Holy Cross Day is almost here! It's the special day when we recognize the significance of the Cross of Christ. Celebrate this special day in your home by making this incredible Holy Cross Icebox Cake. Holy Cross Icebox Cake An icebox cake is a no-bake dessert made by layering crisp cookies or wafers with whipped cream. As it chills in the refrigerator (or "icebox"), the cookies absorb moisture from the cream, becoming soft and cake-like. The dessert sets into a deliciously creamy and tender cake without the need for baking. It’s often made with simple ingredients and can be customized with various flavors, fruits, or chocolate. My Holy Cross Icebox Cake is made from homemade crisp chocolate cookies and whipped cream. It is the simplest, most decadent dessert! And it is so much fun to make! You simply layer the chocolate cookies with whipped cream, stack them in the shape of a cross, chill until set, and voila…total heaven!

The Feast of Mary Magdalene is almost here! She was a faithful disciple who supported Jesus’ ministry and was there for his crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Since she was one of the women faithfully waiting to anoint the body of Jesus with myrrh and spices, she is known as one of the “Myrrh Bearers.” That’s why you’ll often see her depicted with a jar of myrrh and spices. To celebrate her day, make something with lots of spices like this homemade chai tea! My family loves this chai tea recipe. It is so good and so easy to make. Simply add equal parts chai and milk and then sweeten to taste. Your family will love it! Homemade Chai 12 cardamom pods, gently crushed 8 whole black peppercorns 8 whole cloves 4-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced 4 cups water 4 cinnamon sticks 3 whole allspice (optional) 2 Tbsp. brown sugar (more or less to taste) 2 star anise 1 vanilla bean, sliced down the middle 1/8 tsp. nutmeg 4 black tea bags Bring all ingredients except tea bags together to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add tea bags and let steep for 5 minutes. Pour mixture through a strainer and reserve the liquid for concentrate, and let cool to room temperature. Mix equal parts concentrate with water or milk to make chai tea. Or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to one week. HELPFUL LINKS: How to Celebrate the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene Celebrate the Feast of Mary Magdalene With Books Make Spiced Cupcakes

As the liturgical year draws to a close, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of Advent, ready to begin the journey toward Christmas. But before we turn the page, the Church invites us to pause and celebrate the Feast of Christ the King , a solemn yet joyful reminder that Christ reigns over all creation. This feast calls us to reflect on His kingship, and His authority over our hearts and homes, and to prepare for His coming again in glory. To read more about the Feast of Christ the King, click here . In the spirit of this celebration, I’ve created a recipe that is both simple and symbolic: Christ the King Pound Cake . This recipe will blow you away if you’ve never tasted pound cake! It is rich, buttery, moist, and easy to make!Celebrate the Feast of Christ the King with Christ the King Pound Cake! This recipe will blow you away if you’ve never tasted pound cake! It is rich, buttery, moist, and easy to make! It’s perfect for the day with its golden color, and because it’s made in a Bundt pan, it’s shaped like a crown! Perfect! We made it even more “kingly” by topping it with a little gold crown and surrounding it with gold Mardi Gras beads. It’s the perfect dessert to share with family or friends as you reflect on the readings and celebrate Christ the King! It’s the perfect dessert to share with family or friends as you reflect on the readings and celebrate Christ the King! the recipe -

