Here's a Great Quote!
"A very wise quote is a spectacular waterfall! When you see it, you feel its power!”
Mehmet Murat Ildan, Turkish author
Who doesn't love a good quote?!
Some are funny. Some make you stop and think. And quotes from the saints? One really good saint quote can become a mantra for life.
Quotes are also one of the easiest types of content to share. A few well-chosen words can inspire someone, teach something about our faith or simply give them something to think about as they're scrolling through Facebook.
Here are a few simple tips for finding, creating and sharing quotes with your parish and broader community.
Step 1 – Find (and Verify) a Great Quote
There is certainly no shortage of quotes out there. The trick is finding one that fits what you want to communicate.
A few good places to start are:
The Sunday readings
The saint of the day
The current Church season: Advent, Christmas, Lent or Easter
The natural seasons: spring, summer, fall or winter
The current month or time of year: the month of Mary, back to school, Thanksgiving, etc.
A particular topic such as prayer, forgiveness, hope or the Eucharist
A simple Google search can help you find possibilities. Try searches such as quotes by St. [Name], saint quotes about the Eucharist or Catholic quotes about hope.
But there's one important extra step: verify the quote before you use it.
But there’s one important extra step: check the quote before you use it. The internet is full of quotes attributed to saints, popes and other well-known people that they may never have said. If you find a quote through Google, Pinterest or social media, do another quick search using the exact quote in quotation marks. Look for a trustworthy Catholic source or, even better, a reference to the homily, book, letter or other original source where the words appeared. If you can’t find anything reliable connecting the quote to that person, it’s probably best not to put their name on it.
Step 2 – Make It Look Good
Now it's time to turn those words into something people will notice. Canva makes this pretty easy. Search for Facebook quote, Instagram quote or simply quote and you'll find plenty of templates you can adapt.
Here are four simple approaches that work well.
1. Use a Photo as the Background
For this example, I started with a free Canva template, paired it with a quote from St. John Paul II and used a photo I took on a trip to the Rockies.
Using your own photos is a great way to make your parish content look a little less generic. Just make sure there's enough contrast between the photo and the words so the quote is easy to read.
2. Use an Image of the Saint
If you're sharing a saint quote, why not include the saint?
For this example, I used a public-domain painting of St. François de Laval and adjusted the font colors to complement the image.
Paintings, statues, stained glass and other sacred art can all work beautifully—just make sure you have permission to use the image or that it is in the public domain.
3. Keep the Graphics Simple
Not every quote needs a photograph or painting. Sometimes a simple background or small decorative element is all you need. For this example, I chose a floral design and let the quote itself be the focus.
4. Go Basic Black and White
And sometimes you don't need much of anything. Black text. White background. That's it. Simple can be surprisingly effective—especially when the words themselve s are powerful.
Whichever approach you choose, remember that the quote is the star. Don't bury it under too many fonts, colors or design elements. Make it attractive, but above all, make it easy to read.
Step 3 – Share It
Once you've created your quote, don't assume it can only be used once or in one place. Post the graphic on Facebook or Instagram. Add the quote to your parish bulletin. Include it in an email or newsletter. Use it on your website. If your parish has digital screens, add it there too.
You can even use the same quote differently in different places. The graphic might go on Facebook while the plain text becomes a small filler in the bulletin.
One good quote can give you several opportunities to share something meaningful. And that's the real beauty of quote content. It doesn't have to be complicated. Find a few good words. Make them easy to read. Put them where people will see them. You never know who might need those particular words that day.
Want to make it even easier?
Download 10 Ready-to-Use Catholic Quote Graphics — simple black-and-white graphics
you can use on your parish social media, in your bulletin or wherever you need a little inspiration.
Batching Gets Easier When the Thinking Is Done
Batching can save a tremendous amount of time, but there's a catch. It works best when you already know what you want to say. If you sit down for your batching session and spend the first 45 minutes wondering what you should post, you haven't solved the real problem.
That's why planning comes first. Know what's coming. Decide what matters. Then sit down and create several pieces at once.
That's also the thinking behind Creative Catholic Content. We look at the month ahead, identify the opportunities worth sharing and provide ready-to-use content to help parishes share the Catholic faith more intentionally.
Whether you're creating everything yourself or starting with content that's already been prepared for you, batching can help you get ahead—and stay there.
And wouldn't it be nice to reach Friday without suddenly wondering: “What on earth are we going to post today?”
