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On August 24th, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke each mention him by name (Matt. 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14), and in the Gospel of John he appears under the name Nathanael, giving us one of the most honest first encounters with Jesus in all of the Gospels. When Philip finds Nathanael and tells him they have found the one Moses and the prophets wrote about, Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael responds with the kind of refreshing honesty that must have made him immediately likeable: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). Philip simply says, “Come and see.” And when Jesus meets him, He greets him with words that tell us something important about who Bartholomew was: “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no guile.” When Bartholomew asks how Jesus knows him, Jesus tells him He saw him under the fig tree, and that is enough. Bartholomew’s response is immediate and wholehearted: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” It is a brief encounter, but it reveals a man of genuine faith and transparent heart, exactly the kind of person Jesus gathered around Him. The Life of St. Bartholomew Unlike some of the other disciples, the New Testament does not give us a detailed account of Bartholomew’s life and ministry. What we know is that he traveled everywhere with Jesus, learning from Him and participating in His mission throughout those years of public ministry. He was present with the other disciples after the resurrection and ascension and was in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost (Acts 1:13, Acts 2). From that point, tradition takes up the story. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Bartholomew is said to have traveled widely in service of the Gospel, to India, to Armenia, and possibly to parts of Africa, bringing the Christian faith to regions far beyond the borders of the Jewish world he had known. He is credited in various traditions with establishing the Church in these places, a missionary whose reach extended further than almost any of the other apostles. The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew St. Bartholomew’s martyrdom is one of the most vivid and enduring parts of his tradition. He is believed to have been martyred in Albanopolis in ancient Armenia, though the accounts of exactly how he died vary. Some traditions say he was crucified upside down. Others say he was beheaded. But the account that has captured the Christian imagination most powerfully and that appears again and again in art and iconography across the centuries is that he was flayed alive. Perhaps the most famous depiction of St. Bartholomew in all of Western art is found in Michelangelo’s Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel, where the apostle stands holding his own flayed skin, a haunting and unforgettable image of martyrdom and faith. Scholars have long suggested that the face on the skin is a self-portrait of Michelangelo himself, which gives the image yet another layer of meaning. Though the details of his life remain sparse, St. Bartholomew has been widely commemorated in art, architecture, and tradition. Churches, cathedrals, and monuments throughout the world bear his name, and the feast day associated with him has given rise to some of the most distinctive and enjoyable folk traditions in the Christian calendar. How to Celebrate St. Bartholomew’s Day at Home Make gingerbread. During the Middle Ages in England, gingerbread was among the most traditional foods served on feast days, often stamped with the image of the saint being honored. At the famous Bartholomew Fairs held across England, gingerbread marked with the image of St. Bartholomew was one of the signature treats of the celebration. We are making Gingerbread Cake from one of my favorite seasonal cookbooks, Honey and Jam by Hannah Queen, whose recipe captures the warmth and spice of this old tradition beautifully. The recipe is included at the end of this post. Have a race and eat a currant bun. In the village of Sandwich in Kent, England, children still observe a St. Bartholomew’s Bun Race, running around the chapel of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and receiving a currant bun as their reward. It is the kind of simple, joyful local tradition that has survived for centuries because children love it, and it translates beautifully to a backyard or neighborhood on the feast day. Make Bartlemas Beef. St. Bartholomew has long been considered the patron saint of butchers, for what are perhaps obvious reasons, given the manner of his martyrdom. Traditionally, the beef served on his feast day was known as Bartlemas Beef, a name derived from “Bartlemas,” meaning the Mass of St. Bartholomew. The Cook’s Guide from 1664 offers this remarkable recipe, which we share here in its original form: “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.” Please let me know if you make this, and particularly what you decide to use as “some paste!” Eat watermelon and make watermelon lanterns. In Italy and Spain, watermelon has long been the traditional food of St. Bartholomew’s Day, arriving as it does at the very height of watermelon season in late August. On the feast day, communities would gather for watermelon festivals, attending Mass, eating the fruit, and celebrating the saint together. At the Cathedral of San Bartolomeo all’Isola, which stands on the Tiber Island in the middle of the Tiber River in Rome, a market would be held with vendors displaying whole and sliced watermelons for the crowds gathered to celebrate. And on the Spanish island of Majorca, children carried on a tradition that sounds like pure delight, hollowing out watermelons, carving them into lanterns, and parading through the village with them glowing in the summer evening. It is hard to imagine a more festive or more seasonally perfect way to honor a feast day in late August! the recipe - Gingerbread Cake 1 cup strong brewed coffee 1 cup dark unsulfured molasses ½ teaspoon baking soda 2-¼ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt 1-½ teaspoons baking powder 1 Tablespoon ground ginger 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¾ cup vegetable oil 3 large eggs 2 cups packed dark brown sugar Powdered sugar for dusting Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch Bundt pan. In a large saucepan, combine the coffee and molasses, bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then remove the pan from the heat. Whisk in the baking soda (the mixture will foam). Allow the syrup to cool. Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a medium bowl. Whisk together the oil, eggs, sugar, and molasses mixture in a large bowl. Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Pour the batter into the pan. Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert it on a wire rack and cool completely. Dust the cake with powdered sugar.

