The Gift of Catholic Woman and Mother

Upon reading Mulieris Dignitatem , the urgent words I heard ringing in my ears, and soul, were not even in the document itself. But I could clearly hear the encouragement of its author, Pope John Paul II, who proclaimed to us, “Be Not Afraid!” and from Scripture, “If Christ is for us, who can be against us?” These words of encouragement support the tone of this document which should serve as clear outline of the mission God has asked of women.

When this letter was written, I was barely four years into my marriage and approaching my first year as a mother. I will sadly admit that I was not active enough in the Church to even know of its existence. But discovering it now, at its 20th anniversary, results in a poignancy I would not have appreciated had I read it back in 1988. Suffice it to say, I have grown in my acceptance and understanding of the wisdom of my Church, and having Mulieris Dignitatem now, brings more meaning and import than it would have at its first proclamation. For now I am the mother of 11, 7 of whom are daughters. While not neglecting the weight of this letter on my husband and sons, its obvious impact is on me and my daughters.

As is so often the case when it comes to the wisdom of the Church, the solutions often come before the problems are even seen. Over the past 20 years, our society has been assaulted in ways not seen by the Pope at the letter’s writing. There was no internet, cable television had fewer options and the arguments of today on stem cell research and same sex marriage may have taken place behind closed doors but not on the front page. This list could go on and on, but we all know the crusade we face as parents – especially as Catholic parents-- so it is not necessary to lament the problems. Within this letter comes the reminder and encouragement for us as women to know that we have all need for the battles ahead of us – we need not be afraid.

Within the document we see our role models, women who have come before us who have fought their battles and won. With their example, and their heavenly support, we can do the same. It is as if we walk in the same garden as Eve facing serpents with lies and temptations to trust the words of the world rather than the wisdom of the creator. In addition, we battle against centuries of individuals, societies and governments who would place women as second-class citizens incapable of being vital enough for basic rights much less roles of responsibility. But God sees not as man sees and knows we were created for His purpose and His purpose alone. We need to remember that. We can still believe that the battles we face as women, and in particular as mothers, are too much for us to handle. There are too many lies out there that are stronger than we are. We must believe and know that they are false. We need to reflect on the roles of women who encountered Jesus throughout His lifetime on earth and know that at any given moment we can be called to be as they were. We must not remain as Eve, believing the snake but take the promise of God that the serpent’s head would be crushed.

Throughout the document, we are told of the roles we are called to fulfill for God, but we also hear of His abiding and lasting trust in our ability to do it. He has not called women to missions impossible but to challenges we are capable of fulfilling with His grace and His guidance.

At any point in our lives – young or old – we are asked to fulfill God’s plan by taking an active part in it. We are not to shy away from it, believing our critics who see our tenderness as weakness and our femininity as detriment rather than a compliment. We are called to be mothers like His Mother, whether by birth or by action, to care for those around us. This should not be seen as a burden but as a sharing in creation with God himself, in a manner only we can accomplish. Only we can carry life and give birth and that capacity, even if it is not fulfilled biologically, accords us graces that men do not share. Our gifts from God are merely different but remain equal. Women are a specific creation of God not an afterthought.

We are called to serve others and sit at His knee. We are at times Mary and at times, Martha. We are his witness, like the woman at the well, telling all those around us about Jesus, who knows our lives and has the water of everlasting life. We are His herald, like the woman at the tomb, perhaps being as she was, the first one to announce to someone that “I have seen Him. He is alive’. And we are called to stand at the foot of His cross, sharing in the pain of others, willing to be with them as they carry their crosses, face their struggles, and, perhaps, even their death.

All of these can seem like too much for anyone to bear, but we are not alone. God is with us, and we must not be afraid. God has entrusted us with these roles, and He will not abandon us to attempt to complete them without His help. This trust rings so clearly throughout the document. It is what can give us the encouragement and strength we need when we face the challenges of being a mother in the 21st century. I have women in heaven praying for me and giving me support, including Eve who is looking down on us, pleading and begging with us not to take the same path that she did. It is if she is asking for my forgiveness. ‘I am sorry I lost the garden for you, don’t lose heaven as well,’ she begs. For within the roles I can be asked to do as a woman, especially as a mother, I am to point out the snakes hidden in the garden.

I will not be another Eve – I will not let the lies reach my ears and certainly not the ears of my children. My role as a woman today to be another-Eve in imitation of Mary. I need to see the temptations for what they are. I need to call lies – lies and truth – truth. I need to teach my children and those in my life to do the same. My encouragement from Mulieris Dignitatem is one of a battle cry tempered by a lullaby. I have been given a mission by God and I have the delicacy of my nature to fulfill it. I need to strive to be worthy of the trust God has in all women and teach my children to do the same.
God bless, Rachel Watkins

Are you near New Jersey???

I am excited to attending the Chaplet Homeschooling Conference this weekend - the 25th - on behalf of Ecce Homo Press.  If you are near the area, please make plans to come by and say hello!

I will also be attending the Quiet Waters event up in Buffalo, NY (we'll be having a small LF time set aside to meet and greet each other) and the Family Learning Center event in Lancaster, PA (I'll be speaking here as well as trying to arrange a LF event as part of the picnic on Friday).

