5 Quotes from the Saints to Inspire Your New School Year

What better way to kick off the school year than to meditate on the sayings of the saints?

After all, they are not only masters of the spiritual life, but many of them were towering educators, catechists, theologians and philosophers, with a real knack for bringing children the light of the Gospel and the wisdom of academia.

The following are some heartfelt meditations on words from the saints to inspire us all on our homeschooling journey this new school year.

“Do few things, but do them well,” said St. Francis of Assisi.

Raise your hand if you are a curriculum hoarder! What about an extracurricular activity junkie—or worse… a magnet to things like all-too-seemingly-necessary fencing lessons that require 45 minutes of driving, each way? I

If your hand went up, join the club! Most homeschooling parents are doing what they do because they are a little crazy about wanting the very, very best for their children—that is, crazy in a good way!

However, this desire to give our children the matchless best has to be tempered with an understanding of our human limitations as parents, as well as our children’s limitations.

By prayerfully discerning what our children’s talents are and encouraging them to nurture mostly what they enjoy doing and are genuinely good at, we can help our children prepare for their life’s mission without becoming overwhelmed.

“In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I will be love,” said St. Therese of Lisieux.

One could easily argue that devout Catholic homeschooling families are truly the lifeblood of the Church today.

All throughout the homeschooling journey, there are endless opportunities to be the love of Christ to our children and the world around us. In the heart of the Church, our Mother, let us be love by homeschooling our children with courage, persistence in faith, and the patience of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Let’s lay hold of divine joy and the honorable task set before us. We’re trailblazers!

Servant of God Fr. John A. Hardon once said,

“Catholic Home Schooling in the United States is the necessary result of a culture in which the Catholic Church is being opposed on every level of her existence. Given the widespread secularization in our country, home schooling is not only valuable and useful, home schooling is absolutely necessary for the survival of the Catholic Church in America. The purpose of Catholic home schooling is the teaching and training of children at home in order to preserve the Catholic Faith in the family and to preserve the Catholic Faith in our country.”

Keeping the wisdom of Fr. Hardon in our minds and hearts, let’s set out to make this year of homeschooling our best yet! Our country needs us to do a fabulous job as homeschoolers more than ever before.

“Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to Him. That is all the doing you have to worry about,” said St. Jane Frances de Chantal.

By “letting go, and letting God,” we will definitely pave the way for an amazing school year. Through a foundation of prayer, we will be able to keep our souls resolutely fixed on Christ, who will help our home schools be victorious in raising up educated saints for Mother Church.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Love begins at home.”

By teaching our children at home, we have countless opportunities to love them. We have the blessing of being able to share numerous precious “first” moments with them—such as the first time they say a word, the initial discovery of a God-given talent, or the awakening of their conscience on a certain issue.

By filling our homes and our school days with love, we can fill these first moments with the presence of God.

Mother Teresa’s comment compliments one of my favorite quotes from Pope Francis as well: “I ask you for the grace to be ever closer to your children, allow them to grow, but be close, close! They need you, your presence, your closeness, your love.”

How beautiful that we can answer the call of our Holy Father day in and day out by nurturing our children’s spirits with a quality home education experience!

As the beginning of the new school year unfolds, it might help each of us to spend a few moments writing down several saints’ quotes that we want to treasure.

By keeping their words before us, we can stay focused on what is most important—living a family life of authentic love, and bringing all to spend eternal life with Him who reigns!

Header photo CC Wikepedia

About Amanda Evinger

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Amanda Evinger now lives in rural North Dakota with her husband Michael and their three young children. Together, they have two home businesses, keep a bountiful garden and care take St. Clement's Oratory. Amanda is passionate about being a Seton homeschooling Mom and dedicated homemaker. She also works from home as Senior Writer for Catholic Stewardship Consultants. Although raised Calvinist, she became Catholic in 2001, and then spent several years living with Blessed Mother Teresa's sisters and the Contemplative Sisters of St. John. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Hope College in Spanish and Theology with minor studies in Creative Writing.