Holy Women

by Pope Benedict XVI

Dear brothers and sisters, history records almost exclusively the accomplishments of men, when in fact much of it is due to the determined, unrelenting, and charitable action of women. - Pope Benedict XVI

From Scripture through today, women have always played a unique and critical role in Church history. In his weekly addresses, Pope Benedict XVI expertly and thoughtfully explores the life stories of seventeen such holy women. From St. Hildegard of Bingen to St. Catherine of Siena and St. Therese of Lisieux, and many more in between, each one brings a fresh experience and example of faith that is still relevant today.

These models of prayer, faith, and action will help you gain a fuller understanding of Church history as well as personal faith. Bring your faith to life with the spark of history as told by the pope himself.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction, Faith, Spirituality

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 24, 2011

About the author

Originally Joseph Ratzinger , a noted conservative theologian before his election in 2005, Benedict XVI strove against the influence of secularism during his papacy to defend traditional Catholic teachings but since medieval times first resigned in 2013.

After Joseph Ratzinger served a long career as an academic and a professor at the University of Regensburg, Pope Paul VI appointed him as archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome as prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, one most important office of the Roman curia. He also served as dean of the college of cardinals.

Benedict XVI reigned 265th in virtue of his office of bishop of Rome, the sovereign of the state of Vatican City and the head of the Church. A conclave named him on 19 April 2005; he celebrated his inaugural Mass on 24 April 2005 and took possession of his Lateran cathedral basilica of Saint John on 7 May 2005.

Benedict XVI succeeded Saint John Paul II, predecessor and his prolific writings on doctrine and values. Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increase of many developed countries. Relativism denied objective truth and moral truths in particular; he viewed this central problem of the 21st century. With the importance of the Church, he understood redemptive love of God. He reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism" "of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Benedict also revived a number and elevated the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.

Benedict founded and patronized of the Ratzinger foundation, a charitable organization, which from the sale of books and essays makes money to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.

Due to advanced age on 11 February 2013, Benedict announced in a speech in Latin and cited a "lack of strength of mind and body" before the cardinals. He effectively left on 28 February 2013.As emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness, and the title and continued to dress in the color of white. He moved into the newly renovated monastery of Mater Ecclesiae for his retirement. Pope Francis succeeded him on 13 March 2013.

(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...)

Reviews

[Joymhb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book based on a series of talks given by Pope Benedict.
A nice balance of saints I knew and others I was 'meeting' for the first time.
Part biography and part reflection each chapter taught me something.

[Claire Gilligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent! Brief biographical reflections on seventeen saints from throughout the centuries, taken from his Wendesday Audience address. Some saints were familiar, some not. Definitely recommended.

[Cole Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by Pope Benedict XVI, and I have to say it was a good choice. It was a slow read for me because it was nonfiction, and I typically have to read a lot slower when reading nonfiction, but it was very enjoyable. I collected several inspiring quotes from female saints that I had not previously heard of. These quotes truly warmed my heart and inspired me. If you are a Catholic looking for a touching book about inspiring Catholic women, this is the book for you.

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Cara Wilhelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting brief overviews of some familiar and many unfamiliar women saints - these were general audiences given by Pope Benedict XVI.

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Juliana [St. Juliana of Cornillon] was sixteen she had her first vision which recurred subsequently several times during her Eucharistic adoration. Her vision presented the moon in its full splendor, crossed diametrically by a dark stripe. The Lord made her understand the meaning of what had appeared to her. The moon symbolized the life of the Church on earth, the opaque line, on the other hand, represented the absence of a liturgical feast for whose institution Juliana was asked to plead effectively: namely, a feast in which believers would be able to adore the Eucharist so as to increase in faith, to advance in the practice of the virtues and to make reparation for offenses to the Most Holy Sacrament.
This eventually became the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

I don't remember ever hearing of St. Juliana and you'd think I would if I had since my given name is Julianne.

Thank goodness for Holy Women to give me a vivid sampling of the many ways female saints have contributed to the Church.

Pope Benedict is renowned as a scholar and theologian. I repeatedly see people say that he writes on such an intellectual level that he is difficult to understand. However, the Pope's homilies must be easy to understand since they are delivered to all sorts of people. It is these homilies in which he often speaks most directly about what it means to be a regular Christian in search of God.

