33. Bibles and Birkins: A Busy Mother's Guide to Lent, Practical tips for time-starved mothers and for beginners

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What could a multi-million dollar Hermès Birkin bag possibly teach us about our Catholic faith? As it turns out, quite a lot. The way collectors prize, protect, and see these luxury handbags appreciate in value mirrors how we should view our familly, our spiritual life, and our vocation as wives and mothers —especially during the sacred season of Lent.

For busy women, finding time for prayer often feels impossible. Yet carving out just 15 minutes at the beginning and end of each day can transform our relationship with God. Prayer doesn't require perfect silence or uninterrupted solitude; it can happen while washing dishes, commuting on the subway, or feeding a baby. Just as a Birkin bag retains its value and can appreciate in value over time with loving care and protection of this prized asset, our daily tasks become pathways to sanctification when offered to God with love. It will also contribute to the development and enrichment of our relationship with God, and to our families.

The podcast invites listeners to consider a media fast this Lent—perhaps the most countercultural sacrifice in our digital age. By setting app limits or deleting social platforms altogether, we break free from comparison, perfectionism, and the dopamine hits of so-called "vanity metrics" of the number of likes and followers we get on our social media pages and accounts. 

This digital detoxification creates space for gratitude, genuine human connection, and deeper spiritual focus. Complemented by practical suggestions for almsgiving through decluttering, preparing extra food for those in need, and giving up unhealthy habits, this episode offers realistic guidance for mothers seeking to journey meaningfully toward Calvary, and towards Easter. Whether you're balancing career demands or managing a household full-time, these Lenten practices will help you invest in what truly matters—your eternal soul and those entrusted to your care. 

Please subscribe to our podcast and YouTube Channel to help us spread the word about our podcast apostolate. Please share with a mother or friend who would benefit from the messages in this episode, and please join us in being brave, bold, and blessed this Lenten season.

Books mentioned: 

1) "The Way of the Cross" by St. Josemaria Escriva

https://escriva.org/en/via-crucis/1/

https://opusdei.org/en-ng/article/the-way-of-the-cross/

(with audio, and links to purchase the book)

2) "Media Fasting: Six Weeks to Recharge in Christ" by Sister Nancy Usselmann, FSP

https://paulinestore.ca/media-fasting.html

Have a Blessed Lent!

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Episode Transcript

Sheila Nonato (00:00):
Birkins are a girl's best friend.
The luxe bag by the iconicFrench fashion house Hermes has
been a fan favourite of theuber-rich and influencer
fashionistas, both as a fashionaccessory and an investment
piece.
The most expensive Birkin sold,for $2 million (US), a

(00:21):
miniature bag adorned withnearly 3,000 diamonds.
It was intended to be worn as abracelet, not a handbag.
Depending on the condition ofthe bag, hermes Birkins usually
retain their value or can costdouble or more over time.
What does the popularity andlong-term value of the Birkin

(00:41):
bag teach us about our faith asChristians?
What do we need to invest in inorder to be better disciples of
Christ?
Let's have a short conversationabout a busy mom's beginner
guide for Lent.
Hello and welcome to the Veiland Armour podcast.

(01:03):
This is your host, sheilaNonato.
I'm a stay-at-home mom and afreelance Catholic journalist
Seeking the guidance of the HolySpirit and the inspiration of
Our Lady.
I strive to tell stories thatinspire, illuminate and enrich
the lives of Catholic women, tohelp them in living out our
vocation of raising the nextgeneration of leaders and saints

(01:23):
.

Co-Host (01:24):
Please join us every week on the Veil and Armour
podcast, where stories comealive through a journalist's
lens and mother's heart.

Sheila Nonato (01:31):
Hello sisters in Christ, welcome to our next
episode of the Veil and Armourpodcast.
It's going to be a mini-sodewhich I'm going to be borrowing
from Christy Walker, theCatholic Sobriety Coach, because
the next episode is not yetquite ready, and I thought I
would just offer this shortreflection for Lent.
And let's start off with aprayer I'm going to be reading

(01:54):
from "The Way of the Cross by StJosemaria Escriva, and it's by
Scepter Press.
This is the opening prayer Inthe name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen, my Lord and my God, underthe loving eyes of our mother,
we are making ready to accompanyyou along this path of sorrow,

(02:14):
which was the price for ourredemption.
We wish to suffer all that yousuffered, to offer you our poor,
contrite hearts, because you'reinnocent and yet you're going
to die for us, who are the onlyreally guilty ones.
My mother, virgin of sorrows,help me to relive those bitter

(02:34):
hours which your son wished tospend on earth, so that we, who
were made from a handful of clay, may finally live in libertatum
gloriae filiorum Dei, in thefreedom and the glory of the
children of God.
Amen, in the name of the Fatherand of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, amen.
And in this episode I'm sort ofgoing to be combining something

(02:58):
in the news trendy, but try toapply it to the practical.
The practical of the everydaybusy life of a mom, a working
mom, a stay-at-home mom.
And so let's go into it.
And so let's talk about theBirkin bag.
Have you ever heard of theBirkin bag?

