christmas Day. Though it may seem like a lighthearted tradition, it beautifully echoes the spiritual posture of the season: preparation . Stir-Up Sunday marks a turning point, reminding us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. How to Celebrate Christ the King Sunday Like all liturgical feasts, Christ the King Sunday can be marked in both your home and your church. Here are some ways to honor this day: Reflect on Scripture Read Revelation 17:14 and 1 Timothy 6:11–16 together as a family or small group. Talk about how Christ’s kingship differs from worldly power. Pray the Collect Use the collect for Christ the King Sunday from the Book of Common Prayer: “Almighty and everlasting God,whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son,the King of kings and Lord of lords:Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth,divided and enslaved by sin,may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule;who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, now and forever. Amen.” Add Crowns to Sacred Images Place gold crowns on crosses or crucifixes. Make paper crowns for children to decorate and wear. Add crowns to icons or images of Jesus in your home. Prepare a Feast Dress in your best clothes and set the table with beautiful linens and candles. Serve “kingly” foods like chicken à la king , pork crown roast , or even a Christ the King pound cake (a golden bundt cake shaped like a crown). Listen to hymns such as “Crown Him With Many Crowns” or “Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven.” Stir Up a Pudding If you’d like to try the English tradition, stir together a plum pudding (or any favorite dessert) and take turns making prayers or wishes as a family. Even if you don’t bake, reading the collect together is a beautiful way to mark the day. A Feast for Every Season Though the Feast of Christ the King was established in response to a particular historical moment, its message is timeless. In every age, the Church must proclaim the lordship of Christ. In every generation, we are called to resist the false kings of power, wealth, and self, and to kneel before the only King who is worthy. In a world that feels increasingly fractured, this feast is a reminder that we are not lost. We are part of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We belong to a King who rules with justice, mercy, and love. As we prepare to enter Advent, let us do so with hearts stirred up, with eyes lifted high, and with joyful confidence in the One whose kingdom has no end. the recipe - Christ the King Pound Cake 3 cups sugar ½ cup shortening 2 sticks butter, room temperature 6 eggs, room temperature 3 cups flour ¼ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon rum extract 1 teaspoon coconut extract Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Cream shortening, butter, and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift dry ingredients together. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Add extracts and blend well. Pour batter into a buttered and floured 10-inch bundt pan. Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

“Let it be our care and delight…” All of Scripture is a sacred love story, the love of God the Father for His people. It’s a story of longing and fulfillment, a holy ache running through every page. From the very beginning, God has walked with us, called to us, and searched for us, even when we turned from Him again and again. The Old Testament reads like a deep breath held: a people longing to be made whole, and a God who never stops calling them back. Through the prophets, God speaks promises, of redemption, of restoration, of hearts made new. And always, those promises point to a coming Savior. One who will rescue, restore, and reconcile. One who will draw us back into fellowship with the God who made us. Each Advent, we join in that long waiting. We stand with the prophets. We wait with all creation. We listen to the silence that followed their words, for 400 years, and then, from the quiet, something begins. God stretches out His hand to a small town. To a young girl. To a quiet “yes.” And time itself is changed. The Incarnation Begins Here The God of the universe humbles Himself. He makes Himself small. Flesh. A helpless babe. And this moment, the coming of Christ in the Incarnation, is so significant, so earth-shifting, that the Church begins her calendar right here. The first day of the Church year is the first Sunday of Advent . The word Advent comes from the Latin Adventus , meaning “coming.” It is a season of preparation, for the coming of Christ at Christmas, and also for His return in glory at the end of time. It is not just a countdown to Christmas.It is a season all its own. A time of sacred anticipation. In her book Around the Year with the Trapp Family , Maria Von Trapp writes that “the whole of Advent is characterized by the boundless desire for the coming of Christ expressed in the liturgy.” We feel that desire in the prayers, in the hymns, in the slowly growing light of the Advent wreath.We hear it in the cry of the Church: Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus. Preparing the Way As Lent prepares us for Easter, Advent prepares us for the coming of Christ. We listen to the voice of John the Baptist, the final prophet, crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. We turn inward. We ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts, to reveal what is unclean, and to help us bear the fruit of repentance. Advent is not just a season for candles and carols. It is a time of real soul preparation. And that preparation leads us to outward action as well. We remember the Holy Family, poor, weary, with nowhere to lay their heads, and we look with compassion on those in our own communities who have little. We give alms. We extend generosity. We soften toward those around us, and we make room, for others, and for Christ. As Maria Von Trapp so beautifully says, this season is given so that our souls might be restored, and so that we, as the Church, might be led “into a more profound delight in His birth.” A Season Missing from the World And yet, Advent is so often absent. Our world skips right from Halloween to Christmas decorations, and then tosses them aside before December 26th. The beauty and the mystery of the season is lost. Even in many Christian homes, Advent is overlooked, replaced by busyness and bright lights and a vague “holiday season” that has little to do with the Christ child. We are left with sentimentality instead of incarnation.A celebration without preparation.A season without a Savior. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can reclaim Advent. We can mark it with quiet. With candlelight. With prayer. With intention. The Church Leads the Way The Church, in her wisdom, invites us back.She gives us a different rhythm.And through her liturgy, she shows us how to wait. Each year, at the Festival of Lessons and Carols , the Advent Bidding Prayer is spoken. It is one of the most beautiful expressions of this season, a call to remember, to long, and to prepare. Beloved in Christ , in this season of Advent,let it be our care and delight to prepare ourselvesto hear again the message of the Angels,and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem,to see the Babe lying in a manger.Let us read and mark in Holy Scripturethe tale of the loving purposes of Godfrom the first days of our disobedienceunto the glorious Redemptionbrought us by his holy Child,and let us look forward to the yearly remembranceof his birth with hymns and songs of praise. (Book of Occasional Services, 2004) This is the heart of Advent. A sacred pause. A slow unfolding. A season to prepare Him room. Not just in our homes. But in our hearts. For more on celebrating Advent in your home, The Liturgical Home: Advent