On August 15th, Christians around the world celebrate the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin, Mother of Our Lord. It’s a beautiful time to pause to honor the remarkable life of the woman God chose to bear His Son into the world. It is a feast day filled with reverence, gratitude, and deep reflection on the extraordinary role Mary played in the story of our salvation. The Life of St. Mary the Virgin Of all the women in all of human history, God chose Mary. He chose her to be the vessel through which His eternal Son would take on human flesh and enter the world as one of us. Her obedience, her faith, and her wholehearted surrender to God’s purposes were not incidental to the story of our redemption - they were woven into its very fabric. God’s Plan for Mary To fully appreciate Mary’s role in the story of salvation, we have to go back to the very beginning, to the moment when everything went wrong and God’s response to that brokenness contained, hidden within it, the first whisper of hope. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve disobey God and eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God does not destroy them but issues a series of consequences for their sin and speaks a curse over the serpent who tempted them. And then, in Genesis 3:15, something extraordinary is embedded in that curse - a prophecy that Christians have recognized from the earliest centuries of the Church as the first proclamation of the Gospel: “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.” This prophecy is known as the Protoevangelium, a Latin word meaning “first gospel” or “first good news.” It is understood to be a prophetic announcement of the coming Messiah and His ultimate victory over sin and death. Mary is the woman. Her offspring is Jesus. Satan will temporarily strike at Christ’s heel through the crucifixion, but Christ’s death and resurrection will crush the serpent’s head forever. From the very moment sin entered the world, God was already at work preparing the way for Mary and the Son she would bear. Mary’s Fiat When the fullness of time had come (Galatians 4:4), God sent the angel Gabriel to a young girl in Nazareth named Mary (Luke 1:26). She listened in wonder as Gabriel told her that she would conceive a son by the Holy Spirit, that He would be called the Son of the Most High, and that His kingdom would have no end. Mary’s response has echoed through the centuries as one of the most beautiful and courageous acts of faith in all of Scripture: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be unto me according to your word.”— Luke 1:38 This response is known as Mary’s Fiat from the Latin word meaning “let it be” or “so be it.” It was a profound act of faith, obedience, and surrender to God’s will, spoken by a young woman who could not have fully understood what she was saying yes to and said yes anyway. Her willingness stands in deliberate contrast to Eve’s disobedience in the Garden, making Mary’s fiat one of the pivotal moments in the entire history of salvation. This event, the Annunciation, is also the moment of the Incarnation, when the eternal Word of God took on human flesh in Mary’s womb. At this moment, Mary became what the Church has called since the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD the Theotokos, a Greek word meaning God-bearer, often translated as Mother of God. The title is not primarily about Mary but about Jesus. By calling Mary the Theotokos, the Church affirms that the child she carried was not merely a holy man or a great prophet but God Himself, fully divine from the moment of His conception. Shortly after the Annunciation, Mary travels to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant. The moment Mary arrives and speaks, Elizabeth and her unborn child are filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth cries out: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Mary responds with the Magnificat, one of the most beautiful songs of praise in all of Scripture, a hymn of gratitude and joy that has been sung by the Church in evening prayer for centuries (Luke 1:46-55). “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me,and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear himfrom generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” Mary and Jesus Months later, Mary travels with Joseph to Bethlehem for the census, gives birth to Jesus in a stable, and watches as shepherds arrive that night with astonishing stories of angels and heavenly proclamations. Luke tells us simply that Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. That phrase captures something essential about who Mary was. She did not always understand. She was not always given explanations. She held the mystery, turned it over, and kept faith through what she could not yet see. The Gospel accounts give us a series of remarkable moments in Mary’s life alongside Jesus - meeting Simeon and Anna in the Temple, receiving the Wise Men from the East, fleeing to Egypt with the Holy Family, finding the twelve-year-old Jesus among the teachers of the law, witnessing His first miracle at the wedding in Cana, and standing at the foot of the cross as He died. Each of these moments reveals something of Mary’s faith, her willingness to follow, to trust, to remain present even when presence cost her everything. After the resurrection and ascension, Mary is found in the upper room with the disciples, praying and waiting for the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). She was there at the birth of the Church just as she had been there at the birth of her Son. The Faith of Mary Mary’s appearances in Scripture are relatively few but deeply significant. Again and again she is portrayed as a woman of faith, obedience, and humility, deeply connected to her Son’s mission and to the broader movement of God’s compassion and justice in the world. Her life bridges the Old and New Testaments. She embodies the ideal response to God’s call. And her unique role as Theotokos establishes one of the most important theological foundations of the Christian faith - that in Jesus Christ, God truly became one of us. Lesser Feasts and Fasts expresses something of her significance beautifully: “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.’” Mary’s Remaining Days According to tradition, Mary spent her remaining years in the care of the Apostle John, as Jesus had asked from the cross (John 19:26-27). The early Christian writer Hippolytus of Rome records that John took Mary to Ephesus, in what is now modern Turkey, where she lived until her death. Tradition tells us that she spent those years in prayer and in service to the early Christian community, a mother to the Church as she had been a mother to its Lord. How to Celebrate the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin The Feast of St. Mary the Virgin offers some of the most beautiful and accessible traditions for celebrating at home. Here are a few ideas for honoring August 15th with your family: Read Luke 1:26-38 and recite the Magnificat together. The Annunciation and the Magnificat together tell the essential story of Mary’s faith. Reading them aloud as a family on her feast day is the simplest and most meaningful way to mark the occasion. Display or eat something with rosemary. An old legend says that the blossoms of the rosemary plant were originally white until Mary stopped to do laundry during the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt and threw her blue cloak over a rosemary bush to dry. From that day, the story goes, the flowers turned blue. Whether legend or not, rosemary has been associated with Mary for centuries and a sprig or small bouquet on the table is a lovely and fragrant way to honor her feast. Display marigolds. The name marigold is itself a tribute to Mary, combining “Mary” and “gold.” The golden color of the marigold has traditionally symbolized her virtues of purity, love, humility, and obedience. A bouquet of marigolds on the dining table is both beautiful and deeply connected to the tradition of her feast day. Use something blue. Blue is the color most associated with Mary throughout Christian art and tradition, symbolizing purity, humility, and fidelity. Lay a blue tablecloth on the table, use blue dishes, or make something with blueberries - a blueberry lemon tart is a beautiful and delicious option for the feast day table. the recipe - 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 two 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 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 one teaspoon of water and brush it onto the bottom and sides of the tart shell; set aside to cool. Whisk the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, cream, zest, and salt together. 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. Recipe from The Food Network.

