STUDY like a SAINT
Grace Ellen
All books are published thanks to the generosity of the supporters of the Catholic Truth Society
Illustrations by Esther Ushe © 2026
All rights reserved. First published in 2026 by The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society, Cabrini Community Campus, Forest Hill Road, Honor Oak, London, SE23 3LE. Tel: 020 7640 0042. www.ctsbooks.org © 2026 The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society. ISBN 978 1 78469 922 2 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Bell & Bain, Glasgow
Called to Learn
To be called to Christ is to be called to learn. The path of a Christian, whether they are young, old, student or teacher, is strewn with challenges we must learn to overcome. As Catholics, we try to transform every part of our lives to the will of Christ. This is not something which we can achieve overnight but is a state of holiness we acquire through patient learning from the Holy Spirit. We let God’s love impact our actions, our daily routines, our mindset, and so much more. We often focus on how God might be leading us in what we consider to be the “big” parts of our lives, such as our relationships, our jobs, and our vocations. While it is important to be led by Christ in these areas, we sometimes forget about the “smaller” parts of our lives which are also used by Christ, such as our studies and schoolwork.
Many Catholic students may feel like their studies rank low on their “Christian priority list”, meaning they never stop to consider how God could be a part of their school studies, since academics and exams do not appear to be a wholly religious endeavour. Many of us have prayed
to God to help us in a school test but might not have considered how the process leading to up to that test could have been used by Christ to make us saints. The virtues and good fruits that we can receive from studying are rarely, if ever, discussed. Therefore, many are not even aware that we can dedicate this part of our lives to God, let alone aware of how we can do this. Whether you love it or hate it, the reality is that as a student, studying will take up a significant portion of your time. Not only do students spend all day in the classroom but are also expected to complete homework and prepare for exams. This pressure and the time needed to study increases as you progress through the education system. Most teachers recommend that A Level students aim to study for four to six hours per subject, per week outside of the classroom. If you then decide to go to university this expectation increases, with professors often expecting their students to treat their subject like a full-time job, dedicating thirty to forty hours per week to reading and studying.
Since this activity can take up so much space in a person’s life, why do we not dedicate this large portion of our lives to God and think about how we can use it for His glory? While other study guides argue that a specific technique or routine produces the most effective results, the saints show us that there is something more important than the number of hours we spend studying. They show
us that life is less about what we do and more about who we do it for. 1 Corinthians 10:31 implores us, ‘So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’ The truth is that you do not need to love studying to be good at it. You also do not need to be good at studying in order to benefit from it, both mentally and spiritually.
As a Catholic student you have something in your toolbox which other students do not, and that is the example of the saints. The saints can guide us in so many ways as we use their lives as examples of overcoming every possible challenge that Christians can face. They show us the reality of what it is like to walk with Christ, and we can connect with them on an imperfect human level. You may be surprised to know that the saints would have spent many hours studying, as they were all students once too. Therefore, we are going to explore the saints’ approach to studying and how they dedicated this part of their lives to God.
Many of the saints in this book spent much of their time studying theology, but this by no means suggests that all students should do so as well. Instead, it is the saints’ mindsets that we will be trying to imitate and that can be applied to all subjects and vocational paths. At this point, you do not need to be 100% certain of your path in life. You do not even have to enter higher education to apply the knowledge in this book. Because studying is ultimately a matter of exploration, perseverance and
growth, which are necessary skills for all people in all walks of life.
So what does it mean to study for God? At its core, when we do something for God it is a kind of dedication. It is saying, “I give this to You, Lord. All my work and all my efforts are Yours.” It is trusting in your heart that God will use any outcome of your school life for your greater good if you let Him. Jesus wishes to help us, to bless us in this way. He cares for our wellbeing and He cares for our life more than we do. Jesus wants to give us His virtues and He can use our academic trials and challenges to develop them in us.
Everyone is born with certain natural capabilities and talents which can be recognised and developed further. These are not mere strokes of luck, but are instead gifts from God. Therefore, studying for God could mean dedicating our time and effort to honing these skills and talents. In this way we are giving back to Him what He has given to us. This could mean dedicating our talents to helping others in our future families, careers or consecrated life. Many priests and nuns find that a talent they developed at school or university later helped them in their ministry. For example, working on their speaking and presentation skills may have helped them to go on to confidently spread the Gospel and connect to those in need through their words. Many parents also find that their years in education still help them today to raise their
children, as many of the vocations in the church require similar virtues, such as patience, resilience, and fortitude, all of which can be gained through your school years.
That aside, you do not necessarily need to be a student in formal education in order to benefit from this book. In fact, several of the saints in this book would not generally be classified as “academics” in the way we recognise academics today, but they can all be described as “lifelong learners”. You may recognise the term and have memories of being encouraged to be one by your teachers or guardians. Although it may seem like a modern concept, the idea of continuing to learn throughout our entire lives can be traced as far back as Socrates. Although not a Christian, Socrates recognised the imperfect nature of humanity yet also recognised our unique ability to learn and grow. He believed that this ability to self-develop should not be isolated to a single season of a person’s life. Rather than the simple acquisition of facts and knowledge, school is meant to equip us with the tools necessary to continue growing after we leave.
The Lord is also an advocate for life-long learning and Scripture calls us to this many times throughout both the Old and New Testament. Christian life is not a stationary one where virtue is attained in a single moment, but is instead a constant process of growth, of being moulded and shaped to be more Christ-like each day. Ephesians 4:15 teaches that ‘we are to grow up in every way into Him
who is the head, into Christ.’ This important word, ‘grow’ also appears in 2 Peter 3:1: ‘But grow in the grace and knowledge of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’ You see, our need to learn and grow never ends as we continue to battle our weaknesses and life’s hurdles. We will fall and make mistakes, but Jesus never leaves us and He will be there to guide us. The saints teach us that through study, we can grow to acquire the Christian virtues of perseverance, fortitude, and humility. We can also learn to be gracious and charitable to ourselves and others through their example, as we give ourselves the space and time to grow. Let us not waste this great opportunity; let us study with the saints.