Are housewives some of the holiest people?
Canadian priest Father Mark Goring recently published a video explaining why housewives can reach the highest levels of holiness. He provided five reasons this can ring true for Catholic women.
Father Goring said many years ago he listened to a priest speak on spirituality – “the seven mansions, especially the higher ones: the fifth, sixth, and seventh. He spoke about mystical union, passive prayer, and deep contemplation.”
Someone asked the priest, “Father, have you met people who’ve reached these heights of sanctity and contemplation? And if so, where would you find them?”
The priest answered, “Yes — it’s rare. But many housewives have reached these heights of holiness and prayer.”
Father Goring said this information left everyone shocked, and explained “why this makes sense.”
5 Reasons Housewives Reach High Levels of Holiness, According to a Catholic Priest
1) Silence and solitude.
“They might be spending most of their day in silence and solitude, which is the ideal setting for growing in holiness.”
2) Healthy, human activity.
“Their day is filled with healthy activity, which is so important because we’re human. You hear me speaking and giving examples so often of keeping busy — chopping wood, making fires, cooking, working, things like that, building. And a housewife is spending her day cleaning and preparing meals and doing laundry, things that are conducive to the spiritual life, to practicing the presence of God.”
3) A rhythm of life.
“A housewife will typically have a rhythm of life, a routine. You know, things like, ‘At this time I do this, then I have a coffee break, then I say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, then I do this, then I do that.’ And we know from monastic life that rhythm is very helpful to continuing to stay faithful to one’s spiritual disciplines and also to advancing, to growing.”
4) Constant humble service.
“A housewife is always serving — again, cleaning, maybe changing diapers, preparing meals, mending garments, or whatever — humbly serving.”
5) Proclaiming the Gospel at Home.
“Oftentimes, housewives, if they have children, they’re announcing the Gospel. They’re proclaiming the Gospel. They’re saying, ‘Hey, be nice. Forgive your little brother. Don’t forget to say your prayers. You need to be good. Tell Jesus you love Him throughout the day.’”
Father Mark Goring concludes with some words of wisdom and a bible verse.
“Don’t underestimate the wonder of a simple life,” he said. “In Luke Chapter 1, Our Blessed Mother says, ‘He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly.’”