Holiness in the Here and Now: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and “This Present Paradise”
“The entire Trinity rests within us, this whole mystery that will be ours in Heaven: let this be your cloister” (St. Elizabeth of the Trinity).
This Present Paradise: A Spiritual Journey with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
I recently discovered St. Elizabeth of the Trinity thanks to a book study that the Abiding Together podcast created for Lent 2021 on Claire Dwyer’s new book, “This Present Paradise: A Spiritual Journey with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity.” A French contemporary of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity also offers “a little path” to holiness. Before reading Dwyer’s book, I had never heard of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear how much I resonated with the teachings of this French saint.
Dwyer provides a biography of St. Elizabeth’s life and combines the crucial moments in her life with spiritual reflections and meditation questions for the reader. In the book, we learn that St. Elizabeth of the Trinity was born in 1880 as Elizabeth Catez in Dijon, France. Elizabeth lost her father at a young age and grew up with her mother, Marie, and younger sister, Marguerite, more commonly called “Guite.” The three Catez women lived as a close-knit unit, and their home was conveniently located near a Carmelite convent. This proximity to the convent ignited St. Elizabeth’s calling to the cloistered life, and it was a spark that never dimmed over time.
In 1901, St. Elizabeth entered the Discalced Carmelite convent near her home. Her journey to sainthood was anything but linear, and she experienced the highs and lows of the spiritual life that we all face. At age 26, St. Elizabeth died of Addison’s Disease, but even with her short life on earth, she made a lasting impact. Dwyer shares how St. Elizabeth’s spiritual motherhood inspired many, including her sister Guite, who went on to marry and have a family of her own. St. Elizabeth encouraged her little sister to have an active spiritual life and created a retreat for her. Dwyer writes:
“Decades before Vatican II called for the sanctification of the laity, Elizabeth prophetically illustrated that holiness is just as much for the layperson — yes, even the mother at home — as for the religious. Every woman can discover the sanctuary in her soul.”
As a newly wedded wife, I am currently seeking ways to create my “domestic Church” with my husband, and Dwyer’s book helped understand the timeless teaching that we can achieve holiness here in the here and now. Whether you’re a college student, a newlywed, a mother, or a single woman, I highly recommend “This Present Paradise.” You can still use the book study plan from the Abiding Together podcast. The podcast even collaborated with Corda Candles to create a signature St. Elizabeth of the Trinity candle! With so many resources, now is the perfect time to acquaint yourself with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity.
For now, here a few of my favorite takeaways from “This Present Paradise: A Spiritual Journey with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity”:
God Always Makes a Path for Our Vocation
After her husband died and left her with two young daughters to raise alone, Marie struggled with her fear of loss. At 16, St. Elizabeth approached Marie with her desire to enter the Carmelite convent. Marie voiced her disapproval and forbade St. Elizabeth from attending Mass at the convent or visiting the cloistered nuns. Her disapproval ushered in a season of waiting for St. Elizabeth. Dwyer explains:
“And so this waiting, this suffering, this time of testing, would become arguably the most important in St. Elizabeth’s life, a precious period when God’s wisdom would manifest and she began to understand the beauty and greater good of God’s will.
Even in our own lives, we can relate to St. Elizabeth’s anguish in the waiting. Maybe you are waiting to meet your spouse or are contemplating the religious life like St. Elizabeth, but what is clear is that God will help us find our vocation. His timing never fails.
Declaring Our Motto
During her time in the convent, St. Elizabeth developed the motto, “God in Me and I in Him.” Dwyer shares examples of other saints who also had a motto for their spiritual life, like St. John Paul II’s “Totus tuus” or St. John Henry Newman’s “Heart speaks to heart.” Dwyer then invites her readers to think about their own motto:
“Have you ever thought about crafting a simple sentence that could sum up your calling, even if it is just for a particular season — something to help keep you single-hearted, clear, and deliberate in how you live and pray?”
This spiritual exercise can help us be more intentional about how we want to practice our faith.
Cultivating a Cloistered Heart
Finally, one of the major themes in “This Present Paradise” is the idea of cultivating “a cloistered heart.” Dwyer explains that St. Elizabeth “became aware that there was a cell in her soul, designed by the Holy Spirit, one where she could hold constant vigil, with a little sanctuary lamp burning constantly in her heart.”
Even if we do not live in a cloistered convent like St. Elizabeth did, we can participate in the life of Christ in a deep and profound way. There are plenty of spiritual practices and resources that the Church provides through its tradition and saints to help us nourish our faith. There are the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, the concept of the interior castle from St. Teresa of Ávila, and so many different ways to incorporate our faith in the routine of our daily lives. The same way St. Elizabeth encouraged her sister to strive for holiness in the midst of raising a family, this young French saint also invites us to participate in the same quest. I’m certain she is cheering us all from Heaven.
After earning her Ed.M. in International Education Policy from Harvard in 2018, Sagra Alvarado-Hardy is now a young professional in Washington, DC. In her personal time, Sagra enjoys writing and has published articles as a freelance writer. Sagra is also a Beautycounter consultant, and seeks to advocate clean beauty for women, so women can feel beautiful both inside and out. She seeks to grow deeper her Catholic faith through fellowship and enjoys leading the Women’s Group at her local parish. Ask her any question about Tolkien literature, and you’ll get an hour-long lecture.