The Feast of the Transfiguration, celebrated on August 6th, is one of the most profound and breathtaking moments in the entire life of Christ. All three synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, recount it, and each account invites us to stop, look, and take in the full weight of what happened on that mountain. Unfortunately, the Transfiguration is one of those events that so often becomes a victim of reductionism. There is so much that occurs in such a short span of time, so much meaning, so much symbolism, so much beauty, so much that defies ordinary categories, that we struggle to hold it all together. And so we reach for bulleted lists. But the Transfiguration cannot be reduced to a bulleted list. The Transfiguration in Scripture The Transfiguration is a remarkable moment where the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man converge. It is a moment where a man is not only a man but God Himself, where heroes from the distant past suddenly appear alive and present, and where the voice of God rings out from the clouds. In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain. There, He undergoes a transfiguration before them. His face shines like the sun and His garments become as white as light - a vision that calls to mind Ezekiel’s description of the glory of God: “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 In this single extraordinary moment, the disciples witness the divine nature of Jesus, confirming that He is not merely a prophet or a rabbi but the very Son of God. Moses and Elijah Then, suddenly, Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain, engaging in conversation with Jesus. The significance of their presence is almost impossible to overstate. These great heroes of the faith, long thought to be beyond the reach of the living, are suddenly very much alive and present before the disciples. Moses, the great lawgiver, and Elijah, the great prophet, had both pointed throughout their lives toward the coming of the Messiah. Here, on this mountain, they witness the fulfillment of everything their lives and labors had anticipated. It is worth noting that this encounter takes place on a mountain, the very kind of place where both Moses and Elijah so often met with God. Luke 9:31 adds a detail that is easy to overlook but remarkable in its depth. We are told that Moses and Elijah are speaking with Jesus about His departure, the thing He is about to accomplish in Jerusalem. The Greek word Luke uses for departure is exodus. Moses, who led God’s people out of slavery in Egypt in the original Exodus, and Elijah, who led a spiritual exodus by calling the people of Israel back from idolatry and toward faithfulness to God, are now conversing with Jesus about the ultimate Exodus, the deliverance that will free God’s people once and for all from the slavery of sin and death through His death and resurrection. It is an extraordinary convergence of the whole sweep of salvation history in a single conversation on a mountaintop. My Beloved Son As Moses and Elijah depart, Peter, recognizing that something of immense significance is happening, suggests putting up three tents to mark the moment. While he is still speaking, a bright cloud overshadows them all, and a voice speaks from within it: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” This moment reaches back deep into the Old Testament, where God so often made His presence known to His people through a cloud, to Moses on Sinai, to Elijah at Horeb, to the people in the wilderness. It also echoes the voice that spoke at Jesus’ baptism: “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). The Father is not saying something new here. He is saying something confirmed, reaffirming before these three witnesses the identity and authority of His Son at the precise moment when the road to Jerusalem and the cross is beginning to come into view. The divine voice is not only a declaration. It is also a commission for every Christian who has heard it since: Listen to Him. Jesus speaks not merely as a wise teacher or a gifted prophet but with the full authority of God Himself. His words are worth ordering our lives around. The Transfiguration and First Fruits In many Christian traditions, the Feast of the Transfiguration is associated with the blessing and eating of fruit, particularly grapes. The timing of the feast in early August corresponds to the grape harvest and the season of first fruits in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions where these traditions first developed. With the gathering of the harvest, God’s people remembered His goodness and celebrated His abundant generosity. Fruit was brought to the church for a blessing and then shared together in communal celebration. This practice of blessing fruit on the Feast of the Transfiguration continues to this day in many Byzantine Christian communities. The connection is ancient. As early as 220 AD, the theologian St. Hippolytus records a prayer of thanksgiving for the new fruits of the season. He mentions by name the blessing of grapes, figs, pomegranates, pears, mulberries, peaches, and almonds, a harvest table that sounds as beautiful as it must have been to share. Ways to Celebrate at Home The Feast of the Transfiguration offers some genuinely beautiful opportunities for celebration at home. Here are a few ideas for marking August 6th with your family: Read the Transfiguration accounts together. Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36 each offer their own angle on the same extraordinary event. Reading them together and noticing what each one emphasizes is a rich and rewarding way to spend time on the feast day. Light a candle. Throughout Christian history, candles have symbolized the light of Christ. On the Feast of the Transfiguration, when His face shone like the sun and His garments became as white as light, that symbolism is especially fitting. Take a walk or hike. If you are able, take a nature walk or hike to a nearby hill or high point, as Jesus did with Peter, James, and John. Even a modest hill or an elevated overlook can become a small act of remembrance on this feast day. Eat fruit. In keeping with the ancient tradition of the first fruits, eat grapes or any other fruit that is in season, or bake something with fruit, a fruit pie or a simple fruit tart is a beautiful and delicious way to honor the harvest tradition associated with this feast. Make a Chocolate Silk Pie. This has become one of my favorite ways to celebrate the Transfiguration at home, and the reason is simple, when you place a slice on the plate, you can see it clearly. The rich, dark chocolate custard below and the billowing whipped cream above, meeting together in a single slice, are a beautiful and delicious picture of the earthly and the heavenly converging, which is exactly what happened on that mountain. It is the kind of a truth that everyone can taste. The Transfiguration is not a theological concept to be outlined or a doctrine to be defended. It is a moment, blazing, astonishing, and alive, in which the veil between heaven and earth was pulled back and three ordinary men from Galilee saw, for a few breathtaking moments, exactly who it was they had been following. His face shone like the sun. His garments became as white as light. That is worth celebrating. the recipe - 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 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 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 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.

