“Liz, we’re going to need to finalize those hiring forms so we can get that new librarian onboarded.”
”Liz, there’s an open shift at the Reading Room front desk; can you see which staff member can take it?”
”Oh, Liz, can you help schedule my official travel to Lesotho for that African Library Association Conference?”
Working in administration for the largest library in the world is like wearing a thousand hats. I bounce between various tasks and roles so frequently that I can’t remember the last time I focused on just one all day long.
From arranging travel and reference desk maintenance to records and time management, keeping everything together—while remaining a kind and patient librarian—is a constant challenge. To stay afloat, I rely on frequent breaks, often visiting my work parish for morning Confession or midday Mass, and a well-organized calendar.
In comes the Blessed is She 2026-2027 Catholic Liturgical Academic Planner.
The Beatitudes and the Organized
As a woman working in library science with a background in higher education, planners are at the core of my organized success and sanity. To-dos, meetings, ideas, and agenda items all need a centralized place to go, and I know just the answer.
The Blessed is She Planner is a product at the heart of my work. This agenda book holds weekly and monthly spaces to collect my thoughts and hold my life together, but it also integrates liturgical dates, holy days, and prayers to bring my professional and spiritual lives together in one beautifully designed place. As Saint Paul wrote, “Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:11); why shouldn’t my agenda do just that?
This year’s Blessed is She Planner features a special theme based on the Beatitudes. Each month is dedicated to a specific verse from Matthew 5, and I am excited to see how these words will touch my spiritual life and professional career.
I can already imagine a few ways:
Blessed are the Meek
October is dedicated to the verse, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Being responsible for nearly two dozen people can be overwhelming, and it can be easy to let leadership go to my head. While my staff know how hard I work and the good work I produce, excelling in my career combined with my tendency toward pride does not always bode well for the disposition of my heart in the office.
I need to remember to stay meek and humble of heart as I schedule meetings, complete assignments, and wear many hats around the office. By focusing on these words, my work can become a place of sanctification rather than a source of pride.
Come October, let us practice meekness and humility of heart as we plan our agenda and take notes in our day-to-day lives.
Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
November brings us to the Beatitude that resonates with me the most: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). I strive to be a person of character, as I follow the Library Codes and Regulations fairly and faithfully. Yet, I sometimes struggle with burnout and the temptation to goof off or shirk my duties when no one is watching. With this planner in hand, however, I hope to hold myself to a higher standard of accountability and integrity in the workplace.
This November, may we renew our commitment to working with personal integrity and greater accountability.
Blessed are the Pure in Heart
My grandma’s favorite Bible passage was the Beatitudes; we even read them at her funeral. January’s verse always reminds me of her: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). I hope she is seeing Him in all His Glory right now.
If I learned anything from my grandma it was to recognize the image of God in everyone and to wish goodness upon them. While on earth, this Beatitude can remind us of the kindness and purity we should have for others. Saint Teresa of Calcutta echoed this sentiment when she said, “Keep your heart pure. A pure heart is necessary to see God in each other.”
In my role as an Administrative Specialist, I encounter many sweet and savory characters, and I hope in January 2027, when I read these words again, I remember to look at all my colleagues and patrons of the library with a pure heart and an open mind.
Staying With the Sermon on the Mount
Fellow striving-for-holiness sisters, I encourage you to take the Beatitudes (and your Blessed Is She Planner) with you wherever you go in the upcoming academic year. Surround yourself with Scripture and allow the messages from the Sermon on the Mount to guide you as you become the person God has called you to be. I look forward to using this agenda to remind myself of these things and of His guidance through my nine-to-five and beyond.
Liz Homick works at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. as the loudest and most talkative librarian in the building. Since backpacking Europe for six weeks after graduating with her Master’s in Library Science, Liz is a huge advocate of solo travel and attending Mass in every language imaginable. She believes in unconditional kindness and existing brightly despite life’s storms.
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