Investing in Virtue, Not Just Value
Sanctifying Modernity focuses on how Catholic families can make wise, values-driven decisions when purchasing everyday goods and services. From choosing ethically made household products to supporting local artisans and businesses, this section helps families align their domestic spending with the principles of Catholic social teaching.
Categories
Curated lists of products and services
Key Components of Catholic/Christian Economics
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Work is not just a means of making money—it is a form of participation in God’s creation. Catholic social teaching upholds the rights of workers to fair wages, safe conditions, rest, and the ability to organize. When we purchase goods or services, we are morally connected to the labor behind them; honoring this principle means seeking out products made under just labor practices and supporting businesses that treat employees with respect.
Solidarity and the Common Good
Solidarity means recognizing that we are all part of one human family, and that our actions should promote the flourishing of others, not just ourselves. In economic terms, this means avoiding choices that exploit or exclude, and instead supporting economic practices that build up communities—especially the poor and marginalized. Every purchase has ripple effects, and we are called to choose what uplifts others, even if it costs a bit more or requires more effort.
Subsidiarity and Support for Local Economies
The principle of subsidiarity teaches that decisions should be made at the most local, competent level—whether in government, business, or the home. Applied economically, this encourages us to support local farms, small businesses, and cooperatives rather than relying exclusively on distant corporations. Local economies preserve community identity, empower families, and offer more ethical accountability than globalized supply chains.
Stewardship of Creation and Responsible Consumption
We are called to care for the Earth as stewards, not owners. This includes resisting throwaway consumer culture, minimizing waste, and choosing goods that are sustainable, repairable, and ethically sourced. Responsible consumption reflects our gratitude for creation, our concern for future generations, and our desire to live in right relationship with God, others, and the natural world.
Sanctifying Modernity 