In this episode, I share the tender and vulnerable story of how our family's cherished tradition, the Celebrate Plate, came to be. It all started with a farming accident that my husband survived, an experience that taught us a valuable lesson in gratitude and finding joy in life's most precious moments. The Celebrate Plate is now a way we honor special occasions (like Birthdays, Baptism Birthdays & beyond), from milestones and achievements to simple everyday blessings, at our family table. Tune in as I recount our "Snickerdoodle Day" story and offer inspiration for creating your own meaningful traditions to celebrate the people and moments that matter most in your life.

In this illuminating episode, we’re joined by Father JP Morgan to dive into the rich traditions of Candlemas, celebrated 40 days after Christmas. We explore the biblical roots of the Presentation of the Lord, the blessing of candles, and why pure beeswax candles hold a special place in Catholic worship.

What do bees have to do with the Mass? How do candles symbolize the light of Christ? And what spiritual meaning does Candlemas hold for us today? Tune in to discover the deep connections between Scripture, liturgy, and creation, and learn how this beautiful feast points us toward the light of salvation.

Episode first aired Jan. 30, 2024

In this heartfelt mother-daughter duo episode with my daughter, Mikaela, we dive into the beauty of Catholic Baptism! We explore the profound spiritual gifts bestowed through this sacrament, practical ways to honor baptismal anniversaries (celebrating Baptism Birthdays), and the joys of living as baptized children of God. From family traditions to theological insights, this is the perfect blend of faith, fun, and inspiration for every Catholic family. Whether you're a parent, godparent, or just curious about the sacrament, tune in to celebrate the grace of Baptism with us!

Ignition podcast episode with Dr Burgwald where we talk about and he answers the question, "Is Baptism necessary for salvation?"

631: Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation? | Ignition

A trailer for the movie, "Fishers of Men" that Mikaela mentions in the podcast--Where a priest administers sacraments at an accident scene-

Fishers of Men TRAILER

The spot in the "Fishers of Men" Grassroots movie that Mikaela referred to is around minute 11:40 ( I rewatched it after like 15 years and cried! )

Catholic Priesthood - Fishers of Men

The Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God to the world.

In this episode we share how our family celebrates this special feast day in our home. Julia is back to chat with me about our Epiphany traditions and how we do a Catholic Home & Household Blessing every year in our home. We will walk you through the significance of this meaningful feast day and how you can make celebrating the Epiphany of Our Lord sacred in your life.

Prayer to use when Blessing your home: https://www.usccb.org/prayers/blessing-home-and-household-epiphany

Dr Burwald & I talk about the Wise Men and more Epiphany on his podcast "Ignition" ...

643: What's the Story with the Wise Men?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl6nTc8K-ac&list=PLqSqcaJSjAjac-QUMpppZWPG316qGvlC7

More info on "Chalking" your doors: Don't Forget to Chalk Your Doors for Epiphany | Catholic Answers Magazine: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/dont-forget-to-chalk-your-doors-for-epiphany

**Only a priest can bless chalk to make it "Blessed/Holy Chalk." (I checked with Dr. Burwald to clarify for me.) BUT you can still do a home blessing even if you don't have access to blessed chalk. (You can always ask your priest to bless some chalk for you, if your parish doesn't hand any out around the Epiphany.). And your home blessing doesn't need to take place on the actual day of the Epiphany. You can also invite your priest over to do a Home Blessing for you sometime.

Merry Christmas! While many pack up the decorations after December 25, Catholics know the Christmas season is just beginning. Join my daughter, Julia and me as we explore the richness of the liturgical Christmas season, starting with the Birth of Christ on December 25 and extending through the Baptism of Our Lord - the 2nd week in January. We share how our family keeps the Christmas spirit alive and strong, and dive into the beautiful feast days and traditions we celebrate during these 12 Days of Christmas and beyond.

---Show resources mentioned:

Daily Mass readings: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph | USCCB (these particular Scripture readings are awesome! But following along the daily Mass readings is a great way to grow in your Faith and Live LIT! USCCB website is a great place to start.

One of my favorite prayers for families: Mother Teresa's Prayer for the Family | EWTN

Elizabeth Ann Seton children's book TElizabeth Ann Seton: Mother for Many (Saints and Me!): Yoffie, Barbara, Borgatti, Katherine: 9780764822414: Amazon.com: Books

Home | Family Formation What our family has used & continues to use to learn and love the Catholic Faith together.

~~You can also follow along and see a glimpse into how we Live LIT in our family life on Instagram @Divine9LivingLIT

Instagram Feast of the Holy family

Instagram Feast of the Holy Innocents

Instagram 12 days of Christmas

There's ancient beauty hidden in the "O Antiphons" that connect to the popular Advent hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." This week I share an "Ignition" episode I co-hosted with Dr Chris Burwald for his show. We dive deep into these treasures of Advent, exploring their rich meaning and uncovering a clever "code" embedded in the Latin text—a message that proclaims: Tomorrow, I will come!

We’ll decode this beautiful secret, walk through each Antiphon’s profound titles for Christ, and reflect on their spiritual power. Plus, I’ll share some LIT (and tasty!) ways to bring these days to life with fun, themed foods inspired by the O' Antiphons. Whether you’re looking for deeper prayer or joyful celebration, this episode has something for everyone.

Join us for a journey into Advent wonder that will leave you inspired to say, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Dr Burgwald's podcast Ignition Ignition - Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls is a weekly podcast with a library of over 600 episodes.

The O' Antiphon medallions and free printables I use in the show and in our home Look to Him and be Radiant: o antiphons

Instagram to see how our family did a super fun Root Beer tasting for one of the O Antiphon days. And Instagram what a typical night of O' Antiphons looks like in our family.

O'Antiphons | Catholic Living For more info on bringing the O' Antiphons into your Advent. A quick show I did for Catholic Living.

Fr Zach Schaefbauer is back to explore a topic that touches all of us: how often we put other things or even other people before God. Together, we delve into questions like: When does placing others before God become sinful? And most importantly, what does it truly mean to say, "I love God"?

Father Zach shares profound theological insights on love, sin, and our relationship with God. This episode challenges us to reflect on our daily choices and invites us to realign our hearts toward God as our first love.

If you missed the last time Fr Zach was on Living LIT--you can listen here:

Why do I have to go to Mass if I don't get anything out if it? Q & A with Fr Zach Schaefbauer part 1

One Festive Mama, Megan Beisel is here to chat with us about all things Advent and her new guide booklet, "Cultivating an Advent Atmosphere." Megan is known online as "One Festive Mama." She loves to live the seasons and liturgical year in a fun, meaningful & memorable, festive way. In this episode she shares some of her passion and what brought her to Living LITurgical. She also shares a great system for keeping your Liturgical Living goodies and ideas organized to make celebrating simple and easy.

Here are some of the links we talked about:

Cultivating an Advent Atmosphere Megan's new booklet

Liturgical Living Binder How to organize your Living Liturgical goodies and papers

Here are a couple other Advent posts from Megan's blog

Advent Feast Days

Advent Mini-Pilgrimage

You can find and follow Megan at One Festive Mama Instagram

And Follow 'Living LIT' on IG at Divine 9 Living LIT Instagram