All of Scripture is a sacred love story, the love of God the Father for His people. It is a story filled with expectation, longing, and fulfillment. From the beginning, God has lovingly walked with us, called to us, and searched for us even when we turned from Him over and over again. Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly calls his people back to himself and time and again we remain unfaithful. He sends the prophets to call His people back and with the call to return comes a promise, a promise of hope, a promise of redemption, a promise of restoration, a promise to be made again into the people we were meant to be, a people fully alive in God. These saving acts of God will be accomplished through a Savior who will come to rescue us and bring us back into fellowship with God. No longer will we strive with God. No longer will we be separated from Him. No longer will we turn from Him because, through His Savior, His Messiah, His Anointed One, He will give us new hearts and set us free. Each Advent, we wait with the prophets and with all of creation for the birth of the promised Savior. The prophets’ call grows silent for 400 years and then suddenly, out of nowhere, the Almighty God stretches forth His hand to a small town and calls a seemingly insignificant young girl and she says “Yes.” The God of the universe humbles himself and makes himself flesh, to fully walk with us in our joy and sorrow. He takes the form of a helpless babe. It is a great mystery. It is the Incarnation. It is God with us, Emmanuel. This event is so spectacular, so exceptional, and so important that time itself starts here. The first day of the Church year is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent comes from the Latin “Adventus” and simply means "coming." The season of Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and is a time for us to prepare not only for the celebration of the coming of Christ as a babe on Christmas Day, but also for the second coming of Christ when he will return in triumph to judge the world. In her book, Around the Year with the Trapp Family , Maria Von Trapp says that the “whole of Advent is characterized by the boundless desire for the coming of Christ expressed in the liturgy” of the Church. And so we cry out with the Church and with all our hearts: “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!” And, like creation from Adam until the last prophet, or like Mary expectant with child, we embrace the mystery of waiting and we lovingly prepare our hearts. Just like the season of Lent is a time to prepare for Easter, the season of Advent is the time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. It is during this time that we look to John the Baptist, the last and greatest prophet sent by God to prepare us for the Messiah. We turn inward and pray for the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and our motives and to reveal anything that is unclean within us. We repent of our sins and we strive to offer fruits worthy of repentance. Advent is also a time to remember those less fortunate than us, those who, like the Holy Family, have very little in this life and no place to rest their weary heads. It is a time to collect alms for the poor and to stretch out our hands in a spirit of charity to bless and heal those around us. The preparation of Advent is given so that our souls may be restored and so that we might be led, as a Church, into a “more profound delight in His birth” (Maria Von Trapp). Although the Church celebrates the season, Advent is absent from the everyday world in which we live. And sadly, it is also often missing from our own homes. Our entire Christian faith is based upon the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. However, in the world in which we live, we are given no time to prepare for the birth of our Lord and Savior and then no time to celebrate it once we get there. Christmas decorations explode into stores right after the Halloween merchandise comes down and then the season abruptly ends the day after Christmas. The very heart of both Advent and Christmas - Jesus - has been ripped away and all we are left with is an abstract “Holiday” season. Songs of “Frosty the Snowman” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” blare over the loudspeaker and we are wished a “Happy Holidays” rather than a “Merry Christmas” by the checkout clerk. The Christmas season has become completely devoid of Christ. For the wider world, it is no better than a hyper-commercialized pagan Holiday. But, let us, as God’s people, reclaim the beauty and longing of the season of Advent and celebrate it with the Church throughout the world. Hear these words from the Bidding Prayer which is said each year at the Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols: "Beloved in Christ, in this season of Advent, let it be our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem, to see the Babe lying in a manger. Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by his holy Child, and let us look forward to the yearly remembrance of his birth with hymns and songs of praise." Book of Occasional Services (2004), p. 31.

Introducing the Liturgical Home Liturgical Year Planner A simple way to organize your life around sacred time. Each year, as we prepare to walk through the seasons of the Church — Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time, I find myself looking for meaningful tools to help me stay rooted. Not just organized, but anchored. Not just productive, but prayerful. That’s why I created The Liturgical Home: Liturgical Year Planner —a softbound, 8.5 x 11” planner designed to help you live each day in rhythm with the Church calendar. Whether you’re managing a home, homeschooling, serving in ministry, or simply trying to stay connected to the sacred in the midst of the everyday, this planner was made for you. It’s not about doing more. It’s about remembering what matters most , and letting the year unfold with peace and purpose. What’s Inside: This planner gently guides you through the 2025–2026 liturgical year with: Monthly Calendars Each month includes key feast days, fasts, and liturgical seasons, already marked and ready to guide your planning. Seasonal Overviews Learn the meaning and themes of each liturgical season, with short reflections to ground your time in the Church year. Weekly Planning Pages Spacious weekly layouts help you track commitments while making room for what’s eternal, not just urgent. Monthly To-Do Lists Space to keep track of what needs to be done, without overwhelm. Liturgical Recipes One seasonal recipe each month, rooted in tradition, perfect for marking feast days with family or friends. Who It’s For Parents seeking to bring the Church year into their home life Teachers or homeschoolers planning around the liturgical seasons Individuals who want their time to reflect their faith Anyone longing for less hustle and more sacred rhythm You don’t need to know everything about the liturgical calendar to use this. You just need a desire to live more intentionally and a willingness to begin. Rooted in Rhythm, Not Rush This planner isn’t packed with productivity hacks. It won’t ask you to hustle your way through holy time. Instead, it offers space, space to write, space to reflect, and space to follow the slow, steady unfolding of the Church year. It’s a companion for the season ahead. One you can return to again and again, as you learn to mark your days not just by deadlines, but by meaning . Now Available The Liturgical Home Liturgical Year Planner (2025–2026) is available now. I hope it serves you as you walk through this next year with eyes lifted and heart rooted in Christ. Click here to order your copy !

