The day is finally here! The Liturgical Home 2025–2026 Calendar has launched, and I could not be more excited to share it with you. This calendar has been such a labor of love, designed to make living the liturgical year at home both beautiful and practical. My hope is that it will be a daily reminder of the Church’s sacred rhythms, helping your family not only keep track of the feasts and fasts but truly live into them. Bring the beauty of the Church year into your home with this stunning 2025–2026 Circular Liturgical Calendar . The calendar visually guides you through the flow of the Christian year, showcasing the liturgical colors, holy seasons, and key feast days in a simple, elegant layout. Perfect for families, churches, and schools, it helps you stay rooted in the sacred cycle of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time. Hang it in your kitchen, classroom, or parish hall, and let it serve as both a teaching tool and a work of art, a way for children and adults alike to see at a glance where we are in the life of Christ. The calendar is printed on premium matte poster paper and measures 18" x 24" , making it both durable and striking as wall décor. You can also add a magnetic bamboo hanger for easy display, turning the passage of time itself into a sacred rhythm. Whether you are new to the liturgical year or have been walking through these seasons for decades, I pray this calendar blesses your home and helps you live more intentionally in step with the Church’s timeless story. Order your 2025–2026 Liturgical Calendar HERE

We often measure our lives by the dates and markers of the secular calendar, school terms, national holidays, birthdays, vacations. These rhythms are real and meaningful, but they cannot carry the full weight of our lives or give us the deepest sense of who we are. The secular calendar tells us when to shop, when to work, and when to rest for a day or two. The liturgical calendar, however, tells us a much greater story, the story of God’s redeeming love. A Story That Holds Us The liturgical year walks us, year after year, through the life of Christ. From the longing of Advent to the joy of Christmas, from the fasting of Lent to the triumph of Easter, from the fire of Pentecost to the quiet growth of Ordinary Time, the seasons of the Church teach us to see our lives as part of something larger. Each feast and fast reminds us that our days are not random or ordinary, they are woven into the mystery of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. By contrast, the secular calendar trains us to orient our lives around deadlines, consumer cycles, and cultural milestones that pass quickly and fade. The Fourth of July ends with fireworks. Labor Day ends with sales. Even New Year’s Eve, with all its excitement, quickly collapses into resolutions we rarely keep. These markers may punctuate our schedules, but they do not shape our souls. Formation Through Time The Church, in her wisdom, gives us a different rhythm, a rhythm that sanctifies time itself. The early Christians understood that to follow Jesus was not simply to believe in Him but to walk with Him through the days and seasons of life. By marking time liturgically, we are formed slowly but surely into His likeness. We learn to wait with expectation, to feast with joy, to repent with humility, and to live in hope. Think of the way children absorb the life of faith by living the Church year at home. They learn that purple means preparation, green means growth, white means joy. They begin to expect Advent candles, Christmas hymns, Lenten prayers, Easter Alleluias. Without a single lecture, they come to know that their lives are bound up in the life of Christ. A Counter-Cultural Witness Choosing to live by the liturgical year is also an act of resistance. In a world that tells us our worth is found in productivity, consumption, or fleeting pleasures, the Church calls us back to the eternal. When we fast while the world feasts, when we keep celebrating Easter while the world has moved on, when we sanctify our homes with prayer and candles in the middle of Ordinary Time, we bear witness to a deeper truth: Christ is Lord of time, and our lives are hidden in Him. Shaped Into God’s People The secular calendar will always have its place, we need to know when to pay taxes, when school begins, when to honor our national history. But it cannot tell us who we are or where we are going. Only the liturgical year does that. By walking us through the story of Christ again and again, it slowly reshapes us. These seasons are not mere repetition, they are transformation. This is why the liturgical year shapes us more than the secular calendar: because it does not simply mark time, it redeems time. It teaches us, season by season, how to live, how to hope, how to love, and how to worship. It roots us in the story that will not fade, because it is the story of Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Interested in following the liturgical year? You can find all of my The Liturgical Home guidebooks HERE . They walk you through each liturgical season, with all of their feast days, traditions, recipes, and devotions. They give you everything you need to celebrate the liturgical year in your home. And coming soon … My liturgical wall calendar for the 2025-2026 year! Hang it in a promimnent place in your home, office, or church to keep up with every liturgical date for the year! (This is the calendar for 2024-2025 year)

Happy first day of September! September ushers us further into the season of Ordinary Time, carrying with it the gentle shift from summer’s fullness toward autumn’s quiet beauty. As the days grow shorter and the air begins to cool, this month invites us to steady our hearts, recommit to daily rhythms of prayer, and cultivate practices that keep us rooted in Christ. It’s a season for gathering, both in our homes and in our spirits, as we learn again that God is present not only in the feasts but also in the faithful work of every day. I’m so glad to walk through it with you! Here’s an overview with helpful links: September 14th - The Feast of the Holy Cross September 21st - The Feast of St. Matthew September 29th - The Feast of Michael and All Angels Current Season: Ordinary Time During the month of August, we continue our journey through the season of Ordinary Time. Here is a helpful article overviewing the season: The Season of Ordinary Time And check out my latest guidebook, The Liturgical Home: Ordinary Time . It gives you everything you need to know to celebrate the season of Ordinary Time in your home. September 14th - The Feast of the Holy Cross On the Feast of the Holy Cross, we lift high the cross of Christ, not as a symbol of defeat, but as the sign of victory and salvation. What was once an instrument of shame and suffering has become the very means by which the world is redeemed. In the shadow of the cross, we see both the depth of God’s love and the cost of our redemption. As Jesus declares, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32), we are reminded that the cross is not only Christ’s glory but also our calling. This feast invites us to embrace the cross in our own lives, to follow where He leads, and to trust that through the cross comes resurrection and everlasting life. Holy Cross Day Basil Pesto for Holy Cross Day September 21st - The Feast of St. Matthew On the Feast of St. Matthew, we remember the tax collector turned apostle, whose life was utterly transformed by the call of Christ. As Matthew sat at his tax booth, burdened by a life many considered compromised and unworthy, Jesus simply said, “Follow me.” And Matthew rose, leaving everything behind to walk in the way of discipleship. His story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy and that the Lord delights in calling the unlikely and overlooked into His service. As the author of the first Gospel, Matthew now bears lasting witness to the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This feast invites us to hear Christ’s call anew in our own lives and to rise, like Matthew, in faith and obedience, ready to follow wherever He leads. The Feast of St. Matthew, the Evangelist Coin Pancakes for the Feast of St. Matthew September 29th - The Feast of Michael and All Angels On the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, or Michaelmas, the Church gives thanks for the unseen hosts of heaven who worship God and minister to His people. Scripture reveals Michael leading the heavenly armies, Gabriel announcing the coming of Christ, and countless angels who guard, guide, and join us in praise of the Lord of Hosts. This feast reminds us that we do not walk alone, the angels encamp around us, and invites us to lift our eyes in worship, joining our voices with theirs as we proclaim God’s victory and glory. How to Celebrate St. Michael and All Angels Day Happy Feast of St. Michael and All Angels Lemon and Rosemary Chicken for St. Michael and All Angels Follow along as I share everything you’ll need to celebrate every special day this month, including the history, recipes, and traditions!

