If you have ever found yourself deep in the heart of Lent, wondering how much further the journey goes, the Church, in her wisdom, knew we would need a glimpse of the joy waiting for us on the other side. Tucked into both Advent and Lent are little gems known as Refreshment Sundays, days when the penitential tone eases, and we are given a brief, welcome reprieve. The two Refreshment Sundays are Gaudete Sunday, falling in the middle of Advent, and Laetare Sunday, falling in the middle of Lent. Refreshment Sundays offer a pause in the austerity of their respective seasons, a moment of respite from the spiritual disciplines we have taken on. They shift the somber mood toward more joyful anticipation. This pause is not a complete break from the season’s focus but rather a beautiful reminder that our preparation and penance have a purpose: they lead us toward the celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas and His Resurrection at Easter. A Lenten Pause Falling on the fourth Sunday of Lent, approximately halfway through this penitential season, Laetare Sunday offers a pause. Easter is almost here! It is an apex, a turning point, a glimmer of hope, and a lightening of the somber mood. It heightens our sense of anticipation and reminds us of the joy the Lord brings into our lives, even in seasons of waiting and preparation. Laetare Sunday speaks to the beautiful duality of the Christian journey: the balance of repentance with forgiveness, weeping with laughter, suffering with joy. Even as we prepare, reflect, and repent, we do so with the joyful anticipation of the great mystery of our faith, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rejoice! Laetare Sunday takes its name from Isaiah 66:10, the opening antiphon for the day: Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. Laetare means “rejoice,” and not a quiet, understated rejoice. Laetare is an imperative, an enthusiastic exhortation, almost a command: Rejoice! Right in the middle of Lent, we as a people are urged to rejoice! This powerful scripture sets the tone for the entire day and serves as a beautiful reminder that even in times of repentance and self-denial, there is hope. Laetare Sunday stands as a beacon of light, guiding us through our spiritual journey with the promise of joy and renewal. It invites us to pause, reflect on how far we have come, and find the strength to renew our spiritual disciplines as we press on toward Easter. Alternative Names Laetare Sunday goes by many names. Along with Refreshment Sunday, it is also known as Mid-Lent Sunday, Mothering Sunday, and Rose Sunday. Before the adoption of modern common lectionaries, it was called “the Sunday of the Five Loaves,” as the Gospel reading for the day was the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Mothering Sunday In England, Laetare Sunday was traditionally known as “Mothering Sunday.” On this day, people would return to the church of their baptism, their “mother church.” Those who made this journey were said to have gone “a-mothering.” In medieval times, Mothering Sunday was a cause for great celebration. Domestic servants were given the day off to visit their mother church, which also meant a rare opportunity to reunite with family and friends. Often, it was the only occasion families could gather, as servants were seldom granted free days otherwise. It was customary on Mothering Sunday for children and young people to pick wildflowers along the way to church, place them inside, and present them to their mothers. This lovely tradition may well be the root of our modern, secular Mother’s Day. Rose Sunday Laetare Sunday is also called Rose Sunday because the clergy wears rose-colored vestments in place of the usual penitential purple of Lent. That shift in color, from purple to rose, represents joy breaking through in the midst of preparation and penance. It is a visual reminder of the hope and light that the Resurrection of Christ brings to the world. Note: When a single “Refreshment Sunday” or “Rose Sunday” is mentioned, it typically refers to Laetare Sunday. Ways to Celebrate Laetare Sunday Visit your “mother” church. Follow the English tradition of returning to the church of your baptism on this day. Give your mother flowers. In many parts of the world, children present their mothers with flowers and small gifts, a custom that ties beautifully into the themes of joy and gratitude. Light a rose-colored candle. Bring the color of the day into your prayer time or family meal with a rose candle. Switch out your purple décor for rose. A simple but meaningful swap for the week. Decorate your table with pink roses. Let the table reflect the joy of the day. Make a rose-colored dessert. Strawberry or raspberry treats, rose-colored macarons, or cakes with pink icing or rose petals all fit the occasion beautifully. Bake a traditional Simnel cake. The English have long enjoyed Simnel cake on this day, a rich, spiced fruitcake filled with dried fruits and topped with marzipan. It is decorated with eleven marzipan balls, representing the eleven faithful apostles (Judas excluded). the recipe - Simnel Cake ½ cup candied cherries ( I used maraschino cherries) 3½ cups mixed dried fruit ( I bought bags of dried apricots, raisins, dates, and prunes and combined them) 12 tablespoons soft unsalted butter 1 cup superfine sugar zest of 1 lemon 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ cup almond meal 3 large eggs 2 tablespoons milk 2½ pounds of marzipan to decorate (recipe for marzipan at the bottom of the page) confectioners’ sugar for rolling 1 tablespoon apricot jam (melted) 1 egg white (optional) Take everything you need out of the fridge so it can get to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Butter and line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform cake tin with a double layer of brown baking paper. Chop the cherries very finely and add them to the rest of the fruit. Cream the butter and sugar until very soft and light, and add the lemon zest. You could do this by hand, just with a bowl and wooden spoon, but I own up to using my freestanding mixer here. But it’s not crucial, not least because the intention with fruit cakes is not to whip air into them. Measure the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and ground almonds into a bowl and stir to combine. Add one of the eggs to the creamed butter and sugar with two tablespoons of the dry flour and spice ingredients. Then, beat in the remaining eggs in the same way. Beat in the rest of the dry ingredients and then the milk. Finally, fold in the fruit. Dust a surface with a little icing sugar, then roll out about 14oz of the marzipan. Cut it into an 8-inch circle, which will fit in the middle of the cake later. Spoon half of the fruit cake mixture into the cake tin, smoothing it down with a rubber spatula, and then lay the marzipan circle on top of it. Spoon the rest of the mixture into the tin on top of the marzipan circle and smooth the top again. Bake for half an hour and then turn the oven down to 300°F for another 1½ hours or until the cake has risen and is firm on top. Let it cool completely on a rack before you spring it open. Unspring the cooled fruit cake and unwrap the lining. Roll out another 14-oz circle of marzipan, paint the top of the cake with the melted apricot jam, and then stick it on. Make 11 apostle balls out of the remaining marzipan, roughly 1 inch in size. Beat the egg white just till it’s a bit frothy and loosened up a little, no more, and use that as glue to stick the apostles around the edge of the cake. Now for the part I love (but you can ignore it altogether). Paint the whole cake with egg white, then blow-torch the marzipan so it scorches slightly, giving a beauteously burnished look. Recipe from Nigella Lawson . Homemade Marzipan This recipe makes about 5 ounces of marzipan. I tripled it and had enough for the Simnel Cake. 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp blanched almond flour 9 tbsp powdered sugar 1 1/2 tbsp water 1/4-1/2 tsp almond extract First, process the almond flour and powdered sugar in a food processor. Add the water and almond extract and pulse a couple of times until the dough holds together and forms a ball. If the dough is too dry and doesn’t hold together, add a tiny bit more water. Make sure to add just a little until a thick dough is formed. If it’s too sticky and wet, add more almond flour. Take out the marzipan ball and knead it on a clean surface for about 30 seconds. You can now shape it into a log, wrap it in cling wrap, and refrigerate it. It will firm up slightly in the refrigerator.

