"Feminism" in the Light of Mary
It is not uncommon for the meanings of words to change over time. The word “feminist” is one such word. It once meant “one who advocated women having the same political, social and economic rights as men.” Then a split occurred: Some feminists regarded pornography, prostitution, contraception and abortion as means by which men exploited and degraded women--- things to be ardently opposed. Other feminists, to this day, disagree. They see pornography as a valid medium for promoting women’s sexual expression and a foil against “Christian prudery.” They argue that prostitution should be legalized, and that prostitutes should instead be called “sex workers.” To them, contraception and abortion are means of “empowering” women, allowing them, “like men,” to engage in and enjoy sexual acts without having to experience the natural consequences of these acts. These women give little credit to women who are stay-at-home moms. The views of this second group are now most associated with the word “feminism.”
Alice von Hildebrand (now 96 years old) has been fighting feminism and stressing the dignity of women for decades. “The serpent tempted Eve,” she says, “not because Eve was ‘weak,’” but “because of the influence she had over her husband.” Satan targeted Eve because “she is the mother of all the living,” (Genesis 3:20) and he, Satan, is a “murderer from the beginning.” (John 8:44)
“Feminism,” she says, “is the greatest enemy of femininity.” She sees its roots in Marxism: “The revolt against God is the essence of Marxism, the essence of Communism, the essence of atheism.” “Abortion is the greatest victory that the Devil has achieved since Original Sin.” She then encourages women: “When women are chaste, men follow suit, because they have an unbelievable sensitivity for the beauty of chastity.” “Mary is the model of Christian womanhood." Mary the “Untier of Knots,” is the new Eve.
Bishop Sheen wrote in a similar vein: Since the world has lost Christ, it may be that through Mary it will recover Him. When Our Blessed Lord was lost at the age of twelve, it was the Blessed Mother who found Him. Now that He has been lost again, it may be through Mary that the world will recover Christ their Savior. Another reason is that Divine Providence has committed to a woman the power of overcoming evil. In that first dread day when evil was introduced into the world, God spoke to the serpent in the Garden of Eden and said, I shall put enmity between thee and the woman; between thy seed and her seed, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel” (Gen 3:15). In other words, evil shall have a progeny and a seed. Goodness, too, shall have a progeny and a seed. It will be through the power of the woman that evil will be overcome. We live now in an evil hour, for though goodness has its day, evil does have its hour. Our Blessed Lord said that much the night that Judas came into the garden: “This is your hour, the power of darkness” (Lk 22:53). All evil can do in that hour is to put out the lights of the world; but it can do that. If then we live in an evil hour, how shall we overcome the spirit of Satan except by the power of that Woman to whom Almighty God has given mandate to crush the head of the serpent?* A common recommended prayer to Jesus through Mary is the daily Rosary.
Catholic women, such as St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and St. Gianna Molla are models of femininity. More recently, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, author of The Sexual State, Live Action founder Lila Rose, and Dr. Carrie Gress, author of The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity, have been coming forward to present a picture of strong and healthy femininity. This month your station will broadcast many programs featuring these women.
We need volunteers! If you have any facility with computers, we need video editors. This is not extremely difficult to learn. We also would like more young people involved with the station to film, edit, recommend and create programs. If you know of someone interested in this, suggest that he or she contact the station. Please continue to support your station through your prayers, by telling others, by volunteering and a financial contribution if possible.
Mary, refuge of sinners, show us the way to your Son.
*Fulton Sheen, Communism and the Conscience of the West, Refuge of Sinners Publishing, pages 205-206.
“The Most Important Person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral—a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body...The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation... What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?” — Venerable Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty