Liturgical Living at Home
February 2026
Since it's February and St. Valentine's Day is coming up, check out this new podcast!
February is dedicated to The Holy Family
a Catholic devotion to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Holy Family is often emphasized in the month of February.
Catholic practices for this devotion often focus on formal prayer and intentional family interactions:
- Family Consecration: Formally dedicate your household to the Holy Family using a consecration prayer, asking for their spiritual protection and guidance.
- The Family Rosary: Praying the Rosary together is a primary devotion, specifically the Joyful Mysteries, which highlight key events in the lives of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
- Sacred Images: Place an icon, statue, or picture of the Holy Family in a prominent place, such as on the dining table or in a designated prayer corner.
- Home Rituals: Incorporate small religious habits, such as keeping a holy water font at the door to bless family members as they enter or leave, or naming your home after a saint.
- Imitation of Virtues: Meditate on the "hidden life" of Nazareth by practicing silence, humility, obedience, and diligent work.
- Daily Devotional Prayers: Recite specific prayers throughout the month, such as the Litany of the Holy Family or the "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give You my heart and my soul" aspiration.
- Family Bonding Activities: Strengthen domestic ties by planning intentional quality time, such as a special outing, baking a dessert together, or having a "family feast day".
Lent begins on Wednesday, February 18 so start planning now
Lent will be starting this month. Kendra Tierny of Catholic All Year gives some ideas for Lenten sacrifices for families with beginner (1), intermediate (2) and advanced (3) levels.
1. Don;t take the best spot available in the parking lot.
2. Take the worst parking spot you can find.
3. Don't drive: walk or take public transportation.
1. Make your bed every day.
2. Make your bed every day before you leave your bedroom.
3. Make other people's beds too.
1. Go to daily Mass once per week in addition to Sunday Mass.
2. Go to daily Mass two or three times per week.
3. Go to daily Mass every day.
1. Don't leave dishes in the sink overnight.
2. Do the cooking dishes before dinner and the dinner dishes immediately after dinner.
3. Don't use the dishwasher.
1. Buy only things written on your shopping list.
2. Keep a shopping list and shop only once per week.
3. Don't buy anything during Lent (except maybe food).
1. Don't watch TV or movies alone.
2. Watch TV or movies only as a whole-family activity.
3. Don't watch TV or movies.
1. Give up one social media platform.
2. Check social media just once per day.
3. Remove all social media apps from your devices.
1. Listen only to audiobooks or classical music in the car.
2. Turn off the radio in the car.
3. Say a Rosary in the car or listen t a spiritual audiobook.
St. Brigid of Ireland, February 1
St. Brigid is the patron saint of dairy maids. She is said t have given away to a poor man the butter she had churned for her master, only to have the butter miraculously restore itself before she could get in trouble.
In honor of St. Brigid, you can make your own butter. I have made it with my fourth grade PSR students and we toast some bread and have a little snack together with their homemade butter. To do it easily, each person gets a small mason jar and I fill it half to two-thirds full with heavy whipping cream, then seal it up with the jar lid. Then while teaching the kids shake and shake and shake. It takes 20-30 minutes and they make their own butter. When we make our toast the kids can add a little salt if they want. It is a DELICIOUS way to celebrate St. Brigid.
If you make your own butter, try to remove as much of the buttermilk from the butter before you store it or it will spoil quickly. If you remove the buttermilk it should last and be delicious until it's all gone.
Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas), Feb 2
We will celebrate the Presentation of the Lord at Mass on Sunday, but did you know also on Feb 2, Groundhog Day is actually rooted in a tradition of Candlemas, another name for the Presentation of the Lord?
In the middle ages the Christians would say, "If Candlemas Day is clear and bright, winter will have another bite. If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, winter is gone and will not come again."
In France, Candlemas is also know as "crepe day." Try your hand at a sweet or savory (or both) crepe to celebrate with your family this year: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/16383/basic-crepes/
Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11
The grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is in France and not a realistic destination for most of us, but there is a shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes National Shrine in Chardon, Ohio! You can visit: 21281 Chardon Road, Euclid, Ohio 44117, United States. Some families may also be familiar with the shrine at Notre Dame, which is also for Our Lady of Lourdes.
Our Lady of Lourdes National Shrine in Chardon:
Originally Harms’ farm, the Blessed Mother appeared to Julia Harms at what is today the Grotto. Mary told Mrs. Harms that she would give birth to a child and pass away shortly after the birth. Being a devout Catholic and with this message from the Blessed Mother, Mrs. Harms asked her husband that if at anytime the family sold the property that it be dedicated to Our Lady. This request was fulfilled.
Dedicated in 1926, a replica of the original shrine in Lourdes, France, Our Lady of Lourdes National Shrine in Euclid, Ohio, is carved from imported Italian marble. Within the surrounding grotto, water flows over a piece of stone from the original shrine, where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette. People from all over the world come here to touch the stone and also find serenity in the Stations of the Cross and Rosary Hill. From May through October, masses are held outdoors surrounding the shine and grotto.
Fat Tuesday: February 17, 2026
Fat Tuesday is the day before Lent begins (So Lent starts Wednesday, February 18 this year).
Fun Fat Tuesday Traditions:
- Pancake Breakfast or Supper: Traditionally, pancakes were made to use up fat, eggs, and dairy before the Lenten fast.
- Pancake Races: A tradition where participants race while tossing a pancake in a pan, rooted in English tradition.
- Eating Paczki and King Cake: Enjoying traditional Polish jelly-filled donuts (pączki) or a festive, colorful King Cake.
- Burning Old Palms: Burning palms from the previous Palm Sunday to create the ashes used for Ash Wednesday.
- Mask Making and Parties: Celebrating with parties, wearing masks, and using the traditional colors of Mardi Gras: Purple (justice), Green (faith), and Gold (power).
- "Hiding the Alleluia": A family-friendly activity where children decorate and hide a banner with the word "Alleluia" until Easter.
- Last Indulgence: Enjoying favorite treats or rich foods (meats, fats, sweets) that one might be giving up for Lent.
Have you tried a new liturgical tradition in your family?
Snap a photo and send it our way so we can show others how much fun you're having! There's so much to celebrate and enjoy this month as Christmas is wrapping up and we are back to Ordinary time for a short bit.
At dinner on the Baptism of the Lord Erin went first to baptize her chip in queso, "in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."