As Pope Francis stated, “The Church is woman… and if we do not understand what woman is or what the theology of womanhood is, we will never understand what the Church is… He described the "masculinizing" of the Church as a “great sin,” which has yet to be resolved."[1]
The Church is called the bride of Christ for a reason. The priesthood is the embodiment of Christ in the Church. Together, we embody the fullness of God in His Church. What a gift we are to one another. Unless women learn to know what it means to be woman, the Church will not come to the fullness of who she is. Therefore, we must seek to know who we are as woman for the sake of the Church and the priesthood. Through this journey, I will argue that it is too little for a woman to be a priest, for we are called to lean into our true dignity as "ʿezer ke-negdo” (Gen 2:18). This theology will be rooted in the meaning of the word “woman” as “ʿezer ke-negdo.” In Hebrew, the word עזר (ezer) has been used to define God as “savior,” and כנגדו (ke-negdo) means “equivalent to him.” Women are reminded of this “ʿezer ke-negdo” calling that reflects the female image and likeness of God as “saviors” “equal to men.”[2] What does it mean to be “ʿezer ke-negdo” as a mother, a chemist, a nun, a CEO, a daughter, a single woman, or a laywoman in the Church or the world? Who are we called to be according to the vison of God. “For the glory of God is a living “woman”; and the life of “woman” consists in beholding God. For if the manifestation of God which is made by means of the creation, affords life to all living in the earth, much more does that revelation of the Father which comes through the Word, give life to those who see God.” [3]
This space will be used to post some of the theological reflections and exegesis from my Doctorate of Theology in Applied Theology thesis. My passion and mission is to spread a renewed vision of women in theology and ministry within the Catholic Church.
[1] Vatican News, “Pope Calls for Reflection on Feminine Dimension of Church,” Vatican News, November 30, 2023, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-11/pope-calls-for-reflection-on-feminine-dimension-of-church.html
[2] Gary A. Rendsburg, “Woman: Helpmate No Longer,” TheTorah.com, accessed November 28, 2024, https://www.thetorah.com/article/woman-helpmate-no-longer
[3] Irenaeus, “Against Heresies (Book IV, Chapter 20),” CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, IV.20 (St. Irenaeus), accessed November 30, 2024, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103420.html
