When Liturgical Living Feels Out of Reach: Starting Small in the Sacred Heart

There was a time when I tried to celebrate feast days with crafts and special moments. Even then, it was a bit haphazard—more hopeful effort than natural rhythm. I gave it my best, but it never quite flowed easily for me. I often find myself admiring my in-laws, who seem to weave these celebrations into everyday life with such grace—whether in conversation, prayer, or simply their way of being. It feels like the liturgical year is always close to their hearts in a way I’ve struggled to keep up with.

The one thing I was better at, though, was maintaining our home altar. That quiet corner, with sacred images and reminders of faith, felt like a steady anchor amidst the chaos—a small, peaceful refuge where God’s presence was real and close.

Over the years, with each move, each baby, each shift in our family dynamic, those rhythms faded. We’ve moved a lot. We’ve been in this home for a year and a half now, and even though we’re still settling in, I’m finally starting to feel like I want to make space for that again. The kids are getting older. And though there are still little ones in the mix, our family is entering a new season.

Even with all this, I find myself wondering if I’m doing enough. Honestly, I’ve felt some imposter syndrome even thinking about writing this post.

We go to church every Sunday. We pray before meals. I start most mornings with prayer. We have images of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart on our walls, and crucifixes around the house. That’s about it. We don’t do much liturgical living outside of Lent and Advent right now. And part of me wonders… does that even count?

But maybe you’re here too—faithful, trying, stretched thin. Longing for more, but unsure how to start again.

And maybe that’s where the sacred actually begins.

A Different Kind of Liturgical Rhythm

When I think about what peace looks like in our home right now, it’s not picture-perfect. I still snap in moments of acute stress. But our days are steady. They’re calm in a way they never used to be. We have rhythm—our meals, our chores, our homeschool flow.

Maybe liturgical living doesn’t need to be something I add. Maybe it’s something I can gently infuse into what’s already working.

Because even without the crafts and feast day celebrations, Jesus is still present here. I see it in my children’s random questions, the way they bring Him up naturally, how He’s just part of who they are. We may not always sit down to read saint stories, but the books are there. The conversation is open. He is with us.

And maybe that’s enough for now.

One Tiny, Grace-Filled Step

As the Church celebrates the Feast of the Sacred Heart this month, I’m reminded that Christ’s love and mercy are ever-present, no matter the season.

This month, I’m not creating an altar. I’m not printing a saint craft.

I’m simply choosing to do one thing:
move my Sacred Heart candle to the kitchen sink.

That’s it.

No litany, no plan—just one quiet, beautiful reminder of Christ’s presence as I serve my family in the most ordinary, repetitive moments.

And maybe I’ll whisper this simple line when the day feels heavy or when the baby cries through dinner or when I want to snap:

“Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.”

That’s my step this month. Not to impress anyone. Not to check a box. Just to remember that Jesus is here.

To the Mom Who Feels Like She’s Failing at This…

You’re not.

There are seasons where you’ll do more, and seasons where you’ll do less. That’s okay. Liturgical living was never meant to be a performance. It was meant to be a rhythm of love and remembrance, of walking with Christ in the ordinary.

You don’t need to do it all. You don’t need to do it perfectly. You just need to begin again—in the smallest way, with the softest yes.

Liturgical living was never meant to be a performance. It was meant to be a rhythm of love and remembrance.

Let’s Take This Journey Together

Let’s journey together this month by choosing one simple way to live more liturgically in the everyday. Light a candle, say a short prayer, or display a sacred image like your own Sacred Heart candle.

Share your step with me on Instagram using #GraceFilledRhythm — I’ll be cheering you on!

If you’re longing for more rhythm in your days but don’t know where to start, my free guide might bless your heart right now.
Download it here

P.S. For moms who are ready to gently bring more intention into their day—faith, routines, and all—I created the Intentional Day Blueprint as a guide. You can check it out here if that feels like your next right step.