Last year's calendar and planner. If you have been following along here for any length of time, you know that one of the things closest to my heart is helping people bring the rhythms of the Church calendar into their homes in ways that are beautiful, accessible, and genuinely formative. That is why I started writing about the liturgical year. It is why I created The Liturgical Home. And it is why, for the past two years, I have put together the Liturgical Home Calendar and Planner, because I wanted to give families a single, beautiful resource that made the feast days, seasons, and sacred rhythms of the Church year easy to plan for and joyful to celebrate. The response over the past two years has genuinely moved me. Families have written to tell me about feast days they celebrated for the first time, about children who now know the saints by name, about tables set with candles and special foods for days they had never heard of before. Homes that are being slowly, faithfully shaped by the story of the Gospel told through the turning of the Church year. That is everything I hoped this resource would do. And it has kept me coming back to make it better every year. So I am happy to tell you that the 2026-27 Liturgical Home Calendar and Planner is coming in August. If you used last year’s calendar, you already know what it does. You know what it feels like to look ahead at the month and see the feast days marked, to have everything you need to plan a simple celebration already gathered in one place, to feel the rhythm of the Church year shaping the rhythm of your home rather than the other way around. If you have been curious but haven’t yet tried it, this is your year. I would love for you to have it in your hands before the new liturgical year begins. I will share all of the details - including what is new in this year’s edition and where to purchase it - as we get closer to the launch date. In the meantime, if you have questions or want to be notified the moment it goes live, simply reply to this post and I will make sure you are the first to know. And if you have been using the calendar and planner and it has made a difference in your home, I would genuinely love to hear about it. Those stories mean more to me than I can say, and they remind me why this work is worth doing year after year. The 2026-27 calendar launches in August. I cannot wait to share it with you!

As we celebrate the Feast of St. Luke on October 18th, I love incorporating small traditions into our daily life that bring the liturgical calendar into our homes. One fun way to do this is by baking something special that’s tied to the day. Did you know that pumpkins are a traditional St. Luke’s Day food? In Venice, Italy, there’s an old proverb that says pumpkins go stale on St. Luke’s Day! This idea may have been tied to the harvest season and the autumn transition. While we may not think of pumpkins as "going stale" now, it’s a great excuse to bake something warm and cozy with them as fall settles in. Since the Feast of St. Luke often comes with lovely “summer-like” days in the northern hemisphere (often called St. Luke’s Little Summer), I think baking a comforting treat with the rich flavors of fall is a wonderful way to celebrate. That’s where these Pumpkin Muffins come in. They’re moist, lightly spiced, and just perfect for an afternoon snack with tea or as a quick breakfast. Plus, they fill the house with that lovely autumn aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin. Whether you're familiar with the Feast of St. Luke or simply looking for a reason to bake with pumpkin, this recipe is a delicious way to bring the flavors of fall into your kitchen. So, let’s get started! Pumpkin Muffins for the Feast of St. Luke 1 cup canned pumpkin puree 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup light brown sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 4 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease the muffin pans. Whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil in a large bowl until well combined. Add the canned pumpkin puree, eggs, and vanilla extract, and mix until fully incorporated. In a separate medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredient mixture. Mix gently until just combined, avoiding over-mixing. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared muffin pans. Place the muffin pans in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a central muffin comes out clean. The recipe yields 2 dozen muffins. Enjoy! These Pumpkin Muffins are a simple, sweet way to celebrate the Feast of St. Luke. As we honor this special man, may this small tradition remind us of the goodness God and the richness of our faith. Enjoy baking and savoring these muffins with your family or loved ones this St. Luke’s Day! And if you'd like to learn all about St. Luke and more meaningful ways to celebrate him in your home click here.

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

Since the death and resurrection of Jesus is the pinnacle of our faith, there is an entire season set aside to celebrate it. The season of Easter is a time of feasting and merrymaking that lasts for 50 whole days! One great way to celebrate Eastertide is through food. Just as Christmas has traditional foods like fruitcake and gingerbread, Easter has its own special treats. Strawberry shortcake is one of my family’s must-haves during Easter. It’s light, fresh, and so, so good! And the best part? It’s actually effortless to make! Add sugar to sliced strawberries, make a quick shortcake, whip up some homemade whipped cream, and layer. It’s super simple! The Best Strawberry Shortcake 6 cups sliced strawberries 1/2 cup sugar 2 cup flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup butter (cut into cubes) 1 beaten egg 2/3 cup milk 1-pint heavy whipping cream 1/2 cup sugar Turn oven on to 450 degrees. In a small bowl stir together the berries and 1/4 of the cup of sugar. Set aside. Combine the remaining sugar, flour, baking powder, and butter with a pastry cutter. Blend the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Fold in the milk and beaten egg. Spread mixture into a greased 8-inch cake pan. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown. Let the shortcake fully cool. Meanwhile, whip heavy cream in a mixer until peaks form. slowly add 1/2 c sugar. Slice the shortcake in half horizontally with a knife. Remove the top half and set aside. To the bottom half of the shortcake add half of the strawberries (make sure to include the juice!), spread on half of the whipped cream, and add the top layer of shortcake but upside down so that it can absorb the strawberry juice, add the remaining strawberries and top with the remaining whipped cream. Slice and enjoy! I hope that you and your family have a blessed Easter!