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. 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 Jewish culture and an accepted practice by the Israelites, the early church, and the church throughout the ages. So what does the Bible actually say about fasting? The first mention appears in Judges 20:26 — “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.” This is the first time fasting is mentioned in the Bible, but there’s no formal introduction, no moment where its function is officially explained. It’s just there, woven naturally into the fabric of Israelite life. Fasting was part of their identity. We see it throughout scripture: the Israelites fasting, prophets calling them to fast. But to fully understand the purpose of fasting, you have to look at the context. Since Lent is rooted in Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, let’s start there. You probably know this story well, but it’s easy to gloss over it and miss the bigger picture. Before Jesus was led into the wilderness, something remarkable happened. In Luke 3, Jesus is baptized. As he was praying, heaven opened, 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. A huge, momentous spiritual event. Jesus has this powerful moment where God’s Spirit falls, and he is revealed as God’s beloved Son. And then, at the beginning of Luke 4, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, leaves the Jordan and is led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days, where he is tempted by Satan, rebuffs him with the Word of God, and then, right after his time of fasting, his ministry begins. So: a profound encounter with God → a period of fasting → and then his ministry begins. Now, for a second example of this kind of fasting. When the Jewish community heard about Jesus fasting for 40 days, they would have immediately remembered another time someone fasted for 40 days, Moses. In Exodus 24, the Lord called Moses up to the mountain to give him the Ten Commandments. We know the story, but here’s the part I had missed. In Exodus 24:15-16, when Moses went up to the mountain, the glory of the Lord settled on it, and Moses stayed there for six days. On the seventh day, the Lord called to Moses again, and Moses entered the cloud, went up the mountain, and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses, just like Jesus, has a powerful encounter with God, begins a period of fasting, and then receives the Ten Commandments. Do you see the similarities? Isn’t that the coolest thing? Both have had a powerful encounter with God. Both have encountered God’s presence. Neither is asking God for something. Neither is seeking a specific result. Fasting just seems to be the appropriate response after having had a powerful, sacred moment in the presence of God. And then after this transformational encounter, both enter a period of fasting. So what is the meaning or purpose of this kind of fasting? Sometimes it simply seems to be the right response after standing in the presence of God, after a defining moment, a crossroads. Jesus fasted right before his ministry began. Moses fasted right before he received 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 verse 9 tells us he did not eat or drink anything. After three days, Ananias is led to Saul, lays hands on him, and Saul’s sight is restored. Here again, an incredible encounter with the Lord, a conversion, and a man who goes on to become one of the most significant leaders in the history of the church. Later, in Acts 13, while the people were worshipping and fasting , not worshipping and praying, mind you, but worshipping and fasting , the Holy Spirit says, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” And here’s what’s so interesting: after receiving this word, the people fasted and prayed again, laid hands on Paul and Barnabas, and sent them off. This is yet another transformational moment. This is the very first missionary journey being commissioned, a journey that would open the door to the spread of the Gospel like never before and change the face of the world. So again, there is this pattern: fasting as the appropriate response to a profound encounter with God. And just as an aside, liturgically, before we entered Lent, we left the season of Epiphany, a beautiful season where people like the Wise Men, Simeon, and Anna had a profound encounter with Emmanuel, God with Us. Doesn’t it make perfect sense that we would be entering a time of fasting right now? I think that is so amazing. The next type of fasting we see in the Bible is fasting in response to a tragic calamity. Over and over again, when a calamity is coming or has already 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. Nehemiah grieves and fasts over the idolatrous state of his people’s hearts. We also see fasting used as a means of spiritual warfare. In Matthew 17, a man comes to Jesus because his epileptic son was brought to the disciples and they could not heal him. When the disciples later asked Jesus why they couldn’t heal the boy, Jesus said it was because of their unbelief, but also because “that kind only goes out through prayer and fasting.” Clearly, there are types of bondage and disorder that only break with prayer and fasting together. And then there’s the last reason for fasting, and probably the one we’re most familiar with: turning away from sin. In 1 Samuel 7, the Israelites turned back to the Lord. They put away their idols and repented. But it wasn’t enough on its own. Samuel ordered them to fast, and so for a whole day the Israelites fasted and confessed. In Joel 2, God tells 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 just pray sometimes. Fasting is required as well. Scripture makes it very clear: as we turn away from our sin, we should fast. Fasting helps us turn more fully. But fasting also does something else: it reveals our sin to us. When we fast, it becomes painfully obvious how out of control our appetites are and how much we are ruled by them. Ordinarily, I think I’m a pretty good person, a pretty good Christian. But during Lent, when I fast from something even ridiculously small like coffee, I become really aware of how much I struggle. 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 real discomfort and grief. I am reminded of my frailty. I realize how little control I actually have over my own life. Through fasting, we are all choosing to embody that frailty, and according to the Bible, that does powerful things inside of us. This kind of fasting is not about punishing ourselves. It’s about grieving , over the state of our hearts and the state of the world. And 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 what’s our takeaway from all of this? Fasting is an extraordinarily powerful tool. It is an embodied expression of prayer; fasting is praying with your body. In today’s world, we tend to divide the spiritual from the physical. The spiritual is thinking and praying. The physical is eating. They are two separate things. But that is not how the Israelites understood themselves, and it is not how the church understood itself until very recently. To them, 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 traditions. We kneel, we smell, we taste, we feel, we fast. And through the season of Lent, the church gives us this ancient, irreplaceable opportunity to do it again.