Not Christmas. Not Yet. Before the lights, before the feasting, before the joy of Christmas morning,there is Advent. A quiet season. A sacred invitation.A time for waiting. It can be easy to skip past it. To reach straight for the decorations and the sparkle and the fullness of December. But the Church, in her wisdom, offers us something different, a beginning that begins in the dark. Advent isn’t a countdown to Christmas. It’s not just a festive lead-up to the big day. It’s a season all its own, and it invites us into something deeper. We light candles slowly, week by week.We pray ancient prayers of longing.We prepare Him room, not just in our homes, but in our hearts. This is a season for holy anticipation.Not because everything is already bright and joyful, but because we believe the Light is coming. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing gentle ways to mark the season at home: prayers and Scripture readings, simple traditions, recipes like St. Lucy’s Day buns, and small practices that help us live into Advent without rushing or pressure. My hope is that by the time Advent arrives, you’ll feel prepared, not in a busy or performative way, but in that deep, quiet sense of readiness that Advent calls for. So for now, hold off just a little longer on Christmas. Let your heart begin with waiting. It’s nearly time. AND if you’d like help walking through the season of Advent , I’ve created a guidebook with everything you need to celebrate the season in your home. In The Liturgical Home: Advent , is designed for individuals and families alike. This beautiful guide weaves together history, daily devotions, and beloved traditions and recipes from around the world, making it easy to honor Advent in meaningful ways at home. Inside, you’ll discover: Daily devotions and prayers to guide you through each day of Advent The stories behind cherished Advent traditions, like the Advent wreath, St. Nicholas Day, and more Traditional recipes and activities from different around the world, perfect for bringing family and friends together A deeper look into the significance of Advent, helping you connect with its purpose and beauty So this year, what if we did things a little differently? Let’s step off the fast track to December 25th and allow ourselves to journey through Advent with intention so that when Christmas finally arrives, we can enter it with open hearts and unhurried joy. Let’s reclaim the beauty of this special season and find, in its rhythm, a deeper and more meaningful way to celebrate.

Happy second day of November! The year grows quieter. Leaves fall, days shorten, and the Church invites us to look both backward and forward, with gratitude for those who’ve gone before us, and with watchful hope for what is to come. This is the month of saints, of vigils and prayers spoken softly in the candlelight. It is a time to reflect on eternity while tending to the present with faithfulness. We begin in the company of the Church Triumphant and end with hearts turning toward Advent, ready to wait again for Light to enter the world. I’m so grateful to journey through it with you! Here’s an overview with helpful links: November 1st - All Saints’ Day November 23rd - Christ the King Sunday November 30th - The First Sunday of Advent Current Season: Ordinary Time During the month of November, we wrap up our journey through the season of Ordinary Time. Here is a helpful article overviewing the season: The Season of Ordinary Time And check out my latest guidebook, The Liturgical Home: Ordinary Time . It gives you everything you need to know to celebrate the season of Ordinary Time in your home. The Next Season: Advent On the last Sunday of November, we begin the season of Advent. Here is a helpful article overviewing the season: The Season of Advent And check out my guidebook, The Liturgical Home: Advent . It gives you everything you need to know to celebrate the season of Ordinary Time in your home. November 1st - All Saints’ Day On All Saints’ Day, we remember the great cloud of witnesses, those known and unknown, who have gone before us in faith. These are the ones who loved Christ more than comfort, who followed Him through joy and suffering, and whose lives now shine like stars in the firmament of the Church. Today, we give thanks for their example and their ongoing presence with us in the communion of saints. This feast reminds us that sainthood is not about perfection, but about perseverance. It calls us to walk faithfully in our time as they did in theirs, ordinary people transformed by grace, and made radiant by love. The Origins of Halloweeen and All Saints’ Day November 23rd - Christ the King Sunday On Christ the King Sunday, we come to the end of the liturgical year with a bold confession: Christ reigns. Not as the world rules, but with a crown of thorns and a throne shaped like a cross. His kingdom is one of mercy, justice, and peace, and it calls us to live not for power or recognition, but for love. This feast draws our eyes to the eternal King who holds all things together and invites us to surrender every part of our lives to His rule. As we prepare to begin again with Advent, we pause to remember: Christ is Lord, yesterday, today, and forever. Christ the King Sunday Christ the King Pond Cake November 30th - The First Sunday of Advent On the First Sunday of Advent, we begin again. The Church year opens not with fanfare, but with waiting, with candles lit in the quiet, hearts leaning forward in hope. This is a season of watching and preparing, of learning to live in the tension between what is and what will be. We remember that Christ has come, Christ will come again, and even now, He comes to us in hidden, ordinary ways. As we light the first candle, may we make room, slowly, intentionally, for the Light that is coming into the world. Preparing Your Heart and Home For Advent Discover the Beauty of Advent Music Celebrating Advent With an Advent Wreath Follow along as I share everything you’ll need to celebrate every special day this month, including the history, recipes, and traditions! Quick reminder - we are quickly approaching the end of the Christian liturgical year. Make sure you’re ready for the new liturgical year with the 2025-2026 Liturgical Home wall calendar!

