Wednesday, June 07, 2006

The Feminine Response and sincere gift of self

Excerpts from On the Dignity and Vocation of Women by John Paul II

Mary is the "new beginning" of the dignity and vocation of women, of each and every woman. (...) during her visit to Elizabeth: "He who is almighty has done great things for me" (Lk 1:49). These words certainly refer to the conception of her Son, who is the "Son of the Most High" (Lk 1:32), the "holy one" of God, but they can also signify the discovery of her own feminine humanity.

He "has done great things for me": this is the discovery of all the richness and personal resources of femininity, all the eternal originality of the "woman", just as God wanted her to be, a person for her own sake, who discovers herself "by means of a sincere gift of self."

In Mary, Eve discovers the nature of the true dignity of woman, of feminine humanity. This discovery must continually reach the heart of every woman and shape her vocation and her life (Pt. 11, 7-8).

Woman can only find herself by giving love to others.

Christ speaks to women about the things of God, and they understand them; there is a true resonance of mind and heart, a response to faith. Jesus expresses appreciation and admiration for this distinctly "feminine" response, as in the case of the Canannite woman (cf Mt 15:28).

He teaches, therefore, taking as his starting point this feminine response of mind and heart.

Photo © M. Datiles 2006

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