Just over a year into the papacy of the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV has released his first encyclical: Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”). Subtitled “Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” the encyclical is timely, beautifully written, and challenging.

There is so much to digest and pray about, and I recommend that everyone read the encyclical in full (like other encyclicals, it’s available for free on the Vatican’s website). In the meantime, however, I’ve gathered five takeaways for Catholic professional women. I’ll be meditating on them over the coming days, weeks, and months. I hope you will, too!

There are certain saints that whenever I hear their name I cannot help but smile. St. Philip Neri is one of those saints because he is often remembered for his humor. In a world that celebrates the crass and profane as humorous, it’s easy to believe St. Philip was a bit of a clown, but that idea is wildly mistaken.  

In today’s fast paced, high demand and performance-driven world, women in business are often told to chase results, optimize productivity, and push forward — no matter the cost. But what if the path to true success isn’t found in constant pushing, but in deep spiritual rootedness?

In “The Song of the Lamb: Sacred Music and the Heavenly Liturgy,” Robert Cardinal Sarah, in conversation with Peter Carter, delves into a thorough examination of the part that music plays in the liturgy.

There are places where we feel stuck, overwhelmed, or afraid in business and these are really places where our past wounds are still holding us back.

Jesus’ wounds – His very human suffering – offer us not just comfort, but a way forward to bring our wounds into the light and find healing that touches everything we do.

No human being has a vocation more universally important, more relevant to the lives of every other human being, than Mary. (Though we all share this calling in our own small ways!)