4. Friend, sister and spouse In her awareness of the need for support, maturity, daring, unfailing in her discipleship, self-giving in reliability and selfless love, a woman listens to her her maternity, blessed in her faith and eloquent in A fourth aspect of the feminine genius is woman's feminine genius and will not be prepared to give her contemplative silence. She is our model and unique contribution to interpersonal relationships her whole self — including her powers of service, also our help. May she guide us and pray for us. with men. Pope John Paul II writes: 'Humanity... fertility or feminine creativity — until she finds a 'WORM can exist only as a 'unity of the two', and therefore man who is prepared to engage in "co-education" Anna Krohn is an Adjunct Lecturer and Tutor in relation to another human person. It is a question for this great mission. Pope John Paul II writes: "It at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and faith & life matters here of a mutual relationship: man to woman and is the woman who 'pays' directly for this shared the Family in Melbourne, the Convenor of the woman to man."24 generation, which literally absorbs the energies Anima Women's Network Inc., and the Co- of her body and soul. It is therefore necessary ordinator of the Caroline Chisholm Library, In Genesis 2:18, Eve is described "as a help-mate that the man be fully aware that in their shared Melbourne. fitting for man." She was not created to be a nurse parenthood he owes a special debt to the woman. maid, servant or appendage to man, though this is No programme of 'equal rights' between women a common misunderstanding of the text. She is a and men is valid unless it takes this fact fully into PMulteris Dignitatem, 7 lively counter-weight and a helpful collaborator, a account."29 co-worker and partner in the ''making and doing" 'Friendship between men and women" in his Men Women and which God calls forth in humanity. Unfortunately, many women today are deaf to their the Meaning of Love, p 109 nnaternalispousal genius and do not demand sexual nPope John Paul Il, Ibid. The biblical notion of a "shared bone" means that or maternal respect from men. They believe there man and woman are firstly of the same ''kin" — they is no inherent "meaning" to sexual relationships "'Theology of the Body, 15:1-5 must respect each other's differences with the other than satisfaction, convenience and a fragile aPope John Paul II, Mulieris 01r/talon 7 mutual and enriching love of brother and sister, not type of loving companionship in which pregnancy as alien competing forces or conquering powers. and fertility are problematic. Nbid. 15

Women as friends, sisters and colleagues of men The new feminism is marked by a concern to re- give and receive what Pope John Paul 11 calls 'co- value the place of the feminine genius for the home, education" in ways that are richer and also more marriage and the family, and the development of challenging than occurs in same-sex friendships. good fathers at every level of society. Questions for discussion Dietrich von Hildebrand, a great Catholic philosopher of the person, speaks of the dynamic 1.What struck you most about this article? The of male and female friendships. Because there 2.What do you think should be some characteristics is a deeply spiritual and personal difference of the "new feminism"? 0 between them, he says, "... a woman will never be as deeply understood by a woman as she could 3.Which of the four aspects of the feminine genius be understood by a man; a man will never be as mentioned in the article do you think especially deeply understood by a man as he could be by a important? Can you think of any others that are not woman?" mentioned?