As we approach October 28, the Church prepares to honor St. Simon and St. Jude , two apostles often remembered together, and not by accident. Though their stories in Scripture are brief, tradition offers us a powerful portrait of faith, friendship, and joint mission. These two men, among the original Twelve, are celebrated on the same day because of early Christian writings that link their missionary journey, and ultimately, their martyrdom, in Persia. Their feast invites us to reflect not only on their individual witness but also on the way God often works through partnerships. St. Simon the Zealot Simon is distinguished in the Gospels as “the Zealot,” a title likely indicating his fervor for God, and possibly a connection to the Jewish Zealot movement that resisted Roman rule. While we know little about his life beyond this, tradition fills in what Scripture leaves unsaid. He’s often depicted in sacred art holding a saw, based on the account of his martyrdom, believed to have been sawn in half for preaching the Gospel. St. Jude (Thaddeus) Not to be confused with Judas Iscariot, St. Jude, also called Thaddeus, was the brother of James the Less and a cousin of Jesus. In John 14:22, Jude asks Jesus why He would reveal Himself only to the disciples and not the world, giving us a glimpse into his reflective spirit. Jude is also the author of the Epistle of Jude , a short but striking letter full of vivid imagery and warnings against false teaching. It includes fascinating references to non-canonical texts, like the Book of Enoch and the mysterious dispute between Michael the Archangel and Satan over Moses’ body. And yet, the letter ends with one of the most beautiful doxologies in Scripture, a confident praise of God’s power and faithfulness. The Legend of King Abgar & the Image of Edessa One of the most well-loved traditions about St. Jude tells of King Abgar V of Edessa , who suffered from leprosy and wrote to Jesus asking for healing. Jesus, unable to travel due to His mission in Jerusalem, promised to send a disciple after His Ascension. According to legend, Jesus pressed His face to a cloth, leaving a miraculous image behind, a cloth that Jude later brought to King Abgar. Upon receiving it, the king was healed, and he, along with many in his city, converted to Christianity. This cloth, known as the Image of Edessa or the Mandylion , became one of the most revered relics in early Christianity and may have even influenced devotion to the Shroud of Turin . This is why Jude is often shown holding a small image of Christ’s face. The Acts of St. Simon and St. Jude Apocryphal writings from the early Church also preserve a dramatic account of their shared missionary work in Persia . In these texts, Simon and Jude boldly preach the Gospel in Babylon, confronting two powerful magicians who try to resist them with enchantments. But through miracles worked in the name of Christ, the apostles prevail. Conversions follow, churches are planted, and eventually, both men give their lives in witness to the Gospel. Simon is said to have been sawn in half; Jude, beaten to death with a club. Their relics are honored today in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome , a quiet testimony to their partnership and courage. Ideas for Celebrating at Home Because their feast falls just days before All Saints and All Souls , it’s the perfect moment to begin leaning into the end-of-October liturgical shift. Here are a few ways to mark the day: ✶ Read the Epistle of Jude Even just once a year, this short letter reminds us of the early Church’s urgency and confidence in Christ. Its final verses (24–25) are beautiful for memorization or prayer. ✶ Locate Ancient Persia on a Map Show your children (or yourself!) the distance between Israel and the region historically known as Persia, now mostly Iran. Imagine what it took to carry the Gospel that far in the first century. ✶ Make Soul Cakes Traditionally baked leading up to All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints Day , these simple spiced cakes were given to the poor or eaten in remembrance of the faithful departed. Their preparation on this feast day is a gentle way to begin observing the coming days with intention. Recipe at the end of the article. A Feast of Holy Partnership As we celebrate St. Simon and St. Jude , we remember that God often sends us not alone, but together. Their joint witness invites us to consider our own relationships and collaborations, especially in ministry, evangelism, or the quiet faithfulness of daily life. May these apostles strengthen our courage, deepen our love for the Gospel, and teach us what it means to serve together in Christ’s name. the recipe - Soul Cakes ¾ cup butter, room temperature 1 cup white granulated sugar 3 egg yolks medium size 3 ¾ cups flour 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon cloves 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. ½ cup raisins 6-7 Tablespoons milk 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar for dusting (optional) Preheat the oven to 350 F. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Add the egg yolks and mix again. Sift the flour and spices into the butter/sugar mixture. Gradually add the milk, combining with a spatula until the dough comes together. Transfer the dough to a floured surface. Knead the dough with your hands until well combined. Add half the raisins, and knead them in the dough. Add the rest of the raisins while kneading the dough. Roll the dough with a rolling pin about 1/4 inch thick. Cut the cakes into round shapes using a round cookie cutter. Transfer the cakes to a baking tray, layered with parchment paper. Leave space between the cakes. Cut a cross on each cake. Bake 15-20 minutes until golden. Dust the cakes with powdered sugar.

On October 23 , the Church celebrates the Feast of St. James of Jerusalem , also known as James the Just or James, the Brother of the Lord . St. James was a remarkable leader in the early Church, a man of deep prayer, wisdom, and steadfast faith. His legacy as bishop, teacher, and martyr continues to guide Christians today. As we honor his life, we’re invited to reflect on the timeless words of the Epistle of James , a letter filled with practical wisdom and a call to live our faith through love, humility, and good works. The Man Behind the Name According to Eusebius of Caesarea , often called the father of church history, St. James came to faith after the risen Christ appeared to him. This post-resurrection encounter changed everything. From there, Scripture and tradition paint a picture of a man wholly devoted to Christ and to the Church. In Acts 1:14 , we find James among the disciples in the upper room, praying when the Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost. In 1 Corinthians 15:7–8 , Paul records that the risen Jesus appeared to James before appearing to the apostles and to Paul himself. In Galatians , Paul tells us that three years after his conversion, he returned to Jerusalem to meet with Peter and saw “no other apostle except James.” (Gal. 1:19) This encounter marks the beginning of James’s leadership role in the early Church. A Pillar of the Church Years later, Paul would return to Jerusalem and meet again with the Church’s leaders. In