Soul Sisters: Women in Scripture Speak to Women Today

by Edwina Gateley, Louis S. Glanzman (Illustrator)

Mr. Glanzman, one of America's most acclaimed portrait painters, has created twelve paintings of women near Jesus: Elizabeth, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Martha, Anna the Prophetess, the Widow's Mite, the Infirm Woman, the Daughter of Jairus, the Woman with Hemorrhage, the Penitent Woman, the Samaritan Woman, and the Adultress. The light in their eyes speaks volumes to anyone who has ever seen them.Ms. Gateley, inspired to write about them and women she knew, shared the portraits with women around the country. These women, like those in the gospels, were rich, poor, middle-class, and from every racial and ethnic origin. Each of them, in hearing the words and seeing the images, exclaimed: "This is me!"

And so will you.

Elizabeth --
Anna the Prophetess --
Mary --
The widow's mite --
Martha --
The infirm woman --
The Samaritan woman --
The woman caught in adultery --
The woman with the hemorrhage --
The daughter of Jairus --
The penitent woman --
Mary Magdalene

Genres: Prayer, Spirituality

131 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Twelve lovely portraits of Gospel figures are accompanied by poetic reflections on that woman. Maybe I don’t sufficiently understand free verse poetry, but these reflections struck me as prose masquerading as poetry by its formatting in short lines. In each of these reflections, Gateley addresses the women in the illustration, linking her presumed oppression under a pervasive patriarchal structure with the similar patriarchal oppression of women today. Old or young, barren or pregnant, vigorous or ill, it would seem that in every state in life, women are inevitably repressed and tormented victims of hypocritical patriarchal authoritarian systems. I will use the illustrations as meditation pieces in days of reflection, but I do not anticipate using the texts.

[Charity Dušíková · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for the paintings, 3 for the poems. The poetry itself wasn't too impressive and the narratives seemed to emphasize the oppression of women; it seems unjust to assume that every female that encountered Jesus was constantly trod upon. When depicted, Jesus is presented in a lovely and loving way, but I feel this collection misses an opportunity to show the beautiful work Jesus did in these women's lives. In my opinion the speculation was unbalanced.

[7jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

12 women in the Gospels are given a voice (and an image, all done so well by Louis Glanzman) in these poems. 5 of them have names (of course the rest also had, they are just not mentioned in the texts), one is a young girl. Gateley was very eager to get the chance to write poems for this project, and in my opinion these are the best I've read from her.

Each woman gets a long poem with the words 'soul sister' included towards the end of them. Often the women have had troubles living in their society, some more openly than others, but often each one's troubles are such than can happen in our world today, too. The burden of childlessness, older women's wisdom overlooked, teen pregnancy, being very poor (yet giving even then), hard work going underappreciated, disability, shunning, sinner craving compassion, the isolation illness can bring... so many things. But also seeing prophecies come true, still being boldy firm even when overlooked so often, finding joy and healing and hope in meeting Jesus, a ray of hope and way out of sin, and after everything, becoming the strong(est) disciple and seeing it is enough.

All of these quickly-read poems give the reader something to think about (good for reading groups), maybe even changes in view on how one has thought about these women before. Many appear only in one place in the Gospels (or even in just one Gospel), some appear more, but every one of these women were worth including into their place in the Bible. A very good reading experience.

[Karis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing portrayal of the women who encountered Jesus. I think every woman will find something in these pages.

[Darceylaine]

Stunning portraits. Poetic midrash of the scriptural women.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The portraits that inspired this work are beautiful.

[Dr Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attended a retreat where this author was presenting. I was undone from my shackles of time and transported through her lecture and then through her book to the time when these Sisters walked the earth. Between the exquisite drawings of Glanzman and the piercing words of Edwina, I walked in the shoes of the 12 women depicted in the book. I suggest that when you have the book, take one Soul Sister per month and meditate on her life, circumstances, and relationship to you. This is an outstanding book and one that every woman should own regardless of her faith preference.

[Grammonty1 Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

My prayer group used this in a discussion group. Beautiful artwork!!

[Erin]

I couldn't get past the 3rd poem, and that was on Mary! It was not true to the scriputures and made up unrealistic thoughts of the women they depicted. Highly unrecommended!

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prints by Louis Glanzman are the best part of this book. Gateley's poems left me wondering about her theology at times, but they also made me think.