Holy Cross Day is almost here! Holy Cross Day is the special day when Christians around the world celebrate the cross of Christ. Holy Cross Icebox Cake The cross is pivotal to the Christian faith. It is the instrument of Christ’s redemption for the whole world. It is such a holy object to us and the saving acts of God through the cross of Christ are reason to celebrate! Holy Cross Day is an ancient feast day that celebrates the cross and all that it means for our lives. It is the day that we discover not only the cross itself but its rediscovery after it was lost in the fall of Jerusalem. The earliest Christians considered the tomb where Jesus was buried to be a holy site. However, after the siege of Jerusalem in AD 70, the city was reduced to ruins. Later, in AD 130, Emperor Hadrian built a Roman colony over its ruins. He ordered the tomb of Christ filled to create a flat foundation for a temple dedicated to Venus. In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine and his mother, Helena Augusta, converted to Christianity and set about finding and restoring Christianity’s holy sites and objects. Constantine sent his mother to have the pagan temple over the tomb destroyed and the old ruins of the tomb excavated. During the excavation, three crosses were uncovered believed to be the cross of Christ and the two thieves. This was the cause of many celebrations and a feast day was created to commemorate it. Ways to Celebrate: Holy Cross Icebox Cake Make a dessert in the shape of the cross. I love this super easy and decadent Holy Cross Icebox Cake . Your kids will have so much fun making it! You simply layer crisp chocolate cookies with whipped cream. Stack in the shape of a cross, chill until set, and voila…total heaven! A Fun Toothpick Cross Craft Make a cross craft out of toothpicks . This is a fun and easy activity for your kids. Break up toothpicks and glue them in the shape of a cross on black construction paper. Punch holes in the corners of the paper, thread twine through, and hang or process through your house. Make homemade basil pesto. Make homemade basil pesto . Tradition says that basil was growing all over the hill where St. Helena found the cross of Christ buried. Because of this, priests hand out basil sprigs to in Greece the parishioners on Holy Cross Day. Gather up bundles of basil and tie them with a ribbon. Place the basil bundles on the table as decorations for your feast. For dinner, make homemade pesto and spread on slices of crusty bread or add to hot pasta. Show your children how to make the sign of the cross over themselves. People often believe that making the sign of the cross over ourselves is superstitious or weird but that was never how it was intended to be used. Making the sign of the cross is just a way that we remind ourselves that we are set apart for Christ. Let's Get Ready Together! Celebrating Holy Cross Day is a beautiful and meaningful way to honor the profound significance of the cross in our faith. As you gather with your family to reflect on the history and engage in these simple yet rich traditions, you’ll create lasting memories and deepen your connection to Christ’s sacrifice. I’m excited to journey alongside you as we celebrate not only this special day but many more throughout the liturgical year. Be sure to follow along this week as I share all of the recipes and tutorials you’ll need to celebrate Holy Cross Day in your home!

