Brick House in the City – Summer 2022 Line

Reading has made many saints. – Josemaría Escrivá // I remember growing up and riding in the back seat of the station wagon while my Dad listened to books on tape, almost exclusively on the lives of the saints and their writings. From a young age, I found both inspiration and comfort in their stories by understanding that they were not superhumans, but ordinary people who strove for extraordinary holiness. To this day, when I am feeling discouraged in my faith, I look to the saints, and I am reminded that I am not alone on this path and that the communion of saints will always be there to encourage me along my way. My hope is that when you wear this shirt, you fall in love with the communion of saints, through the written word.

Have you ever prayed the Surrender Novena? It was written by Servant of God Don Dolindo Ruotolo, who was also known as the Apostle of Surrender, but he just referred to himself as “the Madonna’s little old man.” Each day of the novena concludes with the same line said 10x: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!” This simple yet profound prayer brought me such solace the first time that I prayed it that it is now one of my go-to prayers in moments of struggle, anxiety, and even moments of hope. It is so truly freeing to place our whole selves, worries and all, into the hands of Jesus and trust that he will take care of us. My hope is that when you wear this shirt, your trust in Jesus deepens in a radical way.

In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. – Galatians 5:22 // I can’t think about the fruits of the spirit without thinking of Jesus’s words, “You will know them by their fruit” (Mt 7:16, 20). When we aspire to emulate the virtues of the Holy Spirit, we are allowing God to be manifested within us. The fruits of the spirit are a reminder to me that the best and most effective form of evangelization is to live in such a way that when people meet us, they meet Jesus. It is easy to overcomplicate this and to think that to be a witness means that we need a platform or prestige or to know exactly the right thing to say but Galatians tells us otherwise. My hope is that when you wear this shirt you feel the fruits of the spirit come more alive within you.

“If your babies start to make a concert because they’re uncomfortable, or too hot, or if they’re hungry … don’t worry, go ahead, breast-feed them, give them something to eat, don’t be afraid, because this too is the language of love.” – Homily excerpt from Pope Francis // I have had a devotion to our Lady of La Leche since I became a mother and have thought of her during those nursing sessions at the quiet hours in the middle of the night while everyone else is asleep except for me and my baby. When I heard this homily by Pope Francis I was moved to tears. To not only be seen in this way by the Vicar of Christ, but to have this unique language of love acknowledged was so powerful and encouraging. I knew in that moment that I wanted to incorporate these words into a design with our Lady of La Leche. My hope is that when you wear this shirt you are reminded when you care for your children in all the unique ways that you do, you are speaking a language of love that speaks volumes to so many.

All the way to heaven is heaven, for Jesus said, I am the way. – Saint Catherine O“And what does the Lord require of you? To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” – Micah 6:8 // Sometimes I see the enormity of this world’s pain and grief and I feel overwhelmed and helpless. Do you ever feel this way? My heart physically aches for people all around the world that I have never met, and I feel frustrated and disheartened that I can’t reach them. I have spent my life feeling these feelings and I always go back to this verse. When I say this verse in my head, I add one single word that helps me turn my feelings of helplessness into acts of love. Do justice, today. Love mercy, today. Walk humbly, today. The time we spend today working on these virtues may feel small at times, but it is through diligence that we make a difference. My hope is that when you wear this shirt you can see the ways the Lord can use you to live out Micah 6:8 in your world today.

He counts the stars and calls them all by name. Psalm 147:4 // Maybe you’ve seen this Bible verse on wall art, or on a pillow, or maybe even on another t-shirt – but have you stopped to really think about what these words mean? Astronomers believe there are more than 200 billion trillion stars!! So, in long form, that is the number 200 followed by 21 zeros! And He knows them all by name! God’s understanding is infinite. He counts the stars and knows the hairs on your heart. Remember this when feel like you don’t know how to begin again with God. There is nothing that you can say or do that he could ever keep him from seeing or understanding you. My hope is that when you wear this shirt, you feel known by the God of the universe.  

We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We plant the seeds that one day will grow.  We water the seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise…  We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.  This enables us to do something and to do it well.  It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.  — from The Oscar Romero Prayer // This is just a small excerpt from the Romero prayer which was written as a reflection on the anniversary of his martyrdom.  These words are so powerful to me because they are truly the way he lived his life, especially in the period before his death. I believe that Romero’s understanding of liberation allowed him to preach and live so boldly for his people. He knew that even though he would likely die for the messages he preached in his homilies, that the seeds that were planted would be enough to restore the faith in the people around him. My hope is that when you wear this shirt, you have the courage to plant seeds, just like St. Oscar.

Ave, María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum. Benedicta tu in muliéribus, et benedíctus fructus ventris  tui, Iesus. Sancta María, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. // The Hail Mary is one of my favorite prayers and there is something so sacred about praying it in Latin. If you have been following my account for a while, you know how much I love Mary, and I have been longing to get one of the most beautiful prayers in the Catholic Church on a tee for such a long time. My hope is that when you wear this shirt you are keenly aware of the nearness of Mary and how she lovingly cares for all who call upon her intercession.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Behold I make all things new – Revelation 21:5 tee // Although this tee is inspired by Revelation 21:5, you will see a similar message throughout the Bible many times. I can’t help but think God spoke these words into life so often because He knew that we would need to hear them over and over to truly absorb them. God makes all things new – glory, hallelujah. It does not matter where we are, how little or how much we have done – we can be made new in Christ and there is no limitation to the grace if God. My hope is that when you wear this shirt you are reminded of how each moment, of each day is an opportunity to begin again with Christ.

To every woman reading this blog post, I am so humbled and honored that you want to wear my designs. From the very first moment of prayer when I start, to the spark of the idea and through the artistic process until I am holding them in my hands – I think of you and I pray for you. I hope that these shirts bless you, inspire you, and comfort you as we walk shoulder to shoulder on this path to our sanctity.
Pax et Bonum, Lauren Winter