“Honoring Our Lady”: An Interview with Katie Luangkhot

St. Josemaria explains: “Develop a lively devotion for Our Mother. She knows how to respond in a most sensitive way to the present we give her. What is more, if you say the Holy Rosary every day, with a spirit of faith and love, Our Lady will make sure she leads you very far along her Son’s path” (Furrow, no. 691).

As we celebrate October, the month of the holy Rosary, the St. Josemaria Institute speaks with Katie Luangkhot about living as a witness to the Catholic faith, Marian devotion, and incorporating the Rosary into a family prayer life.

Q: Can you share with us a little bit about yourself: your background, family, work and life of faith.

Katie: I was raised a cradle Catholic; I have two sisters and we were all homeschooled which I am still very grateful for because it really allowed me to grow deeper in my faith at a young age! I went to college in Dawsonville, Georgia and got my degree in Sacred Theology. That’s also where I met my husband, Adam. We got married in 2013 and now have three daughters of our own. Before having kids, I was a Montessori preschool teacher which I still have a deep love of; especially the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd! I’ve always been involved in my church, and currently am a music minister on Sundays.

Q: When and why did you decide to launch your Instagram page, @sweetmommalife? What is the mission or goal that inspires you in this work of evangelization?

Katie: I initially started @sweetmommalife to share about my motherhood journey and connect with like minded mothers in 2018. In November of 2020, I was feeling that I needed to discern whether the platform was serving Jesus or myself so I decided to fast and pray for clarity. I closed down my page, then in March 2021, after ending a novena, I opened my Bible to a page with rose petals on it and this verse: “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to God who is in Heaven” (Mt 5:16). It was clear to me to share more about my love for Jesus and the Catholic faith at that point. Since then, this page has truly been a joy to share on and meet some wonderful people through. One of my favorite things is to pray the Rosary live with my audience every weekday!

Q: Your Instagram page is a testament to living out a spirit of joy and witnessing to the love of God in everyday life. In our society which offers countless distractions that can pull us away from our relationship with God, what advice would you share with those who are looking to deepen their spiritual life and be a living witness to the Catholic faith?

Katie: Go to Mass! Utilize the sacraments! Pray the Rosary! Pray to the saints! Invite the Holy Spirit into your life as well as your Guardian Angel. Ultimately, surrendering to Jesus through Mary has completely changed my life and I recommend anyone to consider doing a Marian consecration. Fasting from social media has also been a huge help in growing my relationship with God! I still do it every Friday through Sunday and always feel refreshed.

Q: What are some of your favorite ways to honor Our Lady and celebrate October, the Month of the Holy Rosary? What resources would you suggest to someone that may be new to praying the Rosary?

Katie: I think it’s so important to pray the Rosary, and that is one of the greatest ways to honor Mary. There have been countless Marian apparitions which Mary asks us to pray the Rosary. For those looking for a guide on how to pray the Rosary, please contact me via my Instagram page, @sweetmommalife, as I have a lot of free resources which I am more than happy to provide. A few more ways I love honoring Mary would be renewing my Marian consecration every year, praying novenas, visiting Marian grottos, and asking for her intercession in this motherhood apostolate everyday.

Q: What are some ways that have helped you explain Marian devotion and the Rosary to your children? Do you have any practical tips for other parents striving to incorporate this devotion into their family prayer life?

Katie: Celebrating the Marian feast days is our favorite way to incorporate Marian devotions into our family life. We read and talk about what it is we are celebrating. Adding in coloring pages, songs, prayers, and special snacks makes it even more fun. The Rosary is something we pray together as a family which they enjoy because it’s family prayer time. They not only learn the prayers, but follow through the mysteries of Jesus’ life, and grow deeper in their own spirituality. I think for our family the most essential part of incorporating the Rosary and Marian devotions has been consistency. Sharing our love of these, and why, everyday with our children has naturally drawn them closer to Mary and the Rosary.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? Where can our readers learn more about you?

Katie: My Instagram page, @sweetmommalife, is currently where I do the majority of my sharing. I pray live everyday and try to share a few devotions or reflections as well as the saint of that day. I am currently working on getting my blog back up, so that should be happening in the future hopefully.