The Feast of St. Luke celebrated on October 18th, invites Christians around the world to honor the life and contributions of this beloved saint and evangelist. As the author of one of the four Gospels and the Book of Acts, St. Luke leaves a legacy not only on the Christian calendar but also on the hearts of those who treasure the Scriptures. Luke’s Background St. Luke, often referred to as Luke the Evangelist, was a physician from the city of Antioch in Syria. He was highly educated and, according to tradition, an artist and a man of letters. St. Paul converted him, and he became one of the earliest Christian missionaries. He traveled extensively with St. Paul, remaining with him while he was in prison and even until Paul died in Rome. In the final chapter of 2 Timothy, St. Paul touchingly writes, “Only Luke is with me” ( 2 Tim. 4:11 ).  He is one of the Four Evangelists, or Gospel writers, and is credited with writing the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, collectively known as Luke-Acts. He is said to have gathered eyewitness accounts before writing his account, making his Gospel more historical in nature. His unique perspective and meticulous attention to detail make his writings invaluable sources of early Christian history and theology. Iconography Church tradition credits Luke as being the first iconographer or painter of icons. Tradition holds that he was a skilled painter and created one of the earliest images of the Virgin Mary. He is said to have painted many icons of the Virgin Mary and Child and of St. Peter and St. Paul. There are several churches around the world claiming to have an icon painted by St. Luke. The St. Thomas Christians of India claim to have one of the Theotokos icons that St. Luke painted and that St. Thomas brought to India. This is why, in the cities of late medieval Europe, guilds that protected painters were known as the “Guilds of St. Luke.” Later Life and Legacy Luke seems to have died at the age of 84 in Greece. According to tradition, St. Luke’s tomb was originally in Thebes, and his relics were transferred to Constantinople in the year 357. In iconography, St. Luke often appears with a winged ox or bull, a symbol originating from the four living creatures in Ezekiel 1 . The early church fathers believed these living creatures (also found in Revelation) symbolized the four Gospel writers. The Catholic Encyclopedia states that St. Luke is always represented by the bull or ox, the sacrificial animal, because “his Gospel begins with the account of Zachary, the priest, the father of John the Baptist.” The Significance of the Gospel of Luke and Acts The Gospel of Luke is cherished for its compassionate portrayal of Jesus Christ as the Savior who welcomes the marginalized, heals the brokenhearted, and calls all to repentance. Luke’s emphasis on Jesus’ parables, miracles, and interactions with women and the poor highlights the universality of God’s love and grace. Unique Features of Luke’s Gospel While sharing many stories and teachings found in the other Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), the Gospel of Luke has distinct characteristics and content that set it apart. Also, unlike Matthew and John, St. Luke was not a disciple of Jesus. His methodology is unique in that he “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” ( Lk. 1:3 ). St. Luke often includes specific historical, geographical, and cultural details in his Gospel, such as accurately describing towns and cities and correctly naming various officials. St. Luke provides the most detailed account of the birth and early life of Jesus, including Zechariah and Elizabeth, the Annunciation to Mary, the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, the birth of John the Baptist, the nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem, the angelic hosts appearing to the shepherds, the meeting with Simeon and Anna, and Jesus as a boy. Famous songs like the Magnificat (Mary’s Song, Lk. 1:46–55 ), the Benedictus (Zechariah’s Song, Lk. 1:68-76 ), and the Nunc dimittis (Simeon’s Song, Lk. 2:29–23 ) are unique to Luke. The Benedictus appears in our liturgy for Morning Prayer and the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis are featured during  Evening Prayer . Luke also gives us six miracles and eighteen parables, including the Parables of the Prodigal Son ( Lk. 15:11-15 ), which does not appear in the other Gospels. Luke strongly emphasizes Jesus’ concern for the poor, women, sinners, and social outcasts. Many stories and parables in Luke emphasize this theme, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  Acts: The Sequel to Luke The Acts of the Apostles, often considered the sequel to the Gospel of Luke, traces the early history of the Christian Church. It narrates the spread of the gospel, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the missionary journeys of Paul. Acts underscore the crucial role played by the Holy Spirit in empowering believers to carry the message of Christ to the ends of the earth. Ways to Celebrate the Feast of St. Luke : Read the Magnificat (Song of Mary) or the Nunc dimittis (Song of Simeon) in the Bible. St. Luke is the only Gospel writer that includes these beautiful songs. Watch an overview of the Luke/Acts series from The Bible Project . Since St. Luke was a painter, paint a picture of the Virgin Mary with Jesus.  In Venice, Italy, they have a proverb that says that pumpkins go stale on St. Luke’s Day. Make sure to eat something with pumpkins in it! Eat something with sour cream in it. In Scotland, it was traditional to eat “sour cakes.” People would make these from fermented oats and then eat them with sour cream.  Enjoy the weather. Lovely summer-like days usually occur around his feast day in the northern hemisphere. We call these days “St. Luke’s Little Summer.” Tradition has it that St. Luke’s Day did not receive as much attention as St. John’s Day and Michaelmas. Therefore, to keep from being forgotten, St. Luke presented us with some golden days to cherish before the coming of winter. In Impruneta, Italy, they hold the “La Fiera di San Luca,” one of Europe’s oldest surviving livestock fairs. The origins go back a thousand years to a time when the shepherds migrated from the mountains to the valley and stopped to trade cattle. Since the symbol for St. Luke is an ox, people traditionally serve beef on this day. We are making my grandmother’s incredible pot roast for dinner! My Grandmother’s Pot Roast Ingredients: 1 Chuck Roast 3 Tablespoons olive oil 1 bag of baby carrots 1/2 bag of potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 can of cream of mushroom soup 1 can of water 1 packet of Lipton onion soup mix salt and pepper Directions: Liberally season the chuck roast with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven. When the oil shimmers, add the roast and sear on all sides. Once the roast is seared, remove the Dutch oven from the heat. Add the carrots, potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, a can of water, and the soup mix packet. Cover the Dutch oven and bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Reduce heat to 250 degrees and continue cooking for four more hours.

