In Praise of Christian Writers
The pen is mightier than the sword
It is Paul who writes; a servant of Jesus Christ.
—Romans 1:1
It could be easy to overlook the magnitude of the feasts this week. During some weeks, like the previous one, there is clear thread where all saints share a specific time period or type of life or martyrdom. This week has its own theme if we look a little closer; it is the week of the mighty Christian pen.
Paul himself testifies in his life and martyrdom that no sword could ever be mightier than the pen he took up for Christ and the Gospel. We have before us the celebration of three spectacular writers and theologians spanning different periods and phases of the Church, all doing a distinctly different sort of writing: Paul, Thomas Aquinas, and Francis de Sales. St. Thomas and St. Francis themselves are celebrated as Doctors of the Church, and in his own crowning way, we could consider St. Paul the archetype of the Church doctors.
Another special connection this week is the pairing of the feasts of Paul’s conversion the day before we celebrate Sts. Timothy and Titus. We have a partial account from Paul of his conversion in his first letter to Timothy, a disciple of Paul: “I was the worst of all, and yet I was pardoned, so that in me first of all Christ Jesus might give the extreme example of his patience; I was to be the pattern of all those who will ever believe in him, to win eternal life.”1 The conversion of Paul was an inherently fruitful one, and it brought many conversions for the Church.
Pope Benedict wrote about Paul’s trust in Timothy and Titus, saying “Paul availed himself of collaborators. He certainly remains the Apostle par excellence, founder and pastor of many Churches. Yet it clearly appears that he did not do everything on his own but relied on trustworthy people who shared in his endeavours and responsibilities.”2 So it is fitting his conversion is be paired with his earliest disciples.
St. Bernard in his homily on the Conversion of St. Paul encourages us:
“Who, when oppressed by the weight of evil, can say, ‘I am not strong enough to rise to better things right now’, when on the very journey on which he was thirsting for christian blood and whole-heartedly puffing out deadly venom, this cruelest of persecutors was instantaneously changed into the most faithful of preachers? Indeed this one conversion marvellously puts before us both the great extent of mercy and the effectiveness of grace.”3
We also encounter two saints who are important patrons for Christian workers. St. Vincent of Saragossa is the patron of winemakers, an important celebration in many European countries. The other is St. Angela Merici, patron saint of teachers.
Saints and Feasts this Week
January 23 — St. Vincent of Saragossa
Reflection on St. Vincent - A Time for Pruning & Partying
Hand-Carved Italian Wood Statue of St. Vincent
January 24 — St. Francis de Sales, Patron of Catholic writers & the Catholic Press
January 25 — The Conversion of St. Paul, Patron of Missions & Theologians
Thoughts on St. Paul by Pope Benedict XVI
January 26 — Sts. Timothy and Titus,
Commentary on First and Second Timothy, Titus by George T. Montague
January 27 — St. Angela Merici, Patron of the Sick & those Grieving the Loss of Parents
Life of St. Angela Merici by John Gilmary & François Joseph
January 28 — St. Thomas Aquinas, Patron of Students & Scholars
Biography of Thomas Aquinas by A.G. Sertillanges, O.P.
St. Thomas Aquinas by G.K. Chesterton
The Foundations of Thomistic Philosophy by A. G. Sertillanges
Inspiration for the Week
Self-Gift and the Literary Vocation — Katy Carl at Dappled Things
Ep. 182 of the Godsplaining Podcast: St. Thomas Aquinas — 700 Years Canonized
The grace of the Lord came upon me in a full tide of faith and love, the love that is in Christ Jesus. How true is that saying, and what a welcome it deserves, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I was the worst of all, and yet I was pardoned, so that in me first of all Christ Jesus might give the extreme example of his patience; I was to be the pattern of all those who will ever believe in him, to win eternal life. Honour and glory through endless ages to the king of all the ages, the immortal, the invisible, who alone is God, Amen.
1 Timothy 1:14-17
The Writers Toolkit
The first and most important instrument for a writer is his or her device for inscribing their words - there are a number of pens out there, but, if you’re like us, there’s one pen that you keep coming back to time and time again. Two of our favorites are:
The Pilot G2 (if you’ve used these before, you know the importance of making sure you get the 0.5mm)
The Sharpie S-Gel - for those who love the flow of a good gel pen
Next, you’re going to need something to write on - stationary of some sort. Most people prefer a journal or notebook for this.
This notebook features a cute and simple image of the Sacred Heart
For those who are fans of the traditional Moleskine Journals, this one’s for you
Now if you find yourself inspired by the letters of St. Francis de Sales, you might consider stationary such as these Simple Holy Family Stationary
And, of course, you’ll want to seal your letters - these adorable wax seal stamps are a great choice!
If you find yourself wanting to write, but unsure what to write about, a great way to start is by adopting popular practices
The Lectio Divina is a great practice that combines studying the bible with meditation, prayer, and contemplation - which can come in many styles including writing down your thoughts and reflections
1 Timothy 1:15-16, Knox Bible