Giving the Gift of Wise Counsel This Advent
"She opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction is on her tongue" (Proverbs 31:26).
“Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
This Advent, Catholic Women in Business are invited to enter a sacred kind of waiting — one that refines, not rushes. In a world obsessed with productivity and profit, God calls us instead to prepare our hearts with mercy and mindfulness.
This season, we look to St. Catherine of Siena, the 14th-century mystic who boldly counseled popes and inspired reform in a divided Church. Her letters — filled with divine wisdom and spiritual fire — remind us that speaking truth with kindness is one of the highest forms of mercy.
For us as entrepreneurs, Advent is a time to give not just physical gifts, but intellectual and spiritual ones: our insights, our listening, and our wise counsel. Here are four ways we can become instruments of mercy in our workplaces and industries through prayer, reflection, and courage.
Write Your Insights Regularly
Wisdom doesn’t arrive all at once; it grows through reflection. As women of faith in business, we’re often moving so fast that we forget to pause, notice, and record what God is teaching us through our work. Journaling transforms fleeting thoughts into lasting wisdom. And when shared later — through a blog, newsletter, or mentoring conversation — those reflections become gifts of mercy for others walking the same road.
Action: Write your insights regularly, first in a journal, then later in a blog.
Read more: Find Your Creative Spark Through Journaling
Who Are You Called to Serve?
Mercy flows outward. St. Catherine didn’t write her hundreds of letters for fame; she wrote them for souls. Who are the women three to five years behind you in the journey? Those who may be just starting out, struggling with confidence, or learning how to integrate faith and business? Offer them your story, your strategies, and your prayerful presence. Mentorship is an act of mercy that multiplies wisdom.
Action: Identify people who are three to five years behind you who can benefit from your advice.
Read more: Is Your Work a Ministry?
Display Fortitude
Sometimes mercy requires courage. Speaking truth in love can draw ridicule, especially when faith informs your business choices. Yet Advent reminds us that the Christ we await was both meek and mighty. Like St. Catherine, stand firm in your convictions even when human respect tempts you to stay silent. The world doesn’t need your conformity, it needs your clarity.
Action: Display fortitude. Even if you are ridiculed for your piety, don’t stop or give in to human respect.
Read more: A Modern Take on Fortitude
Keep Growing in Wisdom
As the candles of Advent burn brighter, so should your desire to learn. St. Catherine never stopped seeking divine understanding. She studied, prayed, and wrote constantly. As entrepreneurs, growth is also our stewardship. Take a micro-course, listen to a new podcast, or read a book that stretches your thinking. Continuous learning keeps your counsel fresh and your spirit humble.
Action: Take a micro-course or read a new book this month. Practice continuous learning — act, reflect, resolve.
Read more: The Gift of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom
St. Catherine of Siena, you advised popes and wrote hundreds of letters. You had divine wisdom. Grant me a mind that is clear and resolved to do the will of God in my business and for my clients. Amen.
PRACTICAL REFLECTION BOX: 3 Ways to Give the Gift of Wise Counsel This Advent
Document Grace at Work: Keep a “wisdom log” where you note daily moments of insight or challenge in your business.
Mentor with Mercy: Once a week, share one piece of advice with someone who’s just starting out — via text, email, or coffee chat.
Keep Learning, Keep Listening: Dedicate 20 minutes a day to study Scripture or a business topic through a faith lens — growing both mind and soul.
Glory Enyinnaya is a convert who joined the Catholic Church in 2009 (providentially, it was the Year of St. Paul—arguably Christianity’s most famous convert). Even though she entered the church under St. Paul’s patronage, it’s Our Lady who has had the strongest influence on Glory, beginning with her choice of "Mary"’ as her baptismal name. Today, Glory is consecrated to Mary according to the de Montfort Way and serves as an official of the Legion of Mary in her comitium. In the workplace, she currently runs her own consulting company, Kleos Advisory Africa, and her work has appeared in top-tier publications such as the Harvard Business Review. Glory will soon be receiving her Ph.D. in Management. She’s single, and her hobbies include blogging at www.gloryenyinnaya.com.