Welcome, March! The world is waking, but the Church is still. March draws us deeper into the wilderness of Lent, further along the road to Jerusalem. The days grow longer and the light returns, and yet we walk in a holy quiet, a season of penitence, of prayer, of turning. This is the month where we fast and pray and face ourselves honestly. We walk with Jesus now, through temptation and trial, toward the shadow of the cross. The Passion draws near. Holy Week waits at the end of the road. And yet in the midst of the ache, there is a glimmer, an angel’s greeting, a “yes” spoken in Nazareth, a light that no darkness can extinguish. We are walking through this holy month together, and I’m so glad! Here’s an overview with helpful links: March 15th - Laetare Sunday March 17th - The Feast of St. Patrick March 19th - The Feast of St. Joseph March 25th - The Feast of the Annunciation March 29th - Palm Sunday Current Season: Lent We entered Lent on Ash Wednesday, February 18th. These forty days mirror Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, and call us into a season of fasting, prayer, and honest repentance. Here is a helpful article overviewing the season: The Season of Lent. And check out my guidebook, The Liturgical Home: Lent . It gives you everything you need to know to celebrate the season in your home, including the most important time leading up to Easter, Holy Week. March 15th - Laetare Sunday On the Fourth Sunday of Lent, the Church exhales. Laetare Sunday, whose name comes from the Latin word for rejoice , is a brief pause in the solemnity of the season, a moment of joy lit in the middle of the fast. The liturgical color shifts from penitential purple to rose, and the tone of worship softens just a little. We are past the halfway point. Easter is coming. We are not yet through the wilderness, but we can see something glimmering on the other side. Today is not an escape from Lent, it is a reminder of what Lent is for : the joy that waits at the end of the road. Celebrating Laetare Sunday March 17th - The Commemoration of St. Patrick On St. Patrick’s Day, we celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, a man whose story is among the most extraordinary in all of Christian history. Kidnapped as a teenager, enslaved, and forced to labor in a foreign land, Patrick eventually escaped, only to feel the call of God to return, not with bitterness, but with the Gospel. He came back to the very people who had enslaved him, and through his ministry, the island was transformed. Celebrating the Feast of St. Patrick March 19th - The Feast of St. Joseph On the Feast of St. Joseph, we remember the steadfast man entrusted with the care of the Holy Family. Joseph speaks no recorded words in all of Scripture, and yet his faithfulness speaks volumes. He protected Mary. He raised Jesus. He taught the Son of God to work with his hands. His is a vocation of hiddenness, steady, trustworthy love lived out in the ordinary rhythms of a carpenter’s life. Celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph March 25th - The Feast of the Annunciation On the Feast of the Annunciation, we stand with Mary in the moment that changed everything. The angel Gabriel appeared to a young woman in Nazareth with an impossible invitation, and she said “yes.” Her words, “Let it be to me according to your word,” are among the most consequential ever spoken. This feast falls like a shaft of light through the middle of Lent, reminding us that even in our fasting and our turning, the story is one of grace. The Incarnation was a gift given freely, received humbly. Today we honor Mary’s courage, her faith, and her fiat, and ask where God might be inviting us to say yes. Celebrating the Feast of the Annunciation March 29th - Palm Sunday On Palm Sunday, everything changes. Lent gives way to something more solemn and more tender: Holy Week. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, greeted with cloaks and branches and shouts of Hosanna, a king who comes not with armies but with tears. The crowd that cheers today will fall silent by Friday. We begin this week carrying palms and singing, and we end it standing at the foot of the cross. Walk slowly through Holy Week. Let it do its work in you. Celebrating Palm Sunday 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 in the heart of Lent, the Church’s great season of preparation. Keep up with every season, feast, and fast day with the 2026 Liturgical Home wall calendar ! Or the 2026 Liturgical Planner .

Lent is a season of preparation, a time to turn our hearts toward Jesus as we journey with Him to the cross. It is rich with meaning, tradition, and spiritual depth. But how do we invite our children into this sacred time in a way that speaks to their hearts? How do we help them experience Lent, rather than simply observing it? One of the most powerful ways to do this is through good books. Children love stories. They understand the world through the rhythm of a good tale, through characters who struggle, persevere, and grow. And Lent, at its heart, is a story, the greatest story ever told. It is a journey from ashes to Alleluias, from darkness to light, from death to resurrection. By filling our homes with beautiful, well-told stories during Lent, we give our children a framework to better understand this season. Books become a way to disciple them, to teach them not just what Lent is, but why it matters. And this year, I wanted to bring that list here, to you. Choosing Books for Lent The best Lenten books do more than just tell a Bible story. They invite children to feel the weight of sin and the beauty of grace, to walk alongside Jesus in His suffering, and to long for the joy of Easter morning. Below, I’m sharing some of my favorite children’s books for Lent, the ones I return to again and again, and the ones I think you’ll want on your shelves too. Twas the Season of Lent by Glenys Nellist Glenys Nellist is one of my favorite children’s book authors! I love her “Twas” series , especially Twas the Season of Lent ! ‘Twas the Season of Lent is a 40-day devotional and storybook that explores the life, words, and works of Jesus and encourages families to draw closer to God during the Lenten Season. This book focuses on Jesus’s mission to the least, the lost, and the lonely, with each story and accompanying prayer prompt encouraging children to try to be more like Jesus and to do what God calls them to. Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter by Laura Alary. Make Room presents Lent as a special time for creating a welcoming space for God. This unique book integrates themes of hospitality and self-giving that echo Jesus’ life. Make Room invites children to wonder about the story, to encounter Lent with all their senses, and to experience activities in Lent as part of a life of discipleship. Make Space for Jesus: Learning About Lent and Easter by Laura Alary Also from Laura Alary, this is a simple board book for the youngest readers to experience the story of Jesus at this important time of year. With simple text and soft, watercolor illustrations, Make Space for Jesus teaches young children about Jesus’ way of compassion, welcome, and generosity, and suggests little ways that we can make room in our hearts for others, like smiling and saying hello. This reassuring little book makes it clear that sadness is not the end of the story but gives way to joy and new life. The Easter Storybook: 40 Bible Stories Showing Who Jesus Is by Laura Richie Corresponding to the 40 days of Lent, this beautiful book gives you 40 stories about who Jesus is, getting you ready for Easter. Starting with Jesus’ time in the temple as a boy and ending with His appearances after the resurrection , The Easter Storybook invites readers into the big picture of God’s love. Each of the 40 full-color, beautifully illustrated stories includes a Bible passage and a conversational question to guide families through the Easter season together. What We Do In Lent by Anne E. Kitch Fun activities that teach children and their families about the holy season of Lent. These fun-filled activities for home, pew, or church school, help children ages 4-7 learn about the seasons of Lent and Easter. This book includes mazes, crossword puzzles, connect the dots, and more. 41 pages of activities and a 4-page parent guide designed to promote parenting in the pews. Includes family Lenten devotionals. Suitable for any Christian denomination that follows the liturgical calendar. All about Lent & Holy Week: Sharing the Seasons of Repentance & Salvation with Children by Katherine Bogner Explaining both the biblical roots of the season of Lent as well as the liturgical rites and rituals that we celebrate, All about Lent & Holy Week provides answers to what we believe and how to put those beliefs into practice. Topics in this volume include everything from Lenten devotions and traditions like the Stations of the Cross and prayer, fasting and almsgiving, to the unique elements of the Holy Week and Triduum liturgies. This extraordinary resource is an invaluable guide for all who desire to deepen their understanding and experience of Jesus's great love for us throughout Lent and beyond! Making It a Lenten Practice Using books as a discipleship tool during Lent doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as gathering in the evenings with a cup of tea and a story, reading together after morning prayers, or setting aside one night a week for a longer reflection. The goal is to let these stories shape your home, your conversations, and ultimately, your children’s understanding of what this season is really about. As you walk through Lent together, may these books open the door to deep discussions, heartfelt prayers, and a richer experience of this holy season. I’d love to hear from you, what are some of your favorite books to read during Lent? Drop them in the comments and let’s build an even better list together. And if you’re already thinking ahead to Holy Week and Easter, stay tuned. I have another list coming that I can’t wait to share with you.