On August 24th, the church celebrates St. Bartholomew, a faithful disciple of Jesus. St. Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Unlike some of the other disciples, the details of his life and activities are not extensively documented in biblical texts. The Life of St. Bartholomew What we do know is that St. Bartholomew, as a disciple, traveled everywhere with Jesus, learning from him and helping him in his mission. He continued on with the other disciples after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension and was in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell. He also became an Apostle of the Lord and leader of the early church. According to tradition, after the baptism of the Holy Spirit, St. Bartholomew is said to have traveled extensively, preaching the gospel wherever he went. He is believed to have traveled to various regions including India, Armenia, and possibly parts of Africa. He is often credited with bringing Christianity to these areas. St. Bartholomew's Martyrdom St. Bartholomew's martyrdom is also a large part of his tradition. He is believed to have been martyred in Albanopolis in ancient Armenia. There are various accounts of his cause of death; that he was hanged upside down or that he was beheaded but the most famous account, and the one that you see represented in iconography and art, is that he was flayed alive. The most famous image is that of St. Bartholomew holding his flayed skin in The Last Judgement by Michelangelo. Although we don’t have many details about St. Bartholomew’s life, he is widely depicted in art and iconography, his name is associated with various churches, cathedrals, and monuments, and there are rich traditions celebrating his feast day, all honoring his memory and contributions to Christianity. Ways to celebrate St. Bartholomew’s Day: Make gingerbread. During the middle ages in England, gingerbread was often the special cake served on feast days. The saint's image was usually stamped on the cake. Gingerbread, with the image of Bartholomew, was served at Bartholomew Fairs that were held across the land. We are making Gingerbread Cake from one of my favorite seasonal cookbooks, Honey and Jam by Hannah Queen. (See recipe at the bottom of the post) Have a race and eat a currant bun. In Sandwich, Kent, England, villagers hold a St. Bartholomew's Bun Race. The children of the village race around the chapel of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and are rewarded with a currant bun for their efforts. Make Bartlemas Beef. St. Bartholomew is the patron saint of butchers since he was skinned alive. Yikes! Traditionally, the beef served on this day was known as Bartlemas Beef (“Bartlemas” means the mass of St. Bartholomew). The following recipe is given in “Cook’s Guide” from 1664. Take a fat Brisket piece of beef and bone it, put it into so much water as will cover it, shifting it three times a day for three dayes together, then put it into as much white wine and vinegar as will cover it,and when it hath lyen twenty-four hours take it out and drye it in a cloth, then take nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and mace, of each a like quantity, beaten small and mingled with a good handful of salt, strew both sides of the Beef with this, and roul it up as you do Brawn, tye it as close as you can; then put it into an earthen pot, and cover it with some paste; set it in the Oven with household bread, and when it is cold, eat it with mustard and sugar. Let me know if you make this, especially what you decide to use as “some paste”! Eat watermelon and make lanterns out of watermelon. In Italy and Spain, it was traditional to eat watermelon since watermelon was at the height of its season during this time. A watermelon festival was thrown on St. Bartholomew’s Day and everyone gathered to celebrate the saint and enjoy the fruit. On Tiber Island, in the middle of the Tiber River running through Rome, there is a cathedral dedicated to St. Bartholomew known as San Bartolomeo all’Isola. Villagers gathered there for the celebrations. A watermelon festival and market were held, with vendors displaying whole or sliced watermelons. The villagers would attend mass and then eat watermelon and hold races to celebrate the day. On the Spanish island of Majorca, children made lanterns out of the watermelons and paraded through the village.

Tomorrow is the day the church celebrates Bartholomew, a disciple of Jesus. Bartholomew was one of the twelve disciples called by Jesus. Bartholomew traveled everywhere with Jesus and he continued on with the other disciples after Jesus’ death and resurrection. He traveled throughout India, preaching the gospel. He ended up spreading the gospel in Armenia where he was martyred. Legend has it that Bartholomew was flayed alive before his death which is why you often see him depicted without skin or holding his skin as in The Last Judgment by Michelangelo. Ways to celebrate St. Bartholomew’s Day: Make gingerbread. During the middle ages in England, gingerbread was often the special cake served on feast days. The saint's image was usually stamped on the cake. Gingerbread, with the image of Bartholomew, was served at Bartholomew Fairs that were held across the land. Have a race and eat a currant bun. In Sandwich, Kent, England, they hold a St Bartholomew's Bun Race. Children race around the chapel of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Everyone who participates receives a currant bun. Make Bartlemas Beef. Bartholomew is the patron saint of butcher’s since he was skinned alive. Yikes! The beef served on this day is traditionally called Bartlemas Beef (“Bartlemas” means the mass of St. Bartholomew). The following recipe is given in “ Cook’s Guide ” from 1664. Bartlemas Beef. Take a fat Brisket piece of beef and bone it, put it into so much water as will cover it, shifting it three times a day for three dayes together, then put it into as much white wine and vinegar as will cover it,and when it hath lyen twenty-four hours take it out and drye it in a cloth, then take nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and mace, of each a like quantity, beaten small and mingled with a good handful of salt, strew both sides of the Beef with this, and roul it up as you do Brawn, tye it as close as you can; then put it into an earthen pot, and cover it with some paste; set it in the Oven with household bread, and when it is cold, eat it with mustard and sugar. Let me know if you make this, especially what you use as “some paste”! Eat watermelon or make lanterns out of watermelon. In Italy and Spain it was traditional to eat watermelon. Watermelon was at the height of its season during this time. A watermelon festival was thrown on St. Bartholomew’s Day and everyone gathered to enjoy the fruit. On the Spanish island of Majorca, children made lanterns out of watermelons and paraded through the village. We are making Gingerbread Cake from one of my favorite seasonal cookbooks, Honey and Jam .

