𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏

We joyfully set aside sufferings of Jesus and don our Easter clothes as if to shed some disagreeable event by starting anew. Yes, the joy of His resurrection should always be in our hearts and give us that hope that knows no sadness.

We would like to ignore suffering, hide it, and pretend it is not there, but reality forces us to face it in spite of ourselves. Some are made holy by embracing it, and others become bitter and resentful by refusing it. It makes some strong and crushes others. Some will never acknowledge its presence in their lives, but somehow everyone realizes that this game of “pretend” destroys and disfigures the soul.

Suffering is something we love to talk about when it is ours, but dislike hearing about when it belongs to someone else. We can see it work wonders in the lives of others but have no use for it in our own. We can see the wisdom of God chastising our enemies but think of Him as cruel when we are afflicted. We consider it justice when an alcoholic develops cirrhosis of the liver, but injustice when we are victims of a migraine headache resulting from a lack of trust in God.

may be expected that the masculine as well as the feminine nature is not abrogated in religious life but fitted into it in a particular way and thereby made fruitful. Beyond this lies the possibility that the religious vocation, similar to worldly professions, has unique requirements and fits both the masculine and feminine nature each in its particular way.

All the gods they had as pagans were far above them and struck fear into their hearts. The God of Israel, too, was an awesome God, whose very name many would not pronounce. How could one imitate a God so far above one’s own nature, perfect and holy in everything He did?
And then came Jesus — Man and God. He was Someone they could relate to, Someone they could follow, Someone who experienced their misery and triumphed, Someone who overcame the darkness and showed them the Great Light.

A glance toward the Mother of God becomes indicative for us again. For example, Mary at the wedding of Cana in her quiet, observing look surveys everything and discovers what is lacking. Before anything is noticed, even before embarrassment sets in, she has procured already the remedy. She finds ways and means, she gives necessary directives, doing all quietly. She draws no attention to herself. Let her be the prototype of woman in professional life. Wherever situated, let her always perform her work quietly and dutifully, without claiming attention and appreciation. And at the same time, she should survey the conditions with a vigilant eye.

Only subjective delusion could deny that women are capable of practicing vocations other than that of spouse and mother. One could say that in case of need, every normal and healthy woman is able to hold a position. And there is no profession which cannot be practised by a woman. A self-sacrificing woman can accomplish astounding achievements when it is a question of replacing the breadwinner of fatherless children, of supporting abandoned children or aged parents. But, also, individual gifts and tendencies can lead to the most diversified activities. Indeed, no woman is only woman; like a man, each has her individual specialty and talent, and this talent gives her the capability of doing professional work, be it artistic, scientific, technical, etc.