A feminine approach towards a Spirituality of the Heart

Notes on the seminar session given by

Sr Gerardine Doherty FDNSC

The most important statement was made right at the beginning: that a feminine approach is not just a women’s concern but a men’s concern as well. Feminism can be understood in different ways but it has always to do with the relationship of men and women. In addition, that relationship takes always place in a certain context, culture, society or church.

Applied to Jesus Christ we can ask the question: how did he integrate his own masculinity and relate to women in a society that by and large ignored women?

In order to become aware of our own attitudes it is good to look at our relationships with key persons, like our mother, our siblings. The decisive question is how in those relationships the feminine and masculine within us emerged. Many men did not integrate their feminine characteristics.

Stagnation

The human and spiritual development of women has often been halted at James Fowler’s stage three of faith development (adolescent synthetic-conventional faith), i.e. they never managed to stand on their own feet. Society and church did not allow them to do so and the women themselves were at fault by resigning themselves to being subservient to men and not showing a desire to grow. The majority of spiritual directors, counsellors and theologians were men. They taught women to be aware of what actually might be more male vices: aggression, disobedience, lust and pride. They rarely warned them against their real vices: submissiveness, fear, low self-esteem and timidity.

Feminine models in Scripture were almost totally denied or made docile and submissive like Mary, and the image of God was totally masculine. Did you ever in your preaching promote female imagery of God?

The new community

We discussed what it would mean to a neighbourhood when an all male community would start to live there? How would the people see us? In a secularised world priests and religious don’t mean much. How would the women react? What will their assumptions and judgements be? They are the ones most likely to be around during the day. They may also be the ones most in need of support, because of the way they have been treated by men.

What will our role be? Would we show a different model of being male, taking on so-called female traits, and encouraging women to exhibit masculine traits, e.g. in dealing with power?

Language

We should use a religious language that supports women’s spirituality. The best word for God is still God and not “he”. With regard to Luke 15 we need not just develop the image of the shepherd looking for the lost sheep but also that of the woman searching for her lost coin. Compassion and mercy are the most persistent biblical descriptions of God. The Father is also the life-giver and the Son represents the female wisdom.

It is interesting to note that Fr. Chevalier spoke of the power Mary had over the heart of Christ. He meant power in the sense of motherly influence, not in the sense of compelling someone to act against one’s will.

Conclusion

The new community will face many challenges once it moves into an inner city. It will be an opportunity for growth, such as happened to Nicodemus in the gospel of John. He is depicted in three scenes. First he approaches Jesus during the night out of fear, but he overcomes his fear when he publicly defends Jesus. In the end, he even enters the scene of death bringing balsam for the anointment. Nicodemus met the challenge and was reborn.