feminine-genius

Quite a different perspective

I am almost finished a wonderful book, Sister Queens, by Julia Fox, concerning two of the daughters of Ferdinand and Isabella (of Aragon and Castile, respectively). Queen Katherine, of course, was the first wife of Henry VIII, and Queen Juana was the wife of Philip, son of Maximilian, Holy Roman Emperor (later dubbed "Juana the Mad"). We are quite familiar with the story of Henry -- who put away Katherine out of dynastic concerns, but this is the first account I've found that follows her life entirely -- from childhood, through putative marriage to Arthur, widow, negotiator, remarriage, and as a loyal daughter of Spain.

Also, it gives a compelling account of Juana -- explaining how she was manipulated by the men around her (husband and father) to be accounted mad for their own ends. I will give a full review of it when finished, but in the waning days of summer, you may want to pick it up and see history from an entirely different angle.

Radio interview

Had a lovely chat with Wendy Wiese today on Relevant Rado concerning my latest project: the 25th anniversary edition of Mulieris Dignitatem ("On the Dignity and Vocation of Women"). Consider this book as a Christmas gift, and perhaps 2014 would be the right time for a women's retreat to consider these beautiful themes. 

[By the way, didn't expect to be asked about women in combat, but I've written extensively on that topic. Look on the left sidebar under "categories," or begin with this column at the main site. The latest on this tragic form of "gender diversity" from Elaine Donnelly is here.]

ADDENDUM: In the interview, I mentioned an early Church Father who wrote so beautifully about the Blessed Mother but I was having a "senior moment" and couldn't think of his name. He  Jacob of Serug(h), who can be found here.

The "equalisters" are watching

While at first glance, the new feminist rating system out of Sweden appears to be so much nonsense, it is actually rather interesting, and one I may tuck into the back of my head for a while to see what I may have been missing. It involves the following:

To get an "A" rating, a movie must pass the so-called Bechdel test, which means it must have at least two named female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man.

Hahahaha.

No really, what do women talk about -- have I missed something? Does it mean they can talk about anything other than men (like fashion, babies, or aging parents) or does it mean that they have to talk about engineering, political theory, or metaphysics? Or how to bring down the boss? It would seem the latter:

Beliefs about women's roles in society are influenced by the fact that movie watchers rarely see "a female superhero or a female professor or person who makes it through exciting challenges and masters them," Tejle said, noting that the rating doesn't say anything about the quality of the film. "The goal is to see more female stories and perspectives on cinema screens."

Wow, how many films have we seen concerning "exciting challenges" for women. And yet saying that they cannot talk about men means that there's half the human race that they're obliged to ignore, which isn't quite the complimentarity that the ideal society should foster. Presuming that romantic interests are too shallow for the test, it would seem that their conversations must also preclude fathers, brothers, and sons. Doesn't this sound remarkably stilted and sexist on its own?

Remarkably, the Lord of the Rings trilogy failed the test, as did Star Wars, most of the Harry Potter films, Pulp Fiction and The Social Network, what passes?

The state-funded Swedish Film Institute supports the initiative, which is starting to catch on. Scandinavian cable TV channel Viasat Film says it will start using the ratings in its film reviews and has scheduled an "A" rated "Super Sunday" on Nov. 17, when it will show only films that pass the test, such as "The Hunger Games," "The Iron Lady" and "Savages."

It would seem, then, that there's more than just boy talk that causes a film to flunk and a girl power theme must pervade the story. In essence, the bulk of women who like chick flicks seem to have been duped into paying to watch their own slavery on the screen, and this standard (created by the cartoonist who penned "Dykes to Watch Out For" in 1985) will help to socially reengineer the masses.

Good luck with that, but in the meantime, I may take a few notes of my own along these lines.

Of crocuses and little things

Local luminary (lucky us!) Anthony Esolen has a lovely piece on the persistence of nature to reassert itself, despite the world's efforts to pave it over (literally). The premise of the topic was the contemporary effort to depersonalise intimacy, to masque our humanity, and to separate morality from the deepest questions we face, as illustrated by the modern university campus. In the face of all the temptations, one good soul broke through the darkness:

One of their questions remains with me still, as much for its content as for the person who asked it, and the manner in which she asked.  “How can we women help our men to avoid or to overcome this evil?  What can we do to help them be better men?”

