Look, we get it. Fall is the season of basic everything—flannel, apple picking, and yes, those ubiquitous PSLs. But what if I told you that as a Catholic, you’re sitting on a goldmine of autumnal activities that are actually, you know, meaningful? While everyone else is instagramming their gourd hauls, you could be leveling up your spiritual game. Here are seven legitimately cool Catholic things to embrace this fall.
1. Throw an All Saints’ Day Party (Take That, Halloween)
Halloween gets all the hype, but November 1st is where the real party’s at. All Saints’ Day is literally a celebration of the most badass people in Christian history—martyrs, mystics, and miracle workers. Host a Saints and Sinners party where everyone comes dressed as their favorite saint. Bonus points if you can explain why St. Lawrence (who was literally grilled to death and joked about it) is infinitely cooler than any horror movie villain. Serve soul cakes, light some candles, and make your secular friends deeply confused about why your costume party is so much more interesting than theirs.
2. Go on a Leaf-Peeping Pilgrimage
Why just look at fall foliage when you could make it a spiritual experience? Find a monastery, shrine, or historic church within driving distance and plan a mini-pilgrimage. There’s something about combining the beauty of creation with intentional prayer that hits different when the trees are exploding in color. Pack some rosary beads, maybe a thermos of coffee (okay fine, pumpkin spice if you must), and turn your scenic drive into a moving meditation. The Benedictines and Trappists knew what they were doing when they built those monasteries in gorgeous locations.
3. Do a 54-Day Rosary Novena
Fall is the perfect time to commit to something spiritually ambitious, and the 54-day rosary novena is basically the Ironman of Catholic devotions. You pray the rosary every day for 54 days straight—27 days in petition and 27 in thanksgiving. It’s a serious commitment, but there’s something about the structure and discipline that pairs perfectly with fall’s back-to-school, fresh-start energy. Plus, October is literally the month of the rosary, so you’re riding the liturgical wave. Start it in early October and you’ll finish right around Thanksgiving, which is pretty perfect timing if you think about it.
4. Start a Dante Reading Group
Nothing says “fall intellectual” quite like tackling The Divine Comedy with friends. Dante’s Inferno is basically the original horror story, but with actual theological depth and medieval poetry. Get a group together, find a good annotated version, and work through it over pumpkin beer or apple cider. You’ll sound incredibly sophisticated at dinner parties, and you might actually learn something about sin, redemption, and why Dante really didn’t like his political enemies. Plus, discussing the nine circles of hell while leaves crunch underfoot is peak autumn aesthetic.
5. Make Thanksgiving Actually About Thanksgiving
Close of kids saying grace while having Thanksgiving dinner with their family at dining table.
Hot take: Thanksgiving should probably involve, you know, thanking God. Before the turkey coma sets in, why not actually pray together as a family? Go around the table and have everyone share one thing they’re genuinely grateful for this year. Attend a special Thanksgiving Mass if your parish offers one. It’s wild how a holiday that’s literally named “Thanksgiving” has become mostly about football and arguing with relatives, so buck the trend and bring some intentionality to it.
6. Pray a Rosary Outdoors Before It Gets Too Cold
Fall weather is that perfect sweet spot before winter makes outdoor prayer feel like penance. Take your rosary on a walk through your neighborhood, a park, or a nature trail. There’s something about praying while moving through creation that makes contemplative prayer more accessible. Plus, if anyone asks what you’re doing, you can tell them you’re “walking your prayers,” which sounds very mysterious and spiritual.
7. Host a Bonfire and Make S’mores After Evening Prayer
Combine the ancient practice of Vespers with the time-honored tradition of gathering around fire and eating melted sugar. Pray evening prayer with friends or family as the sun sets (there are great apps for this), then light up a bonfire and break out the s’mores supplies. There’s something deeply human and deeply holy about gathering around flames, sharing food, and enjoying each other’s company as darkness falls. It’s basically what humans have done for thousands of years, but with more chocolate and fewer wolves.
So there you have it—seven ways to make your fall more Catholic and infinitely more interesting than another trip to the pumpkin patch. Your Instagram aesthetic will thank you, and so will your soul.