As we enter the season of Lent, you’ll see churches around the world draped in deep shades of purple, on the altar, in the vestments of the clergy, and even in our homes. But have you ever wondered why purple is the color of this season? The answer is found in both the suffering and kingship of Christ. The Mocking of the King In the Gospel of Mark, we find a moment of profound cruelty and yet, deep theological significance: And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. Mark 15:17-19 The soldiers, mocking Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah, dressed Him in royal purple and placed a crown of thorns upon His head. They ridiculed His kingship, unknowingly affirming the very truth they sought to deny: Jesus is indeed the King. For the soldiers, this was nothing more than humiliation. But for us, it is a moment of revelation. Christ the King is not like the rulers of this world. His throne is the cross. His crown is made of thorns. His glory is found in suffering. Every time we see purple during Lent, we are drawn back to this moment. We remember the suffering Christ endured, the love that led Him to the cross, and the reality of His kingship. The Dual Symbolism of Purple Purple has long been associated with royalty and majesty. In the ancient world, purple dye was rare and costly, often reserved for emperors and kings. The Roman soldiers’ choice to place a purple cloak on Jesus was meant as mockery, but it was actually a declaration of who He truly is, the King of Kings. At the same time, purple is also the color of penance and repentance. For centuries, the Church has used this color during seasons of fasting, self-examination, and preparation. It is a color of humility, reminding us of our need for God’s mercy and grace. During Lent, purple invites us to reflect on both the royalty of Christ, who reigns in love and humility, and the suffering of Christ, who took on the weight of our sin. These two truths are inseparable — the King who reigns is the same King who bled, and the purple we see throughout this season holds both realities together. Bringing Lent Into Your Home: Incorporating Purple Because purple carries such deep meaning, bringing it into our homes during Lent is more than decoration, it is a way of surrounding ourselves and our families with a daily, visual call to repentance and preparation. The Church has always understood that what we see shapes what we remember, and what we remember shapes how we live. Here are some simple ways to make purple a part of your Lenten home. Cover sacred images. Traditionally, statues, icons, and crosses are covered with purple fabric during Lent as a sign of mourning and anticipation of Christ’s passion. Draping a purple cloth over crosses or crucifixes in your home is one of the oldest and most powerful ways to mark the season, creating a visual reminder that we are in a time of waiting and reflection. Use purple candles. Place purple candles on your dining table or prayer space as a quiet, consistent reminder that this is a season set apart. The flame itself becomes a symbol of the light of Christ burning through our darkness. Here  and here . Set the table with purple. A purple table runner, napkins, or placemats at meals can transform an ordinary moment into a Lenten one, inviting your family to remember, even at dinner, that we are walking this season together. Here and here . Create a prayer space. Dedicate a quiet corner of your home with purple cloth, candles, and a Bible for daily Lenten devotions. Returning to the same space each day builds a rhythm of reflection that carries you through the season. Dress in purple. Wearing purple on Ash Wednesday or throughout the season is a simple way to align your outward life with your inward journey, a small act of intention that keeps the themes of Lent close throughout the day. A Call to Reflection The color purple is not just a liturgical decoration, it is an invitation. When we see the deep purple hues of Lent, let them call us to repent and turn away from sin toward Christ, to remember the suffering He endured for our sake, and to prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter, when our King, once robed in purple and crowned with thorns, is revealed in His resurrection glory. This Lent, let purple be more than a color. Let it be a call to deeper devotion, a visual reminder of the love, sacrifice, and kingship of Jesus Christ. 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, carrying the beauty and depth of this season into every corner of your daily life.

Did you know that Lent has its own music? I didn’t, at least not until I began paying closer attention to the rhythms of the liturgical calendar. Just as Advent carries its own sound and mood, Lent is marked by distinct themes: repentance, mercy, sacrifice, and a deep longing for redemption. But unlike Advent, which holds a quiet expectancy, Lenten music feels heavier. More restrained. These hymns slow us down. They invite reflection. They lead us carefully toward the cross. Why Lenten Music Matters The hymns of Lent sound very different from the triumphant joy of Easter morning. They guide us into the wilderness with Christ. They help us sit with our sin, acknowledge our frailty, and remember our desperate need for mercy. Lenten music teaches our hearts to linger, not rush, through this sacred season of self-examination and renewal.' These songs remind us that the road to resurrection first passes through suffering. One of the most beloved Lenten hymns is O Sacred Head, Now Wounded . Its haunting melody and poetic imagery draw us into Christ’s passion and fix our eyes on His sacrifice: O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thine only crown; How pale Thou art with anguish, With sore abuse and scorn! How does that visage languish, Which once was bright as morn! This hymn carries us to the foot of the cross. It asks us not to look away. The sorrow of Lent is real, but so is the love that shines through it. Another powerful hymn for this season is When I Survey the Wondrous Cross . Where the first hymn draws us into Christ’s suffering, this one turns our gaze inward, calling us to humility and gratitude: When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Lent is not about remaining in sorrow. It is about being transformed by love. These hymns prepare us for Easter not by rushing to joy, but by deepening our understanding of what Christ has done. Resisting the Rush to Easter Just as the world often skips from Advent straight to Christmas, it is tempting to hurry past Lent and move quickly to Easter celebration. But something beautiful happens when we allow ourselves to dwell in Lenten music, to sit in the tension, to sing words of repentance, to meditate on Christ’s suffering. In our home, we are intentional about this. We save Jesus Christ Is Risen Today and Christ the Lord Is Risen Today for Easter morning. We resist singing them too early. And when Easter finally arrives, and those triumphant hymns fill the room, they feel fuller. Brighter. Hard-earned in the best possible way. Joy is always richer when it follows repentance. Lenten Playlists to Enrich Your Season If you would like to immerse your home in the sound of Lent, I’ve created a Lenten playlist to guide you. Whether you are praying, reading Scripture, preparing dinner, or driving your children to activities, these hymns can gently shape the atmosphere of your days. Traditional Lenten Playlist These hymns have carried the Church through centuries of Lenten observance. They center us on Christ’s sacrifice, our need for grace, and the mercy that meets us at the cross. Let the music of Lent slow you down. Let it prepare your heart. And when Easter morning comes, may your Alleluias ring all the sweeter because you have first walked through the wilderness.

