An old model for modern women

BY COLLEEN CONSTABLE

Our Catholic faith has no shortage of women saints and holy or pious women: the jewels of the Church; the special friends of Christ. From the Middle Ages to the 21st century, lessons from the inspirations and life journeys of women icons serve as guidelines to understand life’s purpose.

These women followed holy desires, understood their destination, but were not in control of the route. They travelled and conquered.  Maybe angels prepared the path ahead. What does their message hold for the 21st century generation X and Y women living in the world? Today women are liberated and opinionated, independent, intelligent and ambitious, compassionate and assertive. They resemble the 21st century woman in an era of globalisation, technology, bio-diversity and inequality.

The Middle Age diamond St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302) was never formally canonised. According to the classic writing from 1678 on her life and revelations,  “her name was inserted… without any special eulogium”.

Gertrude was offered to “the service of God in holy religion” at the age of five—a practice later forbidden by the Council of Trent and abolished by Pope Clement III.
When Gertrude could exercise her agency she did: she freely chose Christ and became a professed sister of the Benedictine order. She died in sanctity as abbess and left memories of her spirituality based on the pillars of trust in divine providence and following the will of God.

In a modern world these two aspects require women to integrate a total dependency on God into all areas of their everyday life. It requires redefining the relationship with God, analysing and decreasing the levels of self-will and dependency on your own inner strength—a challenge easier said than done.
Gertrude was a spirit-filled and intellectually gifted woman: an intercessor that had an extraordinary intimate spiritual relationship with God the Son. Although spiritually gifted and connected, Gertrude remained humble. She requested prayers from others for her personal development. How willing is the independent woman of today to accept assistance? How often does she ask others to pray for her specific needs?

Another facet of Gertrude’s life is the stage where she showed no exterior signs associated with someone in spiritual progress. Visitors perceived another religious sister to be more spiritual.

Some 21st century women may relate to this aspect of Gertrude. They may have found themselves being perceived as lacking the signs of  spiritual affirmation. Some say it can be seen in the way the person moves with reverence, others want to see them become silent, if previously they had an inclination to be vocal; others expect changes in the dress code: lipstick, jeans and high heels replaced by a toned down image.

Woe to those who do not show these signs! They are deemed to be frowned upon, accused of false humility and seeking attention by trying to draw people towards them. Enough to let a generation X or Y woman fall prey to the advice of her peers: “Go with the flow!” But if she has perseverance and zeal she may just continue to go against the flow.
Gertrude was emotionally intelligent. She had self-awareness and spent time in reflection to ponder her shortcomings. She felt she needed more patience and mildness and requested another religious to pray for her. How open are today’s women to acknowledge their weakest link?

Gertrude was also willing to make a trade-off: she gave up her love of literature, to concentrate on her contemplative spiritual role. What trade-offs are modern women challenged to make if they want to keep their spiritual, professional and personal lives in tact? How willing are women to let go when it is time to do so?
Gertrude understood her mission. She received the burden of religion: praying for the Church and writing the dialogue between her and God. The result is a spiritual journal for anyone seeking ways to reach sanctity. After reading this journal you remain in awe!

That brings us to a modern day struggle: the inclination to link a personal, intimate relationship with the Triune God to supernatural experiences. Generation X and Y women are perceived to be realistic and practical. The dreams of their mothers who longed for visions, foreknowledge or inner locution, and never got it and so tried to impart their unfulfilled wishes on their daughters, hoping to have a “special child”, have been shed. Of course there are also mothers who have always been practical.

But some girls grew up wanting to be “special”, and by the time they become adults they start to express wishes for mystical gifts. And then there are women who, if they do meet someone with mystical gifts of some sort, (yes, it can still happen in our time!) they immediately wish that these gifts be imparted. You cannot blame them: they became the product of indoctrination. They support a hidden theme: the competition to be Christ’s special friend.
In this process the concentration shifts away from the core thought, namely to develop a personal, intimate relationship with the Triune God. Actions become directed towards religious piety. And being in competitive mode creates insecurity and alienation. Some women are unable to have constructive spirituality discussions with other women.
The loving concept of spiritual sisterhood becomes a myth. And the personal, intimate relationship with God gets deferred. Unless women face the reality that feelings of spiritual insecurity expose something about her rather than another woman, she will not be at peace with herself or with other women. She will not understand that it is time to fix her life.
Gertrude’s approach to spirituality encourages modern women to have a living, personal and intimate relationship with the Triune God: to offer God a resting place in a busy world. To follow a journey, living their best life to the glory of God, through seeking their true calling: a path carved out according to the will of God, supported by the trade-offs women are willing to make, to give Divine Providence control of their destiny.
What exciting times for 21st century
generation X and Y women: a time for something ancient and
something new!