What St. Therese Teaches Me as a Working Mom
Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)
October 1 is the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, a great friend of mine. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, known fondly as “The Little Flower” was a French Carmelite nun who lived from 1873 to 1897. She was born to Louis and Zélie Martin, who are also canonized saints. Though she died at just 24 years old, her profound spirituality and simple approach to holiness have made her one of the most beloved saints in the Catholic Church. Canonized in 1925 and later declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997, her writings, especially her autobiography Story of a Soul, continue to inspire many to seek holiness through small acts of love and trust in God.
I’ve always been aware of St. Therese: as a little girl I participated in “Little Flowers” (a Catholic alternative to girl scouts) and I still treasure a beautiful wooden St. Therese statue my godmother gave me for my first communion.
As I grew older, I began to read more about her. I read her autobiography Story of a Soul while I was in college and was captivated again by her simple teachings and her “little way”. Every October 1, I would pray for St. Thérèse to send me a rose—along with a husband (spoiler alert: she came through on both). It’s safe to say that her life and writings have had a lasting impact on me.
Now, as a working mother with a toddler, I sometimes feel far removed from her holy, cloistered life. She lived in the quiet of the convent, while my prayers are often squeezed into quick moments between work and motherhood, or whispered in the early morning before my toddler wakes (if I’m not interrupted.) Yet I’ve come to see that St. Thérèse still speaks powerfully into this season of life. For Catholic businesswomen and mothers, her wisdom is as relevant as ever, offering us a way to seek holiness in the ordinary rhythm of our daily lives.
Here are five lessons from her “Little Way” that continue to guide me as a working mom:
Seek Holiness in the Everyday
St. Thérèse reminds us we don’t need to look far for sanctity. The opportunity is right in front of us. The daily rhythm of balancing work, family life, and household responsibilities is filled with opportunities for sacrifice and surrender. The mundane tasks become holy when done with love.
Measuring Your Actions
"Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them."
As a working mom, I often feel like I’m not doing anything great. If too much of my time is spent dedicated to work then my family life suffers, and if too much time goes toward family, it feels like I’m neglecting my work. It’s easy to feel like I’m mediocre at everything. But St. Thérèse reminds me that the value of my actions is not measured by their scale but by the love and intention I put into them.
Nothing Is Small in God’s Eyes
“Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God.”
From rushing to get my toddler ready to leave the house, to responding to emails, to navigating the monotony of the day, my life can feel frantic and unimportant. But none of these moments are meaningless when offered to God. Each sacrifice, however small, carries the opportunity for sanctity.
Embrace Imperfection
St. Therese had confidence that though she was imperfect, God’s mercy would fill in where she fell short. I find great freedom in this. Amid the struggle to balance everything in life comes the realization that I don’t have to be perfect. I simply need to welcome God’s presence and invite in His mercy.
Seeing Work as Mission
Though she was cloistered, Thérèse saw every small duty in the convent as her mission field. Similarly, whether at a desk, in a meeting, or chasing my toddler, I, as a working mom, can see each task as part of my vocation and a way to bring God’s love into the world.
Mary Grace Rodriguez is a Catholic wife, mother, and marketing professional based in Dallas, TX. A passionate creative, she brings experience in marketing, design, and writing to tell inspiring stories and foster meaningful connections. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and toddler, nature walks, fitness, dancing, reading, and scrapbooking. She lives by the words of Dostoyevsky: “Beauty will save the world.”