Galatians 2:9 , he calls James, Peter, and John the “pillars of the Church.” He recalls how they extended to him and Barnabas “the right hand of fellowship,” affirming the grace God had given them and commissioning Paul to continue his ministry among the Gentiles. This meeting reminds us that even in its earliest days, the Church was a community of collaboration and discernment, guided by the Holy Spirit and rooted in mutual encouragement. The Council of Jerusalem One of the defining moments of James’s ministry came during the Council of Jerusalem ( Acts 15 ), when the Church faced a major question: Must Gentile converts follow the full Mosaic law to be saved? After listening to the testimony of Peter, Paul, and Barnabas, James stood and spoke with wisdom and clarity. Citing Scripture, he affirmed that God Himself was calling the Gentiles to faith and that they should not be burdened with the full yoke of the law. His judgment shaped the Church’s identity as a community open to all nations. Through James’s leadership, the Church recognized that salvation was through grace , not heritage or law. Early Church historians record that James was the first bishop of Jerusalem , known for his holiness, humility, and righteousness. He lived a life of prayer and service amid famine, persecution, and hardship. A Martyr’s Death James’s faithfulness eventually cost him his life. According to the historian Josephus , during a gap in Roman governance, the high priest Ananus seized the moment to act against James. In AD 62 (or possibly 69) , James was brought before the Jewish council and accused of breaking the law. He and several companions were condemned and stoned to death . His martyrdom was a devastating loss for the early Church. Yet his witness, his quiet courage, his faith in Christ even unto death, became a foundation for generations to come. “The Brother of the Lord” The title “James, the Brother of the Lord” has stirred centuries of conversation and debate. In the ancient world, the word “brother” was often used broadly, it could mean cousin, kin, or close relation. Because of this linguistic flexibility, Christian traditions have understood the relationship between Jesus and James in different ways. Some, including the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, interpret “brother” as referring to a close relative or cousin rather than a biological sibling. Others, particularly in Protestant traditions, view James as a half-brother of Jesus , a son of Mary and Joseph born after Jesus. What all traditions share, however, is the recognition that James’s faith was profound, that he knew Jesus deeply, both as teacher and as Lord. The Epistle of James Tradition attributes the Epistle of James to this same James of Jerusalem. Unlike the letters of Paul, which often deal with doctrine or church structure, James’s letter focuses on practical holiness , what faith looks like when it takes root in everyday life. His call is simple yet searching: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22) This epistle offers wisdom for every generation: patience in trials, humility in speech, justice in action, and compassion for the poor. It challenges us to live an active, embodied faith that reveals the character of Christ. Symbols and Legacy In art and iconography, St. James of Jerusalem is often depicted holding a book or scroll , representing his authorship of the Epistle of James and his role as a teacher of the Church. He is the patron saint of Jerusalem , and the Cathedral of St. James , located in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City, is believed to stand near his burial site. Built during the 12th century on the ruins of a 5th-century church, it remains one of the few Crusader-era cathedrals to survive nearly intact. Ways to Celebrate the Feast of St. James If you’d like to honor this feast at home, here are a few simple and meaningful ways to do so: Read the Epistle of James. It’s short, just five chapters, but filled with wisdom. Take time to reflect on how it calls you to live your faith this week. Write a Letter. Since St. James gave us one of the New Testament’s letters, write your own. Send a note of encouragement or gratitude to someone who has shaped your faith. Bake Lavash. Explore Armenian culture and cuisine by making lavash , a traditional flatbread. It connects beautifully to the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem, where the Cathedral of St. James still stands. the recipe - Lavash (Armenian Flat Bread) First dough: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup plus a scant 1 Tablespoon lukewarm water ¼ teaspoon instant yeast Second dough: 1 cup lukewarm water 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil 2 teaspoon kosher salt 3 cups plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting Instructions First dough: Mix the flour, water, and yeast in a bowl using a rubber spatula until it forms a thick paste. Scrape the paste into a small, lightly oiled container, cover it, and let it sit out for 1½ to 2 hours. First, the dough should have doubled in volume. Second dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the first dough, water, oil, and salt. Squish the first dough with your hands to break it up in the water. Add 1 cup of the flour and using the paddle attachment, mix on low speed until the dough looks like pancake batter. Next, add the remaining flour and mix on low speed until fully incorporated. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let the dough sit for 20 minutes. Remove the towel, attach the dough hook to the stand mixer, and mix the dough on medium speed until the dough releases from the sides of the bowl without sticking and feels smooth to the touch, about 4 minutes. Lightly grease an 8-cup bowl and place the dough inside. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it rest for 3 hours or until doubled in volume. Dust a clean surface lightly with flour and place the dough on top. Cut the dough into 8 pieces. Cup the palm of your hand over one portion at a time and move your hand in a circle. The friction from the counter will help form the dough into a ball. Lightly oil a rimmed tray and place the dough on the tray, don’t let dough balls touch. Cover with plastic wrap lightly coated with cooking spray or oil. Let rest for 1 hour. Dust a clean surface lightly with flour. Lightly flour a rolling pin and roll each ball of dough into a thin rectangle about 8×12 inches. Work in batches and keep the dough covered in between. Place a large cast-iron pan (or griddle over two burners) over medium-high heat for a few minutes or until a sprinkle of water instantly evaporates. Place the dough in the pan or over the griddle. Cook for 1 minute or until puffed slightly and blistered. Turn over using tongs to cook the other side, no more than 30 seconds. For extra browning, flip it over for 30 more seconds. Transfer the lavash to a baking sheet and cover with a dry kitchen towel while you cook the rest of the dough. Recipe courtesy of Silk Road Recipies . Enjoy! These flatbreads are a simple, fun way to celebrate the Feast of St. James of Jerusalem. As we honor this special man, may this tradition remind us of the goodness of God and the richness of our faith.

