Suppressed women
Today is international "Women are ignored by the male hierarchy and not allowed to make an impact day." Well actually today is the memorial for St. Catherine of Sienna, Virgin, Doctor of the Church. A lay women and Third Order Dominican who counseled popes and world leaders. I have often wonder if her mother Lapa Benincasa had been around today how she would have been treated. You can just imagine the reaction of those self appointed procreation police to the news that she was pregnant with her 23rd child. I have read stories around St. Blogs of women telling their stories about people making snide comments about the size of their families. Most recently Smockmama of Summa Mamas relayed a story of her dog's vet in response to her being pregnant with twins (number five and six). The history of the world and the Church in particular would have been quite different if Catherine's parents had been part of and bought into a contraceptive culture.
St. Catherine was the model reformer. A mystic with a deep contemplative prayer life who was active in the world. Totally obedient to Christ and his Church and rebuking those who were not living out those truths. Her efforts ended the Avignon papacy and returned the pope to Rome and she also worked to help heal the problems brought about by the election of an anti-pope. It really annoys me when I red Call to Action or VOTF types who bring up St. Catherine and pretend that they are following her example. Instead they are a mirror image in that instead of holding themselves and others to the truth as taught by the Church, they want to change what the Church teaches to bring it inline with their own thoughts.
You can read her spiritual masterpiece "The Dialogue" here to see exactly why she is a Doctor of the Church.
I like this nicely symbolic representation of her both holding up Christ on the cross and embracing the mitre worn by the pope.
Tom at Disputations as usual has interesting thoughts about St. Catherine.
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Back in the early 1980s, there was a rather lurid and despicable art exhibit by Judy Chicago, a Californian, here in Chicago, that featured her theme of a "Dinner Party" which included guests of a number of historical or mythological female figures. I was induced to go and got sick at the blatant misuse of women in general and those featured at the Dinner Party" through the use of plates with distinctive female genitalia.
Naturally, poor Mary got a plate, and I believe, Joan of Arc and Catherine of Siena.
There were a number of rather dumb Catholic women who were awestruck at what they thought was high art. I don't think that Judy Chicago had any idea of the actual character of her "invited" guests--they were just idealized in her own perverted way.
But your comment made me think of how strong, faithful, zealous and obedient our women saints were. And what a great film the life of St. Catherine would make--especially with her mother and all of the children. And what a rebuke to the polyester-clad aging women who constitute Call to Action and VoTF.
Mel Gibson, where are you?
Thank you for your great post! I also think that St. Catherine of Siena is one of the great rebukes to 'Catholic' feminism of the whining variety.
Call to Action or VOTF types who bring up St. Catherine and pretend that they are following her example
They actually know that she existed? I always thought that St Catherine's life was one of the best-kept secrets in these circles...
By the way: about a month ago, I searched on amazon something about St Catherine, and what came up? A book discussing her eating disorders... No matter that she was one of the most influential women of her time, all that matters is anorexia...! Probably because then she can be shown as a victim of male sexist culture...
One of the most influential things in my conversion from a “more Catholic than the pope” radtrad, to just a plain ol’ substandard Catholic was a comment by St. Catherine. While reading Dr. Warren Carroll’s treatment of her life in his History of Christendom, I was struck by what a spectacular saint and perfect example of what being a Catholic is about. One of her statements that Dr. Carroll cited instantly made me start rethinking my position on many issues. I can only roughly paraphrase it, but here is the idea: “Only a fool would set himself up against the pope; I don’t care if the pope were Satan incarnate, I would rest my head in his bosom, because it is God’s will that he be over me.”
Thank you St. Catherine!
Argh! You mean John's "Dinner Party" was the precurser to the odious "Vagina Monologues," et. al.? Now look, anyone who oohs and aahs half of what passes for art these days has a clear case of The Emporer Has No Clothes (or in John's case, the emporess). These women celebrations are celebrations of the self, defenitely against everything Jesus taught. I'm confused by what equity or power they seem to be seeking. What creature had more "power" than the Blessed Mother through her total emptying of herself? In none of these celebrations that I have ever read or heard have I seen an imitation of Mary -- the most superlative of women. Why? Because she was obedient and humble, the two Wickedest Words of the West!