There are numerous examples of this edifying and 4. Which women, from the past or the present, do encouraging role of women. Pope John Paul writes: you think especially embody the feminine genius? "The women whom Jesus met and who received so many graces from him, also accompanied him as he journeyed with the Apostles through the towns and villages, proclaiming the Good News of the Genius Further Reading Kingdom of God; and they 'provided for them out of their means'. The Gospel names Joanna, who was Genevieve Kineke, The Authentic Catholic Woman, the wife of Herod's steward, Susanna and 'many Servant Books 2006 others"' (of. Lk 8:1-3)." Mary, model of the Edith Stein, Edith Stein — Woman, Essays on Great reforms in the history of the Church have Woman, ICS 1996 often come from the mutually invigorating vision feminine genius Edith Stein, Essential Writings, Orbis 2002 and talents of holy men and women friends, among The fullness of the feminine genius is realised them Saints Clare and Francis, Teresa of Avila and in the life of the Virgin Mary. Pope John Paul II John of the Cross, Macrina and her brothers Basil Waltraud Herbstrith, Edith Stein — A Biography, writes: "In Mary, Eve discovers the nature of the Ignatius 1992 and Gregory of Nyssa, Mary MacKillop and Fr true dignity of woman, of feminine humanity. This Julian Tennison Woods, etc. discovery must continually reach the heart of every Wendy Shall( A Return to Modesty: Discovering woman and shape her vocation and her life."3° According to John Paul II, man and woman not the Lost Virtue, Free Press 2000 only find themselves as companions but they also Mary, in an outstanding and shining way, Joan Carroll Cruz, Saintly Women of Modern long 'to go out of themselves" towards each other received her womanhood as a gift along with its Times, OSV 2004 in the "spousal meaning of their bodies.'n transformation through God's redeeming grace in self-giving "spousal" and "maternal" intimacy with Pope John Paul II, Letter to Women, 29 June In marriage, women and men give themselves Christ. 1995 in a sexual love which is spousal and familial. In so doing, their "one flesh communion" becomes Edith Stein encourages us to re-discover in the - Apostolic Letter Muller's Dignitatem, 15 August a unique icon of the "family" that is the Blessed pages of Scripture and in the riches of our tradition 1988 Trinity: "They are called to live in a communion the prophetic shape of Mary's feminine genius. of love, and in this way to mirror in the world the Mary, our Mother in faith, is God's valiant woman All of these titles are availablefrom the Mustard communion of love that is in God, through which — a "sign from heaven" for men and women, Seed Bookshop the Three Persons love each other in the intimate hospitable to salvation, radiant in her strength and mystery of the one divine life." Photocopying Prohibited

! Catholic Adult Education Centre, Sydney INFORM - 50c per copy (minimum order: 10 copies per Locked Bag 888 Silverwater DC NSW 1811 issue) Single subscription $10 per year within Australia, 6 issues annually, or with the newsletter of the Catholic Adult P (02) 9643 3660 F (02) 9643 3669 Women have distinctive qualities with which to enrich society, qualities Pope John Paul II called , Education Centre $15 per year. Single copy of every back the "feminine genius." In this article Anna Krohn explores what makes up the "feminine genius" E [email protected] issue of INFORM still in print - $40 per set. and how it can contribute to a better world. Published with ecclesiastical approval I © 2007 CAEC / EDITOR Fr John Flader / DESIGN Natalie Margurilta S. The call for a "new This echoes Pope John Paul II in his encyclical "The Church gives thanks 2.Particular awareness of the "other" person: Recognising that the large number of men without Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), where empathy women or families led to the brutalisation of the feminism" he exhorted women of faith to acknowledge and for all the manifestations of young colony, she worked to create a more humane affirm that which grounds and inspires "what is Many secular feminist scholars acknowledge that environment. Most of us are familiar with popular phrases such the feminine 'genius' which particularly feminine', calling this "the true genius women seem more aware of and connected to as "a woman's touch" or 'a feminine eye'. Can we This gift for creating "ambience" has also been of women."' have appeared in the course the emotional dynamics of human relationships really speak about a list of universal 'womanly" of history, in the midst of all than men. That the consciousness of women used against women to relegate their presence and characteristics or roles without diminishing the Pope John Paul expressed confidence that it tends to be more global, their perceptions more creativity to either the prettified and "decorative' mystery of each actual and individual woman? would be Catholic women and their sisters who peoples and nations... she multidimensional and their attention more flexible on one hand or to seductively air-brushed glamour would