(03:19):
Neither had I until I startedseeing videos of second-hand
Birkins popping up on my socialmedia feed.
It's a luxury bag worth theprice of a car, a house or a
college education, and you justcan't buy a bag from the Hermes
store.
You have to be on a list forseveral years before you can

(03:41):
have the privilege of buying one, and there's no choice of the
colour or the style or design.
You get what you get, which iswhy there's a booming secondhand
Birkin bag business around, andthere's now a Walmart or a
copycat version of the Birkinbag taking social media by storm
For less than $100, they'recalling it the " bag for the

(04:06):
work-in class.
That's clever.
Now, what does that have to dowith us Catholic moms?
Our children, our family, ourhome, our vocation as mothers?
These are our pride and joy,our blessings.
Society may not value children,but our family, our children,
are our legacy.

(04:26):
The way that people prize andinvest in the Birkin, we mothers
also must see how our vocationwithin the family is so
important.
We shouldn't look down uponourselves and what we do in the
home.
The dishes, the dirty diapers,reheating meals they are all a
path to sanctification, our pathto heaven.

(04:49):
Of course, our children are notour possessions.
They are on loan to us from God, if you will.
We are their caretakers androle models until they leave our
home to pursue their ownvocation and careers and, if
called by God, to have their ownfamilies.
We invest our time, our hardwork, prayers, our efforts into

(05:13):
our families, into raising ourchildren to aim for heaven.
We invest our time intobecoming a good partner to our
husbands, to making a beautifuland comfortable home and to make
wise financial decisions aboutthe family budget.
And if someone at a dinnerparty asks what we do, we
shouldn't be embarrassed to saywe are a stay-at-home mom or a

(05:35):
working mom.
We can proudly say that weperform the duties of a CEO and
a COO.
It's not a fair comparison, butthis is our Birkin and actually
worth even more.
There is no price for women'swork inside or outside the home.
Think of your mother when youleft home.

(05:56):
How much did you miss her homecooking.
Uber Eats certainly doesn'tcompare.
While there are gourmetingredients, the mother's love
is sorely lacking.
What does this all have to dowith Lent?
Lent is also an investment, aninvestment in our spiritual life
.
There are three key parts toLent prayer, almsgiving and

(06:18):
fasting and I'm going to delve alittle deeper in an upcoming
interview with my daughter.
But for starters, let's try tolay the foundation for a good
Lent.
How do we, as busy women, havetime for prayer?
This might sound difficult, butlet's try to aim to set time
for God in the morning 15minutes if possible or more, and

(06:40):
another 15 at the end of theday.
We can do our prayer in thesubway.
We can do it while we're doingdishes chores, while we're
feeding the baby.
We can do it while we're doingdishes chores, while we're
feeding the baby.
And another way to buy backtime is I invite you and this is
also very difficult for me todo to do a phone fast or a media

(07:01):
fast, social media fast.
It doesn't have to be a totalbreak.
We can also break it up or wecould wean off of it slowly so
we can break these chains ofaddiction.
We know that dopamine hits.
This is what gets us.
When we see the likes, we seethe number of followers, these

(07:23):
what they call our vanitymetrics end.
We really should be focusing on.
How are we contributing topromoting good, to spreading the
good news on social media, andalso are we using it to
communicate with family memberswho are not living near us?
But are we communicating withthem so that they are connected

(07:48):
to our family, to thegrandchildren, to nieces and
nephews?
We can also use social media inthat way to create more bonds
of family and connection andcommunication.
We rely less on AI and webecome more human.
We can let go of comparison andperfectionism.

(08:10):
We can let go of comparison andperfectionism and I used to go
on instagram and look at allthese beautiful pictures and how
you know, I don't look likethat.
I wish I looked like asupermodel.
Or, um, I wish I could cook.
Uh, this five-star gourmet mealor my house is not as
immaculate as that.
But why do we have to comparewhen we should?
Maybe we should have adopt aspirit of gratitude.