The Feast of St. Luke on October 18th invites Christians around the world to pause and honor one of the most beloved figures in the early Church, Luke the Evangelist, the Gospel writer, the faithful companion of Paul, and the writer who gifted us both the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles . His legacy isn’t just written into the Christian calendar, it’s etched into the lives of those who love and treasure the Scriptures. Who Was St. Luke? Luke was a physician from Antioch in Syria , highly educated, possibly a Greek convert, and, according to tradition, also an artist and man of letters. He wasn’t one of the original twelve disciples, but he was a close companion of St. Paul , traveling with him on missionary journeys and staying with him in prison. Near the end of Paul’s life, he writes with deep tenderness: “Only Luke is with me.” — 2 Timothy 4:11 Luke is one of the Four Evangelists , credited with writing both the Gospel that bears his name and the Book of Acts. He opens his Gospel by saying that he “carefully investigated everything from the beginning,” gathering eyewitness accounts to write “an orderly account” (Luke 1:1–4). Was St. Luke the First Iconographer? Church tradition holds that St. Luke was the first iconographer . He’s said to have painted several images of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child , and possibly even icons of St. Peter and St. Paul . Some churches around the world claim to house one of his original icons. The St. Thomas Christians in India preserve a tradition that one of the icons of the Theotokos, brought by St. Thomas, was originally painted by St. Luke. Because of this association with sacred art, medieval painters’ guilds across Europe were known as the Guilds of St. Luke . Why Is He Symbolized by an Ox? In Christian iconography, Luke is traditionally represented by a winged ox , one of the four living creatures described in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation. Each Gospel writer is associated with one of these figures. The ox, a sacrificial animal , fits Luke’s Gospel beautifully. His Gospel begins with the priest Zechariah and is filled with themes of sacrifice, mercy, and Christ’s compassion for the lowly and outcast. Unique Aspects of the Gospel of Luke Luke’s Gospel is often described as the most compassionate and universal . While sharing many stories found in Matthew and Mark, it also includes: The most detailed account of Jesus’ early life: Zechariah and Elizabeth, the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, Simeon and Anna, and Jesus as a boy in the temple. The Song of Mary (Magnificat) , the Song of Zechariah (Benedictus) , and the Song of Simeon (Nunc dimittis) , all woven into our Anglican liturgies at Morning and Evening Prayer. 18 parables and 6 miracles unique to Luke, including the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son . A strong focus on women, the poor, the sick, and social outcasts , making it deeply pastoral and inclusive. Luke wasn’t just recording events, he was faithfully preserving the story of Jesus for the Church, showing us again and again that Christ came to seek and save the lost, to welcome the outsider, and to heal the brokenhearted. Acts: The Sequel Luke’s writing continues in the Acts of the Apostles , tracing the birth of the Church , the coming of the Holy Spirit , and the spread of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. His careful attention to detail gives us vivid accounts of Pentecost, early Christian community life, and the missionary journeys of Paul. Throughout Acts, Luke shows us that the same Spirit who descended on Jesus now empowers His followers to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Ways to Celebrate the Feast of St. Luke If you’d like to mark the Feast of St. Luke at home, here are a few simple, creative, and meaningful ways to enter into the day: Read Scripture and Sing the Songs Read or pray the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) or Nunc dimittis (Luke 2:29–32). These songs are part of our Morning and Evening Prayer , and they first appear in Luke’s Gospel. Paint or Create Since Luke is said to have been a painter, make or color an image of Mary and Jesus . Kids can paint with icons in mind, or just create art inspired by the day. Watch and Learn Watch the Luke/Acts video series by The Bible Project (free and accessible for all ages). A great way to get an overview of the big picture Luke was telling. Eat Something Pumpkin! In Venice, Italy , they say pumpkins go stale after St. Luke’s Day.So today’s the day to eat your pumpkin pie, soup, bread, or muffins! Try Something with Sour Cream In Scotland , St. Luke’s Day was marked by eating sour cakes —fermented oatcakes traditionally served with sour cream . Enjoy St. Luke’s Little Summer St. Luke is said to have gifted us a few final golden days before winter—a short stretch of warm weather in mid-October known as “St. Luke’s Little Summer.” Step outside. Soak it in. Serve Beef for Dinner Since Luke’s symbol is the ox , many families serve beef dishes in his honor. We’re making my grandmother’s pot roast for dinner tonight—it’s a family favorite and a lovely nod to tradition. Learn About the Fiera di San Luca In Impruneta, Italy , St. Luke is honored with a thousand-year-old livestock fair , the Fiera di San Luca . It originally marked the end of mountain pasturing and the return of shepherds to the valley for the winter, an echo of seasonal change and provision. A Final Word St. Luke gives us so much: not just a Gospel and a sequel, but a lens of compassion , an emphasis on God’s universal mercy , and a love for those often overlooked. This feast is a beautiful moment to pause, remember his gifts, and live into his legacy with joy and gratitude. the recipe - Pumpkin Muffins for the Feast of St. Luke 1 cup canned pumpkin puree 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup light brown sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 4 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease the muffin pans. Whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil in a large bowl until well combined. Add the canned pumpkin puree, eggs, and vanilla extract, and mix until fully incorporated. In a separate medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredient mixture. Mix gently until just combined, avoiding over-mixing. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared muffin pans.