uncover their feminine genius and develop on the other. Pope John Paul II wrote: think Pope John Paul II, a great champion of the cause gives thanks for all the fruits of is also recognised by the human sciences. Well- an alternative 'new feminism which will transform known writers such as Carol Gilligan broadly define particularly of those women who loved culture and of women, has warned: "Yet how many women cultures so that they are truly life-affirming, fully feminine holiness." Pope John Paul art, and devoted their lives to them in spite of the fact have been and continue to be valued more for this as women's "care thinking." humane and receptive to God's guidances II, Apostolic Letter Mu►lieris dignilatem, 31. that they were frequently at a disadvantage from their physical appearance than for their skill, their Edith Stein studied "empathy' and identified it with according to her free response. the start, excluded from educational opportunities, professionalism, their intellectual abilities, their Many outstanding women of different ages, gifts women's maternally-patterned insight: "Woman underestimated, ignored and not given credit for deep sensitivity; in a word, the very dignity of their Some aspects of the and cultures are today associated with the unfolding Her genius can be overlooked or suppressed when naturally seeks to embrace what is living, personal their intellectual contributions."22 being!" international project of the 'new feminism", among a woman is wounded by damaging conditions feminine genius and whole. To cherish, guard, protect, nourish them Mary Ann Glendon, Mary Shivanandan, Pia Unfortunately, in the interests of economic survival He has also written: Vomen's dignity has often or human actions, or due to her own moral or and advance growth is her natural and maternal de Solenni, Sr Prudence Allen, Janet A. Smith, While, it is difficult to make a list of universal yearning."' or social involvement and in a culture dominated been unacknowledged and their prerogatives personal failings. Women, just like men, are in Michele Schumacher, Leonie Caldecott, Wanda feminine qualities without diminishing the mystery by functional, disposable and rationalistic world misrepresented; they have often been relegated need of Christ's Redemption. Poltawska, Janne Haaland-Matlary and many of each individual woman, we can consider here She believed that all professions and social roles views, women today often have little time or space to the margins of society and even reduced to others. Pope John Paul II describes how women who four such characteristics of greater importance. could be open to women and said that women in which to enjoy or share their creative or cultural servitude. This has prevented women from truly have been involved in sin and then encounter bring their concern for the "concrete person" and 1. Strength and conviction of a woman's own gifts. being themselves and this has resulted in a spiritual Jesus, respond as truly feminine disciples: "Christ the "personal" to the workplace as "a blessed What is the feminine dignity impoverishment of humanity."2 speaks to women about the things of God, and counter-balance, precisely here where everyone is Edith Stein wrote about the importance of the in danger of becoming mechanised and losing his "cultivation of beautiful religious custom initiated Pope John Paul was broadly sympathetic' genius? they understand them; there is a true resonance Edith Stein describes a first element of feminine humanity."e with love and care" and deep liturgical intelligence. with feminist concerns about the "exploitation, John Paul II became aware of the need for a "new of mind and heart, a response of faith. Jesus genius — the conviction with which a woman expresses appreciation and admiration for this She saw that women had gifts with which to enliven discrimination and violence'" against women. He feminism" and of the notion of the feminine genius acknowledges her own unique dignity and vocation, She believed that women were drawn to person- distinctly 'feminine' response, as in the case of and deepen Christian culture — to enrich the altars, nonetheless questioned the assumptions and the by reflecting on three sources of his academic and is true to herself and her own 'unrepeatable" centred professions because they could see in the Canaanite woman (cf. Mt 15:28). Sometimes liturgical music, festivities and presentations of the effects of the secular feminist movements.5 work and his pastoral experience: a) his extensive humanity: "But especially needed are faith in one's them the importance of growing, healing and he presents this lively faith, filled with love, as an 'mysteries of the faith."23 philosophy of human love, expressed particularly own being and courage regarding it, as well as educating. In the struggle to promote women's rights, in his early book Love and Responsibility; b) his example... This is the case with the 'sinful' woman faith in one's individual calling to definite personal Jesus' attitude is clear: "Why do you trouble this opportunities, equality, and social standing, many theological reflections on God's original plan for in the Pharisee's house, whose way of acting is activities and a ready willingness to follow this Pope John Paul II thought that this "person- woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to contemporary feminisms become polarised at two man and woman, now known as The Theology of taken by Jesus as the starting-point for explaining call."14 centred orientation" in women's genius could prove me... in pouring this ointment on my body she opposite extremes. the Body; and c) the writings on the dignity and the truth about the forgiveness of sins: 'Her sins, prophetic in promoting a "culture of life" and a has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; Pope John Paul agrees. Each woman, like Adam in At one pole, the liberal and socialist feminisms vocation of women by St Edith Stein, otherwise "culture of peace": "In our own time, the successes you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole but he who is forgiven little, loves little"' (Lk 7:47).12 the garden, must realise her "original solitude", her deny the inherent or essential differences between known as Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross of science and technology make it possible to attain world, what she has done will be told in memory of "self-knowledge [which] goes hand in hand with material well-being to a degree hitherto unknown. the sexes. They promote either a uni-sexed or a (1891-1942), a German philosopher, Carmelite In its truest sense, feminine genius is revealed her." (Mt 26: 6-13) knowledge of the world"... and with it an experience While this favours some, it pushes others to the competitively "masculine' ideal for women. Most nun, and martyr in Auschwitz.9 when God's own work of creation and healing of her own distinctiveness and the meaning 'of edges of society... Our time in particular awaits liberal feminists argue that in order to achieve an bears fruit in holiness. It radiates particularly Both the Pope and Edith Stein wanted to explore [her] own bodiliness"" before God. While it is good the manifestation of that 'genius' which belongs equal footing for women with men in education, brightly in diverse ways through the holy women the reality of women, avoiding a simplistic or for her to serve others, a woman's feminine genius to women, and which can ensure sensitivity for employment, political expression and recognition, of the faith: the girl martyrs Cecilia, Agatha and 'Leiter to Women, 3.2 "naturalistic" view, especially when describing will recognise her individual gifts and talents human beings in every circumstance: because women must also have "fundamental" rights Agatha Kim, the ex-courtesans Pelagia and Mary qualities which are present in both men and in an integrated way, hence the importance of they are human! — and because 'the greatest of 2rbict, 3 to abortion, contraception, pornography and of Egypt, the prophetic military leader Joan of Arc, developing her intellectual powers, nourishing her women in varying degrees. In the words of Pope these is love' (cf. 1 Cor 13:13)19 'Cf. Ibid., 6. The Pope describes the conscious "liberation' reproductive technology. John Paul, "Womanhood expresses the human the reforming Queens Margaret and Elizabeth of moral character and her spiritual life. of women as complicated and sometimes mistaken, but Hungary, the great Doctors of the Church Catherine If feminine empathy can promote a "culture of life", 'substantially a positive" movement which is as yet unfinished. At the other pole are radically "separatist' feminisms just as much as manhood does but in different and of Siena and Teresa of Avila, the heroic mothers Many women today have lost confidence in the which argue that men are so substantially different complementary ways."° the attack on life through abortion is completely °Pope John Paul II, Enc. Evangelium Vitae, 99 Gianna Beretta Molla and Margaret Clitherow and deep mystery and preciousness of their lives before at odds with this empathy. When in the name of and at odds with women's interests that all "man- God. Despite the gains of feminism, some live in 'It is now widely acknowledged that there is not one single In developing her idea of a "true dignity and countless others. personal freedom or under the pressure of de- feminist school or position but a diverse and complex world of made' cultural, religious and intellectual traditions capacity" of woman, Edith Stein believed that the dependent and abusive relationships and have to personalised relationships "a woman views a feminisms. and structures must be rejected. These radical In this regard Pope John Paul writes: "The put up with sexual exploitation both of themselves shape of feminine inspiration is uniquely related to developing human being as simply a piece of 'Pia Francesca De Sotenni, Towards an Understanding of feminists are also deeply suspicious of traditional Church gives thanks for all the manifestations of woman's physical, spiritual and emotional maternal and of others. They have been encouraged to material, she reduces the fetus to a 'what' or 'thing', Woman as imago Der (Universita della Santa Croce: Rome male-female relationships such as exist within the feminine 'genius' which have appeared in the 2003), p. 12 capacity, quite apart from whether the woman ever expose themselves both emotionally and physically instead of a developing 'someone' worthy of love," marriage, religious life and the family. course of history, in the midst of all peoples and in order to "please' the gaze of the market and 'Pope John Paul It, Enc. Evangelium Vitae, 99 conceives or bears a child. 