Writerly Reflections on International Writers’ Day

“You should start a blog,” my friend declared.

At the time—some sixteen years ago—I barely knew what a blog was. And I certainly did not know what business I had starting one.

Curiously, I asked, “What would I even write about?”

She knowingly looked at me and replied, “You have five children, five years old and younger. You have plenty to write about.”

Starting Out

Her confidence astounded me but convinced me. While I had no idea what I was doing, I started a little blog called More Than Enough, and through it, I found an entire Catholic community of women that helped those early years of motherhood feel a lot less lonely.

Through blogging, I also rediscovered my love for writing, which dated back to middle school, when I began writing for my school newspaper.

From this humble beginning, I applied to write for various online platforms, including Blessed Is She. It also gave me the opportunity to contribute to two devotionals published by Ave Maria Press.

But none of this compared to discovering that writing is not just my hobby or a honed skill. Writing is my charism.

Discovering My Charism

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “[w]hether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of men, and to the needs of the world” (CCC 799).

The Siena Institute, which helps people discover their charisms, defines the charism of writing as “using words to create works of truth or beauty that reflect human experience and bring glory to God.”

But just because writing is a charism, doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Often, I experience writer’s block. And at times, my brain can’t recall the exact word I need. Writing takes focused time, which I don’t always have.

But Jesus, in the Gospel of Matthew, commands that we use the gifts God has given us. And He reprimands those who don’t, saying, “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Matthew 25:29).

As fellow writer Claire Dwyer says, “Using our gifts is, in many ways, a lot like the practice of prayer. It requires discipline, focus, and time set apart. You could argue that done with the intention to glorify God, it is actually a form of prayer.”

Writing From Prayer

Yes, at the very heart of my writing is prayer. Along with lectio divina, writing is the main way the Lord speaks to me.

And from this place of prayer, inspiration for a blog post or Scripture reflection comes together.

While the connection between prayer and writing is natural for me, I imagine the connection between prayer and other charisms—such as hospitality, teaching, or voluntary poverty—is natural for others.

The beauty of charisms is that while we have one or two that we are called to cultivate in order to spread the Gospel, we also receive so much when others live in their charisms. In other words, when we encounter someone living in her gift of knowledge, music, or writing, we receive a great blessing.

On this International Writers’ Day, I thank God for bestowing upon me the charism of writing. I also thank those who saw that gift in me before I saw it in myself and encouraged me to write, even when the words did not flow.

Honoring the Words that Move Us

Moreover, today I consider the many words that have drawn me into a deeper faith and have sparked my own imagination toward writing, especially those words I have encountered in the written Word of God, the deep writings of the Saints, and the relatable work of present-day authors.

Written Word of God

How many times do I read a Scripture passage that touches my heart, and I wonder, “Was that written just for me?” The written Word of God invokes truth, instructs, comforts, and transforms. It is for everyone, yet deeply personal at the same time.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path. // Psalm 119:105

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. // John 1:1

For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. // Romans 15:4

I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God. // 1 John 5:13

Deep Writings of the Saints

Many Saints authored their biographies or wrote about private revelations they received from Jesus or Mary. Their writings, along with their witness, help us grow in our knowledge and understanding of the Faith, and invite us into a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Saint Francis de Sales is a Doctor of the Church, and the patron Saint of writers and journalists. He gave spiritual direction through letters and is known for his Introduction to the Devout Life, which was written for ordinary lay people.

Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman was ordained a Catholic priest two years after his conversion from Anglicanism. He was a published poet and novelist, prolific preacher, and prominent theologian. One of his most popular poems, Lead Kindly Light, was eventually set to music.

Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, founder of the Redemptorists and a Doctor of the Church, is known for his simple preaching and kindness in the confessional. He wrote The Glories of Mary and Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, which are tremendous aids in prayer.

Saint Teresa of Ávila reformed the Carmelites’ contemplative way of life and was named a Doctor of the Church. Her visions inspired her to write Interior Castle, which explains that prayer is not an immediate achievement but rather progresses over time.

Relatable Work of Present-Day Authors

There are several modern-day authors who I find to bring the mysteries of Faith into relatable terms for the ordinary Catholic.

Liz Kelly Stanchina is the author of nine books, including Jesus Approaches. A trained spiritual director, her writings read as if she is sitting right across from you, holding a one-on-one conversation.

Claire Dwyer is the author of This Present Paradise, which weaves the spiritual thoughts of Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity into the ordinary experiences of the Catholic woman. Her writings slow you down and draw you into deep thinking, pointing you more and more to Jesus.

Dan Burke’s work at the Avila Institute introduces faithful Catholics to the practice of contemplative prayer. In several of his books, such as Finding Peace in the Storm, Burke draws from the wisdom of the Church, while interspersing his own insights.

Whether you are a writer or a reader, how has the Word of God or faith-based writing impacted your spiritual life?