Woman’s special place in Church

BY FR RALPH DE HAHN

Reading through sacred scripture it is evident that the male writers failed to give women their rightful place. Men gave no credence to the views of women; even Paul mentions the risen Christ appearing only to men (1 Cor 15:3-8) when the gospels, which were written later, make it clear that he appeared first to women.

Mary Magdalen and the risen Christ by Fra Angelico.

At the time the views and witness of women was held to be not valid.

However, we know that Jesus had a special place for women in his plan. We hear of the pious women who accompanied Jesus on his journey and cared for the needs of his apostles, such as Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Susanna and several others (Lk 8:2).

Mark also mentions the courageous women who stood with the crucified on Calvary, such as Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James the Younger and the mother of Joset, and Salome (15:40). John’s gospel speaks of Mary the wife of Clopas.

Scripture commends the many weeping women of Jerusalem, and even the pagan wife of Pontius Pilate spoke up in favour of the condemned man.

While men wanted Jesus dead, the women could honestly declare: “We are innocent of this man’s blood” (Mt 27:24).

Unlike the cowardly apostles, women did not lose faith in him! They were the first to take the good news to his frightened apostles. Mary Magdalen was the Apostle to the Apostles.

Women were the first to see him because they were the last to leave him. Even when he was dead and buried they came with spices to the tomb. They followed him with an unselfish love and deep gratitude; they were indeed disciples of the heart.

Woman is created by God to share with him the creation of new life; she is granted the physical and spiritual qualities of motherhood, a co-creator with the Almighty. She is God’s masterpiece, and it is in Mary, the Mother of Jesus, that we find the perfect woman: a young virgin , wife, mother and widow.

True womanhood is a distinctive calling of God to display the glory of his son in ways that would not be displayed if there were no women. She is called upon to give God his children, and to display the fullness of his glory.

And this is so clearly manifested in the great mystery of the Incarnation of God’s own divine son. This is not accidental or incidental; it is all related to the birth, life and death of Jesus. A woman, both married and single, plays a vital role in the human arena and is ordained to play this motherly role in the life of his body—the Church.

Both true manhood and true womanhood are surely callings to manifest the glory of God. In the past it was men who defined the role and significance of women; it is now time for womanhood to be defined by women.

She must display her role in God’s plan, totally female, magnificently empowered, confident, able and willing to cooperate in the divine dispensation. The Church needs such a mother who sees in Mary the perfect model worthy of imitation

For centuries men have tried to dominate women, but that is like chasing the wind. She is indispensable to God’s universal plan.