We live in an increasingly noisy world, and many find that is particularly so in the world of bodily health and wellness. It can be tricky at times to navigate this realm as a Catholic—when you’re looking to be prudent and wise in your choices, to tend to what the Lord has given you with care, but also not make health an idol. There are conflicting messages everywhere about what to eat or what not to eat, how to exercise best, what to buy, etc. (not to mention the world of new age practices and godless nature worship to avoid!). It can all be a bit much, especially with a seemingly small number of Catholic voices speaking about holistic living.
Thankfully, the Holy Spirit offers much peace in discernment in this area if we have hearts attentive, and there is also much wisdom to be found in scripture and in the writings of the saints. St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body,” (6:19-20) and, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God” (10:31). Nourishing our bodies, moving them in ways that help them to flourish, and tending to them amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life is in and of itself a prayer of thanksgiving.
Sometimes the Lord permits suffering in the form of bodily ailments, and, along with fasting and denial of bodily desires, these can be an opportunity for grace and intercession. St. Thomas More writes on the balance between this care of the body and receptivity to suffering in his book A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation:
God has given us bodies that we might care for them
and serve him in them, until the time comes when
He takes us from this life. We cannot easily tell how
much bodily suffering we can handle, and when it
might harm our bodies or even our souls . . .
So we maintain our bodies as well as we can,
and leave the degree of suffering to God . . .
So it is in many cases: we call out to God in sickness and
are made whole, or in dire weather and are brought
through. We often forget our need for God in the midst
of our wealth and happiness and we cease to pray, and
God in his goodness draws us back to himself through
suffering so that he can bring his graces to us.
The Lord has provided us with so much bounty in creation as pure gift. Countless opportunities for bodily nourishment through the cyclical rhythm of the seasons and the bounty they provide, herbs with manifold uses, rich minerals in the earth to assist our cellular health, the wonder of the sun and its benefits for the body through our circadian rhythm and vitamin D production, the list goes on. In our modern world, these things might not be something we meditate on often enough. His creation deserves our attention and reverence, our human bodies being included in that.
St. Hildegard of Bingen is a Doctor of the Church. She was a medieval Benedictine abbess who was also a prolific writer, composer, visionary, and herbalist who had profound knowledge of and respect for the natural world. She wrote:
Glance at the sun.
See the moon and the stars.
Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings.
Now, think.
What delight God gives to humankind
with all these things. . . .
All nature is at the disposal of humankind.
We are to work with it.
For without we cannot survive.
What are some ways that we can pursue good health through nourishment and care for the body, while also surrendering to the will of God? First comes prayer, above all else, to discern our proper mindset and disposition. Next, to be intentional with the food we choose to nourish our families with and seek to prioritize quality whenever we are able. Shopping local for produce and animal products is a great way not just to support the local economy and small family farms but also to attain more nutrient-dense food. Regularly getting out into the fresh air, moving our bodies, feeling the sun’s rays, and never forgetting gratitude for it all is a beautiful prayer.
You can take your rosary on your hike, walk the stations of the cross with your family, prepare a beautiful nourishing meal for your favorite saint’s feast day, or simply take a minute during your busy day to intentionally nourish your body out of love for the good Lord who provided it to you. Sufferings will come in this life, of that we can be sure, but all we can do is our best to tend to what the Lord has provided us today and pray for the grace to bear it all well for His glory.
Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow, is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! . . . Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Mt. 6:28-33)
Author’s Note: You can find more meditations on holistic living through a Catholic lens in The Ember Collective’s new book, Feast Faith Flourish. This book contains content including many seasonal and liturgical recipes, educational content on the foundations of health, spiritual reflections, and much more. The Ember Collective also publishes a quarterly print magazine.
Photo provided by the Author
