Inspiration

Saint Carlo Acutis (1991–2006)

"The Eucharist is my highway to heaven."
— Carlo Acutis ¹

Here was the saintly story that was always lying in wait for me. The following saints came to my mind first, but as golden thread started to coalesce, it was evident that my work was merely an extension of St. Carlo Acutis' work on his Eucharistic Miracles Catalog.

Golden Thread exists today not to editorialize. Not to simply be a catalog of Catholic works throughout history. It is "online to get people offline." What are the documents which undergird our rich Catholic faith? How can we find orthodox sources to inspire us to action?

Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)

"Because the doctor of Catholic truth ought not only to teach the proficient, but also to instruct beginners… we purpose in this book to treat of whatever belongs to the Christian religion, in such a way as may tend to the instruction of beginners."
— Summa Theologica, Prologue ²

The truth doesn't need spin. St. Thomas Aquinas understood this to the fullest extent. The Summa takes on all intellectual comers without hesitation. The pattern of objection, response, and reply traces its origin from the Torah, the Prophets, Socrates, the New Testament, the early Church Fathers and takes flight when St. Thomas Aquinas applies his rigor to our Catholic faith.

Catechesis begins in the womb. It continues on through Sunday school, First Communion, Confirmation and beyond. We must help all beginners because we were all once beginners in the faith.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556)

"Love ought to manifest itself more by deeds than by words."
— Spiritual Exercises, §230 ³

St. Ignatius wrote his Spiritual Exercises not to be a book that sat on a shelf. He wrote it to inspire all the members of the Faith to discern for ourselves how we ought to live our lives according to God's plan. Once discerned, this becomes Faith in Action; contemplation to attain Love. This is how we set the world on fire with God.

Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582)

"Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us."
— The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus, Chapter 8 ⁴

St. Teresa of Avila insisted that the mystical was not reserved only for the clergy. We can infuse our Faith with authentic mysticism with democratic access to our historical texts. We each have our own Interior Castle, with God dwelling in the center.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897)

"Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love."
— Story of a Soul ⁵

St. Thérèse has always meant for me to not only rely on intellectual prowess. The Little Way speaks to someone like me to encourage me to do all small things with love. I don't need to understand God's grand design for my life. I just need to focus on Christ and channel him through all things. Work, play, prayer, wife, kids; these things all deserve great love.

Five saints, one thread. Each one found a way to make the tradition more accessible without diluting it. That's the job.