Madam, – Some time ago Cardinal Brady asked for suggestions on the renewal of the Irish Catholic Church. He received postcards asking for the rightful inclusion of women in the church, and we find encouragement in his acknowledgment of these.
On the negative side, we are insulted by the current reception into the Catholic Church of Anglicans whose motives include disapproval of women’s ordination. This only adds to the oppressive attitude to women that pervades the Catholic Church.
The third Sunday of Advent is named Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. We are to rejoice, because “we too have a glorious expectation”. But what can women rejoice in, given their current exclusion from decision-making in the church? What “glorious expectation” can they have? We have three positive suggestions around that day. 1. Women might focus on their role in the rebirthing of the church: by rebirthing we mean the painful shift from a patriarchal, hierarchical model of church to a relational one. Mary gave birth to Jesus who opened up a world of relationships between God and ourselves and with one another. He revealed that at the heart of divinity lie relationships of mutual appreciation which are to be mirrored in his body the church. How then can we assist in the rebirthing of the church so that right relationships of dignity and inclusion emerge? 2. Concerned women (and men) might send an Advent postcard to the Cardinal for Gaudete Sunday, December 12th, answering the following question: how can the Christmas message of the birth of Jesus shed light on the authentic role of women within the church? 3. The Advent wreath: those who wish to symbolise the spirit of the liturgy that day could wear a pink rose to reflect the light of its rose candle, or a green ribbon to reflect the new life of rebirth in its green leaves. – Yours, etc,