Christendom welcomed back alumna singer-songwriter Marie Miller on October 11 for a special musical presentation, based on her new album, The Way of Love. Performing in front of a packed crowd in the college’s Regina Coeli Hall, Miller shared her music, personal story, and timeless insights from authors and saints for the Christendom community, encouraging them to give all they possess to God.
“Returning to Christendom to present The Way of Love was a great gift,” said Miller. “Without Christendom, I don’t know if I would be focusing on my Catholic art today.”
The Way of Love is primarily inspired by St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s Story of a Soul but also combines Miller’s own music and personal story with timeless insights from brilliant authors, such as J.R.R. Tolkien and T.S. Eliot, and other great saints, like Pope St. John Paul II and St. Ignatius of Loyola.
During her musical presentation, Miller shared her own story as a musician, drawing out how St. Therese’s Little Way is completely contrary to what the world says success means. Miller explained that, while society tells artists and musicians to seek their own glory, true fulfillment is instead found in being little, entrusting gifts and talents to God. The Little Way of St. Therese is simple but “demanding like the Gospel,” explained Miller, requiring complete surrender to God’s plan.
Several of Miller’s new songs brought these messages to powerful life. One of them, “Take Lord, Receive,” sets a beautiful prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola to music, inviting listeners to give their liberty, memory, will, and all they possess to God, who has given all these gifts.
Another of Miller’s new songs, “Woman,” focuses on God’s redeeming love for three women in Scripture, and how a person’s identity is “deeper than [their] woundedness, brighter than [their] scars,” because each person is the “holy work of holy hands.”
After her presentation, Miller shared that it was during her time at Christendom that her faith deepened in a radical way.
“Christendom is where my love for Jesus in the Eucharist really began,” said Miller. “The accessibility of the Sacraments on campus provided a beautiful opportunity for me to grow in my faith.”
Miller has released multiple albums and singles, including top hit “6’2,” with over 3 million streams on Spotify. As a live performer, Miller has opened for the Backstreet Boys, The Wallflowers, toured with Five for Fighting, and headlined shows across the country. In 2015, Miller performed globally at the Festival of Families for Pope Francis, sharing the main stage with Mark Wahlberg, Andrea Bocelli, and Aretha Franklin.
Listen to Marie Miller’s music or book her at her website.
Contributed by Helen Davis ’25.