Conversations for the Modern Catholic Woman

Happy Feast of St Bartholomew.

Mulieris Dignatatem is, by far, my favorite Papal Letter written by St John Paul II. If I could study one thing (aside from sacred scripture) for the rest of my earthly days it would be this. Pope John Paul II released it in 1988, I received it as a gift from a friend in 1992, read it in 1995, when it shifted my whole understanding of Scripture, womanhood and began a lifelong journey of restoration to the truth and beauty of woman, from the beginning of creation.

Saturday evening before Mass I opened Conversations for the Modern Catholic Woman as the reading in the silence before entering into worship with the community. In the chapter, The Conversation Continues, Marnee, shares St John Paul’s hallmarks of the Feminine Genius – receptivity, sensitivity, generosity and maternity, desiring to highly receptivity as the “entry point for all other aspects.” She describes what receptivity isn’t and is. And like St John Paul II’s Letter I’m left with having to ponder the deeper meaning of receptivity and allow this “to change my heart O God.”

I’m friends with Marnee’s co-author Jody. Jody and I met locally through a women’s prayer group. I texted her after reading this particular passage that I’d needed the reminder of what receptivity is, that this is an incredibly vulnerable book. And here is where receptivity begins, in vulnerability. Beginning Tuesday August 25 Marnee and Jody are hosting a book study, having the conversations about each chapter in the book. It’s every other Tuesday and goes through April giving time to both read and ponder and prepare for the discussion. In the book they discuss Beauty and Femininity, Marriage, Motherhood, Vocational Discernment, Healing Traumas and Mental Health, Flourishing – these are just a few of the chapter titles.

The earlier discussion on receptivity reminds me of the recurring theme of my life, “it doesn’t mean what I think it means” sometimes it’s a total shift in understanding, sometimes it’s tweaking, sometimes the meaning becomes fuller and deeper and allows me to discover something about who I am in a way that reveals how God and I are working together in this part of life.

I wanted to share this before the end of the day, and so here goes…this book study is worthy of our time as we get to know God and to know ourselves and one another, honoring the gift of this personal relationship with our Creator.

God bless,
Teri