When I told my mom that I was about to watch the new Mary Magdalene movie, the first question she asked was, “who’s playing Mary Magdalene?” I answered that Rooney Mara was playing the title role, and she gave her stamp of approval: “Well, they might as well get someone pretty!” Classic comment from Mom … Continue reading The Complexity of the Magdalene: A Film Review of ‘Mary Magdalene’ by Elizabeth Schrader
Book Recommendations
There are no faster or firmer friendships than those formed between people who love the same books. … Continue reading Book Recommendations
Educated: A Memoir
Tara Westover's recent memoir Educated is by far one of the best books I have read. Her story is unusal and unconventional. She was raised in the mountains of Idaho with fundamentalist, anti-government, Mormon parents who were preparing for the end times. Instead of attending public school, she worked for her father in the scrape yard … Continue reading Educated: A Memoir
Mistrusting Eve
While in California, Sam and I were able to sneak off on a date to Murphys where we ritually go wine tasting, visit friends and peruse the local bookstore. Unexpectedly, I came across The Bible According to Mark Twain and knew immediately that I had to buy it. I was not aware of Mark Twain's … Continue reading Mistrusting Eve
Mary, Did You Know…
I love Christmas, especially in New England because everyone gets into it. Decorations and lights adorn almost every home and the atmosphere feels festive from Thanksgiving forward. The holiday season boosts our spirits in a way that distracts us from the hard reality that winter is coming. There is no doubt that it will be … Continue reading Mary, Did You Know…
Hidden in the Background
I continue to ask myself, is Christianity good for women as I recollect some of the negative instances that I’ve had in my faith but also as I hear about other women’s degrading experiences. For example, a friend recently told me that her pastor said, from the pulpit, that whenever he sees a strong female … Continue reading Hidden in the Background
Danger in Absence
Another instance of child rape in the Catholic Church! We all know that this is a problem due to media coverage and recent movies like Spotlight and Calvary, which depict the systemic corruption in this area. But, we need to think further about why this continues to happen. Is there a connection between the recurrent abuse and the absence … Continue reading Danger in Absence
Same Old Crap
It was never my plan to take a year hiatus from posting on my blog but the time just flew by. During my lapse of silence, I have been reading, pondering and listening to those around me on the subject of women and Christianity (I did also have a baby which drastically changed the pace … Continue reading Same Old Crap
Dorothy Day (1897-1980)
Catholic writer and activist, Dorothy Day, is more well known than some of the previous women I have touched on but her life is worth addressing. She truly embodied hospitality to all people and most importantly to the poorest of the poor. One of the ways that she cared for the working poor was through … Continue reading Dorothy Day (1897-1980)
Marguerite Porete 1248-1310
Marguerite Porete was a French beguine who did not “behave herself” and thus made history. I mentioned her briefly in a previous post on Beguines for she is one of the more well known figures from that women’s movement. Her life tragically ended by fire as she was burned at the stake in Paris on … Continue reading Marguerite Porete 1248-1310
