Be the Saint God Created You To Be; Liturgical Living is the Slow-Living We’re Craving
October 2024
Friends, the past week has been an exercise in trusting the Lord in all things. Our area, and our neighbors an hour to the north of us, in NC, were hit hard by Hurricane Helene. The eye went right over our city of Greenville, SC! While our family came away generally unscathed, other than minor damage, many others in our area and in Appalachia cannot say the same.
Please, in all charity, pray for these hard hit communities and all the amazing Americans responding to their neighbors in need. If you feel called to do so, please consider donating to the Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte which is collecting funds, and may God bless your generosity abundantly.
Friends, this month’s guest writer is Allison Barrick, a Catholic creative that I connected with several months ago, and whose work is featured on Our Sunday Visitor and the Grotto Network to name a few. I asked Allison to share a bit about her faith with you all, and providentially she shared about St. Therese whose feast day was on Oct. 1st. I hope you enjoy her article as much as I did, finding encouragement and inspiration in your daily walk with the Lord!
Be The Saint God Created You To Be
By Allison Barrick
St. Therese of Lisieux. The Little Flower. She is either beloved or the subject of annoyed remarks. “She’s so perfect, so flowery, I can’t even relate to her,” are some of the phrases I have heard first-hand. Even though she has been a close saint-friend for years, I have even uttered a few of these frustrations myself. But, as good friends do, St. Therese often reminded me that she was just like me - an ordinary human trying to serve God in the way she could best.
There is a famous quote from her Story of a Soul, one that has ended up on t-shirts, coffee mugs, and the like due to its poetic beauty:
“...the brilliance of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not lessen the perfume of the violet or the sweet simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all lowly flowers wished to be roses, nature would lose its springtime beauty.”
These words, while beautiful and certainly God-inspired, are the kinds of quotes that have prompted people to say, “She is too holy for me”.
However, this quote is often taken out of context. If you read her words before she came to this lovely, divine inspiration, you see a different side of the saint:
“I often ask myself why God had preferences, why all souls did not receive an equal measure of grace…in reading the lives of the saints, I was surprised to see that there were certain privileged souls whom our Lord favored from the cradle to the grave, allowing no obstacle in their path that might keep them from mounting toward Him, permitting no sin to soil the spotless brightness of their baptismal robe.”
Rather than being stand-offish with a holier-than-thou attitude, St. Therese, too, stood in awe of great saints such as St. Paul or St. Mary Magdalene. She, too, wondered how she might possibly be as holy as them. How could she possibly be like them, when she was locked away from the world, living the same life day after day in the convent? Rather than despairing, she became determined to be a saint, even if she couldn’t reach the spiritual heights of the saintly giants who came before her. Her Little Way was not her way to popularize herself. It was surely a gift given to her by the Lord not to raise her high on a pedestal in church, but so she could teach us, or even more assure us, that those of us who live mundane lives do have hope of becoming great saints.
The saints are our greatest teachers and biggest fans cheering us on through the trudges of life. They are most supportive of us because they too, have been on the same path that we have. They, too, had a hot temper (St. Ignatius of Loyola) or loved to dance and have a good time (St. Margaret Mary and St. Faustina). They were known to be excitedly nerdy about different hobbies (Blessed Carlo Acutis) or have a bit of a grumpy attitude (St. Jerome). They were mothers and fathers (Sts. Zelie and Louis Martin), they were addicts (St. Mark Ji Tianxiang), and they struggled to overcome their own vices (Ven. Matt Talbot). With any saint, it would be a mistake to dismiss them or think they are too good to be true — chances are, they are just like you.
3 Ways to Become the Saint God Created You to Be:
Sainthood isn’t just something we achieve after death - it’s something we ought to be working towards every day! Additionally, God created each of us as a unique gift to the Church and the world. There will be no other saint like us.
If you grew up reading the Baltimore Catechism, you know that the main formula to becoming a saint is to know, love, and serve God. Here are a few key ways to grow in sanctity and prepare for our heavenly home:
Know God: Set aside at least 15 minutes of prayer each day, asking God how he wants to speak into your life. I begin each morning with a cup of coffee (Venerable Fulton Sheen said it best: “Let them have coffee before meditation.”) and the Gospel for the day. I read it once to orient myself, a second time to see what word or phrase stands out to me, and a third time to help me hear what the Lord might be saying to me through that phrase. Because we are all on different spiritual journeys, what God may say to your friend or husband may be different from what he wishes to speak into your life. Allowing him to love you and let his Living Word speak to you is essential to knowing him better.