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 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 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 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. Helpful Links: How to Celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration Celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration on a Mountain With Three Tents

Every year on July 25th, the Church pauses to honor the life and legacy of one of Christ’s most beloved apostles. Two apostles and three total New Testament saints bear the name James, so the Church uses the title Saint James the Elder, or Saint James the Great, to distinguish this James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, from the others. James and John were ordinary fishermen from Galilee who left everything to follow Jesus and became two of His closest and most trusted disciples. Their journey alongside Him was marked by extraordinary moments of devotion, intimacy, and transformation. On this feast day, we have the opportunity to celebrate St. James in our homes and to embrace the rich traditions and significance that have grown up around his life and witness over two thousand years. Who Was St. James the Elder? James enters the Gospel story near the very beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After His baptism and temptation in the wilderness, Jesus began preaching a message of repentance throughout Galilee. Walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He calls the brothers Peter and Andrew to follow Him. They leave their nets immediately and follow. A little further along the shore, Jesus finds James and John with their father Zebedee, mending their nets and preparing for the next day’s work. He calls them, too, and without hesitation, they leave the boat and their father behind and begin following Him. From that moment, James is part of Jesus’ inner circle. He and his brother John, along with Peter, are present at some of the most significant and intimate moments of Jesus’ ministry. When Jesus raises the daughter of Jairus from the dead, only these three are permitted to enter with Him. When Jesus is transfigured on the mountain in a moment of blinding glory, it is James, John, and Peter who witness it. And on the night of His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus withdraws to pray in the darkest hour of His earthly life, it is these same three He asks to stay close and keep watch with Him. James and John were not always quiet or gentle in their discipleship. The Gospel of Luke records a moment when the brothers wanted to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village that had refused to welcome Jesus, an impulse Jesus quickly rebuked. It is this kind of passionate, impetuous zeal that likely led Jesus to give the brothers their memorable nickname: the Sons of Thunder. And in Matthew 20, their mother Salome approaches Jesus with a bold request - that her sons be given places of honor at His right and left hand in His kingdom. Jesus responds by asking whether they can drink from the cup He is about to drink. They say they are. Jesus tells them they will indeed drink from His cup, but that the granting of positions of honor is not His to give. It is a remarkable exchange - a mother’s love, a pair of ambitious sons, and a Savior who redirects their longing toward something deeper than honor. James would indeed drink from that cup. The Ministry of St. James After the death and resurrection of Jesus, James was among the disciples who received forty days of teaching from the Risen Lord, watched Him ascend to the Father, and then waited together in the upper room for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Filled with the Spirit at Pentecost, he gave the rest of his life to sharing the Gospel and helping lead the early Church. Tradition holds that James felt called to carry the Gospel to Spain, where he preached for seven years before returning to Jerusalem. It was there, around 42 AD, that King Herod had him arrested and executed by the sword, making James the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred for his faith in the Risen Christ. The Legacy of St. James Because James was martyred in Jerusalem, his followers carried his remains back to Spain for burial. Over the centuries, as wars and invasions swept through the region, the location of his tomb was lost and forgotten. Then, in the ninth century, a hermit named Pelayo reported seeing an extraordinary light in the night sky, a cluster of stars hovering over a particular field, which he understood to be a sign from God. He brought his bishop to the site, and when they investigated, they discovered what was believed to be the lost tomb of St. James and his two disciples. The area was named Compostela, meaning field of stars, and the king ordered a cathedral built to mark the sacred site. That cathedral, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, became one of the great pilgrimage destinations of the medieval world and remains so to this day. The ancient pilgrim route to the cathedral is known as the Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James, a network of paths stretching across France and Spain that converges on Compostela. Pilgrims have been walking the Camino for over a thousand years, and it continues to draw thousands of walkers every year from every background and tradition. Upon completing the journey, pilgrims traditionally attach a scallop shell to their hat or clothing as a pilgrim badge, a symbol that has become inseparable from the figure of St. James himself. The Feast of St. James Around the World In Spain, the feast of St. James is celebrated with a two-week festival that culminates on July 25th. The festivities include dramatic performances, traditional costumes, Galician bagpipe music, dancing, and an abundance of special foods. Among the most beloved is the scallop-filled empanada, a nod to the scallop shell that has symbolized St. James for centuries. On the eve of the feast day, one of the most breathtaking fireworks displays in all of Spain lights up the sky at midnight. Crowds gather at the Praza do Obradoiro, the great square in front of the cathedral, and watch as fireworks are projected across the facade of Santiago de Compostela, illuminating the night in a cascade of light and color that calls to mind the stars that once guided Pelayo to the lost tomb of the apostle. On the feast day itself, the cathedral hosts a solemn High Mass attended by the Spanish Royal Family. The highlight of the liturgy is the swinging of the Botafumeiro, an enormous six-foot censer suspended from the cathedral ceiling, which is set in motion by a team of attendants and sweeps in great arcs across the transept, filling the air with clouds of fragrant incense and creating a sense of wonder and spiritual awe that visitors describe as unforgettable. How to Celebrate the Feast of St. James at Home Make madeleines or scallop-shaped cookies. The scallop shell is the symbol most closely associated with St. James and the Camino. Madeleines, baked in their distinctive shell-shaped molds, are a beautiful and delicious way to honor that tradition. You can bake them at home or purchase them from a bakery. Get my favorite madeleine molds HERE, and here is my favorite RECIPE. Cook a Spanish dish. Paella, empanadas, or another traditional Spanish dish evokes the culture and landscape so closely associated with St. James. It is a simple and enjoyable way to bring the geography of his legacy to your table. Go on a pilgrimage walk. Dress like pilgrims, lace up your shoes, and set out on a walking adventure together, whether through your neighborhood, a local park, or a nearby trail. When you return, make paper scallop shells and pin them to your clothing to mark the completion of your own small Camino. Eat oysters or scallops. An old saying associated with this feast day declares, “Who eats oysters on Saint James’ Day will never want!” In France, scallops are the traditional choice, known there as coquilles Saint-Jacques, or shells of Saint James. Bake a Tarta de Santiago. This classic almond cake from the Galicia region of Spain is one of the most traditional foods associated with the feast. Made with ground almonds, sugar, eggs, and lemon zest, it is moist, fragrant, and deeply satisfying. It is traditionally dusted with powdered sugar and decorated with the image of the Cross of Saint James stenciled on top, making it as beautiful to look at as it is to eat. (Recipe at the end of the post) St. James left his nets by the sea and followed Jesus into a life he could never have imagined. He stood on the mountain of Transfiguration, knelt in the garden of Gethsemane, and drank from the cup his Lord had promised him, becoming the first of the twelve to give his life for the Gospel he had spent his life proclaiming. His feast day is worth celebrating. the recipe - Spanish Almond Cake (Tarta de Santiago) Recipe 2 cups ground almonds. Use raw, peeled almonds for the best results. You can optionally toast them in the oven for a deeper almond flavor. 1 ¼ cups sugar 5 eggs lemon zest from half a lemon 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon liquor (You can use vodka, Cointreau, Amaretto, or Grappa. Vanilla or almond extract can be substituted if you don’t want to include alcohol!) Powdered sugar to dust Preheat the oven to 350°. Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely ground. However, be careful not to turn the mixture into almond butter by over-processing. Beat the egg and sugar until the mixture is pale and creamy. Add the lemon zest, liquor, and cinnamon. Fold in the ground almonds using a rubber spatula. Grease a 10-inch springform pan with butter and pour in the almond cake batter. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the cake is golden brown. Test with a toothpick; if it doesn’t come out clean, cover the cake with aluminum foil and bake for five more minutes, then test again. Do this one more time if necessary (for 40 minutes total). Allow the cake to cool in the pan, and then transfer it to a serving dish. Decorate with powdered sugar. If you wish, you can download a printout of the emblematic cross of Saint James. Recipe from Spanish Sabores.

