Female Leaders of the Church


A good Spirituality is a combination of a feminine and masculine impute. There are few spiritualties like that in the Catholic Church. The examples of them are:  

Benedictine: Scholastica and Benedict  
Franciscan: Clare and Francis of Assisi
Carmelite: Theresa and John of the Cross
Vincentian:  Louise de Marillac and Vincent de Paul

The one thing that makes me think is that most of them are being called after the male figure of their representation.  There is this masculine aspect of the Catholic Church that likes to keep the feminine secondary.  From the Franciscan studies, it looks like perhaps Clare had a more spiritual and intellectual impact on the Franciscan Order than even Francis himself.  She lived much longer than Francis and after the death of Francis many friars came to ask her for the advice.   

In the spirit of Pope Francis, it is time to acknowledge the great contributions of female saints, mystics, theologians, spiritual mothers and founders of great Christian movements. They are as equally important as male contributors.   

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