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Theological Studies on Saint Chavara 7 FOSTERING FEMININE GENIUS An Empowering Theology of Women from Kuriakose Elias Chavara Dharmaram Publications No. 486 Theological Studies on Saint Chavara 7 FOSTERING FEMININE GENIUS An Empowering Theology of Women from Kuriakose Elias Chavara Jossy Maria CMC 2020 Chavara Central Secretariat Kochi 680 030 Kerala, India & Dharmaram Publications Bangalore 560029 India Theological Studies on Saint Chavara 7 Fostering Feminine Genius: An Empowering Theology of Women from Kuriakose Elias Chavara Jossy Maria CMC Email: [email protected] Saju Chackalackal CMI General Editor, Theological Studies on Saint Chavara [email protected] © 2020: Saint Chavara‟s 150th Death Anniversary Edition Chavara Central Secretariat, Kochi Cover: David, Smriti, Thrissur Printing: Viani Printings, Kochi ISBN: 978-81-946576-3-7 Price: Rs. 250; US$ 25 Chavara Central Secretariat CMI Prior General‟s House Chavara Hills, Kakkanad Post Box 3105, Kochi 682 030 Kerala, India Tel: +91 484 2881802/3 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.chavaralibrary.in/ & Dharmaram Publications Dharmaram College, Bangalore 560029, India Tel: +91-8041116137; 6111 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Web: www.dharmarampublications.com CONTENTS Theological Studies on Saint Chavara xiii Foreword xv “Saint Chavara‟s Commitment to the Full Humanity of Women and Their Empowerment” Thomas Kochuthara Presentation xxi “Chavara and Women for the Kingdom of God: Empowered Womanhood for an Empowered Humanity” Saju Chackalackal CMI Preface lxxvii Chapter 1 1 FEMININE GENIUS IN THE WRITINGS OF RECENT POPES 1. Feminine Genius in the Second Vatican Council 3 2. Pope John Paul II 5 2.1. Mulieris Dignitatem: Equality of Man and Woman 6 2.2. John Paul II‟s Letter to Women 9 3. Christian Anthropology 11 3.1. Identity and Vocation of Men and Women 13 3.2. Man and Woman in God‟s Image and Likeness 14 3.3. Creation of Woman 15 3.4. The Traditional Interpretation 17 3.4.1. The First Sin and the Rupture of Relationship 22 3.4.2. Consequences of Sin on Woman 22 4. Song of Songs 23 5. Jesus‟ Attitude towards Women 25 5.1. Liberation from Male Dominance in Marriage 26 5.2. „Jesus Model‟ of Loving Women 28 5.3. Jesus‟ Concern for the Widows 28 v vi Fostering Feminine Genius 6. Saint Paul and Women 30 6.1. Negative Remarks on Women in Pauline 31 Writings 6.2. The Subordination of Women 33 7. Complementarity in Spousal Love 36 7.1. What Is True Femininity? 38 7.2. Women and Self-Giving Love 39 7.3. Redemption in Jesus 42 8. Pope Francis 43 8.1. Querida Amazonia (Beloved Amazon) 45 8.2. Spirituality of Women 46 9. CBCI Gender Policy for India (2010) 48 10. Women in Today‟s Church 50 Chapter 2 55 FEMININE GENIUS IN THE WRITINGS OF CHAVARA 1. Chavara‟s Perception of Motherhood 55 1.1. God as a Caring Mother 58 1.2. Women in Chavara‟s Pilgrimage of Faith 61 2. Women in Chavara‟s Writings 62 2.1. Women in the Poem „Anastasiayude 63 Rakthasakshyam‟ 2.2. Women Characters in the Atmanutapam 68 2.2.1. Thoppil Mariam 69 2.2.2. Mary, Mother of Jesus 81 2.3. „Mother Saints‟ in Dhyanasallapangal and 81 Other Writings 2.3.1. Galilean Women Disciples of Jesus 82 2.3.2. „Three Marys‟ 90 2.3.3. Mary of Magdala 91 2.3.4. Martha and Mary 96 2.3.5. Jesus in the Lap of Chavara‟s Mother 99 Contents vii 2.3.6. Saint Teresa of Avila 100 2.3.7. „Penitent Mothers‟ 102 2.3.8. The Hidden Powers of Women 103 3. Women in Chavara‟s „Testament to the 104 Members of His Congregation‟ 4. Mother‟s Love: A Model for Community Life 106 5. Stories on Women 107 5.1. Maranaveetil Padanulla Pana 107 5.2. Stories in the Chavarul 112 6. Women Who Contributed to His Projects 113 6.1. The Pidiyari Project 113 6.2. Construction of the Convent for Women 114 6.3. Initial Expense of the Printing Press 115 6.4. A Reversal of Patriarchy 115 6.5. Giving Visibility to the Presence of Women 116 6.6. Prayer of a Protestant Girl 117 7. Celebrating Motherhood 117 7.1. Struggles of a Single Parent 118 7.2. Sister Anna‟s Aunt 120 8. Widows Honoured 121 8.1. Eliswa Vakayil 123 8.2. Clara Puthenangady 123 8.3. A Konkani Widow 124 8.4. Elizabeth Clerk 125 9. Church as Mother 126 10. Two Political Leaders 127 11. Faith-Building Role of Women in the Church 128 Chapter 3 131 MEANS FOR FOSTERING FEMININE GENIUS 1. Religious Institute for Women 131 2. Community with a Mission 138 viii Fostering Feminine Genius 3. Writing as Self-Expression 144 4. Inclusion of Women‟s Contributions 