“Aesthetic” – “a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.” However, The word “aesthetic” as used by young people today (ex. “Her Instagram post is so aesthetic”) often indicates something more than Merriam-Webster’s definition. It might evoke images of a coffee cup on a table with sunlight streaming in a nearby window. If you’re a young Catholic woman, maybe next to the coffee there is a Bible or a crisp new devotional with a beautiful rosary laying across it. All photos have a warm filter, and all text has calligraphy font. This is what I would call the “Catholic woman aesthetic,” and it’s on the rise.
The best places to find examples of this aesthetic are the virtual gift shops and the blogs aimed toward Catholic women. Let’s start with West Coast Catholic, a small rosary company and blog run by a couple living in California. Creator Mari tells the story of how the beauty of the rosary made for her by her now-fiance Trey drew her to pray the rosary more often; they started the company out of a desire to share the power of beauty to lift the mind to God. While their rosaries are designed for both feminine and masculine tastes, the Catholic aesthetic is there in the emphasis on quality handmade products presented in simple and clean photos, as well as the line drawing prints and stickers that are cropping up in so many Catholic gift shops.
The Catholic woman aesthetic is not limited to the marketplace. It has deeply informed the myriad of resources designed with the Catholic woman in mind, many of which point to John Paul II’s writings about “the feminine genius” as the source of their inspiration. Every Sacred Sunday is first and foremost the publisher of a very aesthetic and very thorough journal, including the Sunday Mass readings and space for reflective journaling in a beautiful format. Two college roommates, Christie and Kassie, started the company in 2017 for the purpose of producing a spiritual resource “inspired by the beauty of the Catholic Church.” In addition to these journals, a series of beautiful weekly reflections on the Scripture is pushed out to email list subscribers, and they maintain a blog with reviews of other Catholic media: books, apps, you name it.
Perhaps the biggest powerhouse of the blog and journal model in this field is Blessed Is She (BIS). Their ministry stretches from daily scripture reflections, to regional women’s groups, to retreats, to beautiful planners. They have a staff of 40 regular contributors to their daily devotionals, many of whom are writers with books and blogs of their own. The BIS podcast, “The Gathering Place,” features conversations with priests, authors, sisters, and mothers about life and the Church. Beyond BIS’s prolific publishing, the company is a community; a network of regional groups organize family-friendly BIS brunches and women’s Bible studies where Catholic women can gather to pray together. The company is sustained by their shop, where you can find the iconic BIS planner as well as stickers, prints/posters, and devotionals corresponding to liturgical seasons.
If you’re looking for authentic discussions about difficult topics from the perspectives of Catholic women, look no further than The Young Catholic Woman and The Catholic Feminist. The Young Catholic Woman is a platform for articles and reflections on the experiences of young Catholic women. Their articles include topics like “The Feminine Genius”, “Relationships”, and “The Art of Simplicity.” The site, like Blessed Is She, is supported by its shop, where you can find a five-year journal for the young Catholic woman and assorted devotionals. Their website, like their subject matter, is designed to appeal to young Catholic women and the Catholic woman aesthetic is very strong.
The Young Catholic Woman does not shy away from tough subjects like abortion, abuse, and body image, and neither does the host of The Catholic Feminist podcast, Claire. She grapples with the intersection of authentic feminism and the Catholic Church and invites guests to participate in conversations about topics from overcoming pornography addiction to vocational discernment to the #MeToo Movement.
The movement of the Catholic woman aesthetic has and is gaining momentum, thanks to the leadership of young women. Caroline, a college student in Miami, Ohio, started the Resurrected Collective (formerly The Resurrected Woman) with the aim of calling young women into a life “fully alive.” The website features a blog and a shop; Caroline, the founder, is a fashion enthusiast, and products in the shop include a jewelry collection, as well as an assortment of stickers and journals. The blog reaches Catholic women nationwide, but within her local student community, the Resurrected Collective meets weekly for fellowship.
The Resurrected Collective isn’t the only student-led, woman-led group joining the push to reach young Catholics through aesthetic and media. In Boston, BC’s own Olivia Rose is the “young Catholic change-maker” behind the To The Heights podcast with Catholic TV. Her podcast is in its first season and focuses on authentic conversations with youth and ministers who work to form Catholic youth. Like so many of the women behind these publications and companies, Caroline and Olivia have roots in the FOCUS and LifeTeen charisms.
The rise of the Catholic woman aesthetic is led by strong women, who are passionate about lifting others up, and are not afraid of letting God’s light shine through them. I think it’s safe to predict that the effort to reach Catholic women through the power of beauty is only going to gain momentum, and this is good news for all of us ladies looking for ways to connect with sisters in faith and to grow deeper in our relationship with God.
Check out Olivia’s podcast episode with The Torch here!
Image courtesy of Pickpik.
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