I'm writing this on the fly, so specific websites aren't readily available but I'll post those tomorrow.

Walking w/ Jesus along the road to Emmaus

I am always a little surprised by today's Gospel reading which begins:

Luke 24:13-35
That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

They were walking away from Jerusalem!  Away!  After hearing about His resurrection they still had too many doubts, worries or concerns to stay.  But Jesus would not let them get away that easily - He went after them, asking them questions to bring them back to the truths they just couldn't see.  We don't know why they couldn't recognize Jesus, just as we don't know why Mary couldn't see Him at the tomb.  We can be so surprised at their actions but why?  Aren't we guilty of some of the same actions?  

We walk away even when we know He is risen.  We forget all we know as situations seems too overwhelming, too difficult to understand or handle.  We walk away....

But He will not let us get away so easily and He shows us as He showed them:

With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

When you doubt, seek Him in the bread and wine.  Seek Him in the Tabernacle and know that there your heart will burn with the truth He wishes to speak to you.  

The Triduum in our house...

Under normal circumstances our house has pretty specific Holy Week-Triduum activities.  This year however, we are dealing with illness with 3-4 of my kids (depending on the day!).    But, I would like to share what we will be trying to do - with at least a few of the kids who are healthy and what we have done in the past.

In addition to our parish activities, in our house we will say the Stations of the Cross as a family on Friday.  Over the past few years I have had my kids illustrate the stations and we will hang those and use them for our focus.  It is very neat seeing the 2-3 years of drawings I have saved.  I can see both their progression as artists and in their understanding of each station.  I allow for a pretty free hand in the art so we have some realists and some impressionists.  

On Friday, we will enter silence in our home.  We will drape our pictures and statues in black and try our best to be with Christ both at the cross and in the tomb.  The older kids understand this better than the young ones so while we will do without any TV/computer/music for the older ones, I give the littles one a bit more latitude.

The older ones (12 and up) will watch "The Passion of the Christ" w/ Matt and I (probably on Friday).  We allow for the hiding of the eyes during the tough parts, as I do that as well.  

Throughout the three days - still trying to keep as silent as possible we will take turns - either together or alone - read all four of the tellings of the Passion.  I usually read just one to the younger ones while the older ones read all four on their own over the three days.  We'll then take some time to talk about it w/ them when the little one are asleep.  Also on Saturday we make our best attempt at a family rosary focusing on the Sorrowful Mysteries - if weather permits we'll do it outside.

Our goal through all of this is to remind the children that while Jesus' crucifixion took place historically at a specific time and in a specific place on a spiritual and eternal level, the cross remains for all time until we reach heaven.  Being with Jesus from the Last Supper until the stone is rolled away gives Him great comfort and us a great source of grace.

Be assured of my family's prayers this weekend.  Enjoy Sunday!!

Holy Week is here!

Every year I hope for a miracle.  Every Easter I hope that this is the year when I will arise on Easter Sunday perfectly holy.  Needless to say, that has never happened and I have no high hopes of it happening this year.  Not that God can't do it but I have come to accept that He prefers to work slowly.  I also have come to realize that what I want is work that takes no effort on my part!

While He is a God who can swiftly change the course of a river, He tends to work more carefully and delicately with a soul.  He wants so much to change us.  Not in a manner that makes us differently but in a manner that makes us more fully US.  In the same way that a cocoon makes the caterpillar more fully what God intended it to be - a butterfly.  

But that work takes a time doesn't it?  Allow God the time He needs but also give Him permission to do it.  Be willing to work with Him knowing that the end result is worth it.

Holy Week is Coming

Just a bit of planning advice - in order to take full advantage of Holy Week why not make plans to get all the details and shopping done either this week or during the weekend.  

Take a look at the wardrobes for you and the kids.  Everyone have their clothes (including socks)? If you do Easter baskets have all the treats taken care of.  Menu planned for Easter Sunday?  Get the groceries now.  Having everything laid out and ready to go.  Plan who is getting a bath/shower and when.  Who is cooking, hiding the eggs, driving to Gramma's.  Be as detailed as you can.  Let the older ones know what is expected of them and assign tasks.  

Taking care of the worldly aspects of Easter allows us to focus on the spiritual aspects of Holy Week and Easter.  

And in light of that - make some real plans for this year's Holy Week.  Have you watched the Passion of the Christ?  Done the Stations of the Cross as a family (either in your home or at Church)?  What is being planned at your parish that you can take part in?  While I love the pretty dresses and can't get enough chocolate in my life - I know that my Lenten practices were for nothing if I don't make it to the finish line at the Garden.

Let it be done....

These words are both powerful and poignant.   They are a challenge and a commitment.  The challenge is ours - will we let God do what He wills?  The commitment is God's - He will do what He has said.

No matter how impossible it may be - a virgin birth.  No matter how difficult - save the world by the death of His only Son.

But we waver, we hesitate and we give conditions.  Yes, Lord - your will BUT.....Yes, Lord, your will IF...Yes, Lord ONLY....

We need to strive every day to see all as His will - the good and the bad, the joys and the disappointments.  Especially perhaps the disappointments.

Let it be done, Lord according to your will.