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By Robyn Bruggeman
Living liturgically is a beautiful way of allowing the rhythm of the Church year to shape the rhythm of your home and life. The Church already gives us a beautiful pattern: Seasons of preparation and celebration, feasts and fasts, ordinary days and extraordinary ones. Liturgical living is our way of stepping into that rhythm and letting it draw us closer to Christ—one special day and moment at a time.
When we live with the Church, our homes become places where faith is not just taught but lived—in our conversations, in the way we pray, in what we choose to notice, celebrate and honor. It strengthens family life, roots our children in truth and fills our days with meaning and holiness that grows gently, season after season.
Each month in this new section, we’ll highlight five key feast days (Top Five) and offer simple ways to celebrate or honor them in the little church you call home—your domestic church. These small practices help you bring the faith into your everyday life in a way that is joyful, meaningful and, most of all, doable.
As you try these ideas, remember: You don’t have to do everything. Start with one or two; add more if and when it serves your family. You can always layer more in later.
And remember Robyn’s words of wisdom for Living LITurgically: It should be special, not stressful!
Let the natural rhythms of the Church year guide you as we walk alongside our Lord. And know that we’re here to help you bring the Catholic faith into your home and Live LIT—Living In Truth—and live liturgically in the little church you call home.
January: A month dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus
In the rich tradition of Catholic devotions, each month of the year is often associated with a particular spiritual focus to deepen the faithful’s relationship with God. January holds a special place as the month consecrated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus, inviting us to contemplate the profound power of this sacred name. The name “Jesus” means “God Saves”—Jesus, our Savior, redeems humanity from sin through his life, death and resurrection.
St. Paul reminds us, “Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11).
This devotion encourages daily invocation of Jesus’ name as a source of light, consolation and strength, fostering a personal encounter with Christ. What a fitting way to begin the new calendar year—by fixing our eyes and hearts on Jesus.
1. Jan. 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
What we celebrate
We begin the new year with Mary: The Mother of God, the Mother of the Church and our Mother. This solemnity honors Mary’s unique role in salvation history: She gave flesh to the Word incarnate and continues to lead us to her son. Starting the year under her mantle reminds us that we walk into every new season with a Mother who intercedes, protects and guides.
How to live it LITurgically
Pray a rosary (or at least a Hail Mary).
Go to Mass (it’s a holy day of obligation).
Write down intentions for the new year and place them at Mary’s feet. (Place a bowl by a Mary statue in your home.)
Wear blue or display a blue tablecloth/runner as a visual reminder of Mary’s presence.
2. Jan. 3 – The Most Holy Name of Jesus
What we celebrate
This feast draws us into the power, beauty and holiness of the name above every other name. The name of Jesus brings peace, dispels darkness and anchors our hearts. January, the month dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus, invites us to let his name be the first word on our lips in the year ahead.
How to live it LITurgically
Pray the Litany of the Holy Name or simply repeat: “Jesus, I trust in you.”
Pause when you hear the name of Jesus and show reverence, bowing your head when it is spoken (or sung).
Write “Jesus” on a notecard and place it in a central spot in your home.
Reflect on what it means that Jesus knows each of our names and calls us to personally follow him.
3. Jan. 4 (Sunday observance) –The Epiphany of the Lord (traditionally Jan. 6)
What we celebrate
Epiphany celebrates the revelation of Christ to the nations. Christ has come for everyone. As the magi (wise men) followed the light of a star, they found the Light of the World. This feast reminds us that Jesus came for every heart, every home and every nation, and that we, too, are called to seek his presence in our everyday lives.
How to live it LITurgically
Do the traditional Epiphany house blessing with chalk (20 + C + M + B + 26).
Have the wisemen arrive at your nativity scene. (Remember: it’s still Christmas!)
Place a candle or star in a window to represent the guiding light of Christ.
Pray as a family: “Lord, help us seek you, find you and worship you, just like the magi.”
4. Jan. 11 – The Baptism of the Lord
What we celebrate
This feast marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. His Baptism opens the way for our own Baptism. The heavens are torn open, the Spirit descends and the Father proclaims Jesus as his beloved Son—a truth spoken over each of us at our own Baptism.
How to live it LITurgically
Pull out baptismal candles, photos or certificates. Mark your Baptism birthday on your calendar and start a tradition of celebrating your (and your children’s) Baptism.
Keep holy water in your home and bless yourself and your family members with it (recalling your Baptism).
Parents: trace the sign of the cross on your children’s (or grandchildren’s) foreheads as a reminder of their baptismal identity. A great time to do this is when tucking them into bed.
Renew your baptismal promises together or pray: “Lord, help us live as your beloved sons and daughters.”
5. Jan. 22 – Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
What we honor
This is a day of prayer, reflection and reparation for the violence done to unborn children and for healing for all who have been wounded by abortion. The Church invites us to pray for a renewed culture of life, for mothers and fathers in crisis, for lawmakers and for hearts to be softened toward the dignity of every human person—born and unborn.
How to live it LITurgically
Pray a Rosary specifically for the protection of the unborn and for families in need.
Attend Mass or offer a day of fasting or abstinence as a sacrifice for life.
Support a local pregnancy resource center through donations or prayer.
Talk gently with children about the sacredness of every human life.
Robyn Bruggeman is a parishioner at St. Therese Parish in Sioux Falls and is host of the Living LIT podcast.
