I have been truly inspired by a class I am taking on the gift of Femininity. The Church leaves the administration of the Sacraments and the daily order of the Church to the men of Faith, as Christ established while on earth. Yet, just like with Adam and Eve, Christ established woman to take care of man, and by proxy, the world. Not only did Christ give us His mother to watch over, pray for, and guide us, but He has given man woman to keep him company and raise their children. Christ commissioned women, while He was on earth, to be His faithful disciples first, take His mother as the first example, then the three Mary’s at the foot of the Cross, and Mary and Martha, and then who did He first appear to after His resurrection? Mary Magdalene.
After this, Christ has called women to be Light bearers to the whole human race, just as woman can uniquely become impregnated with life, we can become impregnated with our Faith, and bear it to the world, as Our Blessed Lady bore Christ to Elizabeth and John; going out to greet people and bring to them Christ and aid.
Woman’s mission to the world? The Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI, and Pope John Paul II layout it out in a most urgent request from the ‘fairest of the sexes’, yet the stronger of the two in our day in age. Women are called to “aid humanity in not falling”, to “reconcile men with life and above all … watch carefully over the future of our race”. (To Women).
This is our call to arms by the Church, we are to take up our feminine qualities and help to save the world. We should take up our role models, the great women of Faith, Our Blessed Mother, St Joan of Arc, St Theresa of Avila, St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, and St Madeleine Sophie Barat.
“Avoid truth without love, love without truth.” - St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
“How rare it is to find a valiant woman! It is perhaps necessarily so, since Scripture says that they are more precious than pearls and diamonds. Let us however work to train a few. For in this century we must no longer count on men to preserve the faith. The grain of faith that will be saved will hide itself among women. A woman cannot remain neutral in the world. She too is set for the fall and resurrection of many. How different are God’s thoughts from ours!
Between women and God is often arranged the eternal salvation of husbands and sons. But for this she must be valiant. Strong to uphold purity of life. Strong to keep inviolate the treasure of faith. Strong in every battle of life. Great-souled in the face of calamity, persecution and death. And remember, sorrow is the training ground of strong souls.” - St Madeleine Sophie Barat
“In response to this interior willingness of his Mother, Jesus Christ prepared her ever more completely to become for all people their ‘mother in the order of grace.’” - John Paul II (Redemptoris Mater)
Tags: catholic, edith stein, feminine, john paul ii, mary, paul vi, second vatican council, st joan of arc
