I was gifted a copy of the Marian Themed Liturgical Planner in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking the links on this page, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
I picked up my mail on the way to bring the kids to the park to enjoy some unseasonably nice weather and saw a package from Nancy of Do Small Things fame. (Have you heard her daily podcast for Catholic kids?!?!) I forced myself not to tear into it while we were still on the highway. Once the car was safely parked, and the kids were frolicking through leaves, I dug in.
2019 marks the third year Nancy has released a planner, and this latest generation is my favorite. (Then again, I would have said the same thing last year. I’m a little sad to say goodbye to my Companion from last year. All the heart eye emojis!)
Design
As you can see from the picture, this year the planner is 7 x 9 inches and spiral bound.
Can you see the light reflecting off the gold on the front? For me the cover is a prayer and a reminder all in one. “Mary, My Mother” offers something for which to aim, a goal. I *do* want to be humble and kind and patient like Mary. I just have to remember to try. On the other hand, it’s also a prayer–inviting Mary into every aspect of my day.
Wait. Hold the phone. I know I have some non-Catholic readers. I’m guessing they would wonder why I don’t just ask Jesus to be every part of my day.
True. And that’s an important prayer, too. But we need to remember: who is Jesus’ number one fan? Who said “Do whatever He tells you?” Mary. Mary wouldn’t ever lead us away from the Son she dedicated her life to.
The more I can shape my life like Jesus’ number one fan, the closer I will get to Jesus. And that’s the whole point. Knowing Mary can lead us to a deeper, richer, relationship with Jesus.
The images of Mary throughout the pages are soothing. I appreciate that overall the design of the planner is beautiful without being busy. It looks polished and professional, and the touches of gold make it seem extra elegant.
Favorite Features
Goal setting, extra pages at the end for notes, weekly/monthly spreads– we’ve got all the usual features here. Here’s what makes this planner unique:
In tiny print (so it doesn’t take up much real estate) on each day in the weekly spread, the saint of the day is listed. I remember hearing somewhere that the saint of the day “has the ear of God” in a special way on that day, and I look forward to asking for the prayers of a specific saint every day.
The monthly habit tracker in previous editions evolved into a weekly habit tracker this time around. I live in the weekly spread, and I appreciate the designated spots for habits and meal planning on every week page.
The weekly spread contains a snippet of the upcoming Sunday Gospel. If I read the verse every time I grab my planner, it’s a conscious pause. It’s a tiny little lectio divina in preparation for the upcoming weekly Gospel.
Value
The price of the Catholic Woman’s Companion is right at $35. I was curious about where that falls on the spectrum, so I did a little research.
Planners range from the Target Plain Jane
To the Life Planner from the Queen of Planners, Erin Condren.
For faith-based options we’ve got:
The Elizabeth Clare Planner
The Catholic Mothers Planner
This generic Catholic Planner
The Blessed Is She Planner
Image of the Mini Planner from Blessed Is She
Price-wise, The Marian Liturgical Year Planner falls in the middle of the pack. It’s possible to find less and more expensive secular and faith-based options, but the value for the price is definitely a win. After having had the companionship of a faith-based planner for a few years now, I would have a difficult time going back to the Target Plain Jane.
As someone who struggles to get a good 30-minute, uninterrupted stretch for daily prayer, I appreciate the little moments this planner gives me to refocus and keep faith a part of my day.
The Marian Liturgical Year Planner is on sale now! Nancy also has some other goodies available, so be sure to check out her store.
Do you use a planner? What planner works best for your needs and budget?