Angie sits at her computer, scrolling through job posting after job posting. She feels defeated as she reads each title and description and realizes she is not qualified for these positions nor do they sound remotely exciting. She sighs and shuts her laptop in frustration.

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?

Approaching Catholic or moral investing is similar to discerning which stores or businesses you are going to patronize. Some of it may be pretty clear, but the more you dive into it, the muddier the water may become. Discernment is essential with a deep awareness of the principle of stewardship: understanding that all we have is God’s; we are simply responsible for it for as long as He entrusts it to us. 

The most common question I get asked as an author of a new Bible study and a mom of seven is, “How did you do that?”