In my hometown, St. Patrick’s Day was a really big deal! We all wore green to school unless you forgot in which case I have not-so-great memories of being pinched ALL DAY LONG! That night, our local Irish pub hosted a huge beer festival and parade. Everyone would gather downtown to watch the great processions of men in kilts playing bagpipes. It was so much fun! But in all of those years celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, I had no idea that he was a real person and that his history was quite touching. St. Patrick grew up in the 400s in Britain. He was born into a family of devout Christians; his father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest. When he was only sixteen years old, his village was raided by Irish marauders and he was kidnapped. He was taken by ship to Ireland where he became a slave for six years. During this time, Patrick was forced to herd sheep for a local chieftain which meant that he lived in isolation with very little food or clothing. Even though Patrick had been raised in a Christian home, he said in his Confessions that he didn’t really know God but that through his sufferings in Ireland, he began to think about God and then speak to God until he was praying hundreds of prayers day and night. Patrick turned to the Christian faith that he had been brought up in and he says that it was the only thing that kept him going through those brutal years. After six long years of slavery, while he was sleeping one night, Patrick heard a voice telling him that he was about to depart for his homeland and that a ship was ready for him. Patrick knew that God was directing him so he escaped from his slave master and fled two hundred miles until he found the ship. Patrick convinced the ship’s captain to give him passage and three days later, he was back on the shores of his homeland. He was eventually reunited with his family and there was much rejoicing. Patrick continued his life of prayer and began to study scripture and learn more about his Christian faith. Patrick went to France, where he studied and entered the priesthood under the guidance of the missionary Saint Germain. He was ordained a deacon by the Bishop of Auxerre around 418 AD. During this time, Patrick had a vision from God in which he heard the voice of the Irish say to him, “We beg you, holy servant boy, to come and walk again among us.” Patrick knew that he was being called by God to return to Ireland. He left Ireland as a slave but would return as a missionary to spread the love of Christ to the lost. In 432 AD, he was ordained as a bishop and was sent by Pope Celestine I to Ireland to spread the gospel to non-believers while also providing support to the small community of Christians already living there. He did return to Ireland and immediately began sharing the gospel of Jesus with the chiefs and their clans. Patrick already knew the Irish language and their customs which helped him greatly in communicating with the people. For the rest of his life, Patrick traveled throughout Ireland, spreading the good news and converting thousands to the Christian faith. As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, let us give thanks to God that He is always with us, even amid tremendous hardship. St. Patrick is a powerful example of how God can take our sufferings and use them to help others and to bring them out of darkness into His glorious light! If you and your family would like a meaningful way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, here are some easy ideas: Read Genesis 50:20 with your family. Discuss with your children how similar Joseph and St. Patrick were. Talk about how each one suffered and how God used them both to save those around them. Read the words or listen to the hymn “St. Patrick’s Breastplate.” You can Google the words and go over them with your kids or print the words out while you listen to the hymn on Spotify . This is a beautiful prayer of protection believed to have been written by St. Patrick. It was later set to music and is now a beloved Anglican hymn. Make Irish Soda Bread . This recipe is so good! It requires no rising and can easily be made quickly with the help of your kids! Read a good book on St. Patrick. Here's a list of my favorite children's books on St. Patrick .

It's the second Friday of Lent and you know what that means…no meat all day! Throughout the season of Lent, Christians abstain from meat on Fridays. This is done out of reverence for Good Friday, the day that Jesus died on the cross. If having a meatless Friday strikes fear into your heart, take courage! Making your Friday meatless doesn’t have to be difficult. Today, I thought I’d share one of our favorite (and super easy!) meatless meals…my nana’s amazing Shrimp Creole! Plump shrimp in a tomato creole sauce over steamed rice…you won’t believe how easy and delicious it is! Serv e it with some crusty French bread and enjoy!

