The weeks following Pentecost, leading up to the end of the liturgical year, can feel vast, redundant, and even empty. The life of Christ, which anchors the greater part of the year, has ended: in Advent, the Church experiences the expectancy of the Jews awaiting the Messiah; at Christmas, the joy at the birth of Christ; at Epiphany, the revelation to the Gentiles; in Lent, the knowledge of the coming Passion of Christ; during Holy Week and the Triduum, the sorrow of Our Lady and the Apostles as Our Lord is arrested, beaten, put to death, and buried; at Easter, the exultation of the Resurrection; on Ascension Thursday, the awe and uncertainty of the Apostles as He Who walked with them for 40 days leaves them once again; at Pentecost, the fire of the Holy Spirit igniting the souls of the Apostles for the work of evangelization. But after Pentecost, it can be easy to drift from the practice of liturgical livin and for the Sundays in green to seem endless as we eagerly anticipate the purple of Advent. Nevertheless, there is much goodness to be reaped from a sincere observance of the season of Ordinary Time. There are many saints to venerate and, of course, there are the great feasts of the Assumption and All Saints’ Day. Do not let this season pass you by; God works in the quiet parts of the liturgical year, too.

In August, we have the feasts of St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. John Vianney, the Transfiguration of Our Lord, St. Dominic, St. Lawrence, St. Clare, St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Assumption of Our Lady, St. Bernard, Pope St. Piux X, the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Bartholomew, St. Monica, St. Augustine, and the Passion of St. John the Baptist. Consider these ideas for observing some of these feasts:

• You can invite your pastor to dinner on the feast of St. John Vianney, since he is the patron saint of parish priests. 
• Since St. Peter offers to make tents for Our Lord, Elijah, and Moses, go camping on the feast of the Transfiguration! 
• Go stargazing on the feast of St. Dominic, since he is the patron saint of astronomers.
• On the feast of St. Lawrence, host a barbecue (a tongue-in-cheek observance of the feast, seeing as he was martyred by being roasted on a grid-iron). 
• On the feast of St. Clare, host an outdoor movie night using a projector; St. Clare was granted the gift of seeing the Mass as if on a screen when she was too sick to attend one Christmas. 
• In honor of St. Bernard, light a candle or eat a honey-based dessert. He is a patron saint of candlemakers and beekeepers.
• For the feast of St. Monica, call or write a letter to a spiritual mother.
• On St. Augustine’s feast day, visit a brewery with friends; St. Augustine is the patron saint of brewers.

In September, we have the feasts of Pope St. Gregory the Great, St. Teresa of Calcutta, the Nativity of Our Lady, St. Peter Claver, the Most Holy Name of Mary, the Exultation of the Holy Cross, Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Hildegard of Bingen, St. Matthew the Apostle, St. Pius of Pietrelcina, the Archangels, and St. Jerome. Consider these ideas for observing some of these feasts:

• On the feast of St. Teresa, volunteer at a food pantry or with a local branch of Catholic Charities.
• For the Nativity of Our Lady, bake a birthday cake to enjoy with friends and family and sing happy birthday.
• On the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, pray the chaplet of Our Lady’s Seven Sorrows.
• In honor of St. Matthew, collect the spare change around your house and donate it to your local soup kitchen.
• Go to the zoo on the feast of St. Jerome; according to The Golden Legend, St. Jerome helped a lion with an injured paw and made a lifelong friend.

In October, we have the feasts of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Holy Guardian Angels, Our Lady of the Rosary, and St. Teresa of Avila. Consider these ideas for observing some of these feasts:

• For the feast of St. Thérèse, buy a loved one a bouquet of roses!
• On the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, pray the Guardian Angel prayer, both in the morning and at night.
• For the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, say a family Rosary. If you are able, invite neighbors to join you!
• Honor St. Teresa of Avila by going barefoot for the day since she reformed the Discalced Carmelites.

In November, we have the feasts of All Saints, All Souls, St. Charles Borromeo, Pope St. Leo the Great, St. Martin of Tours, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Christ the King, and St. Andrew Dung-Lac.

• On All Saints’ Day, in addition to going to Mass, dress up yourself and your children as your favorite saints!
• On All Souls’ Day, stop by a local cemetery to pray for the faithfully departed; on each of the first eight days of November, a plenary indulgence can be gained on behalf of departed souls by praying for them in a cemetery.
• In honor of St. Martin of Tours, collect warm blankets and spare coats for the homeless; St. Martin is known for cutting his own cloak in half to clothe a naked beggar.
• For the Feast of Christ the King, find and participate in a procession at a nearby church.

Although it might be overwhelming to try to observe all of these feast days, consider choosing one or two each month. The celebration of these feasts will anchor you in the practice of liturgical living.