148 4.1. Chavara‟s Influence in the Chronicle 150 4.2. The Art of Composing Poems 152 4.3. Artistic Talents of Girls 152 4.4. Sisters‟ Skill in Dramatics 153 4.5. Playing Musical Instruments 154 5. Training Sisters in Languages for a Better Life 155 5.1. Liturgical Languages 156 5.2. Marian Hymns in Syriac and Latin 156 5.3. Teaching Latin Language 157 5.4. South Indian Languages 158 5.5. Inculcating the Reading Habit 159 6. Apostolates for the Uplift of Women 160 6.1. Vocational Training 161 6.2. Economic Independence and Financial 161 Security of Women 6.3. Women‟s Right to Property 162 6.4. Rosary Making as Cottage Industry 165 6.5. Boarding House for Girls 167 7. Empowering Women through Education 171 7.1. Higher Education for Girls 173 7.2. Encouraging Leadership Role of Women 176 7.3. Towards a Leadership for Tomorrow 178 8. Faith Formation 179 8.1. Formation for Other Religious Institutes of 180 Women 8.2. Feminine Styles of Holiness for the Church 181 8.3. Mother Saints as Models 182 9. Caring for the Temporalities of the Convent 183 9.1. Training in Proper Accounts Keeping 185 9.2. Numerical Increase of the Members 187 9.3. A Forward Looking Animator 187 Contents ix 10. Women‟s Right to Take Decisions 190 11. Greater Participation of Women in the Life 192 and Mission of the Church 12. Chavara‟s Relationship with the Sisters of 196 Koonammavu Convent 12.1. O! Glorious Royal Ladies! 198 12.2. Words of Appreciation 201 12.3. Women with Inner Freedom 201 Chapter 4 203 MARY OF NAZARETH, THE HIGHEST EXPRESSION OF FEMININE GENIUS 1. Chavara‟s First Relationship with Mother Mary 204 1.1. Family Encounters 204 1.2. Offering at Vechoor Church 205 1.3. Celebration of Mary‟s Birthday 206 1.4. Prayer Pattern of Mannanam Community 207 1.5. Marian Devotion of Malabar Christians 208 2. One Mother, Many Titles 209 3. Mary‟s Identity and Vocation 210 3.1. Mary: „Crown of Womankind‟ 211 3.2. Mary‟s Vocation to Motherhood 213 3.3. Blessed Virgin 214 3.4. Mary as a Perfect Wife 215 3.4.1. Mutual Respect between Joseph and Mary 216 3.4.2. Mary‟s Sufferings 222 3.5. Mary: A True Disciple of Jesus 225 3.5.1. Mary: A Constant Follower of Jesus 226 3.5.2. Mary: A Woman Free for the Gospel 228 3.5.3. Mary: Model and Mother of Consecrated Life 230 4. Mary‟s Lifestyle in the Community of Believers 233 4.1. Mary: Leader and Director of the Group 237 4.2. Mary: A Courageous Woman 239 x Fostering Feminine Genius 4.3. Mary: A Merciful Mother 242 4.4. Mary: A Privileged Mother 244 4.5. Mary: A Caring Mother of Christ‟s Disciples 244 4.6. Mary: Protector of Women 247 5. Mary: The Mother of the Church 248 5.1. Mary: Loving Daughter of the Heavenly Father 251 5.2. Mary: The Beloved Mother of Jesus 252 5.3. The Holy Spirit Respects Mary as Bride 254 6. Mary: Person with a Decisive Role in the Church 255 6.1. Mother Mary and the Jerusalem Council 256 6.2. Mother Mary and Celebrations of the Feasts 257 in the Church 7. Mary: In Harmony with Mother Earth 259 8. Annunciation of the „Departure of Mary‟ 264 9. Mary‟s Testament 265 10. Mary and Feminine Genius 266 Chapter 5 273 PROMOTING WOMEN‟S EQUAL DIGNITY 1. Place of Women in Christian Anthropology 273 2. Recognition for the Creativity of Women 276 2.1. „Jesus‟ Model‟ of Empowerment 276 2.2. „Chavara Model‟ of Empowering 277 2.3. „Koonammavu Model‟ of Empowerment 278 3. Advocating the Equality and Dignity of Women 279 3.1. Gospel-Based Feminism 282 3.2. Chavara Initiated Social Feminism in the 282 Nineteenth Century 3.3. Chavara: Supporter of Feminine Holiness 285 3.4. Freedom of Relationship with Women 285 Bibliography 289 THEOLOGICAL STUDIES ON SAINT CHAVARA Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara (1805-1871) – a Carmelite religious priest and professor of theology (Malpan) in the Syro- Malabar Church, who pioneered consecrated life in the Indian Church by founding the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI; in collaboration with Thomas Palackal and Thomas Porukara, in 1831), the first indigenous religious congregation for men, and the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC; in collaboration with Leopold Beccaro OCD, in 1866) – is widely recognized for his pioneering efforts to reform the Church in Kerala and the society of the nineteenth century. His credible Christian witness, along with the leadership he offered to the Church of Saint Thomas Christians, at a time when it was passing through multiple jurisdictional crises, scripted a spiritual and disciplined growth in the Kerala Church.