This Monday is St. Patrick's Day! St. Patrick was a real person with a beautiful conversion story. He was abducted from his home as a young boy and forced into slavery. God gave him a vision that helped him escape slavery and return to his home. He committed his life to serve the Lord and felt a powerful call to return to the people who enslaved him and share the gospel with them. His story of redemption and forgiveness is so powerful. I loved sharing it with my children. And one of my favorite ways to share his story with them was to read books about him. There are so many Books on St. Patrick, but many avoid the powerful story of his how God moved in his life. Here are some of my favorites that do such a good job of telling the real story of St. Patrick. St. Patrick the Forgiver: The History and Legends of Ireland's Bishop by Ned Bustard I love Ned Bustard's books! First of all, his linocut illustrations are so unique and beautiful. Secondly, I love how the book tells all about who St. Patrick really was and emphasizes his remarkable story of love and forgiveness. Your kids will love this book! Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola If you have seen any of my other book recommendations, then you know that I love anything that Tomie dePaola writes. Like Bustard, his illustrations are so unique and whimsical and he always gives a faithful Christian account of the saint. In this book, dePaola recounts the life of St. Patrick from his noble birth in Britain to his captivity in Ireland, to the visions which led him to return and found the first Christian church in Ireland. It's a perfect introduction to St. Patrick and his conversion. Patrick and the Fire: A Legend About Saint Patrick by Cornelia Bilinsky This is an unusual telling of St. Patrick told from the perspective of a young goatherd named Bevan. Bevan is excited about the annual festival bonfire celebrating the god of light. But when a stranger named Patrick appears, Bevan learns about one God in three persons instead. It's a great book emphasizing the work that Patrick did in spreading the gospel to the Irish. The Story of St. Patrick's Day by Patricia Pingry This cute little board book presents the story of Saint Patrick's Day in a way that is simple enough for a toddler to understand. Vibrant illustrations are paired with the text and help create the connection between the story of the life of Saint Patrick and the way the holiday is celebrated today. Patrick of Ireland by Simonetta Carr The name St. Patrick is associated with three-leaf clovers and leprechauns, but what was his life really like? Simonetta Carr tells the inspiring story of how Patrick's suffering as a slave opened his eyes to the mercy of God and prepared him to return to Ireland as a missionary. Get to know the real Patrick of Ireland as young readers learn that the joy of the Lord will sustain them through difficult times and strengthen them to share the gospel. Paddy and the Wolves: A Story about St. Patrick as a Boy by Steve Nagel Young Paddy can't sit still during morning prayers, but he's more than happy to help the shepherd, Barra, watch sheep for the day! But who will watch Paddy when he wanders into the woods? As he explores the wilderness of coastal Britain, Paddy encounters many delights and dangers--and ultimately, the One who watches over him through it all.

During Lent, we often focus on simple meals and mindful fasting, but did you know that one of the oldest Lenten foods is something you might already love, pretzels? This unpretentious, twisted bread has deep Christian roots, dating back to the early Church, when they served as a staple for fasting Christians. A Symbol of Prayer and Simplicity Pretzels are believed to have originated in Europe as early as the 6th or 7th century in a monastery. The story goes that a monk created a simple bread using just water, flour, and salt, ingredients that fit the fasting rules of the time, which forbade dairy, eggs, and meat. He shaped the dough into the distinctive twisted form to resemble arms crossed in prayer, a common posture in early Christian devotion. The three holes in the pretzel were also seen as a reminder of the Holy Trinity. As the tradition spread, pretzels became a common Lenten food, especially in monasteries and Christian homes. They were a visual and edible reminder of the season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The Original Easter Egg Hunt With the abundance of pretzels leading up to Easter Sunday, someone had the bright idea of hiding them for children to find on Easter morning, making pretzels the original Easter eggs! Though we now associate egg hunts with Easter, it was once delighted children searching for hidden pretzels that marked the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. At some point, the tradition shifted from pretzels to colorful eggs, but the original idea remains the same: a joyful search for a special treat after the penitential season of Lent. A Sign of Generosity and Good Fortune Because pretzels are simple and inexpensive to make in large quantities, they became a common food given to the poor during the Middle Ages. Monasteries often baked and distributed them as an act of charity. The Pretzel That Saved a City One of the most fascinating pretzel stories comes from Vienna in the 17th century, when the city was under siege by the Ottoman Empire. Bakers were working late into the night in the basement of a monastery, preparing pretzels to feed the city’s defenders. As they worked, they heard strange noises, digging and whispered voices near the underground walls. Realizing that enemy soldiers were tunneling beneath the city, they quickly alerted the authorities. Thanks to the pretzel bakers, Vienna’s defenses were ready, and the city was saved from invasion! In gratitude, the Austrian Emperor awarded the bakers a coat of arms: two fierce lions holding a pretzel between them. To this day, that emblem can still be seen outside certain bakeries in Austria and Germany. A Lenten Tradition to Revive Though many of us think of pretzels as a snack food today, they remain a meaningful way to incorporate history and faith into our Lenten observance. Making them at home can be a hands-on way to engage with the season, whether as a quiet moment of reflection while kneading the dough or as a fun activity with children. As you enjoy your homemade pretzels, take a moment to reflect on their history, a simple yet profound symbol of prayer and devotion that has endured for centuries.

