Unforgettable Women of the Gospels: 8 Unnamed Women in Scripture and Their Encounters with Jesus

by Melanie Rigney

The woman at the well. The woman healed by a touch. The widow at Nain. We know them only by where they were or what they did. But Jesus knew them. He knew all about them—just as he knows about us. This eight-lesson Bible study, suitable for individual or group use, delves into each woman’s possible emotions before the encounter, and what lessons we can learn from them. Journaling prompts and discussion questions are included for each lesson.

112 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2024

About the author

Author of several books of interest to Catholics. The latest is: 12 Unforgettable Men of the Gospels: Reflections & Portraits of the Apostles (Twenty-third Publications. Earlier: Unforgettable Women of the Gospels: 8 Unnamed Women in Scripture and Their Encounters with Jesus (2024); Menopause Moments: A Journal for Nourishing Your Mind, Body and Spirit in Midlife (2021); Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century (2020); Brotherhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration (2020); Woman of Worth: Prayers and Reflections for Women Inspired by the Book of Proverbs (June 2019); Blessed Are You: Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith (2015); and Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration (2013) . I'm also a frequent conference and meeting speaker.

I'm a regular contributor to Living Faith, the Catholic devotional, and Women in the New Evangelization.

From 1998 to 2003, I was editor of Writer's Digest magazine and also served for a time as editorial director for Writer's Digest Books.

Reviews

[Unbridled Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a daily devotional for 8 mornings. Each chapter focuses on a woman in the New Testament who encounters Jesus, but who has no name, no history and whom the scriptures don't explain what happens next.

This is where Melanie Rigney comes in. She shares the story, then builds upon that story. She agrees that nobody really knows, but by filling in the gaps she helps us understand this was a REAL PERSON who had baggage (like us) fears (like us) and an intense need for healing (like us). Her writing is familiar and encouraging and I especially loved her own reflections on situations in her life that relate to the chapter and how she also introduces us to stories of other real woman believers who lived centuries ago who are relatable.

The chapters are just the right length, not too short, but palatable enough to read in one sitting. Do not let the fact that this is written from a Catholic author deter you if you are not Catholic. It is Bible based and not Catholic-centric, but is a scriptural look at women in scripture.

I would highly recommend this as a daily devotional to everyone (men and women included).

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great selection for a book club. It details several Biblical women who encountered Jesus, and the ways he affected their lives. We may not know their names, but we still know their stories.

There are personal reflections, and discussion questions for each chapter. I’m always on the fence about speculating about the lives of real people, and it does go into what these women may have done after their encounter. But it does make it personal, and helps to recognize how these people aren’t so unlike us.

[Letitia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this small book loaded with wisdom and insight told through the stories of women in the Bible who were not identified by name. Highly recommend!