Tomorrow, we move into the season of Lent. The celebration of Shrove Tuesday has passed. The beads are packed away, the last pancakes eaten, and now the mood shifts. The Church grows quiet. We begin a season of preparation. As Christians, we believe that the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the most important event in all of history. God, in His great love, sent His only Son to redeem us from our sins and restore us to Himself. Just as Advent prepares us for the birth of Christ, Lent prepares us for Easter. Lent is a pilgrimage. We walk with Christ through His forty days in the wilderness. We follow Him to the cross. We wait at the tomb. And finally, we rejoice in His glorious resurrection on Easter Day. This journey begins with a solemn and beautiful service: Ash Wednesday The Meaning of Ash Wednesday On Ash Wednesday, the Body of Christ gathers to enter Lent together. It is a corporate turning, a moment when we acknowledge our mortality and our need for mercy. Throughout Scripture, repentance is marked by sackcloth and ashes. In the Bible, ashes symbolize humility, grief over sin, and a return to God. During the Ash Wednesday service, ashes are placed on the forehead of each believer in the shape of a cross. As they are imposed, we hear the words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19) These are the words spoken to Adam and Eve after the Fall, a reminder that sin brought death into the world. They also remind us that we, too, have “sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And yet the ashes are placed in the shape of a cross. Even in repentance, there is hope. Why Ashes? Throughout Scripture, ashes are a sign of grief, humility, and repentance. Job repented in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). Daniel prayed in sackcloth and ashes (Daniel 9:3). When Jonah preached to Nineveh, the people covered themselves in ashes as they turned back to God (Jonah 3:6). Ashes symbolize sorrow for sin, and hope in God’s mercy. In the early Church, ashes were placed on the heads of public penitents who were preparing to be restored to communion at Easter. Over time, the practice extended to the whole Church. The message became clear: we all stand in need of grace. No one enters Lent on their own merit. We come as sinners in need of mercy. A Day of Fasting & Repentance Ash Wednesday is one of the two primary fast days of the Church year, the other being Good Friday. It marks the beginning of our Lenten discipline. We fast not as a hollow ritual, but as a way of training our hearts. By denying ourselves, we learn to hunger for Christ. If you are observing a fast today, let it be accompanied by prayer. When you feel hunger, let it prompt you to turn your thoughts toward God. Offer your discomfort to Him. Allow it to remind you that He alone satisfies. How to Observe Ash Wednesday at Home Lent is both personal and communal. While we gather with the Church, we also carry its rhythms into our homes. Here are meaningful ways to mark this day with your family: 1. Attend an Ash Wednesday Service Gather with your church family. Receive the ashes. Enter Lent together. 2. Do a Family Devotion & Burn Your Sins After dinner or before bed, do the Ash Wednesday devotion. After the devotion, hand each family member a small slip of paper and a pen. Ask everyone, children included, to prayerfully consider an area of weakness in their lives where they need God’s help. Model this by sharing your own weakness and writing it down. Place the slips into an earthenware vessel and carefully burn them (or throw them into a fireplace or outdoor fire pit). As they burn, explain that just as the paper is reduced to ashes and no longer recognizable, so our sins are forgiven and remembered no more when we confess them to Christ. This is a powerful and tangible reminder of grace. 3. Make Pretzels The pretzel is considered one of the oldest Christian foods. Originating in Europe, it was created by monks to accommodate the Lenten fast. Made with only flour, water, and salt, it reflects the simplicity of the season. Its twisted shape resembles arms crossed in prayer, a fitting symbol for Lent. (The recipe is found at the end of the article.) 4. Begin Your Lenten Fast Traditionally, nothing is eaten on Ash Wednesday. However, this should not be required of children. If a total fast is not possible, consider smaller meals and abstaining from meat. Whatever form your fast takes, let it be intentional. 5. Visibly Mark the Season in Your Home Make your home reflect the Church calendar. Cover icons and crosses with purple cloth. Remove flowers and bright decorations. Take down signs of spring so that Easter will feel all the more glorious when it arrives. 6. Create a Lenten Door Display Have your children gather bare twigs and branches. Tie them together with purple fabric and hang them on your front door. This stark and beautiful arrangement is a dramatic reminder that we have entered a sacred time, a kairos moment, in the Church year. (Here’s the tutorial .) 7. Display “Vacare Deo” Create a simple sign with the Latin phrase Vacare Deo , meaning “to empty oneself for God.” Place it somewhere visible as a daily reminder of the purpose of this season. 8. Make an Alms Box Make an alms container and place it in a prominent location. A traditional phrase to attach is: “The fasts of the rich are the feasts of the poor.” Encourage everyone to contribute throughout Lent. Let your fasting become someone else’s blessing. Almsgiving: The Neglected Practice of Lent 9. Say Goodbye to the Alleluias Because we refrain from saying “Alleluia” during Lent, take time to say goodbye to it. Have your children write “Alleluia” on a board. Decorate it with flowers. Then place it in a drawer, chest, or closet until Easter morning. The absence will make its return all the sweeter. 10. Begin Spring Cleaning Let your physical cleaning mirror your spiritual work. As you declutter and scrub, pray that God would cleanse your heart as well. The Invitation of Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is not meant to weigh us down. It is an invitation. An invitation to humility. An invitation to repentance. An invitation to renewal. We begin with ashes. We end with resurrection. Today, we step into the wilderness with Jesus. May this Lent shape us, refine us, and draw us ever closer to Him. Blessed Lent, dear friends. Let us walk this pilgrimage together! the recipe - Quick and Easy Pretzels   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 almost time for Shrove Tuesday, also called Pancake Day, Mardi Gras, and Carnival. And I’m excited, not only because we will eat pancakes and King Cake, but because it means we are only a day away from Lent, my favorite season of the year. This day always feels like standing in a doorway. One foot still in the light of Epiphanytide, the other preparing to step into the quiet of Lent. The End of Carnival If you are like me, when you think of this day, you might picture rich foods, elaborate parades, huge crowds, beads flying through the air, and excessive partying. And yes, Carnival is filled with celebration and merrymaking. But the word Carnival itself tells a deeper story. It comes from the Latin expression carne levare , meaning “remove meat.” It is a farewell to rich foods. A clearing of the larder. A last feast before the fast. Historically, Christians used this day to empty their homes of foods they would not consume during Lent: meat, butter, eggs, cream, and sugar. It was both practical and joyful. We feast because we are about to fast. Even in New Orleans, where Mardi Gras has become deeply secularized, the rhythm of the Church still quietly shapes the day. There are no parades after mid-afternoon, honoring the tradition that a more penitential time begins at sundown. And at midnight, the celebration ends. Police officers move through the streets announcing that the party is over, followed by street sweepers clearing away the remnants of the revelry. At the stroke of midnight, Mardi Gras is over. Lent has begun. It is a dramatic reminder: joy has its season. So does repentance. Shrove Tuesday and Other Names The name Shrove Tuesday points to the penitential character of the day. The word shrove comes from the Old English word “shrift,” meaning to confess one’s sins. Traditionally, church bells would ring to call the faithful to confession before the beginning of Lent. People would bring their palm crosses from the previous Palm Sunday to be burned into ashes for the Ash Wednesday service. The same branches that once shouted “Hosanna” would now mark foreheads with the sign of repentance. Mardi Gras and Pancake Day, by contrast, highlight the feasting traditions. