Minimalism. This word can either make you excited (yes! I want to clear the clutter and own less so that I can have a cleared house and head) or dread (ugh. blank walls, modern furniture, and no collections). What if I told you that all Catholics should be minimalists, yet that most people have the wrong definition of what that means?
Minimalism as a Catholic means owning what you need as well as what brings glory to God. So, for example, I don’t “need” in the human sense my artwork of Mary and Jesus and other holy images, yet these images both bring me closer to God through meditation as well as quietly evangelize those who visit my home. My Catholic book collection doesn’t meet a physical need, yet as a Catholic woman, wife, and mother, as well as someone speaking publicly about the faith, these books assist me in my efforts to become a saint and help others find God.
The idea is this: to not keep something around your house that someone else could benefit from, that isn’t essential or even being thoughtfully used by you currently. Our call to charity extends to our possessions, since we are merely stewards of all that we have and are called to share with those who have less. We must detach from every single item we own, since we cannot take it with us, and instead see it as either helping or hurting us in our pursuit of God.
Minimalism will look different for every single one of us. It’s really about being thoughtful with our possessions, not hoarding for the “just in case” moments of life, yet being prudent regarding various aspects of survival. Ultimately our trust in God has to develop so that we no longer cling to things to protect us or make us happy. They’re simply tools and we don’t need as many as we think we do. God will provide for what we lack.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself about an item:
- Would I buy this again today?
- If this item spontaneously combusted, would I miss it?
- How many of this item is essential? Do I own a surplus that I could donate?
- Have I used it in the last year?
- Am I hanging onto this item out of guilt?
- Am I hanging onto this item out of fear?
- Is the item currently serving me in my walk towards holiness?
Notice I don’t ask: “Do I love this?” or “Does this bring me joy?” While we can enjoy an item aesthetically, we must learn to detach. Attaching emotions of love or joy to an item gives that item an emotional aspect that will bond us to this world. Suddenly we’re caught up in the fear of losing the thing we love or brings us joy. So let these words be used solely for God and for those who deserve your true love and joy.
Decluttering and minimizing is exhausting, in all aspects. Sometimes that exhaustion can keep us from starting. We know we’re going to get tired, burnt out, our brains overloaded with decision fatigue. Yet, I do think as Catholics we need to be responsible with our things and really be thoughtful about what has a place in our lives. Everything we own demands care. We see these items, or dread seeing them. We have to care for them, at least dust them or shift them in a closet or drawer to get to what we want. Sometimes negative emotions can be tied up as well. Praying to the Holy Spirit for the gift of fortitude to start and persevere, and the gift of prudence to make wise decisions will help. Listening to Gregorian Chant or something eternity-minded will help you keep your purpose in focus.
Personally, I find Kon Mari’s method of taking everything out helpful and sometimes necessary. To be faced with ALL of your clothes, ALL of your books, or ALL of your office supplies, helps you see any possible excess. You can then make thoughtful choices about what TO keep, what serves God, and the rest can be let go of, to serve another soul. Choose those items that serve your vocation, your soul, your marriage, your charitable endeavors. Let the rest go, no matter how much money it cost or how long you’ve owned it.
Let’s talk about this fear of the unknown, the “what if.” Now, we know that fear is not of God. Prudence – yes. Fear – no. With the last two years of isolation, food shortages, and possible lockdowns and inaccessibility to stores for some, this question looks a lot different than before these events. Perhaps it IS prudent to have two months of food on hand, or hang on to your DVD collection. Perhaps you don’t donate the extra blankets or hang onto a few pieces of clothing you don’t wear but could if something happened. Currently I’m not allowed to go clothes shopping here in Germany. It makes me second-guess getting rid of items I’m not currently wearing but might in the coming year. This I see as prudent and not fear-based. I know God will clothe me. We can only let the “what if” go so far though. Not everything can be a “what if.” If you want to prep for that storm, illness, or lockdown, think about what is essential for those events (be honest) and then be okay letting go of what isn’t needed.
The other side of the “what if” is the “someday maybe” thought process. Someday I may want to ski again. Someday I might actually learn to knit. Someday I might travel to Europe so I’m going to hang onto this guide. We all have that “ideal” self that we want to be. You buy cook books because your perfect self wants to be a gourmet chef, yet you prepare the same dishes week after week, the books collecting dust. You invest in camera equipment because your ideal self is a photographer, yet you rarely bother to use anything but your phone. You get the idea. As Catholics we must embrace who we are, who God made us. Hobbies are great, but most of us only have time for one, maybe two. Rather than have our ideal self scattered all over the house or in the back of a closet, making us feel guilty, lets be honest and embrace who we are RIGHT NOW, because we only have today, and free ourselves of thinking we need to be anything else.
To close, I’m going to share some resources that have helped me over the years, as well as videos I have on minimalism. I found this movement, this idea, Dec 24, 2016 and my life has forever changed. Don’t get me wrong. I own stuff. I need to go through my DVD collection again with a heavenly eye and my office needs a bit of a clean-out, but embracing this idea of owning only what is needed and not letting my things control me has been freeing.
Not of This World: A Catholic’s Guide to Minimalism (Sterling Jaquith) (book): https://amzn.to/3fhqASo
Minimalism: A Documentary (film): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3810760/ (it’s on Netflix but I don’t support Netflix – you can also find it on Apple TV and other movie sites)
Joshua Becker (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/c/JoshuaBecker
The Minimal Mom (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeLICYOqHfIrfSAQq1TT7PA
The Minimalists (website, podcast, blog): https://www.theminimalists.com/
Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.
-Matt 6:19-21