Holy Ambition: Thriving as a Catholic Woman at Work and at Home

Maria V. Gallagher explores a new book about what every woman of faith should know when it comes to holy ambition.

Holy Ambition: Thriving as a Catholic Woman at Work and at Home

By Taryn DeLong and Elise Crawford Gallagher

Holy Ambition

When I was a little girl, I was captivated by the thought of what I would do when I grew up. And by “do,” I meant professionally speaking. I had so many occupations on my wish list: actress, journalist, psychologist, lawyer. I remember a teacher telling me I couldn’t possibly pursue so many interests, but that did not deter my imagination. I just seemed to have an inner drive to succeed.

It never occurred to me back then that my goals could in fact be considered sacred longings. While it was not practical to try to enter into so many different professions, the desire to seek fulfillment in work was inherently good. While it is true that God and family must come first, there is something noble about excelling in the workplace.

Authors Taryn DeLong, a Catholic Mom contributing writer, and Elise Crawford Gallagher (no relation to me) have beautifully captured the essence of what it means to be a spirit-filled woman of the 21st century in their new book, Holy Ambition: Thriving as a Catholic Woman at Work and at Home from Ave Maria Press. These accomplished women give voice to the longings of women to achieve their full potential in both employment and on the home front.

Answers to questions women have as they consider their careers

The authors tackle such pressing questions as: How do I discern and surrender to God’s will for my career? Is it OK to build wealth? How do I keep the faith in a secular workplace? At one point, they invoke the words of Edith Stein, who is also known as Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross:

Every profession in which woman’s soul comes into its own and which can be formed by woman’s soul is an authentic woman’s profession.

Taryn and Elise opine that God bestows on you a particular professional calling for good reason. As their book notes:

It is a means for you to become who you were created to be. It’s a way to joy and holiness. In the Catholic faith, we describe your ‘vocation’ as your particular calling in this world—your God-given path to heaven. Each one of us is unique, so each of us also has a unique personal vocation, though its goal is the same: holiness.

A practical and spiritual guidebook

Taryn and Elise have provided a guidebook which is as spiritual as it is practical. They are in tune with the struggles women face in being all that they can be, whether it is tending to two-year-olds or organizing staff. They also draw on the wisdom of a number of female saints to make their case that ambition can be a natural desire to seek goodness through the use of one’s talents and skills.

As the authors of Holy Ambition point out,

Our ambitions, then, should be not just about ourselves. They should encompass others. Our career ambitions should include how we can breathe life into others through our work. Our financial ambitions should include how we can give back to the Church and support people who are less fortunate than ourselves. Our personal ambitions should include goals for our relationships. Our health ambitions should help us care for ourselves and the people we love. And all of our ambitions should be grounded in our relationship with Jesus.

It took me a while to recognize the importance of placing Jesus at the center of my work life. I wish this book had been around when I was younger, to help me avoid the pitfalls that come with a careerism based on secular ambition rather than the holy kind. Still, I am so happy that other women will benefit from the wisdom Taryn and Elise have to offer.

So dream big — knowing that it is the Lord Almighty that put that dream in your heart!

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Ask for Holy Ambition at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Ave Maria Press.

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