Have you ever looked at a monastery gift shop and wondered how a group of men who pray five to seven times a day manage to run one of the most loyal, beloved small businesses in their community?

I have. And what I discovered completely changed how I think about my work at Thy Olive Tree.

Why This Matters If You Shop at Thy Olive Tree

Before I dive in, I want to speak directly to those of you who are here as customers. You shop here because you're looking for Catholic books and resources that actually nourish your faith, not just fill a shelf. You want something meaningful.

I'm sharing this post because I want you to know that what I create at Thy Olive Tree is shaped by the mission-first philosophy you'll read about below. When you purchase a book or resource here, you're not getting something I threw together to chase a trend. You're getting something I prayed over, worked on carefully, and created with the specific intention of helping you go deeper in your Catholic faith.

Understanding why I work the way I do helps you know what to expect from everything in this shop: quality over quantity, depth over trend-chasing, and faith woven into every page.

Now, Let Me Tell You About the Monks

Many monasteries, particularly in the Benedictine tradition, sell handcrafted goods, food, and religious items, and they're remarkably successful. Lines out the door. Deeply loyal customers. A reputation for exceptional quality.

But, they don't hustle, chase marketing trends, or have a profit-first mindset. They have a mission-first mindset.

Benedictine monks live by the principle of Ora et Labora, meaning pray and work. Prayer and daily work are not separate worlds. Rather, ordinary labor can become holy. They pray the Liturgy of the Hours, serve their brothers and guests, and fit their work in around those priorities. Not the other way around.

Much of their business comes from word of mouth. They trust that if they stay focused on their mission, God will provide what is sufficient.

Why This Hit So Close to Home

As a Catholic business owner and author, it's easy to fall into the trap of hustling. Of checking what's trending on social media before checking in with God. Of measuring the success of my work in sales numbers rather than in souls served.

While I've always created Catholic books and resources that are deeply meaningful, I've never truly defined what this means from an operating standpoint. How do I run a "business" that functions more as an apostolate in a culture where most business advice is driven by wealth and status?

Lately, I've been feeling a strong pull to slow down, surrender, and lead with mission over metrics.

Resources I'm Using to Live This Out

Whether you're a Catholic business owner, an aspiring self-publisher, someone exploring how to use your creative gifts, or are simply interested in ordering your life more like the monks, here are the resources I'm personally working through:

1. Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks by August Turak
   August Turak lived alongside monks and documented what makes them such extraordinary leaders and craftsmen. This is a great read for anyone wishing to apply these practices to their work.
2. The Rule of St. Benedict
   If you want to go deeper, St. Benedict's Rule is the foundation of Benedictine life. Not everything applies to those of us living in the world, but reading it gives you a profound appreciation for how intentionally the monks order their days around God.
3. The Monk Mindset App
   Built for laypeople, this app draws on monastic wisdom to help you organize your day around prayer, community, work, personal wellness, and detachment. It's a practical way to incorporate lessons from the monks into your ordinary life.
4. Liturgy of the Hours
   The Liturgy of the Hours is the highest form of prayer after the Mass, and praying it even once a day roots your work in something far greater than a to-do list. The monks pray this five to seven times a day. My goal is at least once (maybe 3)? I recently purchased Word on Fire's Liturgy of the Hours. The readings are organized by day with no complicated ribbon system, which makes it much easier to actually use.

For Catholics Who Feel Called to Create

If you've made it this far in this post, I want to say something directly to you:

The creative project on your heart matters! The Catholic book you've been wanting to learn how to publish, the resource you keep dreaming about, the story only you can tell: these are potential acts of Creative Missionary work.

We all have different charisms. Not everyone is called to create in the same way. But if God is stirring something in you, that's worth paying attention to.