On July 22nd, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, one of the most beloved and significant figures in all of the Gospels. Known throughout Christian history as the “Apostle to the Apostles,” Mary Magdalene holds a place of remarkable honor in the story of our faith. Her wholehearted love for Jesus, her faithfulness at the cross, and her role as the first witness to the resurrection have made her an enduring example of devoted discipleship. All four Gospels mention her by name, and her presence at the most pivotal moments of Jesus’ ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection speaks to the depth of her commitment to Him. On her feast day, we remember her profound witness and give thanks for the courage with which she carried the Good News of the Risen Christ to the world. About Mary Magdalene As her name suggests, Mary Magdalene most likely came from Magdala, a small fishing village on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. We first encounter her in the opening verses of Luke 8, where she is listed among the women who traveled with Jesus and his twelve disciples as they moved through nearby towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Luke tells us that Jesus had cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene, and that she, along with the other women in the group, supported Jesus and his disciples out of her own resources (Luke 8:1-3). From that point forward, Mary Magdalene appears at the most significant moments of Jesus’ life and death. She was among the small group of faithful women who remained at the foot of the cross as Jesus died. She was present as Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus’ body in clean linen and placed it in his own new tomb, rolling a great stone across the entrance. As evening fell, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sat across from the tomb and watched. Early on Sunday morning, as the Sabbath ended and the new day began, Mary Magdalene and the other women went to the tomb carrying spices they had prepared to anoint Jesus’ body. Finding the tomb empty, they were met by angels who told them of the resurrection and instructed them to share the good news with the disciples. In Matthew’s account, the women encountered the risen Lord Himself on their way to find the disciples. He reassured them and sent them on their way. John’s Gospel focuses the resurrection morning account entirely on Mary Magdalene. Lingering near the empty tomb, she encounters the risen Christ but does not immediately recognize Him, thinking He is the gardener. It is only when Jesus speaks her name that she knows Him. She turns and cries out, “Rabboni!” - Teacher. Jesus then sends her to His brothers with a message, and Mary Magdalene goes to find the disciples with the most extraordinary announcement in human history: “I have seen the Lord.” It is for this reason that the Church has called her the Apostle to the Apostles. She was the first to see the Risen Christ and the first to proclaim His resurrection. As Pope John Paul II wrote in his apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem, this event, in a sense, crowns all that has been said previously about Christ entrusting divine truths to women as well as men. Finally, in Acts 1:14, after Jesus ascends to the Father, the apostles return to the upper room in Jerusalem to await the promised Holy Spirit. Luke mentions that they, along with the women, Mary (the mother of Jesus), and his brothers, were constantly praying. Mary Magdalene was among those present when the Holy Spirit descended. Confusion Around Mary Magdalene Over the centuries, various interpretations and legends have developed around Mary Magdalene that are not supported by biblical evidence. Much of the confusion in the Western Church can be traced to a sermon preached in 591 AD by Pope Gregory I, in which he merged Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany and the unnamed “sinful woman” who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. Despite the Bible never identifying the nature of this woman’s sin, Pope Gregory asserted it to be prostitution - a claim that had no scriptural foundation and that shaped Western perceptions of Mary Magdalene for centuries. The Eastern Church never made this identification and continued to honor Mary Magdalene as the faithful and virtuous woman the Gospels actually describe. Thankfully, a growing movement to restore Mary Magdalene’s image as a faithful disciple in the Western Church has arisen. It emphasizes her significance within early Christian communities. Even Pope John Paul II issued a corrective statement on Mary Magdalene to right the wrongs done to her reputation. In his apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem (“On the Dignity and Vocation of Women”), dated August 15th, 1988, he said, The Gospel of John emphasizes the special role of Mary Magdalene. She is the first to meet the Risen Christ, hence she came to be called “the apostle of the Apostles.” Mary Magdalene was the first eyewitness of the Risen Christ, and for this reason, she was also the first to bear witness to him before the Apostles. This event, in a sense, crowns all that has been said previously about Christ entrusting divine truths to women as well as men. The Gospels themselves are clear. Mary Magdalene was a woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons, who supported His ministry financially, who stood faithfully at the cross, and who was among the first to see the Risen Lord. That is her story, and it is extraordinary enough on its own. What Happened to Mary Magdalene? There is some disagreement about Mary Magdalene’s life after the early Church was established. The Eastern tradition holds that she traveled to Ephesus with Mary, the mother of Jesus, where they lived out the remainder of their lives. In Western Europe, a different set of legends developed, including the popular medieval tradition that she traveled to the south of France and spent her later years as a contemplative in a cave in Provence. Various churches throughout Europe have claimed at different times to possess relics associated with her, reflecting the deep affection the Church has always held for this remarkable woman. Traditions of Mary Magdalene Over time, both the Eastern and Western churches have developed beautiful practices and traditions surrounding Mary Magdalene. While some of these are rooted directly in Scripture, others emerge from later legends and local customs. Each has shaped in its own way how the Church remembers and honors her. The Myrrh Bearers and the Three Marys The Church has always revered Mary Magdalene as one of the faithful women present at the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and Christian art has depicted these women since at least the third century. The Eastern Church refers to them as the Myrrh-Bearers, because they carried myrrh to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body on the morning of the resurrection. Their celebration falls on the third Sunday of Pascha, known as the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, when hymns and readings focus on their encounter with the Risen Christ and their role in proclaiming the Good News. Icons of the myrrh-bearing women at the empty tomb are prominently displayed in Eastern churches on this occasion. The Western Church has often referred to them as the Three Marys. In a number of Catholic countries, particularly Spain, the Philippines, and throughout Latin America, Good Friday processions include images of the three Marys. Some regions of France and Italy also observe the Feast of the Three Marys in their local traditions. The Miracle of the Red Egg One of the most beloved traditions associated with Mary Magdalene in the Eastern Orthodox Church is the legend of the red egg. According to this tradition, after the resurrection, Mary Magdalene traveled to Rome to share the Gospel with Emperor