"Woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who is it that you are looking for?” She thought he was the gardener, so she said to him, “If you took him away, sir, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” (John 20:15).
"Do not hold on to me,” Jesus told her, “because I have not yet gone back up to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am returning to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God.” (John 20:17)
WOMEN'S DAY
On the occasion of the 114th International Women's Day celebration, on this March 8, 2022, Catholic Front wishes to share with you the testimony of an outstanding woman who by her faith, love, submission and perseverance was the first human being to witness and to testify to the greatest mystery of all time: that was the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
The goal is to provide this 21st century woman with a perfect model and a definite strategy to actually become the auxiliary Apostles of the present-day church, the change agents of the modern society, and the percusors of a new world order of love, unity, peace and progress.
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FEMALE SPORTING TALENT |
FEMININE CHARISMS
By their feminine charism, subtle power, and gentle authority, they can dictate and forge a new world order, unfailingly, and without oppressing or offending anyone. Women do not need to overthrow their husbands before running their families, become bishops before leading the Church, become presidents before ruling their nations, or become angels before changing the world; no - their power is inborn and their authority is irrevocable.
GENDER EQUALITY
This goal concurs with the theme of 2022 celebration of the International Women's Day, which is: “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. This theme is to recognize the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all.
It is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 66th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66), to hold from March 14 - 25, 2022, which is: “Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes”.
Let us take note that "gender equality" does not mean "gender opposition" or "gender competition", as some people may think. It simply means complementarity of man and woman. This is evident from the scriptures because woman comes from man - she was created to accompany man - so man without woman is incomplete. (Genesis 2:20-24).
MARY MAGDALENE
Now let us see who was Mary Magdalene, and how she serves as a true model of the emancipation and empowerment of the 21st century woman. Follow me; "You will Know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8 :32).
The scriptures give us the following fast facts about Mary Magdalene:
(1) She was one of the most notorious sinners who repented and was converted. Her love for Jesus Christ was ardent and unfailing (Luke 7:47).
(2) Jesus delivered Mary Magdalene of 11 demons (Luke 8:2).
(3) She was one of the women who supported Jesus Christ's ministry with her money and personal services. (Luke 8:3).
FAITH IN ACTION
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With her relentless faith and persistent action, Mary Magdalena, was determined to find and to oint the body of Jesus Christ on Sunday morning. His disciples still did not believe in the resurrection, but for her Jesus Christ was Lord - even in the grave! So it is written:
"Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the entrance. She went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!” (John 20:1-2)
When Mary found that the body of Jesus was missing she did not first act on her own. Rather she went and reported to the Apostles - Peter and John (John 20:1-2). That was an act of humility, obedience and submission to the authority of the Church (Matthew 16:18-19).
CHARISM OF TEARS
But when the two Apostles failed to take any further action to find the "missing" body of Christ - but rather went back home (John 20:10) - she took the bull by the horns, using one of the most powerful weapons of a woman; that is, tears. Her action provoked the angels to appear to her. And to them she laid her case, as she had earlier laid to the Apostles, with the hope of getting a solution then. So it is written :
"Mary stood crying outside the tomb. While she was still crying, she bent over and looked in the tomb and saw two angels there dressed in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and the other at the feet. “Woman, why are you crying?” they asked her. She answered, “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!” (John 20:11-13)
APOSTLE OF THE APOSTLES
Then when she continued to cry - as the angels did not give her a prompt answer - Jesus himself appeared, disguised as the gardener (John 20:14-15);. And after he was assured that Mary was not looking for anyone else but for him, Jesus revealed himself to her. She got the solution to her problem - she did not only find the Jesus she was looking for, she also became the first witness of the Resurrection - that she was sent forth to go and testify to the Apostles .(John 20:16-17). The Apostles in their turn proclaimed the news of the Resurrection to the world. Thus, St. Mary Magdalene has come to be called “Apostle of the Apostles” (Apostolorum Apostola), a title used also by St. Thomas Aquinas.