One of my favorite moments during our church service is the "passing of the peace." To someone who is not familiar with this tradition, "the passing of the peace" would seem very odd. After a very somber and quiet time during the service, the congregation stands up all at once and the priest exclaims in a very loud voice, “The peace of the Lord be always with you!” To which the people respond, “And also with you!” Then everyone starts hugging each other, shaking each other's hands, and saying to each other, “Peace be with you. And also with you.” It gets very loud and seems a little out of control. Visitors who are new to this tradition often wonder if the church service is over but it's not, far from it, we are only about half of the way through with the service! What is the meaning behind this strange tradition, and why is it so significant in the life of the church? The Meaning of the Passing of the Peace To understand the tradition of the “passing of the peace”, we have to look at the earliest gatherings of Christians. We know that Christians have been celebrating the Eucharist (Greek for “thanksgiving”) since the time of Jesus Christ. The Eucharist, also known as the Lord's Supper or Communion in various Christian traditions, is rooted in the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples shortly before his crucifixion. Here's a brief timeline: The Last Supper: During this meal, described in the Gospels (e.g., Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20), Jesus took bread and wine, gave thanks, and shared them with his disciples, instructing them to "do this in remembrance of me." This event is considered the origin of the Eucharistic celebration. Apostolic Age: The practice of breaking bread in remembrance of Jesus' death and resurrection became a central element of Christian gatherings soon after the resurrection. Acts 2:42 mentions that the early believers "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Pauline Letters: The Apostle Paul, writing in the mid-first century, refers to the Lord's Supper in his First Letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), indicating that the Eucharistic celebration was already an established tradition among the early Christian communities. Subsequent Centuries: As Christianity spread and communities grew, the Eucharistic celebration became more formalized, with set prayers, rituals, and liturgies. By the time of the early Church Fathers in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, references to the Eucharist and discussions about its meaning were frequent in Christian writings. Early Christians believed that the Eucharist was the central act of Christian worship. The Eucharist was so holy that they believed there needed to be a time of preparation before they partook of it. Not only did they need to confess their sins before receiving but they needed to make peace with their brothers and sisters in Christ. The passing of the peace is the part of the service where we are given the opportunity to ask for forgiveness and to reenact the reconciling love of Christ with our neighbors. At its core, the passing of the peace embodies the Christian values of reconciliation, unity, and forgiveness. It's a moment when congregants extend goodwill to one another, mirroring God's love and grace. In this act, we're reminded of our shared journey of faith, bound together by the common thread of Christ’s redeeming work in our lives and the lives of others. Scriptural Foundation Several biblical passages underpin the significance of passing the peace in a liturgical service: Matthew 5:23-24: "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." Matthew 18:15: "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over." 1 Corinthians 1:10: "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." I Corinthians 11:23-30: “ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. “ 2 Corinthians 13:11: "Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." The History of the Passing of the Peace Originally known as the “kiss of peace,” the “passing of the peace” has been a part of the Christian liturgy since the apostolic age. By the time we have more structured liturgical documents, the kiss of peace is already a recognized part of the liturgical practice: The Apostolic Tradition : An early Christian treatise attributed to Hippolytus of Rome, written in the early 3rd century, references the kiss of peace. This is one of the earliest liturgical documents we have that describes the rite of the Christian assembly, and it suggests that the kiss of peace was given before the presentation of the offerings and the Eucharist. Eastern Liturgies : The kiss of peace also appears in ancient Eastern Christian liturgies. For instance, in the Divine Liturgy of St. James, one of the oldest complete liturgies we possess, there's a reference to the kiss of peace. Western Liturgies : In the West, the kiss of peace became a standard part of the Roman rite, usually placed after the Lord's Prayer and before the distribution of the Eucharist. A Profound Symbol In today's liturgical services, the passing of the peace serves as a tangible reminder of our commitment to love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It's this incredible moment when we acknowledge that, in Christ, we are one body, intricately connected and called to extend grace to one another. As we share this sacred practice, we embody the words of Jesus in John 13:34-35: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." In the passing of the peace, we participate in a beautiful tradition that bridges the past with the present, connecting us to the earliest followers of Christ. It's a reminder that, in our diversity, we find unity, and in our love for one another, we reflect the boundless love of our Savior.

Sometimes the simplest traditions become the most meaningful. One of my favorite ways to keep the liturgical year present in our home is by decorating our dining table. It’s the place where we gather every day, where meals and conversations are shared, and it becomes a natural place to carry the Church year into our ordinary rhythms. This month, I put together two simple tablescapes for Ordinary Time . Neither required much effort, but both created a sense of beauty and intentionality that helps our family stay rooted in the season. Part 1: Effortless Table Decor for the Liturgical Year For the first look, I started with this lovely green floral runner , then added thrifted brass candlesticks , green leaf embossed candles , and fresh grapevine . The effect was simple but rich, and the green tones reminded us of the growth and steady faithfulness of God during this season. Green is the color of Ordinary Time in the Church calendar. It reminds us of life, growth, and discipleship, of God’s ongoing work in us day by day, even when life feels quiet or routine. While feast days and fasts draw our attention to dramatic moments in salvation history, Ordinary Time gently teaches us that holiness is also formed in the ordinary and the daily. Sources for this look: Green floral runner : Threshold with Studio McGee Brass candlesticks: thrifted Green leaf embossed candles : Threshold with Studio McGee Grapevine: snipped fresh from our yard Celebrating liturgically doesn’t have to be complicated; sometimes it’s as easy as setting the table. Part 2: A Fresh Liturgical Table Setting The next week, I changed things up with a green and white windowpane tablecloth , a large glass jar, fresh wild olive branches, and a new candle arrangement . It was such a small shift, but it gave the whole table a fresh feeling. That’s what I love about decorating for the liturgical year: it doesn’t take a complete overhaul to bring beauty and meaning into your space. Even the smallest changes can make the table feel new, while still keeping the season at the center. Sources for this look: Tablecloth : Hearth and Hand with Magnolia Cream Unscented Candles : Room Essentials Ceramic Candle Holder : Hearth and Hand with Magnolia A Simple Way to Live the Year Whether you go bold or keep things minimal, decorating your table can become a gentle but powerful reminder of the Church year. In Ordinary Time, the green on our tables and in our churches points us toward steady growth in Christ. It calls us to faithfulness in the “in between” seasons, when we may not be celebrating great feasts or observing fasts, but are instead simply walking with the Lord in the ordinary days of discipleship. And here’s the beauty of it: every time we see the color green at home, just like we do in the vestments and altar hangings at church, we’re given a visual reminder of the season we are in. Our children notice it too. These colors become little signposts, teaching all of us to live with the rhythm of the Church year and to carry it beyond Sunday into our daily lives. So tell me, what’s on your table this season? I’d love to hear your ideas and inspirations in the comments below.

