Yesterday, Catholics worldwide celebrated All Saints' Day. In honor of this feast day, here are five saints and lessons we can learn from them and bring to the workplace:
1. St. Teresa of Kolkata (Mother Teresa): Focus on People.
Mother Teresa was the leader of a global organization and a Nobel Peace Prize winner—yet she never lost sight of her mission, which was always focused on the person in front of her. She accomplished her mission step by step, person by person, focused on doing small things with a lot of love.
2. St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Your Title Doesn't Matter.
St. Thérèse died in her 20s an unknown nun in Lisieux, France. She is now one of the most popular saints to have ever lived and a Doctor of the Church. She wanted to be a missionary, but that wasn't her calling. Instead, she was called to serve in a small convent and write her memoir, "Story of a Soul," which has changed countless people's lives (Catholic and non-Catholic). She continues her work beyond the grave, as those who have benefitted from her intercession can attest.
3. St. Joan of Arc: People May Not Like You.
Joan of Arc was mocked and eventually burned at the stake for her leadership during the Hundred Years' War. Yet, she never wavered from her mission or her people.
4. St. Zélie Martin: You Can Have It All ... but It Might Be Hard (and Worth It Anyway).
Zélie was the mother of St. Thérèse, along with four other daughters (and two sons and two daughters who died in early childhood). She and her husband, Louis, are both saints. Zélie was a successful business owner who frequently stressed over how she was going to be both a mother and a good employer. Through the grace of God and the love of her family, she did both, exceptionally well.
5. St. Gianna Molla: Your Life Is Not About You.
Bishop Barron loves to say, "Your life is not about you." St. Gianna Molla knew and lived this truth. She was a devoted pediatrician who planned on stepping away from her career after having her fourth baby, because she and her husband had discerned that would be best for the family. However, she ended up making the ultimate sacrifice—her life—for that baby and died shortly after she was born. (That baby is now a doctor!)
Who is your favorite saint, and what have you learned from him or her? Let me know in the comments!
What’s New With Me:
I’m honored to be participating in a Public Discourse panel with
, , and two staff members of the Witherspoon Institute, hosted by my friend . Join us for free this Monday evening by registering here (you’ll also receive the recording afterward, if you can’t make it live!).My latest articles for Catholic Women in Business reviewed the books Carry Strong by Stephanie Kramer (a must-read for pregnant moms or hoping-to-be-pregnant moms who work in any capacity outside the home!) and Build the Life You Want by Arthur Brooks and Oprah.
Also at Catholic Women in Business, my co-president Elise Crawford Gallagher and I recorded the latest episode of our podcast, “Catholic Women Lead,” on #girlbosses and #softgirls. Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Elise and I are hard at work on our book! Our manuscript is due at the beginning of the year. We appreciate prayers (and signups for updates!).
Content I Liked:
This episode of the Center on Child and Family Policy podcast, “Early Matters,” was a fascinating conversation with Chris Bullivant of the Social Capital Campaign about attachment theory and policy. (One caveat: I strongly disagree with the idea that women with postpartum mood disorders who are taking antidepressants are less emotionally available to their infant—quite the contrary, as antidepressants typically help these women be healthy enough to be emotionally available.)
This American Mind essay by Lane Scott was a thought-provoking look at self-governance and motherhood, and I read it exactly when I needed to (as so often happens—thanks, Holy Spirit!).
If you ever struggle with the Rosary (or Marian devotion in general), this episode of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal podcast “Poco a Poco” was a great introduction.
This article was an interesting summary of some research on the brain changes that happen during menstruation. (Don’t believe anyone who tells you turning off your cycle or skipping your period doesn’t matter!)
I’m not always a fan of The Federalist and definitely not a fan of clickbait-y titles, but this article on feminism and Marxism by Dr. Carrie Gress was great.
This article from The Everymom by Amanda Venditti on enjoying the toddler years was timely reinforcement on some things God has been revealing to me lately.
I’m quite late in discovering Dr. Becky but recently started listening to her podcast and liked this New Yorker interview with her.
As always, I wanted to applaud the whole time I was reading this
article for Deseret on the problem with valuing parenting like paid labor.This First Things article was a delightful essay by John Byron Kuhner on owning a bookshop in Steubenville, Ohio.
BRB while I go look up everything Renee Köhler-Ryan has ever written, after I read this National Catholic Register article about her participation at the Synod. I also want to learn more about Wanda Półtawska, a close friend and colleague of Pope St. John Paul II, whom the Register reports (after she died a few days ago) was a major influence on his work.
Books I’ve Enjoyed:
I checked out My Piano (written by Jen Fier Jasinski and illustrated by Anita Bagdi) and read it with my daughter … and now I must buy our own copy. It was such a beautiful introduction to the piano, which I’ve been playing with my daughter!
I also bought The Montessori Toddler: A Parent's Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being after checking it out from the library. It’s a treasure trove of activities for one- to three-year-olds. I’m not on board with 100% of Montessori philosophy, but I’ve started incorporating some of it into my parenting, with really positive results.
I was given Unrepeatable: Cultivating the Unique Calling of Every Person, by Luke Burgis and Dr. Joshua Miller, and underlined a lot. I recommend it for any Catholic but especially parents, teachers, catechists, or anyone mentoring teenagers or young adults.
Finally, my online friend Christina Valenzuela, owner of Pearl & Thistle, sent me a copy of Cycle Charting for Single Women: The Catholic woman's guide to charting your menstrual cycle for health and wholeness. I’m no longer single and still had a beautiful epiphany through reading it. If you are a single Catholic woman (or know one), please do yourself a favor and buy a copy. (This is not an affiliate link; I don’t receive any money for recommending this book. Just a lot of gratification.)