Yesterday we began the month of February, which in the Catholic Church is dedicated to the Holy Family. I love how the Church invites us each month into a particular theme to explore and celebrate. There are infinite ways to contemplate the goodness of God, and the Church is so wise in placing a magnifying glass on certain aspects of our faith through liturgical seasons, monthly devotions, feasts, and holy days. This ever-changing yet continually repeating rhythm gives us a rich lens through which to deepen our prayer life.

Here are a few inspirations I am taking from our Church today:

Throughout this month, Catholics will be celebrating the Holy Family. Just as each of our own families has traditions, our Church family does too! I hope you will check out our monthly prayer challenge and consider adding a prayer to the Holy Family into your routine this month. It might even be something you choose to do together as a family and turn into an annual February tradition.

In fact, why not spend this month looking at the calendar and discerning how you might add new Catholic traditions to your family life? I am certain that Jesus’ life was steeped in faith and family customs. He, too, was taught by His parents how to live a life of faith. Let us take this month to model our families after His, developing and nurturing family faith traditions of our own.

You can begin today by celebrating Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This feast commemorates Jesus’ presentation in the Temple and is the final “Baby Jesus” feast day in the liturgical calendar before Lent begins, marking the official close of the Christmas season. Take time to read the day’s readings and reflect on Mary and Joseph’s obedience to Jewish law. Even though they were the earthly parents of God Incarnate, they faithfully observed the traditions of their faith and raised Jesus to do the same.

Because of their obedience, they heard these words from Simeon, who had been promised that he would not die before seeing the Messiah:

Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.

Because of this moment, our Church celebrates Candlemas. Simeon proclaimed that Jesus would be a “light,” and from this proclamation the Church developed the tradition of blessing candles on this day. Consider hosting a candlelight dinner with your family tonight and sharing the story of the Presentation in the Temple with your children.

I hope you find meaningful ways to celebrate the Holy Family throughout this month. If you are looking for more ideas, be sure to follow us on Facebook or Instagram, where we share the feasts and traditions of our Church. You can also join me on Substack at barbaraprasad.substack.com, where I post a blog every Wednesday. This month’s Wednesday Walks will focus on family life and ways we can celebrate faith within our homes and our Church.

So grateful for my diocesan family of women!

Barb