The the Feast of St. Mary, the Virgin, is coming up on August 15th. On this day, Christians around the world come together to celebrate and honor the remarkable life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a joyous occasion filled with reverence, thanksgiving, and reflection on the profound role Mary played in the salvation story. The Life of St. Mary The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Theotokos or Mother of God, holds a special place in Christianity. She was chosen by God to be the vessel through which His Son, Jesus Christ, would take on flesh and enter the world as a human being. Mary's obedience and devotion to God played a crucial role in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. God's Plan for Mary To fully appreciate St. Mary’s role, we have to go back to the very beginning of our story, to the story of the fall of Adam and Eve. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve disobey God and eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They know that they have done wrong but when God discovers what they have done, he doesn’t put them to death, but instead issues a series of punishments for their sin and a curse over the serpent, who tempted them. God curses the serpent physically and then gives a startling prophecy - “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 This prophecy is known as the “Protoevangellium”, which means "first gospel" or "first good news." In Christian theology, the term refers to the first proclamation or foreshadowing of the Gospel in the Bible. It is seen as a prophetic announcement of the coming Messiah and his victory over sin and death. Mary is the “woman” and her “offspring”, of course, is Jesus. Satan will temporarily "strike" at Christ's "heel" through the Crucifixion, but through Christ’s death and resurrection, Satan’s head will be crushed forever. Christians understand the Protoevangelium to be not only a prophecy about the coming of Christ but also of the significance of Mary and the role she played in the salvation of mankind and in the Incarnation of the Word of God. Mary's Fiat And so it came to pass, when the fullness of time had come (Galatians 4:4), God sent the angel Gabriel to a young girl named Mary. Mary listens in awe as she is told that she will conceive a son by the Holy Spirit and that he will be called the Son of the Most High and will reign over the house of Jacob forever. Mary humbly accepts her role, responding, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be unto me according to your word." This incredible response from Mary is known as Mary’s Fiat . The term "fiat" comes from the Latin word for "let it be" or "so be it." Mary's "fiat" is a profound act of faith, obedience, and surrender to God’s will. Her acceptance of God's plan without hesitation has made her a model of faith for many Christians and is a central theme in Christian theology and devotion. Her "yes" to God's plan contrasts with Eve's disobedience, making Mary's "fiat" a critical moment in salvation history. The entire event, known as the Annunciation, is also a central moment in Christian belief, signifying the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It is at this moment that Mary becomes what is known as Theotokos or "God-bearer.” The title emphasizes Mary's role in giving birth to Jesus Christ, who is recognized as fully God and fully human in Christian doctrine. By calling Mary "Theotokos," the Church affirms the belief in the divine nature of Christ from the moment of His conception. From that moment on, we are given beautiful, detailed accounts of Mary’s experiences. We are told about her visit with her elderly cousin, Elizabeth, who is also pregnant. Upon hearing Mary’s voice, Elizabeth and her unborn baby are filled with the Holy Spirit, and Elizabeth exclaims, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" And Mary responds with a joyful song of praise and thanksgiving to God, famously known as the Magnificat . Mary and Jesus Months later, we are told that Mary traveled with Joseph to Bethlehem so that he could take part in a census. Mary is in labor when they arrive and they are unable to find a room at the inn. She gives birth to her son, Jesus, in a stable. That night, shepherds arrive at the stable, praising God and telling incredible stories of heavenly hosts and angelic proclamations. The shepherds are there to see the baby, whom they believe is the Messiah. After seeing the baby, they leave glorifying and praising God, while, as Luke says, Mary keeps all these things and ponders them in her heart. This is the beginning of a series of remarkable encounters for Mary: meeting Simeon and Anna in the Temple, the Wise Men from the East, the angel warning them to flee to Egypt, finding the young Jesus in the Temple where he was astounding the teachers of the law, Jesus’ first miracle where he turns water into wine, his crucifixion, death and resurrection and being in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell. These encounters are significant theological moments where Jesus' divinity and divine power are revealed. Mary's role in these moments highlights her faith in God, her son, and her unique understanding of His mission. The Faith of Mary Mary's appearances are relatively few but highly significant. They portray her as a figure of faith, obedience, and humility, deeply connected to Jesus' mission and the broader themes of God's compassion and justice. Her role serves to bridge the Old and New Testaments, embody the ideal response to God's call, and symbolize the Church as the family of believers. Her unique position as Theotokos (God-bearer) also establishes a profound theological understanding of Jesus as both fully human and fully divine. I love what “Lesser Feasts and Fasts” says about St. Mary - “What we can believe is that one who stood in so intimate a relationship with the incarnate Son of God on earth must, of all the human race, have the place of highest honor in the eternal life of God. A paraphrase of an ancient Greek hymn expresses this belief in very familiar words: “O higher than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim, lead their praises, alleluia.” St. Mary’s Remaining Days According to tradition, Mary lived out her remaining days in the care of the Apostle John, as Jesus had requested from the cross (John 19:26-27). The early Christian writer, Hippolytus of Rome, writes that the Apostle John took Mary to Ephesus, a