New resource highlights JPII's writings on women

By Renee Webb, Globe editor
March 16, 2006

April 2 marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II. With that in mind, the Social Concerns Department of Catholic Charities and the Commission on Women in Church and Society used it as an opportunity to team up and offer a resource containing quotes from the late pontiff that relate to women.

The Feminine Presence: Essential in Church in Society is a collection of excerpts from Pope John Paul's writings and texts.

According to Marilyn Murphy, social concerns facilitator at Catholic Charities, 1995 was a significant year for women. In September of that year the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women was held in China. Throughout 1995, Pope John Paul II used it as an opportune time to specifically address women. He did so in his annual World Day of Peace Message on Jan. 1, in a series of Sunday Angelus reflections and in a Letter to Women.

"We received permission from the Vatican, to use a collection of excerpts from each of the writings that touched on the role of women throughout 1995," noted Murphy.

The main message of the late pope's 1995 World Day of Peace Message centered on women as the teachers of peace. He also addressed the discriminatory customs that impact girls and the lifelong effect this may have.

In a series of Sunday Angelus reflections, Pope John Paul II throughout the summer of 1995 women were the focus of these messages.

"In each of those Angelus reflections he talked on women from different perspectives - women as equals in society, women in politics, women in the church," noted Murphy.

Through the reflections, the late pope also expressed his views on the vocation of motherhood.

"The mother is appointed guardian of life. It is her task to accept it with care, encouraging the human being's first dialogue with the world, which is carried out precisely in the symbiosis with the mother's body. It is here that the history of every human being begins," from the July 16, 1995 Angelus Reflection of Pope John Paul II. "Each of us, retracing this history, cannot fail to reach that moment when he began to exist within his mother's body, with an exclusive and unmistakable plan of life."

The booklet - Pope John Paul II on The Feminine Presence: Essential in Church and Society - concludes with excerpts from the pope's 1995 Letter to Women, which he used as the centerpiece of many of his statements in the church's "Year of the Woman."

In the letter, the late pontiff wrote, "Here I cannot fail to express my admiration for those women of good will who have devoted their lives to defending the dignity of womanhood by fighting for their basic social, economic and political rights, demonstrating courageous initiative at a time when this was considered extremely inappropriate, the sign of a lack of femininity, a manifestation of exhibitionism, and even a sin!"

Murphy said these reflections could be used as discussion points for various groups and the resource would make a wonderful gift for mothers to give to their daughters.

"Pope John Paul II spoke on behalf of women and his voice, the power of his message, carried throughout the world," she said. "He said some very powerful things."

It may be ordered from Catholic Charities - 1601 Military Rd, Sioux City, IA 51103, phone (712) 252-4547 or e-mail cathchar@cableone.net. They request a $3 donation to cover printing, shipping and handling.