The distinctive merits of Mary Magdalene, following her conversion are: burning and unfailing love for Christ, support of Christ's mission, .veneration of the body of Christ, (the Eucharist we have today), faithfulness obedience, collaboration with the Apostles, Persévérance, courage, humility, faith and actions. .These are virtues to be emulated by the women of faith and change of the 21st century.
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SAINT MARY MAGDALENE |
MEMORIAL OF ST MAGDALENE
The feast of Saint Mary Magdalene is celebrated on July 22 in solemnity. The boat landed in southern France, where she spent the remaining years of her life living in solitude, in a cave. She is the patroness of converts, repentant sinners, the sexually tempted, pharmacists, tanners and many other places and causes. The memorial of St Mary Magdalene was elevated to a feast on June 10 2016. This recognized her in the same status as the other apostles of Jesus.
The feast day remained on July 22 and a preface to be read during the feast day’s mass was added on September 21 2019. Her liturgical celebration will now be on par with the celebrations of the Apostles and recognizes St. Mary Magdalene’s importance to the Church. She is the first woman, other than the Blessed Virgin Mary, who has the honor of being celebrated with a feast.
THE M. M. MODEL
The Mary Magdalene model works in the Church today when Christian women of faith use their feminine charisms, in close partnership with the clergy - who represent Christ - to build and sustain the church for the salvation of the world.
The power of the woman as an agent of change is both inherent and evident in her nature. She passes from adolescence to maturity or from girl to woman through puberty. By the act of marriage the woman becomes both a "giver" of life and a mother. She gives not only physical life to a child but also family life to her husband and children.
First of all, women are naturally and generally attentive, compassionate, caring, and faithful beings. With these qualities they are capable of bringing love, comfort, peace and happiness wherever they are called to, or are able, to exert her influence - in the family, the workplace and the community. So the woman is able to turn a condition of conflict and sorrow into one of tolerance, harmony and happiness. All that she needs is to realize her potentials and put them to use.
CHARM AND SEDUCTION
Moreover, women are naturally endowed with the power of charm, seduction and induction. The charm of a woman does not emanate only from her pulchritude, but is a blend of her physical and moral gifts - the feminine charisms. In fact, a man who admires or loves a woman will be willing to do whatever that woman wants, or to stop doing whatever that woman does not like.
We have evidences in the Bible that it was the first woman, Eve, who seduced and induced the first man, Adam, to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit. (Genesis 2:1-13). Besides, the Bible says that Herod ordered for John the Baptist to be beheaded - against his own wish - but to satisfy the wish of a woman, Herodia, through her daughter (Matthew 14:3-11).
CHANGE AGENTS
Therefore, by their charm and seduction, women are able to induce men to act as the women wish, in order to change the society. The actions we need are the right actions, and the change we need are the positive and mutually beneficial changes. These are the changes from vice to virtue, from gate to love, from disgrace to grace, from misery to glory, and from sorrow to joy.
However, to change the people from evil to good, the woman must first of all be good, and to change the bad things to the good, the woman must first of all know the good things. Therefore, we come to the conclusion that the woman must be well brought up, educated, sanctified and empowered so that being good and powerful she may employ her feminine charisms to change and to advance their family, firm, community, nation, and the whole world.
CONGRATS TO WOMEN
Congratulations to all Christian women who submissive to their husbands, as they are to Church. They are working to convert their families and to grow in spirituality and love.
Congratulations to all Christian women who are working selflessly and tirelessly, leading church groups and movements for the growth and sanctification of the Church.
Congratulations to all women excelling in leadership positions in society - politics, business, industry, education, science, technology, government, media, arts etc - making innovative and positive changes for the advancement of society in peace, unity and harmony. I wish you all a happy and impactful 2022 International Women's Day Celebration.
Author: Aying Godman, is a Catechist, Evangelist & Blogger of the Roman Church; Founder of CATHOLIC FRONT (The Catholic Front Line Community) Email: ayinggodman@gmail.com
Copyright (c) Aying Godman - Catholic Front Media (2021-2022) All rights reserved.
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