2° and she loses not only a child but something vital nations; she gives thanks for all the charisms which Apart from the fact that these feminist approaches workplace and the desires of predatory men. in herself. 'Ibid. Pope John Paul II too affirmed the intimate maternal the Holy Spirit distributes to women in the history are in obvious conflict with Catholic tradition and dynamic of woman's interior experience: 'This of the People of God, for all the victories which she In light of the feminine genius, moral truth and It is particularly tragic that many secular feminists 'St Teresa Benedicta had in common with Pope John Paul II a moral teaching, they have often overlooked what philosophical !raining in phenomenology, a study of the work of indescribable experience is a privilege of mothers, owes to their faith, hope and charity; she gives modesty are not priggish or life-denying, but rather is distinctly feminine. Pia de Solenni writes: "In an who argue for a more empathetic and person- St Thomas Aquinas and a Carmelite spirituality. but all women have in some way an intuition of it, thanks for all the fruits of feminine holiness. The virtues which ensure women's empowerment and centred culture cannot see the damage that effort to recognise the dignity of woman, we have 1°Lefter to Women, 7 predisposed as they are to this miraculous gift."11 Church asks at the same time that these invaluable personal integrity." induced abortion leaves behind in the hearts tried to detach her from traditions which we thought 'manifestations of the Spirit' (cf. 1 Cor 12:4 ff.), and lives of women. It is a contradiction of which "Pope John Paul It, Angelus reflection 'The Vocation to were detrimental to her dignity. The effect has been The feminine genius can be understood as the full Motherhood% 1 which with great generosity are poured forth upon the "new feminism" is compassionately and that, more often than not, a woman has been kept and authentic spiritual, ethical and interpersonal the 'daughters' of the eternal Jerusalem, may be imaginatively aware. "John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Mutris Dignitatem, 15 within the confines of male perspective. What is response to the given of being a particular female attentively recognised and appreciated so that they "ibid., 31 particularly feminine remains unexplored."e person, a physical, emotional, historical and may return for the common good of the Church and 3.Creators of environs spiritual whole. It is present in the heart of woman "Edith Stein, "Problems of Women's Education' in Essays on of humanity, especially in our times. Meditating on Woman, p. 193 like a seed. It needs to be respected, nourished Edith Stein saw that, in addition to having a gift the biblical mystery of the 'woman', the Church for acute awareness of other people, women "Man and Woman He Created Them• a Theology of the Body and allowed to develop in each woman according prays that in this mystery all women may discover (2006), pp. 151-52 to her talents, personality and, most importantly, were also adept at creating receptive "spaces" themselves and their 'supreme vocation'."3 in which people, especially vulnerable people, "This is the premise of Wendy Shatil's Return to Modesty: "Therefore the Church gives thanks for each and every woman: for could flourish. She identified this as a type of high Discovering the Lost Virtue (2000) hospitality to "civilisation" — to spiritual, moral and ""Elhos of Women's Profession' in Essays on WOMeli, p. 48. mothers, for sisters, for wives; for women consecrated to God in aesthetic development. She wrote: "Part of the virginity; for women dedicated to the many human beings who await natural feminine concern for the right development Volieds Dignitatem, 30 the gratuitous love of another person; for women who watch over of the beings surrounding her involves the creation /Prudence Allen, 'Can Feminism be Humanism?' in Women in the human persons in the family, which is the fundamental sign of of an ambience of order and beauty conducive to Christ, p. 281 their development."21 the human community... for "perfect" women and for "weak" women 21-Vocations of Men and Women" in Essays on Woman, p. 77 This aspect of the feminine genius inspired - for ail women as they have come forth from the heart of God in all 22Lefter to Women, 3.2 Australia's Caroline Chisholm in the 19th century. the beauty and richness of their femininity." Pope John Paul II, Apostolic "Cf. "Church, Women and Youth" in Essays on Woman, p. 237 Photocopying Prohibited Letter Mulieris dignitate►n, 31. PhotOliopying Prohibi