Summer time living is easy – perhaps a little too easy! Summer is a time when people typically go on vacation and relax their otherwise scheduled and routine lives. Oftentimes, that also includes our prayer life.
So, how can a Catholic keep their faith alive during the summer months? Celebrating feast days can be one way.
Read more: 5 Ways to Have a Super Catholic Summer
Here are three different (but fun!) ways to celebrate feast days on the more relaxing day:
Food
Prepare foods that are either connected with specific saints (e.g. patronage or what they’re known for) or from their native region. Here are some examples:
- June 29 – Saints Peter and Paul: Fried fish or goldfish crackers for the little ones
- July 1 – Saint Junipero Serra: Posole, a popular dish served in California Missions
- July 16 – Our Lady of Carmel: Caramel sundaes or anything with caramel!
- July 23 – Saint Bridget of Sweden: Swedish meatballs
- July 31 – Saint Ignatius of Loyola: Nachos. Men named Ignacio are nicknamed Nacho in many Spanish-speaking countries so why not go with it?
- August 10 – Saint Lawrence: Anything grilled. Be sure to turn it on the other side
- August 14 – Saint Maximilian Kolbe: Pierogis (a Catholic Twitter favorite!)
Movies
Movies are the easiest way to celebrate a feast day if you’re not into cooking. Here are some movies that are recommended.
Before watching these movies, please check the ratings and reviews for each movie. Parents, please be careful as some scenes may be intense for young children.
- June 22 – Saint Thomas More: A Man for All Seasons
- June 26 – Saint Josemaria Escriva: There Be Dragons
- July 6 – Saint Maria Goretti: Maria Goretti
- EWTN airs many documentaries and movies on holy men and women like Bridget of Sweden, Pier Giorgio Frassati, Maria Goretti, and more on their feast days every year. Check their programming schedules for times and dates.
- FORMED has a number of saint movies available for streaming as well!
Coloring Pages
There are many places online where you can download coloring pages of saints for children… or, let’s be honest, for us adults who still embrace the kid in us. Here are some links to coloring pages found around the web.
- June 28 – Saint Irenaeus
- July 11 – Saint Benedict
- July 12 – Saint Veronica
- July 14 – Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
- July 26 – Saints Joachim and Anne
- July 29 – Saint Martha
- August 4 – Saint Dominic
- August 8 – Saint John Vianney
- August 23 – Saint Rose of Lima
If you have children and want to make the activities more educational (always a good thing!), you can also discuss a little about the saint’s life and what their patronage. If your child knows about the saint already, have them tell you what they know about the saint in their own words.
Read more: 15 Saints for All Your Summer Activities
Whatever you do during the summer, don’t forget to not take a vacation from your spiritual life. While it’s good and necessary to take a break from the stresses of everyday life, our faith is the one thing that always holds up together all year ’round!