It’s Ash Wednesday and that means it’s time to make pretzels. The pretzel is the oldest Christian food that we know of. It was created to be eaten during the Lenten fast so it has nothing rich like butter, milk or sugar. To emphasize prayer as a theme of Lent, the shape of the pretzel is of arms folded in prayer. These pretzels are so good and they are super easy and quick to make. About twenty minutes to proof the yeast and mix up and another fifteen minutes to bake. Serve them with salt flakes or stone ground mustard but not with butter! :) Quick and Easy Pretzels From A Continual Feast Ingredients: 1 tablespoon honey or sugar 1 1⁄2 cups lukewarm water (100-110 degrees) 1 envelope active dry yeast 1 teaspoon salt 4 cups flour Course or kosher salt 1 egg, beaten Add the honey to the water; sprinkle in the yeast and stir until dissolved. Add 1 teaspoon of salt. Blend in the flour, and knead the dough until smooth. Cut the dough into pieces. Roll them into ropes and twist into pret- zel shapes. You can make small pretzels with thin ropes, or large ones with fat ropes, but remember that to cook at the same rate, your pretzels need to be the same size. Place the pretzels on lightly greased cookie sheets. Brush them with beaten egg. Sprinkle with course salt. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes, until the pretzels are golden brown.

It's a Friday of Lent and you know what that means…no meat all day! Throughout the season of Lent, Christians abstain from meat on Fridays. This is done out of reverence for Good Friday, the day that Jesus died on the cross. If having a meatless Friday strikes fear into your heart, take courage! Making your Friday meatless doesn't have to be difficult. Today, I thought I’d share one of our favorite (and super easy!) meatless meals - Homemade Tomato Soup. Now if you're thinking of the thin red liquid in a can kind of tomato soup then think again! This soup is absolutely incredible! It is thick, flavorful, and has a really deep, hearty taste. Incredible Homemade Tomato Soup 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 cups chopped onion 2 carrots, chopped 1 tablespoon minced garlic 4 pounds coarsely chopped tomatoes (5 large) or 1 28-ounce can petite diced tomatoes 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 teaspoon sugar 1/4 cup packed chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 tablespoon dried basil 3 cups vegetable stock 1-2 teaspoons salt, to taste 2 teaspoons black pepper Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and carrots and saute for about 10 minutes, until very tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste, basil, vegetable stock, salt, and pepper and stir well. Bring the soup to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes, until the tomatoes are very tender. Leave the soup as it is or process it with an immersion blender. We love either way! Serve with grilled cheese and enjoy!