It’s only the beginning of October, but I can’t help mentioning that Halloween is just around the corner! I’m bringing it up early because Halloween is one of the most misunderstood Christian feast days, and this year, I’d love to help you see it in a new light before it arrives. Now, I know that the coming of Halloween is not news to any of you! The stores have been filled with animatronic zombies and ghouls for weeks, and nowhere is Halloween on fuller display than in neighborhood yards. Driving through my mom’s neighborhood yesterday, every yard was already decorated. I passed by werewolf dogs and ghosts hanging from trees. There was even a yard with two life-size skeletons dressed like the roaring twenties, with alcoholic beverages raised in a toast. It was nuts! It’s hard not to believe that Halloween is an embrace of the pagan, the occult, or the demonic. Sadly, many of us don’t know the real meaning of Halloween, especially Christians. They don’t know that the celebration of Halloween is really a beautiful Christian celebration that’s been hijacked by our culture. Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is actually the eve of the Feast of All Hallows’ Day, another name for All Saints' Day, a beautiful day when we lovingly remember the martyrs and saints who faithfully served the Lord and have passed away. All Hallows’ Eve on October 31st and All Saints’ Day on November 1st are principal feast days in the Christian calendar. They provide a dedicated time to call to memory those saints who have led the way before us. We recognize those saints who are known, meaning those who the Church has officially recognized for their exemplary lives, faith, and contributions to Christianity. They might be early Christian martyrs, theologians, missionaries, or others who’ve led lives of significant spiritual meaning and impact. We also recognize those saints who are unknown. This refers to the countless believers throughout history who’ve lived faithfully but haven’t been officially recognized or canonized as saints. The belief here is that many people live saintly lives without gaining widespread recognition or having a significant public impact, but their faith and good works are known to God. We honor the example of all of their lives and deaths and rejoice in the continued communion with them through membership and participation in the body of Christ. The History All Saints’ Day’s origins and establishment as a significant Christian feast day are rooted in early Christian traditions and practices of honoring martyrs and saints. In the earliest days of Christianity, it was common to commemorate the anniversary of a martyr’s death for Christ at the place of their martyrdom. As the number of recognized martyrs increased, especially during the intense periods of Roman persecution, it became challenging to assign a separate day for each martyr. Different Christian communities began to establish a common day on which to honor all martyrs. The foundation for a collective celebration can be seen as early as the 4th century, when the Feast of All Martyrs was celebrated in the Eastern Church. In the West in 609 or 610 AD, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon in Rome to the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs. This established an annual feast in Rome on May 1st. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III moved the date to November 1 and broadened the festival to include all saints as well as all martyrs. Finally, in 837 AD, Pope Gregory IV extended the celebration of the feast day from Rome to the entire western church. Traditionally, on the eve of All Saints’ Day or All Hallows’ Eve, Christians attended a vigil where worshippers prepared their hearts with prayers and fasting. They spent the night thinking about and offering thanks to those who had died in faithful service to the Lord and praying that they might be more like them. The church service was known as the Vigil of All Hallows or the Vigil of All Saints. After the service, festivities would begin with food and drink and visits to the graveyard where flowers and candles were placed at the graves. They also went “souling”, which evolved into our modern-day trick-or-treating. Children and the poor went about, visiting homes, offering prayers, and in return receiving soul cakes, small, sweet treats infused with spices. In Portugal, a variation of this tradition continues today. Children go door to door, singing songs and asking for a special bread called Pão-por-Deus or “Bread for God.” The Communion of Saints A core component of All Saints’ Day is the “communion of saints.” This doctrine underscores the unity of all believers, living and deceased, in the body of Christ. It reminds us that our connection with fellow Christians doesn’t end with death; it continues in God’s holy presence. In Hebrews 11 and 12, St. Paul introduces us to this communion of saints when he reminds us of those who went before us and who faithfully followed God. He encourages us that since we are surrounded by such a “great cloud of witnesses,” we should throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us, and that we should run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We believe that the communion of saints is the spiritual union of all of the members of the Church, both the living, the Church Militant, and those who have died in the faith of Christ, the Church Triumphant. We believe that we are knit together with the saints in the mystical body of Christ. We all worship God together, and as we say every Sunday during Holy Eucharist, we join our voices “with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.” We do not pray to the saints or praise the saints; we join with them in the worship of God. This idea of the “communion of saints” is so pivotal to our faith that it is a part of the Apostles’ Creed. Samhain A common myth in modern times is that Halloween is based on a pagan festival known as Samhain. The story goes that the Church Christianized a popular Celtic festival that celebrated the dead. The earliest documentary sources available indicate that Samhain, just like countless harvest festivals around the world, was a harvest festival with no particular ritual connections to the dead. A direct link between the two is largely speculative and not substantiated by historical records. Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, originates primarily from Christian traditions marking the eve of All Saints’ Day. Its practices and customs, including attending church services, lighting candles on the graves of the holy, and the later traditions of trick-or-treating, have clear roots in Christian liturgical observances. Scholarly research into the origins of Halloween often points to its emergence independently within the Christian tradition, rather than as an adaptation or continuation of pagan Samhain rituals. Ways to Celebrate All Hallows’ Eve and All Saints’ Day Read Hebrews 11:1–12:2 and Revelation 7:9-12. Go trick-or-treating or attend a church’s Halloween celebration. Go and visit the grave of a loved one . All around the world, Christians visit the graves of loved ones on All Saints’ Day. They bring flowers, clean up the spaces, and spend time reminiscing about and offering thanks to God for the loved ones. If you are unable to visit the grave of a loved one, light a candle in honor in their honor. Have everyone share what they loved about them and offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for them. Bring flowers to the grave or put some on your porch or in your home in honor of the deceased. Chrysanthemums are the traditional flower in Belgium and France; marigolds are the traditional flowers in Mexico. Make Soul Cakes. Christians all around the world have a special bread or sweet that they make for All Saints’ Day. In England, they make Soul Cakes, in Portugal, they make Pão-por-Deus (Bread for God), in Mexico, they make Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead), and in France, they call it Pain des Morts (Bread of the Dead). This bread is often shaped like a coffin or a cross. In Spain, they make a sweet called Huesos de Santo (Saint’s Bones). In Austria, they make Allerheiligenstriezel , a sweet braided bread that is often enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea. Make Ossa dei Morti or Bones of the Dead . In Italy, these almond-flavored, bone-shaped cookies are made to honor the deceased and are often enjoyed with a glass of wine. the recipe - Ossa dei Morti or Bones of the Dead Cookies 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon almond extract 1 egg 2 1/2 ounces ground almonds 1/2 cup (4 ounces) all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking powder Pinch of salt Powdered sugar Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Then line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk together the sugar, extract, and egg in a medium-sized bowl until blended. Stir in the almonds, baking powder, flour, and salt, and stir just until combined. Dump the mixture onto a lightly floured hard surface and gently knead for a minute or two with your hands until smooth. (Dough will be sticky) Divide the dough into three pieces, and roll each into a 1-inch log. Cut the log into 1 1/2-inch to 2-inch pieces, then use your fingers to roll each piece into ropes about 4 inches long. Place the cookies 2 to 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies begin to brown and the tops feel set when touched with your fingertips. Cool completely, dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy!

