Drawing Inspiration From the Patron Saint of Businesswomen
“The Church is that one wherein the true word of God is preached, which Christ left to His Apostles, which the same Church hath always observed, the doctors preached, and Martyrs and confessors witnessed. This is the Church I believe to be true” (St. Margaret Clitherow).
The Life of St. Margaret Clitherow
March marked 435 years since the patron saint of businesswomen, St. Margaret Clitherow, was killed for protecting priests in her home during the English Reformation. During this time, Parliament enacted the Act against Jesuits, seminary priests, and such other like disobedient persons (also known as the Jesuits, etc. Act 1584), which required all Roman Catholic priests to leave the country or swear an oath to obey the Queen. Margaret is one of the 40 martyrs of England and Wales who were killed for harboring priests during this era.
As the Catholic Company explains, Margaret was born in 1555 into the Church of England but converted after her marriage to John Clitherow in 1571. He wasn’t Catholic but had a brother who was a Catholic priest. While John remained Prostentant, he often protected Margaret, who harbored priests and held Mass on their property. Her final act, which put her on house arrest, was sending her son to study in the seminary. Margaret was truly a woman who was steadfast in her faith regardless of the obstacles she was faced with — an inspiration to any modern businesswoman.
Lessons for Catholic Businesswomen
How can we be inspired by St. Margaret Clitherow? While she may not have owned a business, our inspiration lies in how she preached and provided a safe haven to all Catholics under her wing during a critical time of the Church in her home country. Her business was preaching and protecting the ability of priests and fellow Catholics to practice their faith — no matter the cost. Some research stated that her eldest son was actually born in prison due to her refusal to denounce her faith and attend sermons at the Church of England. Talk about zero maternity leave!
How can we advocate for people in our company who do not have a safe place to speak up? How can we show up with our faith forward in our interactions and business decisions? Next time you’re stuck, frustrated, or unsure, say a prayer to St. Margaret Clitherow for guidance and patience. She is sure to impart you with a piece of her determined and loyal nature to press forward through your roadblock.
Alexandra Gonzalez Repetto is a native Washingtonian turned New Yorker. A beauty marketer by trade, she has worked at companies such as Unilever and L'Oreal over the last decade. Most recently, she has been working in the beauty start-up space leading marketing and business development. Other than being a beauty junkie by day, her dream is to turn her love of writing into a side hustle as a fiction writer. Until then, between running after her little two girls and work, she finds pockets to write as a volunteer or freelance when she can.