Mother Angelica and Our Domestic Monastery: Finding Holiness in the Ordinary

Mother Angelica, the spirited nun who founded EWTN, has always been a source of inspiration for me. Her wisdom was both profound and practical, always delivered with a mix of humor, honesty, and deep faith. As a homeschooling mother striving to create a “domestic monastery,” I often find myself reflecting on her teachings and how they apply to the daily chaos and beauty of family life.

Embracing the Ordinary as Sacred

One of Mother Angelica’s most powerful messages was that holiness is not reserved for extraordinary moments. She often reminded us, “God wants you to be in the world, but so different from the world that you will change it.” This starts in our homes. Our domestic monastery—our little sanctuary of family life—can be a place where holiness flourishes in the ordinary.

I used to think that holiness meant grand gestures: long hours of prayer, perfectly behaved children, a spotless home filled with peaceful moments. But Mother Angelica’s life teaches me that it’s often in the small, hidden acts of love where God is most present. In the messiness of motherhood, in the constant demands of homeschooling, and in the daily routines of cooking, cleaning, and comforting little ones, there lies an opportunity to sanctify each moment.

Finding God in the Chaos

Mother Angelica wasn’t afraid to confront the reality of human struggle. She knew that life wasn’t always neat or serene. She once said, “Faith is one foot on the ground, one foot in the air, and a queasy feeling in the stomach.” How true this feels in the day-to-day of raising children! Some days are filled with joy, others with frustration, and most with a mix of both.

In our domestic monastery, chaos is inevitable. The baby’s crying, the older children are arguing over a toy, and the dinner I planned so carefully is burning on the stove. It’s tempting to see these moments as interruptions to holiness, but Mother Angelica’s wisdom reminds me that these moments are holiness in action. When I respond with patience instead of anger, when I offer up my weariness in prayer, I’m turning the mundane into something sacred.

The Power of Humor and Humility

One thing I love about Mother Angelica was her sense of humor. She didn’t take herself too seriously, and she encouraged others to do the same. “Unless you are willing to do the ridiculous, God will not do the miraculous.” This has become a bit of a mantra for me. There are so many moments in motherhood that feel “ridiculous”—singing silly songs to calm a fussy baby, using puppet voices to teach a math lesson, or laughing at the sheer chaos of spilled milk and scattered toys.

Humor, I’ve learned, is a form of humility. It’s recognizing that I’m not in control, and that’s okay. Our domestic monastery isn’t about perfection; it’s about surrender. It’s about trusting that God is working through our imperfect efforts, our mistakes, and even our laughter.

Prayer in the Little Things

Mother Angelica often spoke about the power of simple, heartfelt prayer. She believed that prayer doesn’t have to be elaborate. “A little ‘thank you,’ a little ‘I’m sorry,’ a little ‘help me’—that’s prayer.” This has transformed the way I approach prayer in our home. Sometimes, the most powerful prayers are whispered while folding laundry or murmured while rocking a baby to sleep.

In our domestic monastery, we try to weave prayer into the fabric of our day. A quick morning offering before breakfast, a decade of the rosary in the car, a moment of gratitude before bed. These small prayers create a rhythm of holiness, reminding us that God is present in every moment.

Offering It All to God

Mother Angelica’s life was a testament to offering everything to God—her joys, her sufferings, her work. She once said, “Every moment of life is like God saying, ‘What are you going to do with this?’” This question echoes in my mind throughout the day. What am I going to do with this moment of frustration? This moment of joy? This moment of exhaustion?

Our domestic monastery is built on these choices. When I choose patience over anger, gratitude over complaint, or prayer over distraction, I’m building a little sanctuary where God’s presence can dwell.

The Beauty of Our Domestic Monastery

Mother Angelica’s life reminds me that holiness is not about grand achievements or perfect conditions. It’s about faithfulness in the small, everyday moments. Our homes, with all their noise and mess and beauty, can be places of profound grace. They can be domestic monasteries where we encounter God in the faces of our children, in the work of our hands, and in the quiet (and not-so-quiet) moments of prayer.

So, as I navigate this vocation of motherhood, I find comfort and strength in Mother Angelica’s words and example. I pray for the grace to see my home as a sacred space, to find God in the ordinary, and to trust that even my imperfect efforts are part of His divine plan.

AMDG,

Emma Williams

Catholic wife and homeschooling mother, living (somewhat) holistically and liturgically within the walls of our little domestic monastery.