Sanctifying Economics: Spending with Purpose, Living with Intention

If culture is downstream from economics, then our everyday financial choices—however small—are shaping the world our families grow up in. The brands we support, the food we buy, the services we use, and even how we choose to spend or save—it all adds up. Not just in dollars, but in values.

The Economics section of Sanctifying Modernity exists for a simple but radical purpose:
To help Catholic families spend intentionally—so they can live faithfully, flourish financially, and help renew the culture.

We’re not here to moralize every purchase or make you feel guilty about the occasional Amazon order. But we are here to pause and ask:
What if we saw our wallets as tools for evangelization, formation, and communion?
What if our purchases could directly support Catholic businesses, reinforce a culture of beauty and virtue, and help build a society more reflective of the Gospel?

What You Can Expect

This section will offer practical recommendations across three tiers of stewardship:

1. Supporting Catholic-Owned or Mission-Driven Businesses

Whenever possible, we want to keep dollars circulating within the Catholic community. That might look like:

• Ordering Mystic Monk Coffee or wine from Catholic vineyards
• Buying religious gifts from small Catholic artisans on Etsy
• Hiring Catholic tradespeople or professionals when available
• Using Catholic-owned investment platforms or homeschool curricula

2. Spending According to Catholic Social Teaching

Not every product will be Catholic in origin—but many companies and practices still embody values we uphold:

• Purchasing a quarter cow from a local regenerative farm, supporting stewardship of creation and local economies
• Choosing quality, long-lasting goods over disposable, trend-chasing consumerism
• Supporting brands that prioritize fair labor, ethical sourcing, or cooperative models
• Seeking out small family-owned businesses and worker cooperatives over monopolistic giants

3. Making or Repairing Things at Home

Sometimes the most faithful and frugal option is to slow down and do it yourself. We’ll explore:

• Home-made cleaning products and bread baking
• How simple gardening or food preservation can build resilience
• Budgeting strategies that free families to donate more, invest in their parish or school, or spend more time together

Why This Matters

Catholic social teaching is not a theory. It’s a way of life that seeks the common good, respects the dignity of work, and reminds us that economics is at the service of the human person—not the other way around.

In a world obsessed with convenience, efficiency, and consumption, the Church offers something more:
Localism over globalism. Quality over quantity. Community over isolation. Simplicity over clutter.

By redirecting how we spend, we not only bless our own families—we support Catholic entrepreneurs, build parallel economies, and begin to shape a culture that reflects Christ’s love and justice in practical ways.

This blog won’t just tell you what to think. It will offer concrete ideas and alternatives—some broad and philosophical, others highly specific—so you can choose the best options for your family’s stage, income, and location.

Together, let’s sanctify our spending, one choice at a time.