A CATHOLIC WOMAN’S BOOK
OF DAYS
FOREWORD BY JULIANNE STANZ
AMY WELBORN
A CATHOLIC WOMAN’S
BOOK OF DAYS
FOREWORD BY JULIANNE STANZ
Copyright © 2005, 2024 Amy Welborn
Foreword copyright © 2024 Loyola Press
All rights reserved
The Scripture quotations contained herein cited are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1993 and 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Suscipe is from The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola , trans. Louis J. Puhl, S.J. (Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1951).
Cover image: TopVectors/Getty Images
ISBN: 978-0-8294-5989-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2024941082
Published in Chicago, IL
Printed in the United States of America
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Versa 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Foreword
Julianne Stanz
Aswomen, we all have certain rituals that help center us before the rush of the day takes hold. We pause to savor the first sip of strong coffee or fragrant tea in the first light of the morning as we warm up to what lies ahead. In the whirlwind of our daily lives, amid the increasing frenzy of responsibilities and demands, it’s easy to feel swept away and lose sight of the sacred in the rush of the mundane. Yet, amid this hustle, there lies a quiet plea, a whispered prayer that arises from the depths of our hearts: “Slow me down, Lord, so that I can savor your presence.”
For me, these words are not simply the heart’s plea but a lifeline, a reminder to seek refuge in the arms of the sacred no matter how fast life is moving. Pausing to reflect on the Word of God is an anchor in the midst of life’s storms and uncertainties. It is an opportunity to speak heart-to-heart with God—offering quiet blessed moments of connection that infuse our days with meaning, purpose, and a greater sense of hope. Amy Welborn’s A Catholic Woman’s Book of Days guides us in savoring these sacred moments that shimmer like jewels amid the dust and chaos of everyday life.
“Slow me down, Lord, so that I can savor your presence” serves as a gentle reminder to pause, to breathe, to open ourselves up to the beauty and wonder that surround us. As we take a few moments to consider the richness of
the Word of God, Amy’s reflections invite us to relinquish control, release the illusion of self-sufficiency, and surrender to the embrace of God’s plan for our lives.
Amy writes poetically, weaving together the Scriptures with her own nuanced thoughts and reflections. Some of the reflections are deeply poignant, others are more lighthearted, but all invite us to consider anew the gift of God’s Word and how it connects to our own lives.
As we navigate the ebb and flow of life’s daily tides, may we take a breath to be curious and full of wonder. May we savor the precious gift of each and every day. May we embrace each day with hearts that are open to the whispers of God’s grace guiding us home to ourselves, to each other, and into the heart of the divine. And may we always remain open to the unexpected surprises and unanticipated blessings that await, confident in the knowledge that each day is a sacred gift, held tenderly in God’s marvelous hands.
Preface to the 2024 Edition
Amy Welborn
Muchhas changed in the almost twenty years since I wrote A Catholic Woman’s Book of Days. I moved a few times. The little children I wrote about are now college graduates, and the older kids have children of their own. My hair is gray, and I’ve stopped pretending otherwise. My husband died.
But what hasn’t changed is God’s presence in my life and my faith in that loving presence. Also unchanged is my conviction that the way to discern, think, and talk about that loving presence is to begin not with abstracts but with the concrete stuff of life.
That foundation is reflected in my process, not just for these reflections, but in my spiritual writing in general. I don’t generally begin with the abstract or even a text. I began—and begin—with life. With incidents. Observations. Connections. And then ponder how I sense the Lord’s presence there.
The people of Jesus’s time had all kinds of ideas about how God would make his presence known among them. That he would come to them as he did—a human being who would walk, talk, laugh, and pray among them,
someone who would observe religious holidays, share meals, celebrate at weddings, mourn at funerals, and even die among them—was a surprise that upended their world.
I’m grateful for Loyola Press’s support of this little book over the years and thankful that so many have found it helpful. I pray that in these pages, new readers will find inspiration to look and listen for signs of the loving presence who dwells among us in the ordinary beauty of everyday life.
January
January 1
But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
—Luke 2:19
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The previous months had given Mary much to contemplate: her mysterious, God-given pregnancy; her aged cousin’s maternity; and the birth of her Son attended, marvelously, by angels.
The beginning of a new year is the natural time to reflect on the past. But let’s be careful to sift through these memories of joy and regret in the right way.
Reflecting on the past helps us discern God’s will and how we’ve responded to it. It can hurt, though, if our reflections become occasions for paralyzing regret or wishful nostalgia, both of which blind us to God’s presence in the here and now, in the limitless possibility of the brand-new year.
