A significant figure of Christian history is Saint Ursula, a martyred woman of the Early Church. Numerous writings and pieces of art have retold her story of martyrdom. Ursula, who is believed to have been born in the fourth century, is said to have travelled to Rome with around 11,000 virgins only to be murdered by the Huns in Cologne, Germany. She is a role model for Christians today through her ongoing devotion to the word of God and her courage in the face of persecution. As Deacon Frederick Bartels said, “Saints/Martyrs are models of human excellence, perfected by the life of Christ and the communication of his Spirit. They demonstrate by their lives how to really live.” Saint Ursula's contributions to the development of the Early Church were significant as an agent of change. An example of this is the cult of Saint Ursula, which broadened across Europe. This Ursuline order was committed towards educating young women, and became established as a cult of prayer for virgins. This order is still active today, and continues to support and educate women. Saint Ursula's vision and passion for women's education was an innovative concept in her time, making her a counter-cultural figure in her society, and continuously throughout our modern age. …show more content…
Christians ought to derive strength from Saint Ursula's example of upholding their faith through persecution and their devotion to improving women's education. She was an agent of change in her society, questioning the established system and inspiring today's Christians to follow her example likewise. The example of Ursula additionally serves as a reminder of the significance of involving daily prayer and devotion to God. These instances demonstrate how Saint Ursula's teachings are still relevant to modern Christian
The largest part focuses on the valuation of virginity and taking action as a Protestant, as Argula von Grumbach, in male inaction as doctrinally sound. For the Catholic reformation, Wiesner argues women’s most impressive role came from remedying their husband’s Protestantism, most dramatically in England and Ireland, but not unknown in Italy. Many of the converting practices adopted like homes for repentant prostitutes and foundling homes eventually found place in Orthodox religions under Peter the Great. (241) Jewish women faced similar patriarchal issues as Christian women, with the added pressures of torture, exile, and murder at a governmental level. (250) Muslim women of the period, called “Moriscos” faced marriages similar to those practiced by Catholic women in which conversion dominated their religious involvement.
Awful Disclosures was fuel for a pre-existing, anti-Catholic fire. Anti-Catholics now had an extremely popular first-hand account that would work towards the discreditation of Catholicism. The book’s contents were gruesome and heavily detailed, which did not make the distinction between truth and lie easy to identify. Monk claimed that the convent would force the nuns to be intimate with priests, then baptize and kill any babies born from these relations. It was also written that the monastery had a number of terrible additions, such as prisons for nuns who acted out, underground tunnels, secret entrances, and the like.
Women were not only political, but religious figureheads. They were allowed as “keepers of faith” and were honored for their roles in the community during religious ceremonies (64). One 18th century French commentator argues, “Nothing, is more real than the superiority of women. It is of them that the nation really consists…”
Saint Solanus Casey was ordained a simplex priest, meaning he was not allowed to hear confessions or preach homilies. This however, didn’t stop people from seeking him out for advice, healing, and forgiveness as a representative and follower of God. Saint Solanus was known for his miraculous healings and conversions and his powerful faith in God. Saint Solanus showed his compassion for the needy by establishing a soup kitchen still present in the Capuchin seminary today. Even before his death, Saint Solanus maintained a powerful trust and faith in God, showing in his final words “I give my soul to Jesus”.
Gender constructs are virtually everywhere. No matter what society, time period, or seemingly progressiveness of a people, gender continues to shape and limit ideologies. In Louise Erdrich’s novel The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse, the main character experiences the limitations of gender constructs firsthand as she finds herself transformed to a male to achieve her goals of becoming a priest. It is after this transformation takes place that Father Damien is able have control over his life which he did not previously have living as Agnes.
Are they in harmony with the sympathies of Christ? or are they swayed and perverted by the sophistries of worldly policy?” Putting morality over the system. Religion preaches mercy and equality under one God and by asking questions like “Shall the church of Christ hear in silence the taunt that is thrown at them, and shrink away from the helpless hand that they stretch out;...” she is reminding them that they can create a change too, and showing that they forging their principles if they support
For example, Alexios I had been the one to insist Pope Urban II to call the European Christians to arms for the First Crusade. Although neither participated in the battles themselves both leaders had played important parts in the initiation of these wars. Alexios I’s own daughter, Anna Comnena, had also played a role in the Crusades as well, although more indirectly. As the Byzantine princess and “the world’s first female historian (she was) a major source of information about the reign of her father” (Anna Comnena). Through most of her writings, the story of the Crusades has been able to make its way from the Medieval Period to present day, as well as inspiring other women at the time with her hardships.