Fasting is a profound and meaningful practice. It was part of everyday life for the Israelites, for Jesus, for the early Christians, and for all Christians, for that matter. Jesus assumed that his followers were fasting and that they would continue to fast. In Matthew 6, he didn’t say, “If you fast,” he said, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do,” because he knew we would be fasting.  Only in the last 100 years or so has the modern world moved away from the practice. For most of the entire history of Christianity, fasting has been part of what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus. We see in scripture that it was a powerful part of the Jewish culture and accepted practice by the Israelites, the early church, and the church.  The first mention of fasting in the Bible is found in Judges 20:26 where it says, “ Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.” So here is the first time that fasting is mentioned in the Bible but there’s not a moment where fasting was formally instituted or where its function was formally explained.  We can see through the reading and study of holy scripture that fasting was a part of the Jewish life, a part of their identity. We see instances throughout the Bible where the Israelites were fasting, where prophets called them to fast but to fully understand the functions of fasting, you have to look at the context. Since Lent is based on Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, it makes sense to start with this example of fasting.  You probably know this story very well but it’s really easy to gloss over it and miss the big picture or context in which it takes place.  Let’s look at what happened to Jesus right before he was led into the wilderness.  In Luke 3 we see that Jesus has just been baptized. And as He was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”  This is a profound encounter with God. Jesus has this powerful moment where God’s Spirit falls and Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved Son. It is a huge momentous spiritual event.  And then at the beginning of Luke 4, we see that Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days where he was tempted by Satan but rebuffed him with the Word of God and then right after his time of fasting in the wilderness, his ministry begins. So, after a profound encounter with God, he begins a period of fasting, and then his ministry begins. Now, for a second example of this kind of fasting. To the Jewish community, when they heard about these 40 days of fasting by Jesus, they would immediately have remembered another time when someone fasted for 40 days, Moses. In Exodus 24, we see that the Lord called to Moses and told him to come up onto the mountain to give him the Ten Commandments. We know this story but here’s the part that I missed, in Exodus 24:15-16, it says that when Moses went up to the mountain, the glory of the Lord settled on the mountain and Moses stayed there for six days. On the seventh day, the Lord called to Moses again and Moses entered the cloud and went up the mountain where he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. So Moses, just like Jesus, has had a powerful encounter with God, he begins a period of fasting and then he is given the Ten Commandments. Do you see the similarities in both of these situations? Isn’t that the coolest thing??? Both have had a powerful encounter with God. Both have encountered God’s presence. Neither of them is asking God for something, neither is seeking a result, fasting just seems to be the appropriate response after having had a powerful sacred moment in the presence of God. Then after this transformational encounter, they both enter a period of fasting.   So, what is the meaning or purpose of this kind of fasting? Well, sometimes it just seems to be the appropriate response after having had a powerful sacred moment in the presence of God. So one type of fasting occurs after a powerful encounter with God. It seems to be after a defining moment or some kind of crossroads. Jesus had a powerful encounter with God and was led into the wilderness to fast right before his ministry began, Moses had a powerful encounter with God and entered a time of fasting right before he was given the Ten Commandments. Here are two more examples of this kind of fasting from the Early Church.   In Acts 9, Saul has an encounter with the Lord and can no longer see. For three days he is blind and in verse 9 it says he did not eat or drink anything. After three days, Ananias is led to Saul, he lays hands on him and Saul’s sight is restored. Here again, we have an incredible encounter with the Lord where Saul is converted right then and there and goes on to be a major leader of the Church! Later, in Acts 13, while the people were worshipping and fasting, Notice, not worshipping and praying mind you! Worshipping and fasting, the Holy Spirit tells them to   “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” And this is so interesting, after the people received this word, they fasted and prayed and after they fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on Paul and Barnabas and sent them off.  