“For You are holy, our God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever” (St. John Chrysostom).

In the workplace and in the rest of life, we are often met with opportunities to speak up. For many people, it comes easily. It is their gift; the words flow fluidly off the tongue like ripples of a waterfall cascading into a beautiful, clear oasis. Others find murky water moving around stones and bends, full of rapids. The words don’t come so easily. At times, the thoughts don’t catch up, our minds race and our intended words are delivered too late. Other times, we are distracted or feel like we have to defend ourselves using words that point figurative fingers in order to prove a point. 

Call on the Lord

Have you ever felt so tested or moved by something someone said that you felt the urge to step up immediately and speak your mind? How can we choose words that share the Church’s wisdom and focus on God’s love when the Holy Spirit gives us opportunities to inspire others? How do we gracefully choose words that speak kindness even when we don’t agree with the people around us?

During these times, the Holy Spirit acts through that knot in your stomach or eagerness to speak. It’s almost as though the Lord’s hand is gently tapping our shoulders or pushing us to stand when we feel the urge to speak. He’s always there, and these instances are beautiful examples of his presence.

An Examination

There are certain times when it is easier to reflect on how we speak to others. For me, it can be after I attend Confession or during Lent, when our focus moves toward Christ’s suffering for our sins and his unwavering compassion. These moments when we repent help us to become more like Christ. Examining ourselves and how we have spoken with ill intent can transform our outlook and remind us that God is constantly behind us, pushing us to spread the good news.

It’s important to examine our speech all the time, not just during specific seasons of the liturgical year or after receiving the sacrament of Penance. Speaking with grace and compassion is difficult but worth it. Choosing language that speaks to someone’s heart and eloquently brings the Lord into the moment creates deeper thinking and shares the truth. Saints such as St. John Chrysostom and St. Bernardine of Siena are examples of how the Holy Spirit pushes us to be better followers of Christ. Both of these saints not only faced adversity and challenges in speaking up for what was right, but they did so until their dying day.

St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom was an early Church father and the bishop of Constantinople. Born in what is now Turkey in the year 347, St. John Chrysostom had the unending support of his widowed mother throughout his youth. She taught him piety and provided him with a classical education, sending him to all of the best schools. It wasn’t until later in life, when he met the bishop Meletius and began frequenting his sermons, that his perspective changed, and he withdrew from classical studies to focus on theology and religious life.

John became a lector, monk, deacon, priest, and bishop. It was during his time as monk, while secluded from others as a hermit, that he fell ill and was called to his true vocation. Through God’s healing power, he returned to Antioch to begin preaching. He felt it was God’s will for him to speak to others—but he faced adversity in order to fulfill his vocation.

According to the National Catholic Register, the intimacy with the Word of God that he’d cultivated in his years at the hermitage gave John an irresistible urge to preach the Gospel, to give others what he had received during his years of meditation. This missionary spirit launched him into pastoral care with his heart on fire.

St. John Chrysostom faced seemingly insurmountable challenges while preaching in public during a heightened time of theological controversies, when many denied Christ’s divinity. Throughout this adversity, he focused on his love of the Church, Christ’s teachings, and knowledge of doctrine to remain steadfast as the voice of Christ. His teachings, taken from his sermons and writings, are still used today and are woven into the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

St. Bernardine of Siena

“The name of Jesus is the glory of preachers, because the shining splendor of that name causes his word to be proclaimed and heard” (St. Bernardine of Siena).

St. Bernardine was called a “second Paul” by Pope Pius II for his missionary work and the ways that he spread the good news of Christ. Bernardine was born in the year 1380 in Tuscany to the noble Albizzeschi family. Much like St. John Chrysostom, St. Bernardine faced hardship through the loss of family at a very young age. Raised by his aunt, whom he cared for until he laid her to rest, he always had compassion for the well-being of others. During his youth, Bernardine ministered to the sick, leading a confraternity associated with a hospital in Rome named Santa Maria della Scalla. During this time, he administered to the plague-stricken and took it upon himself to lead the entire charge of the hospital with the help of 10 of his close companions.

In 1403, Bernardine joined the Order of Friars Minor, also known as the Fransiscans, focusing on preaching and missionary work. One year later, he was ordained a priest and appointed as a preacher. He became well known for his style, rhetoric, and focus on the people of Siena.

Franciscan Media further states:

“Especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, Bernardine devised a symbol—IHS, the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek—in Gothic letters on a blazing sun. This was to displace the superstitious symbols of the day, as well as the insignia of factions: for example, Guelphs and Ghibellines. The devotion spread, and the symbol began to appear in churches, homes and public buildings. Opposition arose from those who thought it a dangerous innovation. Three attempts were made to have the pope take action against him, but Bernardine’s holiness, orthodoxy, and intelligence were evidence of his faithfulness.”

Throughout his life, St. Bernardine faced people who went against him, remaining focused on Christ and preaching until his dying day.

Let us always call to the Lord in times when we are unsure of how to do what is right in word and action. Anxiety about speaking up challenges us regularly in the workplace. Let’s take the uncertainty that we feel in these moments as an opportunity to ask the Lord for guidance. The discomfort will teach us how to be better, to reflect, and to be like Christ. Through the examples of saints who have gone before us, preaching God’s word and mercy, may we continue his works through our words and remind others even in small ways of how great his love truly is.

Christina Sabo is the campus minister and director of communications for St. John Paul II Catholic High School within the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. She strives to take in every moment of the day with a joyful heart, loves spending time with her family, and enjoys the great outdoors during her free time. You can follow her on social media or connect through LinkedIn.