city in modern-day Turkey, where she lived until her death. During this time, it is said that Mary lived a life of prayer and service to the early Christian community, providing moral support and guidance. How to Celebrate the Feast of St. Mary Read Luke 1:26-38 and recite the Magnificat ( Luke 1:46-55 ) Make something with rosemary or gather a bouquet of rosemary and place it in a vase on your dining room table. Legend has it that the blossoms of the rosemary plant were white until Mary stopped to do laundry during the holy family’s flight to Egypt. Mary threw her blue cloak over a rosemary bush to dry and the flowers have been blue ever since. Plant marigolds or place a bouquet of marigolds on your dining room table. The name "marigold" is a combination of "Mary" and "gold." Traditionally, the golden color of the marigold is said to symbolize the golden virtues of Mary, such as purity, love, humility, and obedience. Decorate your dining table with a blue tablecloth or eat something blue since blue is the symbolic color for Mary. The blue symbolizes purity, humility, and fidelity, all virtues associated with Mary. I love making something with blueberries like this Blueberry Lemon Tart ! Blueberry Lemon Tart Pastry : 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons sugar Pinch kosher salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold, in chunks 1 large egg, separated 2 tablespoons ice water, plus 1 teaspoon Filling : 4 large eggs 1 cup sugar 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 5 lemons) 1/4 cup heavy cream 1 lemon, zested Pinch kosher salt 1 pint blueberries To make the pastry, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt together in a food processor. Add the butter and pulse until the dough resembles cornmeal. Add the egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of ice water and pulse again until the dough pulls together. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle. Roll the dough up onto the pin and lay it inside a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough into the edges of the pan and fold the excess dough inside to reinforce the rim. Cover the tart pan with plastic wrap and put it into the refrigerator for another 30 minutes to rest. To bake the shell, heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the tart pan on a baking sheet and prick the bottom of the dough with a fork. Cover the shell with a piece of parchment paper and fill it with pie weights or dry beans. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the parchment and weights. Lightly beat the egg white with 1 teaspoon water and brush it onto the bottom and sides of the tart shell; set aside to cool. Whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, cream, zest, and salt. Add the blueberries to the cooled tart shell and pour the filling over the blueberries. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. The curd should jiggle slightly when done. Cool to room temperature, remove from the tart ring, and serve. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/blueberry-lemon-tart-recipe-1943234

Ordinary Time is made for rooting. It’s not flashy or hurried. There’s no rush to the finish line, only the slow, steady work of becoming. And in this season, one of the most life-giving things we can do for ourselves and our families is to be intentional about how we live, on purpose, with a plan that reflects who we are and whose we are. The Church has a long tradition of something called a Rule of Life , a prayerful, intentional framework for daily living. Monastics have used it for centuries, not as a rigid checklist, but as a trellis for the vine of faith, a way to shape life so that love for God and neighbor grows in every season. What if we thought of our households , not just ourselves, as needing a Rule of Life? Because here’s the truth: our homes already have a “rule,” whether we’ve named it or not. Our days are shaped by certain habits, priorities, and unspoken values. The question is, do those rhythms reflect the Kingdom of God, or are they just echoes of the culture around us? Why a Household Rule of Life Matters A Rule of Life is not about perfection. It’s about intention. It’s the difference between letting the river of life carry you wherever it will and gently steering the boat toward a destination that matters. When we take time to think about what matters most, faith, hospitality, generosity, rest, and service, we can make sure our family life actually reflects those values. Without that intention, the urgent will always crowd out the important. How to Begin Shaping Your Family’s Rule of Life Pray and Reflect Together Ask God to show you what He desires for your family in this season. Gather around the table and talk about what matters most to each of you. Identify Your Core Values What virtues or practices do you want your home to embody? Sabbath rest? Hospitality? Prayer? Celebrating the Liturgical Year? Write them down. Look at Your Rhythms Take an honest look at how your time is currently spent. Do your daily and weekly patterns reflect your values, or do they tell a different story? Name Small, Concrete Practices A Rule of Life works best when it’s simple and specific. For example: Eat one meal together at the table every day. Begin each morning with prayer. Keep one night a week technology-free for rest and connection. Serve together once a month. Hold It Lightly This isn’t a legalistic rulebook. Life changes, and your Rule of Life will, too. Revisit it seasonally and adjust as needed. Living It Out in Ordinary Time When we root our days in prayer, scripture, service, and rest, those habits begin to seep into our children’s bones. They learn that following Jesus is not just something we talk about on Sundays, it’s the air we breathe at home. A Household Rule of Life creates a rhythm where everyone knows what matters and how to live it. Over time, it becomes part of the culture of your home, quietly forming hearts in the ways of Christ. A Simple Starting Point: Light a candle at dinner. Thank God for the day. Share one thing you’re grateful for. Small, yes, but these moments shape the soul. And if you'd like more help, here's a Rule of Life Worksheet to use with your family - Because discipleship doesn’t happen in grand gestures. It happens in the steady, ordinary faithfulness of everyday life. Let’s live out Ordinary Time together. What practices might become part of your family’s Rule of Life this season?

