Remembering the women of the church
Women have had a major influence on the Church from the beginning. First among them is the virgin Mary who is rightly revered by Christians as she was chosen by God to be Jesus’ mother.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday, we honour the role of all women in the Church throughout the ages.
When Jesus was crucified, his mother was present, as was his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple (John) whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother”.
When Jesus rose from the dead all four gospels mention women at His empty tomb, but only Mark mentions the three women, according to this tradition, as bearing the name Mary: Mary Magdalene, Mary of Clopas and Mary Salom.
And over the past two thousand years there have been many women and girls who have been canonised for their courage in taking up Christ’s cross, including Perpetua and Felicity, Joan of Arc, Catherine of Siena, Joachim and Anne, Teresa of Avila, Clare of Assisi, Therese of Lisieux, Teresa of Calcutta, Faustina, Francisco and Jacinta Marto and Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint.
Many early Christians were martyred and suffered cruel deaths at the hands of the Roman empire while others have been recognised for their abiding love for Christ and compassion for others.
One thing these women had in common. They all left a lasting legacy.
On International Women’s Day we remember them.
Feature image: Three Marys at the Tomb by Mikołaj Haberschrack (15th century).
Second image: Mary MacKillop, Australia’s fist saint.
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