Truthfully, I did not know much about the existence of the liturgical year until late high school/early college. Once I became aware of the rhythms of the Church year, the liturgical seasons took on new life for me. Seasons like Lent and Advent became seasons of deep prayer; the feast days of my favorite Saints taught me more about them; feasts of Our Lord inspired in me a deeper love for and devotion to His Body and Blood, His Kingship, and His Cross.
When I began having children, celebrating the liturgical year became an even greater priority. I want their upbringing to be marked by the rhythms of the Church. But liturgical living is not my natural strong suit. Crafts are not my charism and my default all-or-nothing mentality caused me to feel overwhelmed by all the possibilities of the liturgical year and left me doing, well, nothing.
Living Liturgically All Year
Thankfully, my early motherhood fell during the "good ol' blogging days" and I was introduced to fellow Blessed is She writer Kendra Tierney. Her blog, Catholic All Year, became a trusted resource for all things liturgical living. Kendra is wealth of knowledge about the liturgical seasons, rites, and devotions within the Church. Plus, she's been living in this rhythm with her own family for nearly two decades, so she's been through plenty of practice and refinement. Her blog is what helped me dip my toe into living the liturgical year as a family.
One-Stop Shop
When Kendra released her book, The Catholic All Year Compendium, a couple of years ago, she made my life even easier. It quickly became a staple on my shelf and in my planning as a homemaker. Now, she has released a new companion to this book called The Catholic All Year Prayer Companion. And it is completely my cup of tea.
The Catholic All Year Prayer Companion
The Catholic All Year Compendium includes ideas for liturgical living like activities, crafts, and recipes. In that book, Kendra references certain prayers her family prays on those feast days, but you can imagine how long the book would have been if she included the full text of those prayers. That is where The Catholic All Year Prayer Companion comes in. This book includes prayers, Bible stories, songs, and devotions that Kendra and her family use during the liturgical year.
Kendra also covers frequently-encountered challenges like a reluctant spouse or child, (un)realistic expectations, and finding the ideal moments of prayer for your family devotions. She also explains indulgences, novenas, and other devotions in a way that's easy to understand and embrace.
How I Plan to Use It
The format of this prayer companion is easy and straightforward. As someone who is easily overwhelmed by all the possibilities of liturgical living, this prayer companion is a balm and beacon of light!
First, this book is the size of an average book, so it can fit easily into my purse (for on-the-go prayer), on our kitchen counter (for prayer after mealtimes), and on our school shelf (for morning devotions). This book will live in our main living area, always just an arm's length away and at the ready.
I plan to start small in order to build momentum and encourage constancy. Sundays are typically my weekly planning days. I sit down with a cup of coffee, my Blessed is She planner, my homeschool plans, and any resources I need to get my hands around the week in a prayerful and intentional way. The Catholic All Year Prayer Companion is the newest member of the stack. I will look at the week ahead and select one feast day for that week. I'll jot it down in my planner and, again, will have this book close at hand for the chosen day.
Hopefully, over time, we will add another day, and another and another until these prayers for the liturgical year are woven into the fabric of our days.
Have you gotten your copy of The Catholic All Year Prayer Companion yet? What are you most excited about in it?
BIS Reads // The Catholic All Year Prayer Companion #BISblog //Click to tweet
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Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky, where sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She holds degrees in Theology and Catechetics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and works from home while enjoying her children and husband. She curates relevant and inspiring content for Catholic women as Blog Manager. She is the narrator of Set a Fire, And Hay Became Holy, and All She Had as well as a contributing author for Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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