The Feast of the Transfiguration, celebrated on August 6th, is a momentous event in the life of Christ and in the Christian tradition. It holds profound significance as it reveals a glimpse of the divine glory of Jesus Christ. The Transfiguration is recounted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, where Jesus, accompanied by Peter, James, and John, ascends a mountain, meets with Moses and Elijah, and undergoes a remarkable transformation. Unfortunately, the Transfiguration is one of those events that is often a victim of reductionism. There’s so much that occurs in such a short amount of time, so much meaning there, so much symbolism, so much beauty, so much emotion that it is difficult for us to process, so we make bulleted points. If you look up the significance of The Transfiguration, you're often given a list: Jesus’ divine nature is revealed The Old and New Testaments come together It’s one of five major events in the Life of Christ The list goes on and on, and while all of these points are true, they strip the event of its miraculousness and miss the enormity of the event. The Transfiguration cannot be reduced to a bulleted list! The Transfiguration is this remarkable moment where the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man converge. Where a man is not only a man but God himself, where heroes from the distant past are suddenly present, and where the voice of God comes booming from the clouds. In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we are told that Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain. There he is transfigured before them. His face shines like the sun, and his clothes become as white as the light. This incredible transfiguration calls to mind the image of the Lord that Ezekiel describes, “I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire, and brilliant light surrounded him” (Ezekiel 1:27). It immediately reveals to the disciples Jesus’ divine nature and is a testament to the reality that Jesus is not just a prophet or a rabbi, but the very Son of God. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appear, talking with Jesus on the mountain. How significant that these great heroes of the faith, who were thought to be dead, are now suddenly very much alive and have appeared to speak with Jesus! Moses, the lawgiver, and Elijah, the great prophet, both pointed to the coming of the Messiah. Here, at this very moment, they are witnessing the fulfillment of their labors and the call of God which they faithfully obeyed. And how significant that these men are on a mountain, because when Moses and Elijah were ever on a mountain, they were usually meeting with God! In Luke 9:31, we are told that Moses and Elijah are talking with Jesus about his departure, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. A fascinating point that often gets missed is that the word “departure” in Greek is “exodus.” So here we have Moses, who led the Israelites out of slavery in the original “Exodus” and Elijah, the prophet who led a sort of spiritual "exodus" in that he sought to lead the people of Israel away from idolatry and back to faithfulness to God, speaking with Jesus about the ultimate “exodus” where he will deliver God’s people once and for all from the slavery of sin and death through his own death and resurrection. How incredible! As Moses and Elijah were leaving Jesus, Peter recognized this pivotal moment and offered to put up three tents. While he is still speaking, a bright cloud covers them all and a voice from the cloud says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased. Listen to him!” This moment hearkens back to the Old Testament, where God often spoke to people like Moses and Elijah from a cloud, indicating His divine presence as well as at Jesus’ baptism where a voice comes from the heavens and says, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). As God's voice resounds from the cloud, Jesus' divine identity as God's Son is again affirmed and it is also an endorsement from God of the truth of His teachings. Jesus is not just another prophet, but He speaks with the authority of God Himself. This divine command echoes throughout the ages, reminding Christians to heed Christ's words and imitate his life of love, compassion, and self-sacrifice. The Transfiguration and First Fruits In some Christian traditions, it is customary to celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration by eating fruit, particularly grapes. The timing of The Transfiguration, occurring in early August, corresponds with the harvest of grapes and other first fruits in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions where the tradition originated. With the harvest of these fruits, the people of God were reminded of God’s goodness and His infinite bounty. It was a time to offer thanks to God for His generosity. The fruit was brought to the church for a blessing and then eaten with great celebration. The practice of blessing fruit on the Feast of the Transfiguration continues to this day in many Byzantine communities. A prayer of thanksgiving for the new fruits can be found as early as 220 AD in the work of St. Hyppolytus. He mentions the following fruits that were usually blessed: grapes, figs, pomegranates, pears, mulberries, peaches, and almonds.” Ways to Celebrate Read Matthew 17:1-8 , Mark 9:2-8 , or Luke 9:28-36 . Light a candle to symbolize the glory of Christ during the Transfiguration. If possible, take a nature walk or hike to a nearby hill or mountain, just like Jesus did with Peter, James, and John. Because The Transfiguration is connected with the grape harvest and the first fruits of the season, eat something with grapes or any other kind of fruit, particularly a fruit pie. Make a mountain with three graham crackers and chocolate tents ! Make a French Silk Pie . I love making Chocolate Silk Pie for the Feast of the Transfiguration because it's such a fun (and delicious!) representation of the earthly and the heavenly meeting together! When you place a slice of the pie on your plate, you clearly see the earthly (the chocolate custard) meeting together with the heavenly (the whipped cream)! French Silk Pie Crust: 12 graham crackers (the 4-section large pieces) 1/3 cup butter, melted 1/3 cup sugar Filling: 1 cup heavy whipping cream 8 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped 4 large eggs 1 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract Topping: 1 1/2 cups heavy cream 1/4 cup powdered sugar Instructions: For the crust:   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Crush the crackers in a food processor or resealable bag. Pour them into a bowl and stir in the melted butter and sugar. Press into a pie pan and bake until golden and set, 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly. For the filling:   Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes. Set the whipped cream in the refrigerator until step 8. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate. You can melt it in a double boiler  or the microwave. If using the microwave, place the chopped chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second increments, stopping and stirring after each increment until completely melted and smooth. Set aside until the end of the next step. Whisk eggs and sugar together in a heatproof bowl or the top piece of a double boiler . Place over a pot of simmering water (or the bottom part of your double boiler) on medium heat. Do not let the surface of the simmering water touch the bottom of the heatproof bowl. Whisking constantly, cook the egg mixture until it reaches 160°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 10–11 minutes. Do not stop whisking or the eggs may solidify. Carefully remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes. After cooling, slowly stir in the melted chocolate. Cool for another 10 minutes. Using a handheld or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy, about 1–2 minutes. Add the vanilla and beat on medium-high speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl. With the mixer running on low speed, pour in the chocolate/egg mixture and then increase to medium-high speed and beat for 3 minutes. With a silicone spatula, fold in the whipped cream until combined. Spread filling into the pie crust. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4–6 hours or overnight, until chilled and thickened. Pie may be refrigerated for up to 2 days before serving. Using a handheld or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until medium peaks form, about 3–4 minutes. Spread the whipped cream on top of the chilled pie.