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday.” Pancake Day refers to simple bread made with eggs and milk, two ingredients traditionally given up during Lent. Across the world, Christians developed food traditions to use up their rich ingredients. In Mexico and Spain, families make what we call French toast. In France, King Cake fills bakery windows. In the United Kingdom, pancakes are flipped in kitchens and raced through village streets. In Germany and Poland, doughnuts filled with jam or cream are prepared. In Ukraine, thin pancakes called blini are served. Different foods. Same instinct. Feast well, because tomorrow we fast. Celebrate Shrove Tuesday at Home If you’d like to observe this day with your family, here is a simple guide. Let your children decorate the house with inexpensive Mardi Gras beads. Hang them from chandeliers, drape them across dining chairs, let color and joy fill the room. Allow them to dress up. Make simple masks. Lean into merriment. This is not excess for excess’s sake; it is a grand celebration before holy restraint. Prepare rich foods. Pancakes piled high with whipped cream and syrup. Sausage and bacon. King Cake or doughnuts. Use the butter. Pour the cream. Scatter the colored sugar. We are celebrating the goodness of the Lord before entering a season of austerity. If you’d like to add a bit of whimsy, hold a pancake race. In England, the church bells of Olney became known as the “pancake bell.” Legend tells of a woman so busy cooking pancakes that she ran to church, still flipping one in her pan. To this day, pancake races are held in her memory. Give your children cool pans with already-cooked pancakes and let them run a small course while flipping them. Feast. Laugh. Make a little noise. And then, when the plates are cleared and the children are ready for bed, gather together. Transition the tone gently. Light a candle. Explain that you are entering a new season called Lent, a time set aside to prepare your hearts for Easter. Tell them that your family will mark this season by making changes: eating more simply, praying more intentionally, reading Scripture more regularly, and giving alms to the poor. Invite them to consider what they might give up or take up. Close by reading Isaiah 25:6–9 together, the promise of a greater feast to come. Shrove Tuesday is not just about pancakes. It is about movement. From fullness to fasting. From noise to quiet. From celebration to repentance. And in that movement, we remember that every fast is preparing us for a feast far greater than we can imagine. the recipe - King Cake Ingredients for the Brioche : 1 envelope of Active Dry Yeast 1/4 cup warm water (115 degrees) 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 Tablespoons sugar 1/4 cup milk 2 teaspoons orange zest 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 eggs, beaten 1 1/4 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into very small pieces 1 egg beaten and 2 Tablespoons water for the egg wash 1 plastic baby trinket or dried bean Dissolve the yeast in the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, and let stand until frothy. Dissolve the salt, sugar, orange zest, and milk in a small bowl. When dissolved combine the milk mixture with the yeast mixture. Mix the cinnamon with the flour. Add the eggs with the mixer on low speed, then gradually add the flour until all is incorporated. Knead on low speed for 10 minutes until a smooth elastic dough is formed. A little more flour may be necessary. With the motor running, incorporate the butter into the dough, a little at a time but rather quickly so that it doesn’t heat up and melt. Turn the dough into an oiled bowl, loosely cover it with plastic wrap, and let rise for 1 hour in a warm spot. When the dough has doubled in bulk punch it down, cover, and place it in the refrigerator overnight. You can skip this step if you are pressed for time. The following day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough out to a 6 x 18-inch rectangle. Spread the pecan filling (recipe below) out in the middle of the rectangle along the whole length, leaving about 1 1/2 inches on each side. Place the baby trinket somewhere with the filling. Fold the length of the dough over the filling and roll up tightly, leaving the seam side down. Turn the roll into a circle, seam side down and put one end inside of the other to hide the seam, and seal the circle. Place the cake on a baking sheet and let rise, loosely covered with plastic wrap, for 45 minutes or until doubled in bulk. Brush all over with the egg wash, then place the king cake into the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. When the cake cools, brush with some of the glaze (recipe below) thinned out with more cold water. This will help the sugars adhere. Decorate the cake with the colored sugars and drizzle some of the thicker glaze onto the cake. Place on a large round serving plate and decorate with Mardi Gras beads, doubloons, and whatever else that you like. Ingredients for the filling : 1 cup pecan halves, broken up slightly and roasted until fragrant 2/3 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1 pinch of salt 4 tablespoons Steen’s Cane Syrup Combine all of the ingredients. For the glaze: 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 Tablespoon bourbon water Combine the sugar and bourbon, and whisk in enough water to make a glaze that can be drizzled. For the sugar topping: 3/4 cup granulated sugar Food coloring Place 1/4 cup of sugar in three sandwich baggies. In the first baggie, add drops of yellow food coloring. Close the bag, squeezing the air out and mash around until the yellow food coloring is evenly distributed. In the second baggie, do the same thing but add green food coloring. In the third add blue and red food coloring to get purple. Sprinkle the colored sugars over the glazed King Cake in strips of purple, yellow and green.

The King Cake is a traditional Mardi Gras dessert. It was created to use up all of the rich things (butter, sugar, alcohol) in our pantries before a season of fasting begins. This is a delicious traditional King Cake with a flaky, buttery brioche, a sweet filling of toasted pecans, cane syrup, cinnamon, and coated with a bourbon glaze. King Cake Ingredients for the Brioche : 1 envelope of Active Dry Yeast 1/4 cup warm water (115 degrees) 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 Tablespoons sugar 1/4 cup milk 2 teaspoons orange zest 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 eggs, beaten 1 1/4 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into very small pieces 1 egg beaten and 2 Tablespoons water for the egg wash 1 plastic baby trinket or dried bean Dissolve the yeast in the work bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, and let stand until frothy. Dissolve the salt, sugar, orange zest, and milk in a small bowl. When dissolved, combine the milk mixture with the yeast mixture. Mix the cinnamon with the flour. Add the eggs with the mixer on low speed, then gradually add the flour until all is incorporated. Knead on low speed for 10 minutes until a smooth, elastic dough is formed. A little more flour may be necessary. With the motor running, incorporate the butter into the dough, a little at a time but rather quickly so that it doesn’t heat up and melt. Turn the dough into an oiled bowl, loosely cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise for 1 hour in a warm spot. When the dough has doubled in bulk, punch it down, cover, and place it in the refrigerator overnight. You can skip this step if you are pressed for time. The following day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough out to a 6 x 18-inch rectangle. Spread the pecan filling (recipe below) out in the middle of the rectangle along the whole length, leaving about 1 1/2 inches on each side. Place the baby trinket somewhere with the filling. Fold the length of the dough over the filling and roll up tightly, leaving the seam side down. Turn the roll into a circle, seam side down, and put one end inside the other to hide the seam, and seal the circle. Place the cake on a baking sheet and let it rise, loosely covered with plastic wrap, for 45 minutes or until doubled in bulk. Brush all over with the egg wash, then place the king cake into the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. When the cake cools, brush with some of the glaze (recipe below), thinned out with more cold water. This will help the sugars adhere. Decorate the cake with the colored sugars and drizzle some of the thicker glaze onto the cake. Place on a large round serving plate and decorate with Mardi Gras beads, doubloons, and whatever else that you like. Ingredients for the filling : 1 cup pecan halves, broken up slightly and roasted until fragrant 2/3 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1 pinch of salt 4 tablespoons Steen’s Cane Syrup Combine all of the ingredients. For the glaze: 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 Tablespoon bourbon water Combine the sugar and bourbon, and whisk in enough water to make a glaze that can be drizzled. For the sugar topping: 3/4 cup granulated sugar Food coloring Place 1/4 cup of sugar in three sandwich baggies. In the first baggie, add drops of yellow food coloring. Close the bag, squeezing the air out and mash around until the yellow food coloring is evenly distributed. In the second baggie, do the same thing but add green food coloring. In the third, add blue and red food coloring to get purple. Sprinkle the colored sugars over the glazed King Cake in strips of purple, yellow, and green.

