This was a woman (Joan Chittister)

This was a woman who made up her mind outside the law, alone, independent of keepers or guides.  This was a woman who risked everything to do what she knew her God required of her, whatever its cost socially, publicly, spiritually.  This was a woman who acted alone, outside the permission of the systems and the tradition around her.  This was a woman who inserted herself into a public situation and directed Jesus to do the same, despite the fact that he said he was not ready to do so.  She had a strong will, a strong faith, a strong sense of self, and deep spiritual stamina.

The Creed says that women do marvelous things, all of them far beyond the physical.  The Creed... shows us woman in all her glory:  woman rational, spiritual, strong, essential, decisive, and ordained to participate in the outpouring of divine life.  It shows us woman -- loving, giving, holy, in communion with God, and filled with the spirit of Jesus... a spiritual partner to the greatest spiritual event of all time.

--Joan Chittister, In Search of Belief

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