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I’m always trying to figure out how to make it easier for families to observe the Christian Year because we felt so overwhelmed when we first started that journey (which is why we wrote the book we wish we had then). I thought it might be helpful for our family to have resources compiled for the month ahead so that we can plan in advance which special saints days we want to observe and I hope having them all in one place is helpful to you, too!
And I pinned all of the following resources on a November Liturgical Living pinterest board for your convenience!
As always, remember not to get overwhelmed. You don’t have to observe every saints day! (We certainly don’t at our house.) The liturgical year is a gift. It shouldn’t feel like a burden!
I thought we could start a day early to include all three days of Hallowtide (Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls).
October 31: All Hallow’s Eve
Food for Thought:
- Hallowmas with Harry: What Harry Potter Taught Me About Death and the Communion of Saints: Carrots for Michaelmas
Faith and Little Ones:
- Finding Truth in Halloween: Look to Him and Be Radiant
- All Saints’ Halloween Party: A Knotted Life
And I love Kendra’s idea to easily transform Halloween costumes into All Saints’ costumes:
Awesome All Saints Costumes, And More Halloween/All Saints’ Costumes, Hallowtide, It’s How We Roll
November 1st: All Saints Day
Faith and Little Ones:
- All Saints Scavenger Hunt: Better Than Eden
- Celebrating All the Saints: In the Heart of My Home
- Is Your Favorite Saint a Gryffindor? Carrots for Michaelmas
Food for Thought:
- Octave of All Saints: A Monastery, a Home
Book Suggestions:
- Books About Saints in Our Mass Bag: Carrots for Michaelmas
November 2nd: All Souls Day
Celebrating Around the Table:
- Soul Cakes: Carrots for Michaelmas
Food for Thought:
- Praying for All Souls in Love: Cari Donaldson for Catholic Exchange
- At the End Charlotte Dies: Catholic All Year
- Four Ways You Can Help the Souls in Purgatory: Living with Lady Philosophy
November 3rd: St. Martin de Porres:
Faith and Little Ones:
- Celebrating the Feast of St. Martin de Porres: Two Os Plus More
- St. Martin de Porres Glory Story CD: Holy Heroes
Book suggestions:
St. Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert by Gary Schmidt
November 4th: St. Charles Borromeo
Faith and Little Ones:
Coloring Page:
- St. Charles Borromeo: Catholic Playground
November 5th: St. Elizabeth
Faith and Little Ones:
- Read the story of the Visitation aloud from the Bible.
Celebrating Around the Table:
- St. Elizabeth Scones: In Endless Song
November 11th: St. Martin of Tours (Martinmas)
Book Suggestion:
Snow on Martinmas by Heather Sleightholm
Celebrating Around the Table:
- Make Stuffed Butternut Squash (served in halves like St. Martin’s cloak) recipe in Feast! Real Food, Reflections, and Simple Living for the Christian Year)
Faith and Little Ones:
- 7 Quick Ways to Celebrate Martinmas: Two Os Plus More
- Go through your winter clothes and find items to donate (as St. Martin shared his cloak with the beggar).
November 13th: St. Frances Cabrini
Celebrating Around the Table:
- Make Bolognese with Orecchietti: My Catholic Kitchen
Food for Thought:
- Paper Boats Filled with Violets: A Story of Mother Cabrini (Cari Donaldson for Catholic Exchange)
November 16th: St. Margaret of Scotland
Celebrating Around the Table:
- Learn the Grace After Meals prayer. Today with the Saints shared that St. Margaret encouraged this praying of this prayer. You can find a beautiful free printable of the Grace After Meals at Catholic All Year.
November 17th: St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Celebrating Around the Table:
- Hungarian Cinnamon Bread: Catholic Cuisine
Book Suggestion:
Roses in the Snow: A Tale of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
November 18th: The Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Books:
Peter, Apostle of Jesus by Boris Grebille
November 21st: The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Book Suggestion:
Mary the Mother of Jesus by Tomie dePaola
November 22nd: St. Cecilia
Faith and Little Ones:
- St. Cecelia Glory Story audio CD: Holy Heroes
November 23rd: St. Clement
Celebrating Around the Table:
- Chocolate Sea Salt Clementines: Catholic Cuisine
November 24th: St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions
Celebrating Around the Table:
- Make Vietnamese Summer Rolls (recipe in our newest liturgical year ebook: More Feasts!)
November 25th: St. Catherine of Alexandria
Celebrating Around the Table:
- St. Catherine of Alexandria’s Miraculous Wheels: In Endless Song
November 26th: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Food for Thought:
- Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe: Catholic Culture
November 30th: St. Andrew
Celebrating Around the Table:
- Make a fish dinner to honor this fisherman disciple. (Our recipe for Tahini Tilapia is in Feast! Real Food, Reflections, and Simple Living for the Christian Year)
Do you have any special traditions for holy days in November? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
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Haley and readers, where should I start? I’m interested in the Catholic faith.
Hi Eleanor,
I’m a Catholic convert and Scott Hahn was really helpful to me. Especially in his earlier writings, he uses terminology that makes sense to non-Catholics. “Rome Sweet Home” was written by he and his wife, Kimberly, and I liked how it had dual-perspectives. Catholic Answers is also very helpful, but don’t let yourself get too much “in the weeds.” I would find myself sifting through a million chat threads and sometimes they go off on tangents. But they have some videos on You Tube. Also, Fr. Mike Schmitz of Ascension Presents on You Tube is great. Oh and I really love Bishop Robert Barron and Word on Fire on You Tube. He gets so deep, but is also very relevant and succinct (how is that possible?!?!?! God only knows…)
For blogs obv this one is great! I also like the writing style of Kendra at Catholic All Year. They are more about “Catholic living” but theological concepts also come up. So it’s nice to see their practical example of living out the faith.
Godspeed! I will be praying for you and hope that you find abundant joy and peace in our Lord and His sweet Church. May grace be poured out upon you!
Hi Eleanor! What faith tradition are you coming from? That could help me when suggesting book titles.
Start with going to mass!
It will likely seem strange at first, but keep going. (If it is not a beautiful reverent liturgy, try another parish). Most parishes also have an rcia program to learn more- it is not just for those already decided to become catholic. Catholics like to give each other privacy, so there’s not the “hey, you’re new here, come to all our things” that you find at other churches, which can make it hard to meet people. But you can- look in the bulletin for an event that sounds interesting, stay for coffee and donuts, etc! Go on Saturday evening if you’re currently part of another church.
Other than that, read what interests you. Saints lives, the catechism, theology of the body, conversion stories, etc. the catechism really is awesome- probably my top rec! Good luck and lots of prayers!
Thank you for putting these calendars together, it’s such a great reminder of how blessed we are!