Tiberius. She presented him with an egg as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus, explaining that just as new life emerges from within the egg, so Christ had risen from the tomb. The emperor was skeptical, declaring that a person rising from the dead was as impossible as the egg in her hand turning red. At that moment, the egg miraculously turned red, astonishing all who witnessed it. This event is said to have opened the door for Mary Magdalene to continue her missionary work, and it is the reason Eastern Orthodox Christians dye their Easter eggs red to this day. How to Celebrate the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene Feast days are most meaningful when we mark them in simple, tangible ways that bring the story of the saint into the life of the home. Here are a few ideas for celebrating July 22nd with your family: Read the Gospel accounts together. Begin with John 20:1-18, where Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Jesus at the tomb. Read it slowly and let the details of the story sink in - her grief, her confusion, the moment He speaks her name. Dye red eggs in honor of the miracle of the red egg. This is a particularly beautiful tradition to share with children. You can find instructions for naturally dyed eggs here. Set them out on the table as a reminder of Mary Magdalene’s courage in proclaiming the resurrection. Here's my favorite children's book on the Miracle of the Red Egg. Light a myrrh-scented candle or myrrh incense. In honor of the myrrh the women carried to the tomb that morning, filling your home with that fragrance is a simple and evocative way to mark the day. My favorite myrrh candle, incense burner, and myrrh incense. Bake something spiced. In keeping with the tradition of the myrrh-bearers and Mary’s act of bringing spices to anoint Jesus’ body, prepare something fragrant and spiced for the family, like my favorites - Chai or spiced cupcakes. (See below for the Spiced Cupcakes recipe.) Pray together and give thanks. Take a moment on July 22nd to thank God for Mary Magdalene - for her faithfulness, her courage, and her witness. She stood at the cross when others fled. She came to the tomb before dawn. She was the first to hear her name spoken by the Risen Lord. Her example continues to inspire and encourage the Church two thousand years later. “I have seen the Lord.”— John 20:18 the recipe - Spiced Cupcakes Cupcakes 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground ginger ¼ teaspoon ground allspice ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 1 cup unsalted butter, softened ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup light brown sugar, packed ½ cup sour cream 2 large eggs – room temp 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Cream Cheese Frosting ½ cup unsalted butter, room temp 8 oz cream cheese, room temp 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt 4 cups confectioner’s sugar 1-2 tablespoons of milk, as needed Dust with cinnamon Cupcakes To begin, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners. In a bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Once sifted, proceed to beat the softened butter and sugars in a large bowl until creamy. Next, beat in the eggs and vanilla until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Next, add half of the dry mixture and incorporate it into the batter, along with the sour cream. Then, mix the remaining dry mixture until just combined, being careful not to over-mix. Place the batter into the preheated oven and bake for 23-25 minutes. To check if they are done, use a toothpick to test the center of the cupcakes. The toothpick should come out dry. Afterward, let the cupcakes cool on a wire rack until they are completely cooled, then frost them. Cream Cheese Frosting For the Cream Cheese Frosting, begin by beating the room-temperature butter until creamy, then add the cream cheese and beat until well combined and smooth. Mix in the vanilla and salt. Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar and continue to beat until the frosting is smooth. If necessary, you can thin the frosting by adding one to two tablespoons of milk. Recipe from www.mamaneedscake.com

There are moments in parenting that stay with you long after they happen, moments that are difficult to put into words but that you find yourself returning to again and again because something in them feels important and true. This is one of those moments for us. Our oldest son has autism and a seizure disorder, which means his world has real limits that shape nearly every part of his daily life. Over the years, we have learned to navigate those limits as gracefully as we can, to find genuine joy within them and to be honest with ourselves about what they have cost him and us. He is a precious young man and we love him dearly, and we have also learned that loving him well means paying attention to the things that make him come alive. For a very long time, that thing has been Transformers. He has loved them with the kind of deep, wholehearted devotion that most of us lose somewhere along the way to adulthood. He knows the characters, storylines, voice actors and history in extraordinary detail. This is not a casual, fleeting interest! It is the language through which he understands and engages the world, and it always has been. So this year, we flew from Florida to Chicago to take him to BotCon, the Transformers fan convention, because we wanted to give him something we had never quite been able to give him before. We wanted to put him in a room full of people who loved the same thing he loves as passionately as he does. From the moment we arrived, he was overtaken with excitement. He ran down the convention hall and moved through it with wonder and joy that was beautiful to watch. He stopped at displays and talked at vendors and examined figures with genuine expertise, and the people around him received all of that naturally and without any awkwardness because they understood exactly what he was talking about. He was among his people, and he knew it, and it showed in every part of how he carried himself. But the moment we will carry with us longest came one evening when they showed the original 1986 Transformers animated film. The audience was encouraged to yell the lines along with the characters, to sing the songs, to laugh and groan and cheer at all the right moments. And our son, who has spent so much of his life being the person in the room who laughs a little too loudly or recites lines that the people around him don’t quite understand, found himself in a place where all of that was not only acceptable but was exactly what everyone around him was doing too. He sang. He recited lines. He laughed freely and loudly and with his whole self. And the people around him did the same, and nobody looked at him twice, and he knew it, and we could see him knowing it. We sat there watching him and found it very difficult to speak. There is something that parents of children with disabilities carry quietly, a hope that they rarely say out loud because it feels almost too large to name. It is the hope that their child will find a place where they belong, where the things that make them different become the very things that make them welcome. We have carried that hope for a long time, and on that evening in a convention room in Chicago, we got to watch it come true in a way that was more simple and more profound than we could have anticipated. He got to be fully himself, totally in his element, surrounded by people who understood him, and it was one of the most meaningful things we have ever witnessed as his parents. We are so grateful we went. We are grateful to everyone at BotCon who created a space where that kind of belonging was possible. And we are grateful, as we always are, for who our son is and for everything he has taught us about loving something wholeheartedly and without apology, simply because it brings you joy.