Lent is almost here! If you are looking for a meaningful way for your family to observe Lent in your home, I’ve got the perfect thing - create a Lenten Paper Chain Countdown. This hands-on project isn’t just a fun craft; it’s a visual and interactive tool that helps your children (and you!) count down the days until Easter while reflecting on the significance of this time of preparation, prayer, and introspection. The beauty of a Lenten paper chain is just how simple it is. Each little loop stands for one day of Lent, and every time you tear one off, your kids can actually see that you’re getting closer to Easter. It turns this long, sometimes abstract season into something tangible. And in that small daily moment, pulling off one link together, you’re gently reminding your family that we’re walking toward something incredible, not just giving things up. Lenten Paper Chain Countdown Materials : Construction paper: Purple White Black Red Pink Glue stick or glue Ruler Colored pencils Instructions : Rip strips of colored paper along the width of the paper using a ruler. Add decorative elements to the strips listed below. Interlock the strips in the order given below and glue the ends together. Hang it in a prominent place in your home. As you begin each new day, remove the appropriate link. You will need : 33 purple strips for the regular days of Lent. On the first purple link, color a black cross on it to represent Ash Wednesday. 9 white strips for the feast days of Lent, including Sundays and Easter (Sundays are always feast days since they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus). Decorate the Easter strip with a gold cross and flowers. Four of the white strips are for the Sundays of Lent. One of the white strips is for the Feast of St. Patrick on March 17th. One white strip is for the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th. One white strip is for the Feast of the Anunciation on March 25th. One white strip is for the Feast of the Resurrection (Easter). Decorate the strip with flowers. 1 pink strip for the 4th Sunday of Lent, known as Laetare Sunday. 2 red strips. One is for the Feast of St. Matthias, since he was martyred, and one is for Palm Sunday. Draw a green palm on the one for Palm Sunday. 2 black strips for Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The order of the strips: 1 purple with a black cross for Ash Wednesday 3 purple 1 white for the First Sunday of Lent 1 purple 1 red for the Feast of St. Matthias 4 purple 1 white for the Second Sunday of Lent 6 purple 1 white for the Third Sunday of Lent 6 purple 1 pink for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday 1 purple 1 white for the Feast of St. Patrick 1 purple 1 white for the Feast of St. Joseph 2 purple 1 white for the Fifth Sunday of Lent 2 purple 1 white for the Feast of the Annunciation 3 purple 1 red for Palm Sunday. Draw a green palm on it. 3 purple 1 white for Maundy Thursday 2 black for Good Friday and Holy Saturday 1 white decorated with a gold cross and flowers for Easter Have a blessed Lent +

The first Sunday after Epiphany, Christians around the world celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. It is a significant day in the life of Jesus and the Church. On this day, we remember Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, a moment of profound revelation (an epiphany!) and the beginning of His public ministry. The Baptism and the Season of Epiphany The Church celebrates the baptism of Jesus during Epiphanytide because it aligns with other key moments of revelation, such as the visit of the Magi and the miracle at Cana. Each of these events reveals who Jesus is and deepens our understanding of His divine mission. The baptism of Jesus is not merely a historical moment; it is a profound theological event that reveals God’s nature, affirms Jesus’ identity, and manifests the beginning of His redemptive mission. This is why the Church holds it as a central Epiphany, a divine unveiling that calls believers to reflect on the mystery and majesty of Christ. The story of Jesus’ baptism is recounted in all four Gospels, emphasizing its significance. Jesus approached John the Baptist as he was baptizing in the Jordan River and asked to be baptized. Initially, John hesitated, saying it should be the other way around. But Jesus responded: “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill allrighteousness.” —Matthew 3:15 John consented and baptized Jesus. At that moment, the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and the voice of God declared: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” —Matthew 3:17 This was not just a moment for Jesus; it was an epiphany for all who were present. The Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, was revealed, working together in perfect unity. The Significance of Jesus’ Baptism The baptism of Jesus is a moment of profound significance in the Gospels, serving as a cornerstone of Christian theology and faith. First and foremost, it is a revelation of the Trinity. At His baptism, God the Father speaks from heaven, declaring, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” while the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus in the form of a dove. This visible and audible manifestation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working together marks the first clear revelation of the triune God, affirming Jesus’ divine identity and mission. This event also signifies the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. For thirty years, He had lived in relative obscurity, but His baptism inaugurates His role as the Messiah and Redeemer. From this moment, He embarks on His mission to preach the Kingdom of God, perform miracles, and ultimately offer His life for the salvation of humanity. His baptism serves as a public declaration of His purpose, setting the stage for everything that follows in His ministry. Even though Jesus was sinless and had no need of repentance, His baptism demonstrates His humility and obedience to God’s plan. By submitting to baptism, He identifies fully with humanity, embracing our need for redemption. It is an act that sanctifies the waters of baptism, making them a means of grace for all believers. Through His baptism, Jesus models the significance of this sacrament, inviting His followers to enter into a life of faith, repentance, and renewal. The baptism of Jesus also foreshadows His death and resurrection. Baptism, as a sacrament, symbolizes dying to sin and rising to new life. When Jesus enters the waters of the Jordan, He points forward to the ultimate act of redemption He will accomplish through the cross and the empty tomb. In this way, His baptism is not only a moment of revelation but also a profound act of anticipation and promise. Finally, the baptism of Jesus calls believers to reflect on their own baptism. It reminds us of the grace we have received and the covenant we have entered into as followers of Christ. It is a moment to reaffirm our identity as God’s beloved children and to recommit ourselves to living out our faith. The baptism of Jesus is a powerful reminder of the unity between heaven and earth, the humility of Christ, and the call to share in His mission of redemption and love. Ways to Celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord Read Matthew 3:13-17 . Reflect on what Jesus’ baptism means for us today. Consider these questions: Why did Jesus choose to be baptized by John? How does the revelation of the Trinity deepen your understanding of God? What does your baptism mean to you? Renew Your Baptismal Vows. In churches all over the world, Christians gather and renew their baptismal vows. After the renewal, the priest walks among the people and asperges them with holy water, reminding them of their baptism and the cleansing and renewal it wrought. If attending a church service is not possible, here is the renewal of baptismal vows. Get wet. Around the world, the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord is celebrated with water-centered traditions: In Eastern Europe, Christians jump into icy waters, symbolizing purification and renewal. In Greece, a priest throws a wooden cross into the sea, and young men dive to retrieve it, symbolizing the light of Christ being brought into the world. Take a swim in a body of water or fill a bowl with water and dip your fingers in it as a reminder of your baptism. Make the sign of the cross and say, “I am baptized in Christ.” Make Zalabee (Syrian doughnuts). In Syria, Christians make Zalabee for the feast. These doughnut-shaped cakes are fried in olive oil and sprinkled with sugar to signify sweet and everlasting life. Although the method for making these cakes has been simplified, at one time, the dough used for the cakes was the result of being ‘baptized.’ The ceremony for the baptism of the dough began with wrapping the dough in a white cloth. It was then carried to a fountain and immersed in the name of the Holy Trinity. The dough hung in the tree for three days and was taken to the house. Miraculously, the dough rose without yeast! This new leavened dough provided the yeast for the next year. From this dough, small crosses were made and placed wherever food was stored in the home, and Zalabee was made. the recipe - Zalabee (Syrian Doughnuts) ½ package dry yeast 1 ½ cup lukewarm water 4 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon oil (olive oil or vegetable oil) Granulated sugar or powdered sugar Optional: cinnamon Olive oil or vegetable oil for frying Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then stir.Sift the flour with the salt into a large bowl. Stir the yeast and the oil gradually into the flour. Knead briefly until the dough is well mixed and smooth. Let the dough sit, lightly covered, for 45 minutes to an hour—until the dough has risen. Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch, and cut into strips about 2 inches wide and 7 inches long. Fry the strips in a frying pan in about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of hot oil until they are golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle the Zalabee with sugar and (optional) cinnamon while they are hot. Recipe from The Art of Syrian Cookery . Carrying the Light Forward The Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord invites us to reflect on the gift of baptism and its meaning in our lives. Just as Jesus began His public ministry after His baptism, we are called to live out our baptismal calling by sharing the Good News, serving others, and growing in our faith. Let this day be a reminder of the promises made at baptism, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and the mission we are called to fulfill as followers of Christ.

Saint Valentine’s Day is almost here! Get ready for the familiar onslaught of Cupids shooting arrows, red roses, and little pastel candy hearts bearing messages like “Be Mine” and “Love You.” It’s that time of year again when parents feel the pressure to make sure their child has Valentines for every kid in class, and when couples rush to secure their dinner reservations weeks in advance. But for many people, Valentine’s Day doesn’t feel romantic or celebratory at all. It can quietly exclude whole swathes of people, those who are single, widowed, divorced, grieving, or simply without a romantic partner. In a culture that so tightly equates love with romance, February 14 can feel less like a celebration and more like a reminder of what’s missing. Valentine’s Day has also become a highly commercialized holiday. This year, consumer spending on Valentine’s Day in the United States is expected to reach a record $29.1 billion , according to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. Shoppers are planning to spend nearly $200 on average on gifts, experiences, and treats for partners, family, friends, and even pets, higher than ever before. And yet, this wasn’t how the day began. The Story of Saint Valentine So, how did we start celebrating Valentine’s Day in the first place? The celebration began as Saint Valentine’s Day , a feast day in the church calendar honoring a man named Valentine. Like the saints we remember throughout the year, he felt called to serve the Lord and others, and he dedicated his life to faithful service in a time of intense persecution of Christians. Valentine was a priest in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II, who was known as “Claudius the Cruel” due to his bloody military campaigns. Claudius noticed that men were reluctant to join his army because they didn’t want to leave their wives and families. To counter this, he banned all engagements and marriages throughout the empire. St. Valentine strongly disagreed and continued to perform marriages in secret , affirming the sacred union of couples despite the emperor’s decree. Word of his actions eventually reached Claudius, and Valentine was arrested. He was brought before the prefect of Rome, beaten, and eventually beheaded around the year 270 AD because of his unwavering faithfulness and defiance of what he believed to be an unjust command. Romantic Love & the Love of Christ Because St. Valentine was martyred for his stand and for marrying couples in defiance of imperial law, his feast became associated with romantic love . Legend also says that, while imprisoned, he befriended his jailer’s daughter and left her a farewell note signed “From Your Valentine.” This story, more tradition than verified history, is often cited as the origin of exchanging affectionate notes on February 14. Regardless of the historical specifics, the deeper Christian meaning of Valentine’s Day lies in self-sacrificial love . We remember St. Valentine first and foremost because of his love for Christ and his willingness to suffer and die for righteousness. In this way, Valentine points us to the love of Christ , a love that is patient, kind, and courageous even in the face of persecution. So, enjoy the traditions you like, flowers, candy, notes, dinner, but remember the real reason we celebrate : the faithful witness of a saint who lived and died out of love for Christ and others. Celebrate the Attributes of Godly Love If you and your family want to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a way that’s both fun and deeply meaningful, here are some ideas: Read 1 Corinthians 13 together. This chapter beautifully describes what true, Godly love looks like. Discuss with your children how the love described here differs from Hollywood’s version: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love never ends. — 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 Make your own “Valentines.” Create cards for loved ones that include one of the attributes of love from this passage. This can be a powerful way for your children to reflect on what love is , not just what it feels like. Widen your circle. Create cards not only for close friends or family members, but also for someone who might otherwise feel forgotten on Valentine’s Day, a neighbor who lives alone, a grandparent, a parishioner, a teacher, or a friend who is single or grieving. Bake heart-shaped cookies. Use frosting to write words like patient , kind , and hope on the cookies. As you decorate and eat, talk about how these qualities reflect the love Jesus shows us every day. Have fun celebrating those you love, but also take time to offer thanks to God for his faithful saint, Valentine, and for the perfect love we have in Jesus Christ. the recipe - Saint Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies Cookies 1 cup butter 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon almond flavoring 2 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cream of tartar Icing Confectioner’s sugar Red food coloring or beetroot powder Whole milk Cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg and extracts. Sift flour, soda, and cream of tartar together. Add to the butter mixture. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill overnight. Roll out and cut into heart shapes. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Divide the confectioner’s sugar into bowls, depending on how many shades of pink you want. Add varying amounts of coloring to the bowls. Add just enough milk to each bowl to make a thick, spreadable icing. Use the icing to write the attributes of love on the top of your cookies!