Labor Pains

"We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies." (Rom 8 22-23)

I wonder if St. Paul actually heard a woman groaning in labor. Was he married for a short time? Did he hear his sisters or cousins when they were in labor? However Paul came to it, his use of the image of a groaning woman in labor is powerful and helps us understand the yearning and struggle Paul experienced to give birth to the new life of Christ within him. Groaning is an image we can not only imagine but hear. I have often heard women speak of the desperation they felt when they thought their labor would never end, and I regularly hear women "groan" about the failure of our church to hear their voices and unique understanding of the mysteries of faith.

Last night I had the delightful duty of speaking at the University of Connecticut. It was wonderful to have so many students attend the lecture, but it also gave me pause. More than half the college students who came to the lecture were women and I kept wondering what they might say if they had an opportunity to address the audience last night. Surely some of them would be able to speak to the image of a woman in labor, and so many other issues unique to the experience of women, more authentically than I or any of the men attending. Unfortunately, women are not allowed to preach at Mass, but I would hope more parishes would not only make time available after communion for women to offer reflections about the mysteries of faith as they experience them as women, but take advantage of other opportunities for women to address church groups as women.

Pope Benedict XVI, recognizing that women are too often marginalized in our society and church, also encourages us to listen to the voices of women more intentionally. Before he was Pope, Benedict, reminding his listeners of the important contributions of women to the history of theology and spirituality, presented a fascinating lecture on St Bridget of Sweden in which he reminds his listeners that history is full of women saints, mystics and theologians about whom we have heard little. As Cardinal Ratzinger he wrote:

Bridget inserts herself in the great context of medieval 'female thelogy', which begins in the twelfth century with Elizabeth of Schönau and Hildegard of Bingen, continues in Germany in the thirteenth century with Mechtild of Magdebourg, Mechtild of Hackeborn and Gertrude the Great, while in Italy at about the same time Clare of Assisi gives new brilliance to the faith. She is followed by Margherita of Cortona and Angela of Foligno, and after Saint Bridget, mention must be made of Catherine of Siena. England contributes Julian of Norwich, and in this way we would continue with other names up to the great Saint Teresa of Avila.

Reading Pope Benedict's remarks I was struck by how little I know about some of the women he mentions or their writing. How sad for me and us.

Today ask yourself whether you regularly listen to women's experience and insight about matters of faith. Then take a moment to pray in gratitude for a women whose wisdom and insight helped shape your life, thought and spirituality.