Much of our daily attention is devoted to the practical work of caring for a home. Meals need to be prepared, laundry folded, children cared for, and countless other responsibilities compete for our time. In the midst of these necessary tasks, beauty can begin to feel optional - a luxury reserved for people with artistic talent, beautifully decorated homes, or more free time than most of us have. Historically, Christians understood beauty quite differently. Beauty was never viewed as unnecessary or merely decorative. It was understood to be one of God’s good gifts - something that reflects His character and helps lift our hearts toward Him. This is one reason beauty has always occupied an important place within the life of the Church. Churches were adorned with stained glass, carved woodwork, illuminated manuscripts, sacred music, and architecture designed to inspire wonder. These things were not created simply because Christians appreciated beautiful objects. They were created because beauty was understood to reveal something true about the God who made the world. God Made a Beautiful World This understanding begins in the opening chapters of Genesis. Before God entrusted humanity with the work of cultivating the earth, He first created a world filled with beauty. Trees were “pleasant to the sight and good for food.” Flowers covered the fields. Birds filled the air with song. Again and again, God looked upon His creation and declared that it was good. As people made in God’s image, we have also been given the ability to create. We cannot create from nothing as God does, but we can shape, cultivate, arrange, compose, and make. Christians have long understood this creativity as one of the ways we reflect the Creator - that in making beautiful things with our hands, we participate in a small way in the work God Himself delighted in first. Beauty in the Christian Home For much of Christian history, beauty was not something reserved for museums or concert halls. It was woven into the ordinary work of the home. Families baked bread not only because it was necessary but because the work itself was meaningful. Gardens were planted to provide both nourishment and beauty. Mothers embroidered household linens that were carefully used and passed from one generation to the next. Fathers carved furniture, built homes, and repaired well-loved objects rather than replacing them. Music filled homes as families sang hymns together while working, celebrating, and worshiping. These activities were not separate from Christian life. They were part of it. Many of them also required patience and careful attention. A loaf of bread could not be hurried. A quilt was pieced together one stitch at a time. Gardens followed the rhythms of the seasons rather than the demands of the clock. Learning an instrument required years of steady practice. These activities shaped not only beautiful homes but also patient and attentive people. In many ways, our culture has become disconnected from these rhythms. Convenience often replaces craftsmanship, and many of the objects that fill our homes are designed to be used briefly and discarded. Recovering these older practices does not require us to reject modern life or become experts in every traditional craft. It simply invites us to remember that beauty has always had an important place in the Christian home - and that place is still available to us. Forming Our Children Through Beauty One of the quiet gifts of making beautiful things is what it does for our children. When children learn to bake, sew, paint, garden, or play music, they discover that not everything valuable can be purchased. They learn patience, perseverance, and care for creation. They begin to understand that making something beautiful - slowly, carefully, with their own hands - is one of the ways we respond to the God who first filled the world with beauty. These shared activities often become some of the most meaningful memories of family life while passing on skills that can be carried into adulthood. Beginning a Rhythm of Beauty Like many of the practices we have explored throughout this series, cultivating beauty begins with small and ordinary choices. Plant something. Herbs, flowers, or vegetables - in a garden, a raised bed, or a simple pot on the windowsill. Caring for growing things helps us appreciate both the beauty of creation and our role as its stewards. Choose one creative skill to practice. Baking bread, embroidery, knitting, watercolor painting, woodworking, candle making, or flower arranging have all been part of Christian homes for generations. The goal is not mastery but the quiet enjoyment of making something with your hands. Fill your home with good music. Play sacred music while preparing meals, sing hymns together during the seasons of the Church year, or simply make music a regular part of family life. Create beauty with the seasons. Gather wildflowers in spring, display branches and greenery throughout the year, or decorate your table with fruit, herbs, or flowers from your own garden. These simple practices help us notice the goodness of God’s creation and the rhythms of the year. Invite your children to create alongside you. Bake together, tend the garden, sew simple projects, paint, draw, or make gifts for others. Let them see that making something beautiful is worth the time it takes. Creating a sacred home is not about achieving a particular aesthetic or filling our rooms with expensive things. It is about cultivating an appreciation for the goodness God has woven into His creation and learning to reflect that beauty in the ordinary work of our own hands. As we bake, sew, garden, sing, and create, we participate in a tradition as old as the Church itself - and we offer that work back to the One who made beauty first.