This is yet again another transformational moment! This is the very first missionary journey being commissioned. This journey will open the door to the spread of the Gospel like never before. This journey will change the face of the world! So, again, there seems to be this pattern where fasting is the appropriate response to a profound encounter with God.  And just an aside, liturgically speaking, as I said before, we are leaving the season of Epiphany, a beautiful season where people like the Wise Men or Simeon and Anna have had a profound encounter with Emmanuel, God with Us, so doesn’t it make perfect sense to be entering a time of fasting? I think that is so amazing! The next type of fasting we see in the Bible is fasting when there is a tragic calamity. Over and over again, when a calamity is coming or when a calamity has taken place, the people of God fast. In Psalm 35, David fasts when a terrible sickness strikes his enemy. In Esther, the Israelites are urged to fast to avoid their destruction and Nehemiah grieves and fasts over the idolatrous state of the Israelites' hearts. W e also see fasting used as a means of spiritual warfare.   In Matthew 17, a man came to Jesus saying that he had an epileptic son who was brought to the disciples and they could not heal him. Later, when the disciples asked Jesus why they could not heal him, Jesus said that it was because of their unbelief but also because “that kind only goes out through prayer and fasting.” So clearly there are types of maladies or disorders that only come out with prayer AND fasting. Ok, the last reason for fasting, and one that we are probably most familiar with involves turning away from our sin.  In 1 Samuel 7, the Israelites turned back to the Lord. They put away their idols and repented but it was not enough. Samuel also ordered them to fast so for a whole day the Israelites fasted and confessed. Another example is in Joel 2, when the Lord God told the people to turn back to him with their whole hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. It doesn't seem to be enough to pray sometimes. Fasting is required as well. So, it is very clear through scripture that as we are turning away from our sin we should also fast. Fasting helps us to more fully turn away from our sins. And it looks like fasting also can make us aware of our sins. When we fast it becomes painfully obvious how out of control our appetites are and how much we are ruled by those appetites. Ordinarily, I think I am a good person, I think I am a pretty good Christian but during Lent, when I fast something even ridiculously small like coffee, I become really aware of how evil I am. And I am not exaggerating! Through fasting, I see how much I rely on food and drink and not on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The act of not eating brings me great discomfort and grief. I am reminded of my frailty and I realize that I have no control over my life.  Through fasting, we are all choosing to embody this frailty and, according to the Bible, that does powerful things inside of us. When we look at this kind of fasting in the Bible, it seems as if fasting is not so much punishing ourselves, but grieving over the state of our hearts and the state of the world. Through this kind of fasting, we ARE asking for a result and we get it every time . . . forgiveness. In Joel 2:12-13, after the people have fasted and repented, the Lord says, “Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. So, with all of these examples of fasting, what’s our takeaway? Well, it seems that fasting can be an extremely powerful tool in our lives. Fasting seems to be an embodied expression of prayer, like fasting is praying with our bodies.  In today’s world, we tend to divide the spiritual from the physical. The spiritual involves thinking and praying so when I need to be spiritual, I am going to think and pray. And the physical is eating. There is a distinction, they are two separate things. But that is not how the Israelites or the church until recently understood themselves. To them, the two, the spiritual and the physical, are intertwined. Your whole body is involved in worship, in prayer, in your spiritual life. It is not enough to just pray, we need to fast as well. That’s why I love liturgical churches because we involve our whole body: we kneel, we smell, we taste, we feel, we fast and I love that through the season of Lent, the church gives us this unique opportunity to fast.