Benedict's homily series about seventeen female saints is collected for our meditation in Holy Women. Although we may think of saints as being too holy to understand, no group of people could disprove that idea more than these women. From St. Gertrude the Great to St. Therese of Lisieux, from abbesses to holy housewives to queens, Benedict gives us history that shows how God works through all sorts of people, in all sorts of times.

As always, Benedict's greatest gift in this writing is when he brings us face-to-face with our own similarities to these saintly women. I found personal inspiration in St. Elizabeth of Hungary who influenced her husband, the nation they ruled, and everyone she encountered (except for scheming relatives ...) by her charity and personal service.

Elizabeth's marriage was profoundly happy: she helped her husband to raise his human qualities to a supernatural level and he, in exchange, stood up for his wife's generosity tothe poor and for her religious practices. Increasingly admired for his wife's great faith, Ludwig said to her, referring to her attention to the poor, "Dear Elizabeth, it is Christ whom you have cleansed, nourished, and cared for" — a clear witness to how faith and love of God and neighbor strengthen family life and deepen ever more the matrimonial union.

Recommended reading for every person who says that the Church keeps women down.

Thank you, Pope Benedict!

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Holy Women. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reason for Reading: I love reading about the Saints and want to read more work of Pope B16.

This is a collection of articles on seventeen holy women of the church throughout the ages, most of the women are saints, though not quite all; most were nuns, but again not quite all. These writings are "derived from catecheses given by Pope Benedict XVI during his weekly general audience from September 1, 2010 to April 6, 2011." They have only been edited slightly to fit the book form. These are brief histories but meaty with information and inspiration, Benedict gets right to the heart of matters and tells a history of the woman's life, what lead her to her religious/spiritual way of life, tells us what these women achieved, how some were honoured and respected while alive, how others were martyrs for God. The Pope then winds each article down by placing the woman's achievements/religious teachings in our own modern times, showing how what she did or said is still relevant today and each ends with a relevant prayer. Most of the women are from the middle ages but the time span covered is broad ranging from 1098 to 1897 and the women are presented more or less chronologically with only slight deviation. The women included are:

St. Hildegard of Bingen
St. Claire of Assisi
St. Matilda of Hackeborn
St. Gertrude the Great
Bl. Angela of Foligno
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
St. Bridget of Sweden
Marguerite d Oingt
St. Juliana of Cornillon
St Catherine of Siena
Julian of Norwich
St. Veronica Giuliani
St. Catherine of Bologna
St. Catherine of Genoa
St. Joan of Arc
St. Teresa of Avila
St. Therese of Lisieux

The book is short and written in a very readable voice making it possible to quickly read through the book, however, I decided to take my time and read a biography a night so I could digest and process the information on each woman before going on to the next one. An highly enjoyable, entertaining, informative and, inspirational read!

[Christy Kellner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing show of honor and respect! Most of the women mentioned were prominent leaders, theologians, and consecrated religious during the dark ages. Leading one to believe that perhaps the Dark Ages weren't so Dark after all. After reading about these women and their contributions to the mystical body of Christ, one begins to understand the depth, the wisdom, the logic, and the veracity of the Catholic Church! One also begins to see that it is in paganism that inequality and misogyny succeeds. Yet through Christianity how women because of the Church's teaching on respect for human dignity and equality gained a seat at the separate but equal table.

[Rebecca The Files of Mrs. E, · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is made up of short chapters about important women in the church taken from Pope Benedict's general audiences. It was moving and inspirational. Personally I would have liked it if more of the women chosen had been mothers, very few had been wives, instead most were mystics which were harder to relate to. But Pope Benedict did show how no matter how remote these saints main seem, they still have lessons to teach us.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good commentary on the lives of Christian women. Some were better done than others - I found the last chapter on St. Therese of Lisieux to be less well edited. Loved the chapters on Joan of Arc and Teresa of Avila

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pope Benedict is a superlative writer on almost all topics, and this is no exception. He has a gift (as does John Paul II, in my opinion) for understanding and writing about women - our gifts, talents, and contributions to the Church.

[Connie Seiwert]

Finished a while back very good.

[Louise Hazeldine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, informative, a great text to look at for people choosing confirmation names!