Suppose a man walking for years and years on an endless stretch of gray, nothing but asphalt and rubble and dust, mile after monotonous mile; if he should suddenly see a crocus poking through the rocks, spreading its humble yellow bloom to the air; or should hear a trickle of fresh water spilling over a tumbled ruin; with the same grateful heart I greeted that question, the like of which I have not heard from a college student or a professor in thirty years.  The question was asked with love, not scorn; with admiration for men as men.

Dear friends, that is the heart of our vocation. Since a woman's vocation is to receive the human person, she is likewise called to direct each person to his supernatural end. As an icon of the Church, each woman is charged with using her spiritual motherhood to lead souls to Christ, in Whom they are transformed and renewed. 

For guidance in such matters, both books deal with the specific details: The Authentic Catholic Woman and Set Free: The Authentic Catholic Woman's Guide to Forgiveness. Let's begin to sunder the dark asphalt with the light of femininity well-lived!

"My Sisters The Saints"

Book Review: My Sisters the Saints, by Colleen Carroll Campbell (Image Books)

Part of the gentle awakening of aging is the recognition that the torch has passed, and that your generation is no longer the world’s benchmark of “what is.” I love growing older, watching my children mature, and seeing how the domestic foundations of yesterday become the folklore of today, but beyond the confines of the home, what sort of culture have we have bequeathed these young adults? How can we help the next generation navigate the secular world with their faith and morals intact?

The beauty of My Sister the Saints is that it provides a thoughtful account of a woman whose generation followed mine, and thus Colleen Carroll Campbell walked into adulthood as my peers were settling into the choices available to us. Only those who have really followed the world of feminism understand the waves of thought that permeated academia, and subsequently washing through the popular culture. Between the noisy bra-burners of the 1960’s to sexual deconstructionists of today, there have been a lot of theories offered to women: theories about careers, dating, marriage, motherhood, and boundaries.

The author—traversing the tremendous gap between her traditional Midwestern upbringing and the chaotic individualism of the college campus—succeeded academically but was left with existential doubt as to her place in the world. She writes:

What is the source of that gnawing sensation inside me, and why does my pursuit of pleasure and success only intensity it? Is it true that there are no real differences between the sexes, or does my femininity—and female body—have something to do with my desires and discontent? If the key to my fulfillment as a woman lies in maximizing my sexual allure, racking up professional accomplishments, and indulging my appetites while avoiding commitment, why has following that advice left me dissatisfied? Why do my friends and I spend so many hours fretting that we are not thin enough, not successful enough, simply not enough? If this is liberation, why am I so miserable?

She initially sought answers in feminism, but was put off by the harsh rhetoric against patriarchy, which was so different than her own positive experience of fatherly love. Ultimately, she gave some remarkable saints a fair reading (coupled with prayer) and found that, despite the distance of years and dissimilar vocations, their insights and advice remained sound.

In light of what she learned, Ms. Campbell didn’t shy from prayerfully choosing to love as God would have her love. Whether watching a parent deteriorate, accepting the ache of infertility, or making difficult choices concerning work and marriage, ultimately it was those very saints—and not her feminist peers—who showed her how establish the right priorities.

Ms. Campbell’s path to truth wasn’t easy, but was smoothed and purified by suffering. While this may sound disconcerting, it is the only authentic conduit to wisdom, and the only option possible for those who refuse to stop loving in a fallen world. The Hebrew word for sacrifice is corban, which actually means “to draw near.” That is what sacrifices are meant to do—to diminish the distance between God and His creatures, the distance caused by our sins. Sacrifices usually hurt, but if we imagine the suffering involved as the fire that consumes the gift on the altar of love, then we know that the outcome will be well worth the pain.

It took dedication and perseverance, but Ms. Campbell learned that loving according to God’s plan is indeed fulfilling, and it lifted the anxieties that had plagued her previously. Our sisters the saints want us to succeed at the right things, and this book is an excellent example of how the communion of believers provides encouragement, inspiration, and hope for all generations. Indeed, when you find your place—at whatever age—you may then share in that privilege of helping others to sanctity. For Ms. Campbell’s part, we are deeply grateful.

"Walking With Mary" by Dr Edward Sri

After decades of distracted catechesis on the faith, many contemporary Catholics have discerned two pressing needs: to learn why Marian devotion is such an integral element in the life of the Church, and to find a comprehensive (but accessible!) written work to offer to others who believe that there is no need to include Mary in their journey towards God. In this entirely readable text, Walking With Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross, Dr. Edward Sri provides just such a tool to reintroduce Catholics to the Mother of God, and to lead them to an appreciation for the particular beauty of Mary.