March 19 is the Feast of St. Joseph where we recognize the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus. St. Joseph is remembered for his faith, obedience to God's will, and steadfast guardianship of Mary and Jesus. His life is an example of humility, righteousness, and the virtues of a devoted caretaker and provider. St. Joseph, though mentioned sparingly in the Scriptures, plays a pivotal role in the story of Jesus's early life. We are introduced to St. Joseph in the first chapter of Matthew where we are given his genealogy, showing that he is a direct descendent of King David. After establishing this, Matthew continues his account of Joseph. Upon discovering that Mary was pregnant, Joseph intended to quietly dissolve his betrothal to protect her from public disgrace. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, revealing that the child Mary carried was conceived by the Holy Spirit and instructing him to take Mary as his wife. Joseph obeyed God and married Mary.  Later, Joseph received word that he had to return to the town of his birth for a Roman census. In Luke 2:1-7, Joseph journeyed with Mary, who was great with child, to Jerusalem. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. They discovered that there was no room for them in the inn so Jospeh searched until he found a stable where Mary could give birth. There, in a humble setting, Jesus was born, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and placed in a manger.  Forty days after Jesus' birth, the Holy Family went to the temple in Jerusalem where, according to the Law of Moses, where Mary and Jesus were presented to the Lord and sacrifices were made on their behalf. It was there that they had a profound encounter with Simeon and Anna who recognized and proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. Later, Joseph was warned in a dream about King Herod's intent to kill Jesus. Joseph immediately took the family to Egypt. After Herod's death, Joseph was instructed in a dream to return to Israel. He settled the family in Nazareth, Galilee. The last mention of St. Joseph is found in Luke 2. Every year Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem for the Passover. When Jesus was 12, they went according to their custom. As Mary and Joseph were returning home, they realized that Jesus was not part of their group. They returned to Jerusalem and found Jesus in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. Mary asked Jesus why he had done this to him, that they had been searching anxiously for him. Jesus replied, “Why were you searching for me?” “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. Luke 2:49-52 The Significance of St. Joseph St. Joseph's significance lies not in the words he spoke, for none are recorded in Scripture, but in his actions and the virtues he exemplified. His willingness to accept God's plan for him, despite the personal and societal challenges it presented, underscores his deep faith and trust in God. His actions, accepting Mary, protecting Jesus, and guiding his family, highlight his integral role in God's salvation plan. Through Joseph, we learn the virtues of patience, courage, and the quiet strength of faith that acts without seeking recognition or reward. Celebrations Around the World Polish families celebrate this day with a Saint Joseph's table in their house that is decorated with red and white, cards, and candles. In Spain, St. Joseph's Day is their version of Father's Day. It is traditional for children to cook their fathers' breakfast or even give small gifts.  In the Philippines, it is traditional to hold a banquet for the Holy Family. An old man, a young lady, and a small boy are honored as representations of the Holy Family. The three are seated around a table set with the family's best silverware and china and served a variety of courses. Hymns are sung while they are spoonfed by senior members of the host family and important guests.  In Sicily, Italy, St. Joseph is their patron saint. Traditional food for the day is a Neopolitan dessert called Zeppole and a soup that dates to ancient times and is prepared with fava beans known as   Maccu di San Giuseppe. It is also a day for giving food to those in need. Ways to Celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph Read some stories about St. Joseph from the Bible. Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:13-23, or Luke 2. Wear red or decorate your home with the color red.  Make  Zeppole, an Italian doughnut. (recipe at the bottom of the page) Since St. Joseph was a carpenter, let your kids hammer nails into scraps of wood. Talk about the craft of carpentry and how Joseph taught Jesus how to be a carpenter. Or sprinkle a dish with breadcrumbs to represent sawdust. AND  here’s a great mission opportunity for your family! Since St. Joseph was a carpenter and used his hands to provide for the Holy Family, we can use our hands to provide for others by helping to rebuild after natural disasters.  Did you know the Anglican Relief and Development Fund offers domestic disaster response mission trips? This is a chance to use your hands and feet to help people rebuild after a natural disaster, reaching out in the spirit of St. Joseph and with the love of Christ. Upcoming trip opp ortunities include June 9-15, 2024 (Tornado Response in Rolling Fork, MS), August 25-31, 2024 (Tornado Response in Clarksville, TN), and September 1-7, 2024 (Tornado Response in Clarksville, TN). You can learn more about each trip and sign up to join ARDF   on their website! Zeppole (Italian Donuts) 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup whole milk 8 Tbsp unsalted butter 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup all-purpose flour 3 large eggs, room temperature zest of ½ lemon, optional oil for frying, such as peanut oil or vegetable oil 1/4 cup confectioners sugar, to dust Instructions In a large 3-quart saucepan, combine water, milk, butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup flour all at once using a wooden spoon. Once incorporated, place the saucepan back over medium heat and stir constantly for another 1 1/2 to 2 minutes to release extra moisture and partially cook the flour. The dough will look smooth and a thin film will form on the bottom of the pan. Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to beat on medium speed for 1 minute to cool the mixture slightly. Add 4 eggs, adding them 1 at a time and allowing eggs to fully incorporate between each addition. Once all eggs are incorporated, beat another minute until the dough is smooth and forms a thick ribbon when you pull up on the whisk. Transfer dough to a piping bag with a 1/2-inch opening, or use a large zip bag and cut a 1/2-inch opening at the tip. Heat oil to 375˚F in a dutch oven with a thermometer attached, or in a deep fryer. Once oil is hot, pipe 1-inch lengths into the hot oil, swiftly cutting the dough as you pipe into the oil. Pipe closer to the surface of the oil to avoid oil splashes. Fry 4-5 minutes total, turning them over halfway if they don't turn on their own then transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to soak up extra oil then dust with powdered sugar to serve.