Love God: Make yourself aware of his presence throughout the day. This may take some practice and discipline, but I have heard of some wonderful methods to recall God throughout the day. Some pray an ejaculation (a short prayer, such as “Praise Jesus!” or “Come, Holy Spirit.”) every time they walk through a doorway. Others may set a timer to go off every hour to spend a quick minute quieting themselves and recalling God’s presence. Still others will include God as they make decisions throughout the day, not unlike how a spouse includes their partner in conversation or decisions. As you take time to remember the One who created you and loves you, you’ll begin to see his regular involvement in your life. And how can you not fall in love with Someone who is so devoted to you and cares for all that you do?
Serve God: Get involved in at least one volunteer activity. “Iron is sharpened by iron; one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) We do not become saints in an isolation tank. Community is an essential part in growing in holiness and helping each other grow in holiness. Do you have a gift for explaining the Faith? Volunteer for your parish’s OCIA class or an evangelization effort. Do you have a gift for hospitality? Consider serving at a local homeless shelter. Are you an ardent prayer warrior? Commit with a friend to praying outside of your local abortion clinic. Whether we recognize it or not, we are all given gifts that allow us to advance the Kingdom of God. Don’t be afraid to use them!
Allison Barrick hails from the beautiful state of Michigan. Having done freelance work for years, Allison has just taken her contract work full-time, serving clients with graphic design, video editing, and website needs (and much more!). She is an active member of her parish in Ann Arbor and is a catechist for OCIA. In her free time, Allison is usually trying out a new hobby or recipe, painting, hanging out with friends, running (or at least attempting to) or reading a book/listening to a podcast on some obscure topic. You can find more of her writing at OurSundayVisitor.com, RadiantMagazine.com, GrottoNetwork.com, and BoldJourney.com. Her website is alliebeecreates.com and you can follow her on Instagram (@alliebeecreates).
Liturgical Living is the Slow-Living We’re Craving
first published on Oct. 1st 2023
There is no denying when the seasons change we feel it in our bones. Right now the crip air is blowing through my open windows as I type, and it is gently declaring Fall has nearly arrived.
Our bodies innately sense the change in the seasons. In the Fall, when a chilly breeze prompts us to go inside and warm up, hot tea and soup at the ready with a cozy blanket nearby. Or when Spring has finally arrived and you’re craving the warmth only found in the bright sunshine. Or when Summer hits and it’s really the shade that prompts you to breathe in deeply the moment after the heat abates. We take notice, even if only for a moment, of all the small, intricate ways the Lord has weaved creation.
We know God created the seasons, and as our modern society continues to march forward, heads often buried in a phone, it’s easy to lose track of the warm breezes on a Summer day and the soft blankets on a chilly night. To pause and take in the simple pleasures afforded to us for simply being alive.
The Church, in her wisdom, knowing the cycles of life and the seasons, encourages us to weld together our lives with the Church to live more fully in Christ. From specific Saint Feast days honoring a particular saint, Ember days signaling the shift in seasons through the lens of faith, to the Liturgical seasons of Advent, the Triduum, All Hallows Tide and more, the Church has set a roadmap for slow, intentional living with Christ at the center. It’s in following the liturgical seasons of the Church that we are living out this “slow-living” many of us crave but with a faith-filled twist.
I’ve been Catholic for 12 years now and only in the last 5 have I truly started to dive more deeply into living liturgically. This idea of bringing the Church into your home, of celebrating as a domestic church, of passing on traditions ever ancient, ever new, has taken on new relevance in an age where Truth is seen as subjective and living out a Christian faith in earnest is frowned upon.
Why Liturgical Living?
Catechesis - I had the luxury of becoming Catholic as an adult, where I could use my reason to connect the dots and see the incredible consistency with which God weaved the story of salvation both through scripture and historically through the Church. Powerful stuff. However, my children don’t wield the same mental capacity as an adult. They do better with activities, stories and crafts. Liturgical Living is a way to catechize them, teach them of the depth and breadth of our faith but in a way they can understand.
Family Traditions - I love having traditions as a family. The memories they impart, the sense of belonging, understanding and togetherness. As Catholics, traditions (both big “T” and little “t”) are pretty important to us. Having traditions steeped in the faith makes those memories and time together all the better, while inviting Christ to be at the center.
Catholicity - There is a culture around the Catholic faith that goes back nearly two millennia. My children are growing up in that culture while some days I still feel like I’m learning the language. With liturgical living they will grow up with a deeper, more complete understanding of their faith, both in terms of Jesus as Savior but also what being Catholic means, in faith and deed, so that when they go out into the world they know who they are and Whose they are.
I used to find the idea of liturgical living intimidating, overwhelming, and confusing. Probably because I took on too much all at once, but when I stepped back, and added in only one or two feasts here, and focused on only one liturgical season at a time, the depth, richness, and meaning of each blossomed. Overtime we’ve added in a few more ways to live liturgically, and every year I hear of new, beautiful ways to bring this faith into our home as it’s become more popular again. While I’m tempted to add those in as well (don’t we all wish we could do all the things, all the time?) I try to stick to only adding in one, if any, that might hold significant meaning for my family. I’m much more interested in choosing consistency, quality, and peace over doing too much, being rushed, and stressed without much joy - defeating the purpose of liturgical living in my opinion.
