These last two months of the year are a whirlwind of festivity in my home. If I’m not really intentional about slowing down and carving out time to enter into this beautiful season, I end up beginning the new year feeling unsettled and even a bit remorseful. 

November can feel dark and cold as the days get shorter, and here in Wisconsin the temperatures start to get chilly. But I see this time of year as an opportunity to spend more cozy evenings inside with my family, diving into this liturgical season.

Here’s what’s so great about November: it’s the Month of the Holy Souls, a time for Thanksgiving, and brings us to (or very close to) the beginning of Advent. The possibilities to celebrate are endless, but I’d like to share some of my family’s favorites that might inspire you to begin some of your own Catholic November traditions. 

First up: the Holy Souls. It’s not just one day! We remember the holy souls in purgatory in a special way all month long, so don’t forget abour them come November 3rd. I get out photos of departed loved ones so we can remember to pray for them, and I fill a jar with popsicle sticks on which I’ve written the names of many family and friends who have died. We encourage each other to grab a name out of the jar and pray for that soul.  

And don’t forget to visit the cemetery at least once! Visit a loved one’s grave if you can, or simply walk the rows and pray for the names you see. As an added bonus, if you visit a cemetery and pray for the dead between November 1-8, you can receive a plenary indulgence for the holy souls in purgatory (if you also complete the usual requirements of a plenary indulgence.) 

Next, I challenge you to really enter into this season of gratitude. Many see Thanksgiving as just a day for lots of food and football, but the heart of this holiday is giving thanks to God. Try to count your blessings in a tangible way. For young kids, I like to start a paper chain that we add to throughout the month, writing one thing we’re grateful for on each link. Older kids might start a gratitude journal, writing down one blessing they were thankful for that day. Taking time to recognize the ways God has worked in our lives is a great way to grow closer to Him and can help us overcome life’s struggles with deeper trust in His goodness.

And finally, start getting ready for Advent! Buy those Advent candles, get a portion of your gift shopping and wrapping out of the way before this busy season begins so that you have more time to focus on the important things. Our kids are watching where our time and attention is going. If we’re spending way more time and effort on the extra things than we are on the core of Advent preparation and reflection, we’re sending them the wrong message. 

Try beginning your Advent and Christmas traditions – like baking cookies or trimming the tree – with prayer. Meditate on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Incorporate the Holy Family and nativity images into your Christmas décor. Little things make a big difference in refocusing our hearts on the birth of Jesus Christ. 

This November, I encourage you to choose one or two intentional ways to enter into the Month of the Holy Souls, this season of gratitude, and the upcoming Advent season. You don’t need to fill up your calendar with more and more traditions and obligations – the simple but consistent things are often the most meaningful. And the heart of it all is that we want to spend more time growing closer to God. Happy November! 

TODAY ONLY, we have a very special offer for you as we begin our Join the Family pledge drive. With a gift of $25/month, we will send you a stunning Illuminated Holy Family Tree as our thank you for being a part of our Relevant Radio family. This 6-inch Fontanini tree features the Holy Family and can be used as Christmas décor or an ornament. It’s a visible reminder of what the season is all about. 

Don’t delay in making your gift as this special offer is available today only! We thank you for your generous support for the mission of Relevant Radio: Bringing Christ to the World Through the Media.