Saints abound: Liturgical living in October

Mark your calendars, October is a big month for feast days! There are so many to celebrate, but here are a few of our favorites to get you started living liturgically this month. 

October 1 - St. Therese of Lisieux 

Feast: As a nod to the little flower, set a table with flowers. Serve something French, such as Chicken Provencal. For a celebratory treat enjoy a galette or macarons (Costco sells great ones!). 

Go deeper: Over breakfast, discuss St. Therese’s “Little Way” of doing ordinary things with extraordinary love and encourage being on the lookout for family members exemplifying the “little way” throughout the day. 

Celebrating with kids: Color a St. Therese coloring sheet, make floral arrangements, or learn more about her life by reading a story or listening to a biographical podcast.  

October 2 - Guardian Angels 

Feast: Serve angel hair pasta and alfredo sauce. Enjoy angel food cake for dessert! 

Go deeper: Pray the Guardian Angel prayer and listen to a podcast all about angels for kids and adults. 

October 4 - St. Francis of Assisi  

Feast: St. Francis was known to live a life of simplicity, so have a simple meal of soup and bread. But since it's a feast day, enjoy some gelato or a cannoli for dessert. 

Go deeper: Find a way to serve the poor on the feast of St. Francis. Make an extra donation to a charity you feel called to support, or see if a local pregnancy center or social service agency needs an extra volunteer. 

Celebrating with kids: Bless your favorite stuffed animals at home, listen to a biographical podcast, and read a book about St. Francis and the first nativity scene.

October 7 - Our Lady of the Rosary  

Celebrating with kids: Use donuts, muffins, chocolate chips, m&m’s, or any other favorite treat to create the shape of a rosary as the centerpiece of a table. After you pray a rosary together, enjoy the treat! 

October 12 - St. Carlo Acutis 

Feast: Enjoy a big Italian feast! Serve meatballs and spaghetti, salad, and fresh bread, as well as gelato for dessert. 

Go deeper: Learn more about the Eucharistic miracles of the Church by visiting the website St. Carlo created to document them. 

Celebrating with kids: Listen to a biographical podcast and play a game of soccer, which was St. Carlo’s favorite sport! If the weather doesn’t cooperate, gather around for a reading of Heavenly Hosts: Eucharistic Miracles for Kids. 

October 15 - St. Teresa of Avila

Feast: Try your hand at Paella to honor the Spanish mystic. 

Go deeper: Memorize St. Teresa’s “Let Nothing Disturb You” prayer and listen to beautiful hymns sung by Carmelite Sisters. 

October 18 - St. Luke

Feast: Serve something with beef! St. Luke is associated with an ox, so ground beef tacos, meatballs, burgers, or beef stew would be great selections. Don’t forget to light a candle at dinner (or eat entirely by candlelight!) because his name means “light” or “illumination.” 

Go deeper: Read excerpts from the Gospel of Luke. He is the only one of the four Gospel writers to pen the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Visitation to St. Elizabeth, so those would be beautiful passages to read. 

Celebrate with kids: Work together to watercolor an icon of Mary and Jesus. Iconography was a talent of St. Luke’s! 

October 22 - St. John Paul II

Feast: Pierogies for dinner! And don’t forget the borscht. While dining, play some Polish folk music to create an atmosphere of festivity. 

Go deeper: Attend a play as young Karol would have suggested, read an excerpt from one of his (many) encyclicals or books, or pray the Luminous mysteries of the Rosary. 

Celebrate with kids: Take some time in the great outdoors. Go on a hike, kayaking, or biking. St. John Paul II was a great outdoorsman and loved adventure! 

October 31 - The first day of Hallowtide and the eve of the Solemnity of all Saints!

Celebrate with kids: Celebrate All Hallow’s Eve in costume, but save the biggest feasting for the solemnit