Today, we step into the season of Lent . After the joy and feasting of Shrove Tuesday, the tone shifts. The beads are put away, the pancakes are eaten, and now we enter the quiet, solemn days of preparation. Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. These words, spoken as ashes are placed on our foreheads, remind us of our mortality. They remind us that we are fragile, that we are in need of a Savior, and that our time on this earth is fleeting. Ash Wednesday is a call to repentance, a call to reorient our hearts toward Christ as we begin this forty-day journey to Easter. Why Ashes? The use of ashes in Scripture is a sign of mourning, repentance, and humility. Throughout the Bible, we see God’s people covering themselves in ashes when they grieve or turn back to Him. Job sat in ashes (Job 42:6), Daniel fasted in sackcloth and ashes (Daniel 9:3), and the people of Nineveh repented in ashes when Jonah preached to them (Jonah 3:6). In the early Church, ashes were placed on the heads of public penitents, those who had committed serious sins and were preparing to be reconciled to the Church at Easter. Over time, this practice expanded to include all believers, a reminder that we are all in need of God’s mercy. A Day of Fasting & Repentance Ash Wednesday is one of the two fast days of the Church year (the other being Good Friday). It is a day of fasting and abstinence , a tangible way to mark the beginning of Lent. We deny ourselves, not as an empty ritual, but as a way of training our hearts to hunger for Christ. If you are fasting today, let it be a fast filled with prayer . As you feel the pangs of hunger, turn your heart toward God. Offer your discomfort to Him. Let it remind you of your need for Him. How to Observe Ash Wednesday at Home Attend the Ash Wednesday service at your church. If you have children, talk to them about the meaning of the ashes. Explain that they remind us of our need for Jesus and call us to repentance. Begin your Lenten fast. Step into this season with intention by committing to your personal or family fast. Make pretzels! This ancient Christian food was created by monks to align with Lenten fasting. Made with just water, flour, and salt, its distinctive twisted shape represents arms crossed in prayer—perfect for this penitential season. Cover all of the icons and crosses in your home with purple cloth. Make an alms box and begin collecting your alms for the poor. A traditional sign to go on the container is, “The fasts of the rich are the feasts of the poor.” Place the container in a prominent place where everyone will be reminded of it every day. ( Family Alms Jar Tutorial ) Since we will no longer say the word Alleluia throughout Lent, say goodbye to the Alleluias by having your children write Alleluia on a board, decorate it with flowers, and put it away in a chest, drawer, or closet until Easter Day. Start your spring cleaning! The Invitation of Ash Wednesday Lent is a gift. It is a season that calls us back to God. A time to strip away distractions, repent of our sins, and make room for Christ in our hearts. So today, let’s step into the desert with Jesus. Let’s allow this season to shape us, refine us, and draw us closer to the One who walked this road before us. Blessed Lent, dear friends! Let us walk this journey together. P.S. - If you’d like to know more about Lent, including the meaning, history, recipes, and traditions behind it all, then you’ll love my guidebook, The Liturgical Home: Lent . It gives you everything you need to celebrate Lent in your Home!