Simple Catholic Rituals to Start a New Month

Silvia-Maria Patalano-Ross shares five slow spiritual practices to help you stay grounded with peace and purpose. 

Starting the Month Rooted in Faith 

As a working mom and homemaker, I know how quickly the calendar fills up. Meetings, after-school pick-ups, deadlines, groceries — life doesn’t wait for us to catch our breath. But as a Catholic woman, I’ve found that when I begin each month with intention, I move through the days more anchored, more prayerful, and more available to grace. The five monthly Catholic rituals below pair perfectly with whatever planning routine you may already have. 

The liturgical calendar offers us a rhythm to mold our daily life around. It is a gentle guide through the changing seasons, whether they are outside or within. These simple rituals below have become part of my monthly rhythm. They aren’t complicated and they don’t require hours of free time. They’re doable, meaningful, and deeply grounding. 

Refresh Your Home Altar for the Season

Your altar doesn’t need to be elaborate. Mine lives on my windowsill above my cutting board. But it sets the spiritual tone for your month. I like to change mine at the start of each month to reflect the liturgical season, any upcoming feast days, and what’s blooming in my garden. 

I always have a portrait of our pope, a prayer card, and some hanging herbs from the garden. While I type this, it is in the middle of summer, and my herb garden is exploding. The current combination is oregano, sage, and lemon balm. There’s also room for a small vase of herbs or flowers, as well. This tiny area becomes a visual invitation to pause, pray, and remember that Christ is present here, in this home, especially in the spot I find myself most of the time.  

Choose a Patron Saint for the Month

The Church gives us so many companions in heaven. Why not spend the month getting to know just one? Each month, I pick a saint whose feast day is coming up and ask their intercession for my work, home, and motherhood. 

Sometimes it’s a practical request, like Saint Monica when I’m worried about my children. Other times, it’s aspirational, like Saint Clare when I need to embrace simplicity. Choosing a patron saint helps me see the month through a spiritual lens, even while juggling meetings and laundry and competing soccer practices. 

Need a starting point? Pick a Marian feast day. There’s usually one per month, and few things are more splendid than asking our Blessed Mother for her guidance and support. 

Sync Your Planner with the Liturgical Calendar

My planner is full of work meetings, school events, and deadlines. At the end of each month, I carve out 10 minutes to layer in the liturgical calendar for the following month. I highlight feast days, Holy Days of Obligation, and any saints I want to honor at home. 

I also jot down a few ideas for seasonal meals or recipes that align with upcoming feast days. Planning even one or two liturgically inspired meals in a month helps me stay connected to the Church year without adding stress. 

Tip: Color-code your planner. Not the traditional way, with different colors meaning different tasks. Rather, plug in your usual items however you need, and accent the holy days according to the liturgical season. This serves as a visual reminder to always put faith first before all other things, even when those things seem to take over every minute of life.  

Set Monthly Intentions for Heart, Home, and Work

As the month begins, I take time to ask: 

• What do I want to nurture in my spiritual life?
• What area of my home needs attention?
• How can I lead with peace in my workplace? 

I write these down on a sticky note or on the margins of my monthly calendar in my planner. These small intentions keep me oriented throughout the month, especially on days when I feel pulled in a dozen directions. 

I also create my own journal prompts for each day of the month, that I can work through as I conduct my daily planner routine. These journal prompts are designed with purpose, keeping my focus on the values I hold dearest to my soul. You can check out the journal prompts here.  

Begin with a Blessing

With your children, light a candle and say a short prayer or blessing together on the first day of the month. If you live alone or your family isn’t ready for rituals just yet, bless your space yourself. Walk through each room or part of your home, inside and out, with a simple prayer: 

“Lord, bless this home and all who enter. Let this month be filled with peace and purpose.” 

Even a quiet moment like this can shift the energy of your home from anxious to attentive. It’s a gentle reset, and a way to say, “We begin again, with God.” 

A Month Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect to Be Holy 

These monthly rituals aren’t about performance. They’re about presence. Whether you’re leading a team at work, folding towels in the evening, or meal prepping on a weeknight, you are living out your vocation with love. 

The start of a new month is an invitation not to hustle harder, but to begin with grace. 

What are your favorite Catholic monthly rituals? I’d love to hear what grounds you. 

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Copyright 2025 Silvia-Maria Patalano-Ross
Images: Canva