This is important as the change in education implemented the idea that educated women would divert from Christian values but a man strongly opposing the idea dismisses it, and lends a supportive perspective of educated women. However, something that is not showcased in this document is that women were taught theology, basic arithmetic, and language which limited them to their lives at home. Not being so educated in a vast variety of subjects like the men of their times eventually led to the downfall of women. They lost power and and didn’t have a very crucial role in shaping
The Roman Catholic Church, and especially in the Benedictine order, has typically favored a patriarchal worldview of Christian ideologies and institutional practices. Norris provides a feminist perspective on the role of the “three marys” that stood at the foot of the cross, and other figures, such as Mary Magdalene, that saw “the rising of Christ first”(25). Norris has a passionate way of writing, which defines these examples of female leadership in the Church, which have often been marginalized due to the patriarchal style of governance under male clerics and religious scholars. This was a powerful aspect of Norris’ book, which provides a unique insight into the way women are perceived within the Roman Catholic Church. This sense of religious understanding provides a feminist point of view that redefines the institutional structure of the Church in the 21st century.
O’ Connor argues, it is difficult to be a saint, using Ethos, Logos, and Pathos. The author uses Ethos to show her credibility, trustworthiness, and authority in “Revelation.”
Julio’s comment about the treatment of women in the Pentecostal church shows how religion has manipulated women like Blanca into positions where they are expected to be directed and restrained by others. The inclusion of the pastor in the list of glorified roles shows that religion is held to such a high degree that it should be included on the same level of need as any other family member like a husband or child. Religious followers often have specific symbols that represent their religion in their lives or an object that they hold sacred because it represents their faith in their beliefs. However, the people of the Pentecostal church have placed their representation of faith into the pastor and made
This shows that she wasn’t afraid of death by the Nazis. These are only some of the stories of catholic heroes that rejected the Nazis. Once the church started to rebel, the Nazis took away many of the catholics rights. Fr.
McDowell begins the book with an anecdote of his life; a familiar story of the sceptical university Agnostic, ready to fire back a retort at the slightest mention of God, Christianity, and anything (or anyone) within. He recounted the all too common feeling of a meaningless life, the seemingly innate itch of human existence, and how it brought him to various places in his life—until he stumbled upon a particular group of people and was changed forever. This introduction, though short, is crucial to understand, for it sets the stage for the remainder of the book. It tells not only the story of a former non-believer, but the story of everyone—it presents us the life of Jesus Christ, not as a gentle sermon or a feel-good retelling, but as an assertive, rational reply to the accusation: ‘Christianity is a myth, and so is your God.’
Analysis on the Roles of Gender in Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya narrates the story of Antonio Márez y Lunas, a seven year old boy who lives to learn that the journey to manhood is about learning to make decisions on his own. In the story, his mother hopes for Antonio to become a priest, while his father desires him to become one of the llano. Anaya cleverly uses the contrasting views of both genders to highlight Antonio's struggles of making sense that his life was a development from being an innocent young boy to being a man of wisdom and understanding. During the time of Bless Me, Ultima's writing, as in most traditional systems, women were primarily firm believers of religion (in this case, Catholicism). The teachings of Catholicism has a tendency to place women as inferior and an accessory in
Women of the Medieval Times Women have always had a significant role in history even though they were treated horrible in most cases. During the Medieval Times was really the first time women were allowed to become more than just a house wife. The fight for equality has always been a struggle and even in today’s society is still an ongoing battle. Although women of lower and middle class were treated poorly in the Medieval Times, some powerful women held great responsibility and were looked up too by both men and children; despite being admired, “men were thought to be not only physically stronger but more emotionally stable, more intelligent, and morally less feeble” (Hopkins 5). “The position of women in the Medieval Society was greatly influenced by the views of the Roman Catholic Church” (Heeve).