Blessed Be This Day

Within the Catholic Faith are Holy Days of Obligation, days outside of Sundays that Catholics attend Mass. While I don’t know how many Days there were in the beginning, in 1642 Pope Urban reduce it to just 36. Then in 1917 the Vatican listed 10 days in addition to Sundays that fell under the Code of Canon Law as Days of Obligation.

The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas)
The Epiphany
The Ascension
The Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)
Holy Mary Mother of God
The Immaculate Conception
The Assumption
The Feast of Saint Joseph
The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
All Saints Day

In addition to this list of Holy Days the Vatican also gave the Conference of Bishops the power to suppress Holy Days or to transfer them to a Sunday, which meant a person could attend Mass on Sunday and thereby fulfill both obligations. This power meant that Holy Days vary slightly country by country according to the Conference of Bishops.

In 1991 the Bishops reduced the total for those in the US to only six days outside of Sundays. Six – that seems doable, doesn’t it? There is the Solemnity of Mary, The Solemnity of the Ascension, the Assumption, All Saints, the Immaculate Conception and Christmas Day. In 2025 All Saints fell on a Saturday, and the obligation was fulfilled on Sunday. So in reality we had but five days aside from Sundays. And yet many of us, including Hubby and I don’t always manage to meet that Obligation.

This year we were dealing with a private memorial on the 5th Anniversary of the death of our daughter on August 15, which is the Assumption of Mary. While we read scriptures assigned to the day, said a Rosary we did not attend Mass. I later confessed this in preparation for Christmas. I knew in my heart that God understood our absense, I also knew that I still need to ask His forgiveness.

With the exception of this year’s Assumption, there is only one Holy Day of Obligation that we sturggle to meet. In this I know we are not alone. Today is both New Year’s Day and the 8th day in the Octave of Christmas. While the Christmas Season does not end until January 6, today is important. It is a celebration of motherhood, honoring women everywhere throughout the ages who chose motherhood as a calling. It also marks Christ’s circumcision, and the first time His blood was shed. Let that sink in for a moment. If that doesn’t motivate us from a long winter’s nap, I don’t know what will.

Blessed be this day of the Lord’s creation. May His graces sustain you through the coming year.

Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon Rolls
1 (16 oz) tube Pizza Dough
Flour as needed
2 tablespoons Butter
3 tablespoons Sugar
1 tablespoon Cinnamon

Heat oven to 400-degrees. Grease a rimmed baking sheet, set aside.

Roll out pizza dough on a lightly floured cutting board to just under 1/4-inch thick. Brush dough with soft butter.

In a shaker mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture over the buttered dough. Cut dough into long strips of equal width.

Roll each strip up as tightly as possible and place in the prepared pan. Bake in the heated oven for 12 to 14 minutes, until golden. Remove from oven, frost while still warm.

Cinnamon Glaze
1-1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
2 tablespoons Heavy Cream or as needed

Sift powdered sugar into a bowl. Whisk in cinnamon. Add heavy cream 1 tablespoon at t time until the desired thick glaze consistency is reached. Set glaze aside.

When ready, arrange the rolls on a large plate. Drizzle generously over the warm rolls with a spoon. Serve and enjoy.

---

May the nations be glad and exult
because You rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth You guide.
May God bless us in His mercy.