On October 4th, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved saints in all of Christian history. His life continues to echo through the centuries, not only for his radical commitment to Christ, but also for his tender love of creation, his humility, and his deep care for the poor and forgotten. His feast invites us to consider what it means to live simply, love deeply, and follow Jesus with our whole hearts. The Early Life of St. Francis Francis was born in 1181 in Assisi, Italy, to a wealthy family. His father was a prosperous silk merchant, and his mother was a French noblewoman. Francis enjoyed the privileges of wealth and was known for his charm, wit, and love of pleasure. He was captivated by the ideals of knighthood and often dreamed of glory and adventure. But beneath the surface, Francis began to feel an ache—an inner discontent with the riches and revelry that surrounded him. One day, while selling goods in the marketplace, he encountered a beggar. Moved by compassion, Francis gave him all the money he had. His friends laughed, and his father was furious—but something had shifted in Francis’s heart. A few years later, during a military expedition against Perugia, Francis was captured and held in prison for nearly a year. It was during this time of illness and isolation that his soul began to turn more deeply toward God. When he was finally released, he returned to his old life for a time, but the emptiness remained. In 1205, while preparing for another military campaign, Francis had a vision that changed everything. He abandoned his plans and returned home, ready to follow a different path. “Repair My Church” The turning point came as Francis knelt in prayer before the crucifix in the crumbling chapel of San Damiano. There, he heard the voice of Christ: “Francis, go and repair my church, which, as you see, is falling into ruins.” Taking the words literally, Francis sold some of his father’s goods to fund repairs, but the local priest refused the money. In response, Francis renounced his inheritance altogether. In a dramatic moment before the bishop and the townspeople, he stripped off his fine clothes and declared that he was no longer the son of Pietro di Bernardone, but a servant of God alone. From then on, Francis embraced a life of poverty, devoting himself to rebuilding broken chapels, serving lepers, and seeking God in solitude and simplicity. The Founding of the Franciscans and the Poor Clares As Francis lived out this new way of life, others began to follow. In 1209, he traveled with a small band of companions to Rome to seek approval for a new religious order. Pope Innocent III was hesitant, until he dreamed of a poor man holding up the Church itself. Moved by the vision, he gave Francis his blessing. Thus began the Order of Friars Minor , commonly known as the Franciscans. The brothers preached, served, and traveled with nothing, relying on the generosity of others and living in joyful poverty. They sought not only to speak the Gospel but to embody it, echoing Christ in word and deed. In 1212, Francis’s influence reached a young noblewoman named Clare of Assisi. Inspired by his example, she left behind her family’s wealth to follow Christ in poverty. With Francis’s support, she founded the Order of Poor Ladies , later known as the Poor Clares , a contemplative community of women committed to prayer, simplicity, and service. Together, the Franciscans and the Poor Clares lived out a radical dependence on God, marked by humility, peace, and joy. Francis and Creation One of the most enduring aspects of St. Francis’s legacy is his profound love for the natural world. He saw all creation as a mirror of God’s glory and addressed even the sun, moon, and animals as “brother” and “sister.” His famous prayer, the Canticle of the Sun , captures this spirit beautifully. Written in the Umbrian dialect toward the end of his life, the Canticle of the Creatures is a hymn of praise to God for the sun, moon, wind, fire, water, and earth. It reflects Francis’s understanding that creation itself is sacred, an expression of the Creator’s goodness and care. This poetic prayer was later adapted into the hymn All Creatures of Our God and King by Anglican priest William Henry Draper. Many stories and legends have grown around Francis’s love for animals, like the tale of the wolf of Gubbio, who stopped terrorizing a village after Francis spoke gently to him, or the time he preached to a flock of birds who seemed to listen in rapt attention. These stories, whether historical or symbolic, remind us of the harmony and peace we are called to cultivate in our relationship with the created world. A Living Nativity Francis’s devotion to the humanity and humility of Christ also led to one of the Church’s most beloved traditions: the nativity scene. In 1223, seeking to help people enter more fully into the mystery of Christ’s birth, Francis created the first live nativity in a cave near Greccio. With real animals and villagers gathered around, he invited the faithful to gaze upon the Christ Child not in grandeur, but in poverty and simplicity. That tradition has since traveled the world, reminding generations of the quiet miracle of Christmas. Ways to Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis If you’d like to mark the feast of St. Francis at home or in your parish, here are a few simple ways to honor his legacy: Attend a Blessing of the Animals: Many churches offer this beautiful tradition on or near October 4th. Bring your pets to receive a blessing and give thanks for the creatures who share our lives. Read the Canticle of the Sun: Let Francis’s words draw you into wonder and praise. Consider reading it aloud at dinner or during evening prayer. Read wonderful children’s book on St. Francis - here are my favorites. Spend Time in Nature: Take a walk, sit in the garden, or simply pause to notice the beauty around you. Let it lead you to worship. Serve the Poor: In the spirit of Francis, offer your time or resources to those in need. Consider a local food pantry, shelter, or charitable organization. Bake Almond Cookies: According to tradition, these were Francis’s favorite treat—requested on his deathbed from a dear friend. Sharing them is a sweet way to remember the joy he carried, even to the end. (Recipe at the end of the post.) St. Francis’s life is a radical testimony to the Gospel—a call to humility, peace, joy, and total dependence on God. As we honor him today, may we be inspired to loosen our grip on what does not last and open our hearts more fully to the life that does. the recipe - St. Francis’ Almond Cookies Ingredients 1 3/4 cups whole almonds 1 cup sugar 2 Tablespoons flour 1/8 teaspoon salt 4 large egg whites 1 teaspoon almond extract 1/4 cup sliced almonds Directions Toast whole almonds in a 300° oven for five minutes. Cool. Place in a food processor with sugar, flour, and salt.  Process until finely ground. In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites to loosen them up. Add everything except the sliced almonds, and stir thoroughly until it forms a dough. Use a teaspoon to scoop the dough onto the baking sheet, leaving at least an inch between the cookies. Drop by teaspoonfuls on parchment-covered baking sheet 1″ apart.  Sprinkle with sliced almonds.  Bake at 300° for 20 to 25 minutes.