One of the delightful attributes of this book is its wonderful balance that operates on many levels. Dr. Sri explains the overarching reverence in which Mary has been held by the faithful over the centuries while showing that her witness as Jesus’ first disciple is a model for all Christians. He reveals how her singular role in salvation history was foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament while at the same time her fiat provided the means for an entirely unexpected event. Moreover, there is an explanation of how her spotless soul shows the magnanimity of God while simultaneously explaining that her humility is an essential component in putting on Christ. Finally, the author shows how Mary can be both mother and queen while living as apostle and witness to generation after generation of her spiritual children.

One might think that little can be known of Mary because of her quietness throughout the Gospels—she speaks so rarely!—but reliable Biblical scholarship shows us how both the setting in the events of her life and the particular phrasing of the scriptural texts provide magnificent details that would otherwise be missed. Even words that we may regularly gloss over, such as “on the third day,” “hour,” and "woman” are themselves charged with meaning, providing more essential clues.

Dr. Sri synthesises the original Greek texts, related Biblical passages, and sentence structure, as he reminds the reader of the virtues being revealed and Divine promises kept. While it is a truism that “ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ,” the very same can be said about our knowledge of Mary, the first fruit and most perfect image of the Church.

Every faithful child of the Church is a child of Mary (whether or not he or she is aware of the relationship) but readers will discover how Mary’s maternity is particularly instructive for a world that rejects both motherhood and fatherhood. In the end, her fiat—which was renewed as events unfolded—included the call to nurture each of us, who are thereby enfolded in her mantle of mercy. Her fidelity to her children, her concern for our joys and sorrows should encourage and console us. In fact, her fiat is a warm, motherly invitation to persevere in the demands of love, no matter the cost.

This book is a delight, and would make a wonderful gift for any serious Christian. If we can see our way to Mary, the rest of the journey will be a road of familial joy and fortifying communion. I heartily recommend Walking With Mary!

New book published

I was invited by the Daughters of Saint Paul to offer commentary for their 25th anniversary edition of Mulieris Dignitatem, and the title has just become available. From their website:

Features & Benefits: 

• Commentary written by a lay woman who addressed the Vatican Congress marking the 20th anniversary of the document in 2008
• Brings themes from the original document into a modern context, making them relevant for women today
• Highlights the essential points of the encyclical
• Encourages active engagement in reading
• Serves as a springboard into prayer
• Provides conversation starters for group use

   About the Commentator:

 Genevieve Kineke is a convert to the faith who was immediately drawn to the question of what it means to be a woman in the image and likeness of God. In 1992, she founded Canticle, a magazine dedicated to that question, which she edited for twelve years. In 2006, she wrote The Authentic Catholic Woman (Servant Books), followed by Set Free: The Authentic Catholic Woman's Guide to Forgiveness (Servant Books, 2012). She has spoken widely on the topic and was invited to address the Vatican Congress marking the 20th anniversary of Mulieris Dignitatem in 2008. She is married and the mother of five children.

What Are People Saying about this Title?

"Blessed John Paul II's landmark apostolic letter for women,Mulieris Dignatatem brought the feminine genius to our lexicon, beginning a quiet revolution of a new feminism characterized by an integration of gospel values. Twenty-five years later, this Anniversary Edition of Mulieris Dignatatem in the Year of Faith is the right occasion to reintroduce this document to the next generation. Genevieve Kineke's thoughtful commentary after each of the document's nine chapters offers readers a contemplative unpacking of the pontiff's words, plus guides for them to ponder, pray, and act. This is a marvelous keepsake book, as well as a learning tool." 
-Pat Gohn, author, Blessed Beautiful and Bodacious: Celebrating the Gift of Catholic Womanhood (Ave Maria Press, 2013)

It almost goes without saying that I'd love to address your book club, women's guild, or retreat in the coming months. This message is too beautiful not to share!

Voici!

The new book is officially out! It can be ordered here, and there's more information at the main site: feminine-genius.com

I'd love to share this good news with your women's groups, and am a reasonably cheap date (air travel being what it is). God's message of freedom through forgiveness should be shouted from the rooftops -- or blogs, or radio shows, and everywhere. I'm doing my part -- and count on your support.