(08:32):
So in the episode with Mrs.
Tammy Peterson and Queenie Yu.
Father Eric Nicolai, a priestof Opus Dei, had counseled Mrs
Peterson, had invited her topray on gratitude when she was
going through the cross of herillness, and maybe we should
adapt that, too.
We should try to see how canbeing grateful, how can having a

(08:54):
grateful heart, help us todevelop a stronger, stronger
spiritual life, a strongerprayer life.
And so, practically speaking,how do we buy back this time on
the phone?
Is we put app limits?
So this is what I have done inthe past?
Is I don't know your settings,it depends on the phone.
Is we put app limits?
So this is what I have done inthe past?
Is I don't know your settings?
It depends on the phone, butyou can put limits on certain

(09:17):
apps.
Or I actually have totally justdeleted some apps so that I the
temptation is not there.
I mean, of course I can stillgo to the computer, but right
away on the phone it's notavailable.
You can also, during this timeof prayer, you can, if you have
a hard time focusing, you canread a passage of scripture and

(09:39):
you can pray on that, or you canjust sit in silence.
It's very difficult nowadays,with all the noise and
distractions to do that.
You can also read about thelives of the saints, a spiritual
book.
Like I read "he Way of theCross by St.
Josemaria Escriva Earlier,there's also actually this great
book by the Pauline sisters.
It's called Media Fasting SixWeeks to Recharge in Christ and

(10:02):
the foreword is by Jonathan Rumi.
It is written by Sister NancyUsselman.
I'm sorry, sister, if Ipronounced your last name
incorrectly, but this is fromPauline Media and it goes
through a beautiful.
It beautifully lays out how todo this.
Firstly, having a media fastplan.
And I encourage you, if youwould like to sort of have a

(10:26):
step-by-step guide on how todetach from social media during
this Lent to recharge yourspiritual life, please do Get
your hands on this book.
And so the second part of Lentalmsgiving.
So that's giving a donation.

(10:46):
Or you can also, if money tight, because you know we are living
in some uncertain economictimes right now and you know
people are penny pinching andcoupons I don't know if that's
still a thing right now,gathering coupons, um, but
decluttering, actuallydecluttering your home will help

(11:07):
you to sort of declutter yourmind as well.
And the items that you don'teat anymore, that can still be,
that are still of good use, youcan donate to someone else in
need, and that's another form ofalmsgiving.
Almsgiving can also be in theform of you know, perhaps you
can prepare an extra sandwichwhen you're going out and

(11:34):
sometimes you see a homelessperson on the side of the street
or at the traffic light even.
Perhaps you could do that.
You can get your kids involvedand you can see, you can explain
to them why we're doing thisand you can also say a prayer
for them whenever you pass bythe hospital.
Pray for for those who are sickor in need of healing and in
need of a miracle, and so theseare sort of some ideas to set

(11:58):
the groundwork for Lent, so thatyou know what are your goals,
how do you make them realistic,and it's just really important
to have an idea of what you'dlike to accomplish.
And if you fall, if you somehowyou know I did this I was going
to try to give up sugar, butit's very difficult, so I've cut

(12:21):
out all the things that I usedto eat for snacks, like cookies.
You know, cakes and things likethis.
I'm trying to inject morehealthier items.
You know cakes and things likethis.
Trying to inject more healthieritems fruits, having more
vegetables, things like thisthat will help you to not only

(12:43):
become healthier in body, butalso will help you clear your
mind, have a clearer mind andreally lengthen your life, and
so that for myself, so that Ican be there for my kids, I can
keep up with them.
So what other things we can doGiving up so fasting, giving up
something like food, like givingup sugar or some kind of food

(13:06):
item dessert and we can alsogive up an unhealthy habit, for
instance, if we stay up too late, we watch too many shows on
YouTube, we don't get the propersleep, or if we complain a lot.
Perhaps we could limit that andmaybe we should turn inwards,
because for myself, you know,when I say, oh, this and this

(13:28):
and this, and I realized that'sactually something that I should
be working on and I should notworry about this other person, I
should be working on thatmyself, and so maybe we should
look at how do we betterourselves so that we can serve
our others and also helpourselves in becoming the person

(13:51):
that God created us to be.
So less complaining, lesssocial media this is all to help
us in our journey towardsCalvary, as we accompany Jesus
while he carries his cross.
If you have any other ideas,please feel free to comment.
You can comment on the YouTubevideo or you can go on our

(14:12):
website and email us, or in thevarious podcasting platforms.
I think there's a commentsection.
We'd love to hear your ideasand I look forward to hearing
from you and journeying with youduring this Lent.
And may God bless you all.
Have a blessed week and untilnext time.
And let's just end the podcastwith a Hail Mary, In the name of

(14:38):
the Father and of the Son andof the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of grace, theLord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God, prayfor us sinners, now and at the
hour of our death.
Amen, in the name of the Fatherand of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
Amen.
Thank you listening to the.

Co-Host (15:14):
Veil and Armour podcast .
I invite you to share this withanother Catholic mom today.
Please subscribe to our podcastand YouTube channel and please
spread the word.
Let's Be Brave, let's Be Bold,let's Be Bold and Be Blessed
together.