10 Habits of Catholic Women Who Thrive at Every Age

Why Holiness Is a Daily Choice, and How You Can Grow in It

Apr 24, 2025

Once, at a speaking event, everyone there told me there was a woman named Fay in their community that I “had to meet.” Fay was in her 80s, and she wasn’t famous or flashy, but everyone knew her and everyone loved her. Not because she had all the answers, but because she radiated peace. Her laugh came easily. And her advice always pointed you back to God.

When I had a chance to talk with Fay, I asked her what filled her with such joy. She told me, “Every decade brings its own kind of grace. You just have to be willing to receive it.”

That conversation stayed with me. Over the years, I’ve seen that truth again and again in women of all ages—women raising kids, caring for aging parents, working full-time, or grieving deep losses. Some seem burdened by every season of life. Others grow softer, stronger, and more grounded in God’s love.

What makes the difference?

It’s not luck. And it’s not having the “perfect” prayer routine.

It’s daily habits. Quiet choices. A willingness to keep showing up, even when things are hard.

Here are 10 habits I’ve noticed in Catholic women who thrive, spiritually and emotionally, in every stage of life:

1. They See Their Life as a Vocation, Not a To-Do List

Thriving Catholic women don’t chase productivity. They live with purpose. They understand that their marriage, motherhood, friendships, and work are all part of their calling, not obstacles to it. Even when the days feel ordinary or overwhelming, they believe God is at work in the small things. Each diaper changed, email answered, or meal cooked becomes a part of their mission.

☑️ Do This: Ask yourself: What is God calling me to today? Don’t miss the grace right in front of you.

2. They Make Time for Prayer — Even Imperfectly

It’s not about having a flawless holy hour. It’s about building a real relationship with God. Whether it’s a whispered Hail Mary in the school pickup line or morning prayer with coffee, they stay connected. They don’t let guilt stop them when they fall short. They begin again, knowing God delights in every effort to draw near.

☑️ Do This: Choose one moment in your day and anchor it with prayer. Keep it simple. Just show up.

3. They Root Themselves in the Sacraments

They go to Mass, not out of obligation, but out of love. They frequent Confession, not because they think they’re terrible people, but because they know God’s mercy makes them strong. The sacraments are the fuel that keeps them going. They return to them often, like a thirsty soul returning to a well.

☑️ Do This: Schedule your next Confession, a soul tune-up. And treat it like the gift it is.

4. They Embrace Their Bodies with Gratitude

They don’t obsess over weight or wrinkle creams. They care for their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit — walking, nourishing, and resting with peace, not punishment. They accept their changing bodies with grace, remembering that God knit them together with love and purpose.

☑️ Do This: Move your body today as a prayer of gratitude. Offer it for someone you love.

5. They Let Go of Perfection and Embrace Surrender

The best spiritual growth doesn’t happen in tidy plans. It happens in surrender. Thriving women learn to hold their plans loosely and trust God’s timing. They still dream and work hard, but they also know when to let go and let God lead.

☑️ Do This: What are you gripping tightly? Practice saying, Jesus, I trust in You — even if you don’t fully feel it yet.

6. They Stay Curious and Keep Learning

From Scripture studies to saint biographies to podcasts and prayer journals, they stay open. They let God keep surprising them, even after decades of faith. They know that faith is not a destination—it’s a lifelong journey. They welcome new insights and allow themselves to be changed.

☑️ Do This: Read something today that reminds you of who God is — and who you are in him.

7. They Serve, and Let Themselves Be Served

They know they’re called to love and give, but they don’t do it from a place of burnout. They ask for help. They lean on others. They receive with humility. They understand that giving and receiving are both parts of love. They don’t try to be the Savior, they just try to follow him.

☑️ Do This: Where do you need to accept help today? Let someone love you — it’s not weakness, it’s grace.

8. They Prioritize Real Friendships

They invest in women who speak truth and love into their lives. They laugh. They cry. They text each other prayer requests and show up with coffee. They don’t wait for the perfect moment to connect. They show up in the mess, in the chaos, and find God there too.

☑️ Do This: Reach out to one girlfriend today just to say, I’m praying for you.

9. They Rest Without Apology

They don’t glorify busyness. They honor the sabbath, take walks, and put their phones down. They know rest is not laziness—it’s obedience. They rest because they trust. God is in control, and they don’t have to earn his love through exhaustion.

☑️ Do This: Carve out 10 quiet minutes today. Light a candle. Breathe. Let yourself just be.

10. They Keep Their Eyes on Eternity

Thriving Catholic women know that life is short, but eternity is long. They live like heaven is real, because it is. And they trust that every sacrifice made in love echoes forever. This eternal perspective shapes how they love their families, face their sufferings, and spend their time. Their eyes are on Jesus.

☑️ Do This: Offer your next small frustration to Jesus. He sees it, and it matters more than you think.

Holiness Is Possible — Right Where You Are

You don’t need to move to a convent to grow in grace. You don’t need a new planner, a new job, or a new personality.

You need willingness and a little bit of courage.

Because aging gracefully? Growing in holiness? Thriving as a Catholic woman?

It’s not about doing more. It’s about choosing well — over and over again.

So here’s the real question: