purpose of life – Susan Marie Molloy

A life spent chasing human approval and the secular world becomes a life slowly devoid of Grace. From our earliest days, we learn to shape ourselves according to the expectations of others, measuring our worth by praise that fades as quickly as it is given. Yet the Christian heart knows this restlessness well, for it is the ache of a soul made for God but distracted by lesser lights. When we divide our years between pleasing others and fearing their judgments, we forget the deeper truth: we were created to live coram Deo—before the face of God, to worship and adore Him, and Him alone.

The saints remind us that holiness begins when we loosen our grip on worldly affirmation. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux teaches us the “little way” of simplicity, where every act is offered to Jesus Christ rather than to the shifting opinions of the crowd. Saint Francis de Sales counsels gentleness with ourselves, urging us to seek virtue rather than applause. Their wisdom echoes the Gospel: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth,” for such treasures cannot anchor the soul.

To seek the “Well done” of Jesus Christ is to return to the true center of the spiritual life. His judgment is not fickle but merciful; not based on perfection of performance but on sincerity of heart. In His gaze, we find the dignity that no human approval can bestow. When we live for Him alone, our fragmented life becomes whole. The anxieties that once governed our days lose their power, replaced by the quiet confidence of belonging to God.

This is the freedom of the children of God: to walk in peace, to serve with love, and to rest in the assurance that the only approval that endures is the blessing of Jesus Christ Himself.

Pacem in terris.

January 19, 2026 – Saints Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum – Martyrs.

Welcome to The Little Cloister, a small cloistered space, set apart from the noise of the world and offered in a spirit of simplicity and peace. My hope is that this corner becomes a place of recollection — a pause in the day where the heart may grow still, the mind may be cleared, and the soul may turn again toward what is good and holy. In an age that prizes constant motion, I wanted to create a refuge where quietness endures and holy virtues are welcomed.

Here you will find narratives, sentiments, and reflections shaped by the ordinary rhythms of life: the work of tending the interior life, the call to order our homes toward peace, and the steady, necessary task of removing what is toxic to the soul. These writings are not grand treatises, but small submissions — simple observations, gentle encouragements, and honest thoughts gathered from daily experience. Nothing more, nothing less. They are meant to accompany you, not instruct you; to invite you into stillness, not overwhelm you; to give you food for thought, not lord over you.

The home holds a privileged place here. Not as a showcase or perfumery, but as a domestic sanctuary— a place where charity is practiced, where beauty is found in simplicity, where the heart learns to rest, and where owning “things” is insignificant. To cultivate such a haven is a quiet form of stewardship, a way of cooperating with grace amid ordinary duties. Clearing away disorder, noise, toxicity, and clutter is not merely housekeeping; it is an act of fidelity to the life God entrusts to us, and where our true purpose of life – to worship and obey God according to His laws – is of great consequence and magnitude.

If my writings offer you a moment of peace, a spark of clarity, a new way of looking at life, or a renewed desire for the sacred, then it has fulfilled its purpose. Thank you for stepping inside The Little Cloister. May this space be a gentle companion on your own path toward interior renewal.

Pax,

January 5, 2026 – Saint Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr

Tag: purpose of life

Are Our Lives Truly “Well Done?”

A Little Cloister for the Interior Life.