Role of women equally important to spiritual life of Church

Pope Benedict XVI says the role of women in the church is equally important - while not overlapping - as that of ordained priesthood for the spiritual growth of the community. Moreover, often they are the “driving force” and “spiritual centre” of the family, the domestic Church. His reflections were part of his weekly audience, this week dedicated to the life and legacy of one of the best known and best loved female figures of the Church in the Middle Ages, St Bridget of Sweden.

“Born in thirteen hundred and three, she grew up steeped in the faith. She and her husband had eight children, and dedicated themselves with great fervour to the spiritual life and their children’s Christian formation. Bridget was the driving force behind her and her husband’s “conjugal sanctity”, and became a model for many women through the ages of how to be the spiritual centre of the family”.

Often called “The Mystic of the North”, Bridget was deeply cultured and very practical woman, wife and mother of eight children, a humble but bold pilgrim, a counsellor to the highest Royalties of the time, and founder of the Order which she dedicated to the Most Holy Saviour.

“Following her husband’s death, Bridget renounced further marriage in order to deepen her union with the Lord, through prayer, penance and works of charity. She gave away her possessions and lived in a monastery. In her prayer, she experienced many intense mystical experiences. In thirteen forty-nine, she made a pilgrimage to Rome, to obtain Papal approval for a religious order of both men and women”.

“This is something that should not surprise us: there were monastic foundations in the Middle Ages with male and female branches, but which practiced the same monastic rule, under the direction of an Abbess. In fact, in the great Christian tradition, the dignity of women and their place in the Church is recognized, and - following the example of Mary, Queen of the Apostles - while not overlapping that of the ordained priesthood, they are equally important for the spiritual growth of the Community. In addition, the collaboration of men and women religious, while respecting their specific vocation, is of great importance in today's world. "

In his greetings to English speaking pilgrims Pope Benedict concluded with a special welcome to the Bridgettine Sisters who, fittingly enough, are in Rome for their General Chapter. Emer McCarthy reports:

Text in full: Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Our catechesis today is on Saint Bridget of Sweden. Born in thirteen hundred and three, she grew up steeped in the faith. She and her husband had eight children, and dedicated themselves with great fervour to the spiritual life and their children’s Christian formation. Bridget was the driving force behind her and her husband’s “conjugal sanctity”, and became a model for many women through the ages of how to be the spiritual centre of the family. Following her husband’s death, Bridget renounced further marriage in order to deepen her union with the Lord, through prayer, penance and works of charity. She gave away her possessions and lived in a monastery. In her prayer, she experienced many intense mystical experiences. In thirteen forty-nine, she made a pilgrimage to Rome, to obtain Papal approval for a religious order of both men and women which she intended to found, and, while in Rome, she lived a life of intense apostolic prayer and activity. Bridget died in thirteen seventy-three, and was canonized eighteen years later. She is a significant reminder of a united Western Christendom, a powerful example of feminine sanctity, and was proclaimed co-Patroness of Europe by the Venerable John Paul the Second, during the Great Jubilee. May her intercession help unite all Christians, and draw the people of Europe to an ever greater appreciation of their unique and invaluable Christian heritage.

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I am pleased to welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present today. In particular, I extend greetings to the Bridgetine Sisters here for their General Chapter. Upon all of you, I invoke God’s abundant blessings.