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Lord, thank you for the past year of my life. Help me to grow in my awareness of your love in the present moment and not be discouraged by the past.
January 2
Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you.
—1 John 2:24
What is it you have heard from the beginning?
For many of us, childhood memories of religious formation are suffused with a sense of simple trust. Our parents, grandparents, and teachers told us that God created us, loves us, and takes care of us.
It’s good to remember that those who taught us to trust knew, as we do now, suffering, pain, and shadows. These experiences may have raised questions, but they also, in the end, brought the answers of trust and faith they shared with us.
Lord, in this new year, give me the grace to live in response to the simple truth of your love and care for me.
January 3
O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
—Psalm 98:1
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Thebaby sits in the middle of his super-duper play saucer, propped upright by a towel around his middle, his feet dangling in the air. His eyes are wide open, and his head just can’t stop moving as his gaze darts from toy to toy.
Within seconds, he starts wailing. It’s all just too much. The wealth of amusing and developmentally helpful plastic objects has overwhelmed him with choices.
As the new year begins and we contemplate what we want to make of it, our reaction may be similar to the baby’s. Evidence of our faults surrounds us, and opportunities for growth and change overwhelm us. Which way should we go? What should come first?
The psalmist gives us a different idea. Instead of beginning with self-scrutiny, why not start this year with a new song: one of openhearted praise?
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Lord, I thank you for my life and for the chance to grow that this new year brings.
January 4
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?”
—John 1:38
More times than I care to admit, I stride into a room or up the stairs with a great air of purpose and then come to a stop, bewildered. I haven’t a clue as to why I’m there.
What in the world was I looking for?
If Jesus were to stop us in the middle of our confident daily journeys from room to room, meeting to meeting, and goal to goal and ask us the question he poses to the disciples here, would we have an answer?
Lord, help me look at my life today and discern what it is I’m looking for.
January 5
Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
—John 1:46
Want to succeed? That’s easy. Gather up your stunning résumé, your magna cum laude degree, your stellar references, and your fabulous good looks. Thank heaven that’s not what God is looking for.
Just run down the list of his choices. From the young (David, Jeremiah) to the awkward (Moses) to the reluctant ( just about everyone), hardly any of them have résumés that would impress.
Especially a carpenter’s son from that backwater called Nazareth.
To know that God works through those the world scorns should be a great comfort to us.
Lord, today I present myself, weakness and strength, wisdom and foolishness. Use me as I am to do your will.
January 6
I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you.
—Luke 1:3
At the age of eight, my daughter developed a keen interest in whether the books she read were “true stories.” She was wondering if there might be something about a not-true story that made it less worthy of her time. Imagine her joy when, after many tries, she held up a book, and I could finally tell her, “Yes. This is a true story. Her name really was Laura, and she really lived in a little house in a big wood.”
I feel the same way about faith as I listen to Luke begin his Gospel. In no uncertain terms, he tells me: The story I am about to tell you is the true story. This is the story worth living for.
Jesus, I open your story, seeking truth.
January 7
“For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
—Matthew 17:20
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My oldest son once quit a job, which was okay since he hadn’t had a raise in two years. The problem was, he didn’t make sure he had another job before he left the first one.
“But Mom,” he protested to my protestations, “you always say it’s good to take risks.”
Jesus tells us that if our faith is but the size of a mustard seed, great things can happen. This is not a call to take irrational risks but to listen to God’s voice, discern the truth he’s telling us, and follow, no matter how risky it may seem. It can be hard to tell the difference at times; but keeping the Lord, rather than our egos, fears, or needs, at the center of our response keeps us on course.
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Jesus, nourish the seed of faith you have planted within me, and strengthen me to step forward in trust.
FINDING GOD EVERY DAY
Discover the countless ways God is present in your life with A Catholic Woman’s Book of Days. Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to overlook God’s active presence. This inspiring book offers daily meditations designed to carve out a spiritual space, allowing you to set your heart on God. Each meditation is brief, direct, and personal, helping you connect deeply with God’s Word and the Catholic faith. This updated edition—featuring a new foreword by Julianne Stanz, author of Braving the Thin Places, and a new preface by the author—will help you find God in all things, each and every day.
AMY WELBORN is the author of several books in the Loyola Kids series, including Loyola Kids Book of Catholic Signs & Symbols, and Loyola Kids Book of Seasons, Feasts, and Celebrations. A former catechetical leader, she is passionate about helping readers understand and live their faith with confidence and joy.
ISBN: 978-0-8294-5989-0 $19.99 U.S.