By picking only a few intentional ways to incorporate our faith into our daily lives, and doing them annually, my children and even us adults, start to create a rhythm, a cycle of living life in step with the Church. Each Epiphany we mark the Lintel with a blessing (Christus Mansionem Benedicat (May Christ Bless this House) 20+C+M+B+23). Every Lent we bury the Alleluia, as it isn’t sung at the Mass, and we dig it up again at Easter after singing Alleluia with joy and jubilation at Easter Mass.
These little traditions we practice all feed into identity, culture, and our Catholic faith. They feed into this consistent rhythm of life that breeds contentment, wonder and joy. It fosters a faith that isn’t rooted in modernity, with all its trappings, but has roots stretching back through time, connecting us to faithful Christians who have gone before us. Reminding us not only of our ancient roots, but of our roles today of passing on this faith to those who come after us.
It’s officially soup season in the Mazzawi household and this means we make all kinds of warm, delicious broths filled with savory goodness to warm the soul. Add in some homemade sourdough and it’s a little taste of heaven.
Meal Plan:
Sunday (27th Sunday in Ordinary Time): Butternut (or Honeynutt from our garden!) soup. I LOVE this recipe from Love and Lemons.
Monday: It’s a Spaghetti kind of night, complete with garlic knots and a salad. Having made the garlic knots before I would add garlic in the actual dough, and some parmesan to improve the flavor throughout the dough, not just on top. Feed the sourdough starter in the AM. I’ve been toying around with 100% whole wheat loaves. It is admittedly more work but also delicious and healthy. If you’re interested in trying it out, here is the link that I recently used with great success! Start sourdough loaf 2 hrs before bedtime and then bulk rise overnight.
Tuesday: Kitchen sink soup. A favorite in our house. Add chicken, veggies, and chicken broth, simmer for a couple hours, adding seasonings as suits your palette. Finish sourdough loaf and bake in the afternoon.
Wednesday: Pork loin with roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts. We don’t eat a lot of pork in this house as I struggle to keep the meat from drying out. I’ve seen lot of recipes over the years and the only way I’ve managed to succeed it to put a good layer of fat over the meat and cover it while it cooks. If you have another method share below!
Thursday: Leftover buffet - one of my favorite ways to use up meat meals before Friday!
Friday : Garlic Honey Lime Shrimp & cheese pizza (for the kids!) - Thursday evening put the frozen shrimp in the fridge. I serve with rice, and roasted sweet potatoes (make extra for Saturday).
Saturday: Leftovers again!
Little Mustard Seeds
Each newsletter I like to share a few favorite things that have blessed me as a mom, homemaker, and woman. The links in this newsletter are unaffiliated unless I say it’s an affiliate link.
We have been homeschooling with Highlands Latin Cottage school using the Memoria Press curriculum for 6 weeks now, and have finally made it over the hump, the learning curve, and feel more in command of the material. I wanted to wait until we were out of the survival stage to recommend or not, this particular curriculum. It has been such a blessing to our household these past 6 weeks. I have seen my student who have less initiative decide to finally step up and take ownership (thank you positive peer pressure!) and my initiative taking student actually has been challenged, while my youngest has learned valuable skills around being a student and what hard work can bring in your life. Memoria press is a Christian Classical curriculum that pushes its students to really grow both in knowledge and discipline. I’ve grown too and I’m excited to see what the next 6 weeks and the year bring for our household!
Prayer Habit
“Prayer is oxygen for the soul” - St. Padre Pio
I can hardly believe it is October already! This month is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. As someone who didn’t grow up Catholic, I can tell you there are a lot of misconceptions around the Rosary but as I finally decided to learn more about this ancient prayer tool I learned that not only is it helpful it is as beautiful as it is powerful.
“The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christ-centered prayer. It has all the depth of the gospel message in its entirety. It is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb.” - St. Pope John Paul II
Here are some facts about the Rosary you may not know:
The word rosary comes from Latin and means a garland of roses, the rose being one of the flowers used to symbolize the Virgin Mary1.
The word bead in English is actually derived from an Old English word bede that means prayer2.
Third-century Christian hermits and monks in Egypt (known as Desert Fathers) used stones and later prayer ropes to keep track when praying the 150 Psalms3.
The Apostles’ Creed is so called not because it was composed by the apostles themselves, but because it expresses their teachings. The original form of the creed came into use around A.D. 125, and the present form dates from the 400s4.
Each mystery leads us to ponder very specific events in the lives of Jesus and Mary and the lessons they hold for our own lives today5.
Here is as step by step guide on how you can incorporate this amazing prayer tool into your daily life.