Welcome to "Authentic Womanhood," a website featuring Pope John Paul II’s thought and writings on "woman," launched on the eve of his beatification. Some may find it a bit odd that a celibate, Catholic priest would have anything of significance to say about the nature of woman, yet his work in this area deserves to be widely known, so inspiring and perceptive is its message. It may be a somewhat surprising to know that John Paul has actually built upon the teachings of the popes from the last century in regards to women, as some may assume that the Church has little to say about women; but in fact, the Magisterium has built a profound and positive teaching in terms of women:
“The hour is coming, in fact has come, when the vocation of women is being acknowledged in its fullness, the hour in which women acquire in the world an influence, an effect and a power never hitherto achieved. That is why, at this moment when the human race is undergoing so deep a transformation, women imbued with a spirit of the Gospel can do so much to aid humanity in not falling” (Closing Message of the Second Vatican Council 1965).
With this statement, John Paul begins to unpack its meaning and impact in his key document on women, Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Nature and Dignity of Women). Indeed, throughout the whole of his pontificate he has developed and built on this theme, leaving behind much to digest. Fundamentally, John Paul views women as essential in a true and authentic transformation of culture. He says, "Women first learn and then teach others that human relations are authentic if they are open to accepting the other person: a person who is recognized and loved because of the dignity which comes from being a person and not from other considerations, such as usefulness, strength, intelligence, beauty or health. This is the fundamental contribution that the Church and humanity expect from women. And it is the indispensable prerequisite for an authentic cultural change" (Evangelium Vitae 99).
We will be unpacking JP's thought here and in our blog; within the sphere of Christianity, others with an interest in the nature of woman will be presented here too, as we would like for this site to be a "green house" in which those of us endeavoring to become authentic women may grow and blossom!
“The hour is coming, in fact has come, when the vocation of women is being acknowledged in its fullness, the hour in which women acquire in the world an influence, an effect and a power never hitherto achieved. That is why, at this moment when the human race is undergoing so deep a transformation, women imbued with a spirit of the Gospel can do so much to aid humanity in not falling” (Closing Message of the Second Vatican Council 1965).
With this statement, John Paul begins to unpack its meaning and impact in his key document on women, Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Nature and Dignity of Women). Indeed, throughout the whole of his pontificate he has developed and built on this theme, leaving behind much to digest. Fundamentally, John Paul views women as essential in a true and authentic transformation of culture. He says, "Women first learn and then teach others that human relations are authentic if they are open to accepting the other person: a person who is recognized and loved because of the dignity which comes from being a person and not from other considerations, such as usefulness, strength, intelligence, beauty or health. This is the fundamental contribution that the Church and humanity expect from women. And it is the indispensable prerequisite for an authentic cultural change" (Evangelium Vitae 99).
We will be unpacking JP's thought here and in our blog; within the sphere of Christianity, others with an interest in the nature of woman will be presented here too, as we would like for this site to be a "green house" in which those of us endeavoring to become authentic women may grow and blossom!
