Litany's Roman Holiday

The Litany Ladies were ecstatic to frolic around the cobblestoned streets with gorgeous churches around every corner and just revel in the beauty of Christ in His Church! Draped in our silk scarves, we felt like we became one with the ancient mosaic walls, rich oil paintings, and glistening stained glass. These scarves remind us of the warmth and safety of our home in Christ’s Heart—in His Church. 

We were invited to attend a historic event hosted by the Vatican: The Jubilee for Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers. It was a gift to hear the stories of so many Catholic creatives around the world and be encouraged by the cardinals to continue responding to the Great Commission through our craft. Pope Leo XIV even saw our Litany scarves as Eliza Monts (@elizawritesthings) and Mackenzie Hunter (@acaffeinatedcatholic) were wearing them as they touched his hand! 

In Pope Leo XIV’s address to the digital missionaries, there were three key points that really echoed in our hearts! First, he urges to respond to the suffering heart and recover a sense of humanity in this age of AI:

“Always look for the “suffering flesh of Christ” in every brother and sister you encounter online. Today we find ourselves in a new culture, deeply characterized and formed by technology. It is up to us – it is up to each one of you – to ensure that this culture remains human.”

We delight in the slow work of design and contemplative process of Litany: from Veronica’s scrap mood board and pencil sketches to fabric swatches and the measure, cut, sew of the samples. We are reminded of the complexity and intrinsic value of each human person by the made-to-measure process. 

The Lord did not create us to be rushed and used. He delights when we tarry awhile with Him. The Italian dinners reminded us to rest awhile, breathe, take in, receive the gift of the now. 

We are wearied by a culture that demands instant gratification—more, more, more—so we are leaning into contemplation and rest in the home of the Holy Family. This requires a level of surrender and detachment with the growth of our brand, but we are confident that this way is better than the leveling up schemes. Please pray for us, as this surrender is only possible by grace! 

This brings us to the second point, Pope Leo XIV reminded us, “Throughout history, the Church has never remained passive; she has always sought to illuminate every age with the light and hope of Christ by discerning good from evil and what was good from what needed to be changed, transformed, and purified.” There is horrific exploitation and utter evil in the web of the fashion industry; from the start of Litany, we have sought to be a healing balm for those exhausted by consumerism and bring to light the innate dignity of the human person.  

As you wear a Litany garment, we hope that it ignites conversations about the faith and becomes an opportunity of encounter, not just for others but for you (as the wearer) to be reminded of the nearness of Christ in the ordinary. May Litany always serve as a tangible reminder of our need for grace, as Pope Leo XIV went on to say,  

“It is not simply a matter of generating content, but of creating an encounter of hearts. This will entail seeking out those who suffer, those who need to know the Lord, so that they may heal their wounds, get back on their feet and find meaning in their lives. Above all, this process begins with accepting our own poverty, letting go of all pretense and recognizing our own inherent need for the Gospel. And this process is a communal endeavor.” 

Third and final point, when he mentions those who suffer—we immediately thought of those in our industry—the garment workers throughout the world who are mistreated and forgotten. Every piece of clothing has been through hundreds of hands—often the hands of those whose stories are never told. As the universal Church, we must continually align ourselves with Catholic Social Teaching. Too often, the garments are treated better than the workers. The change must begin with research, conversation, and awareness among the faithful. Let us pray for ongoing conversion in our own communities, to have the hard conversions with compassion, and to build up the Church through collaboration of the creative gifts the Lord has given us. 

Overall, we are swelling with gratitude from our Roman Holiday and still unpacking (both spiritually and physically) the fruits of those encounters. We carried you with us in Rome and are confident that the Lord has promised you a hundredfold of the graces He gave us on this trip. He is bringing about newness even now as you read this article. Rejoice! This is the Jubilee of Hope!