Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity: Part 1-The Immolation of Talents
“We will also climb our Calvary singing in the depths of our hearts and raising a hymn of thanksgiving to the Father”
-Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity
Little Elisabeth Catez placed her fingers on the piano keys and took a deep breath. She wasn’t nervous. No...when her fingers touched a piano she felt as if it was almost a part of her. Her hands glided up and down the keys, blessing all who heard.
It wasn’t difficult as when she had first learned to play. Creating music had become an act of surrender for Elisabeth as she worked in union with her Creator.
When words became hard and she just couldn’t seem to calm her mind enough to pray in the traditional way, she would sit down at a piano and let God make music for her. This act of co-creating, of surrendering her talents, in turn, glorified God.
And it was good.
Fast forward a few years, and sweet little Elisabeth became Sister Elizabeth as she traded out the black and white keys of a piano for a black and white religious habit. Elizabeth yearned for a life of prayer and silence within the cloistered walls of a convent.
And while her fingers where silenced and still ached for that old familiar feeling of “home” while performing, her heart played music all the louder. A gift—a charism—given by the Lord and given back to the Lord, painful though it was.
Again, for His Greater Glory.
And it was still good.
Pretty counter cultural, huh? Choosing our vocation at the expense of our talents. Choosing a life of silent prayer over a life of fame.
But the thing was, Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity didn’t see her musical talents as being “wasted.” Rather, she saw the sacrifice of them for the sake of her vocation (i.e. praying for the world) as a means to make all-the-sweeter-music for the Lord.
“So your talents, your personality, your qualities are being wasted. So you’re not allowed to take full advantage of them. Meditate well on these words of a spiritual writer: The incense offered to God is not wasted. Our Lord is more honored by the immolation of your talents than by their vain use.”
Regardless of your vocation, we all have seasons where we can use our charisms freely and fully….and seasons where God asks us to place them on a shelf for a while.
And, in those times where we are not able to pursue those talents as earnestly as we once did, know that they are not gathering dust.
When you lay down your paintbrush to welcome a new child into the world...your gifts are not wasted.
When you place that diploma in the attic in order to serve you family...your gifts are not wasted.
When you no longer get to be a lector, Eucharistic minister, or greeter at Mass because your little ones need you to rock them in the cry-room each Sunday...your gifts are not wasted.
When you replace a soccer uniform for a white collar and vestments….your gifts are definitely not wasted.
Your sacrifice can be a song, though no one may hear it.
Your sacrifice can be a work of art, though no one may see it.
Your sacrifice can be a means of salvation, though no one may understand it.
No...your talents are not collecting dust.
They are not being hidden under a bushel basket.
You have given them back to the Lord to be polished like fine pearls. And now they reflect a Light much brighter than before.
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
I hope this recent charcoal sketch of Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity inspires you in some way!
The music notes in the background are actually the first few lines of Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. I really wanted to drive home this beautiful paradox we see in Saint Elizabeth climbing her “calvary singing in the depths of [her] heart.”
She actually referred to herself as Laudem Gloriae, “Praise of Glory.”
How fitting :)
Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, ora pro nobis.
Would you like to own this original piece of Catholic sacred art?
This 11x14 charcoal sketch of Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity is available to purchase for $225 + shipping.
If interested, please reach out to me at hdessauer.art@gmail.com for more information.
Fine art prints of this sketch will be available in-person at the National Eucharistic Congress this upcoming July 2024. Online orders will then be made available at my next print-release in August 2024.
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**Disclaimer: I try very hard to make sure the content of these reflections align with Church teaching…but I am still human and fallible (and may need occasional help from my brothers and sisters in Christ!) If you read something in one of my emails that does not align with Church teaching, please let me know! Likewise, when in doubt, seek out more information and contact your parish priest.
