Holy Habits Journal Soothes the Soul

Maria V. Gallagher discovers the comfort that can be found in the pages of the new Holy Habits Journal. 

Holy Habits

Publisher: Sophia Institute Press

Perhaps it has happened to you — a traumatic event brings you to your knees, making you wonder how on earth you will ever go on. You struggle with the suffering and the pain that seem to rupture your very soul. You are searching for relief and a sense that your ordeal will somehow bring you closer to your Creator. 

When my life was at its lowest ebb, someone suggested to me that I try writing. After all, the very act of putting words on a page had been therapeutic for me in the past. While I felt as if I were ill-equipped to write a single coherent sentence, I gave it a try. The writing paved a path of self-discovery which enabled me to understand myself better and to begin to understand the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 

If you are searching for a spiritual and emotional breakthrough, I would highly recommend journaling. There is something about recording your thoughts that can help you to see things that might ordinarily be hidden from view. Reading through your journal entries can give you insights into your thinking that might not be apparent otherwise. 

Selecting a journal is a highly personal choice. Some people like journals that are ornate, that make them want to write. Others prefer journals that are plain and no-nonsense, allowing them the opportunity to focus specifically on their words and not on fancy images. Some individuals enjoy absolutely blank pages, while others thrive with journals that offer prayer prompts. 

An Important Spiritual Aid    

No matter what your style, you might want to consider the new Holy Habits Journal from Sophia Institute Press. I gave it a test run and found it to be highly inviting and an important aid to my daily prayer routine. 

The journal is divided into five phases: 1.) Holy Habits Foundations; 2.) Deepen Your Holy Habits; 3.) Master Your Holy Habits; 4.) The Way of Spiritual Freedom and 5.) Walking the Path of Freedom. Each phase has the potential to bring you closer to our Lord, Who longs to hear from us at a most intimate level. 

In the first phase, Holy Habits Foundations, the goal is simple: to establish good spiritual journaling routines. The focus is cultivating self-knowledge, which is an often overlooked but critical stage of the spiritual life. The publisher offers this advice on making the most out of this phase: 

Approach this phase with an attitude of discovery and exploration. You’re learning about yourself in the spiritual exercises, and you’re also learning about what works for you in terms of spiritual journaling routines. If you miss a day, don’t worry about it. Just get back on track when you can. 

The publisher also recommends practicing the virtue of prudence during this phase.

Prudence will help you evaluate your progress, structure your routine, and make thoughtful choices, balancing growth with perseverance.  

A Path Toward Progress  

I have been using the journal on a daily basis and I have found it to be helpful in enabling me to progress in the spiritual life. The prayer prompts are spot-on and have led me down a new and exciting path that has helped to build my faith. While I sometimes struggle with persevering in my journaling, I find that Holy Habits gives me the incentive I need for recording my insights and reflections on a daily basis. 

Holy Habits is a spiritual gem which I have come to treasure. It has restored my faith in both myself and my writing, and so I highly recommend it as a gateway to both self-discovery and a better understanding of the love of Christ.      

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Copyright 2025 Maria V. Gallagher
Images: Canva