All Beginnings Have a Yes

How rare it is to find a valiant woman! It is perhaps necessarily so, since Scripture says that they are more precious that pearl and diamonds. Let us however work to train a few. For in this century we must no longer count on men to preserve the faith. The grain of faith that will be saved will hide itself among women. A woman cannot remain neutral in the world. She too is set for the fall and resurrection of many. How different are God’s thoughts from ours!

Between women and God is often arranged the eternal salvation of husbands and sons. But for this she must be valiant. Strong to uphold purity of life. Strong to keep inviolate the treasure of faith. Strong in every battle of life. Great-souled in the face of calamity, persecution and death. And remember, sorrow is the training ground of strong souls. ~  St. Madeline Sophie Barat (1779-1865)                                                                                                  

As women we are called to bring life into the world. And though not all are called to be mothers, we are all called to spiritual motherhood. Our call is to bring Christ into a world that so desperately needs Him, to be a healing balm in a wounded world that has seemed to have lost its way. Where can the valiant woman be found if she cannot be found among us?

All beginnings have a yes. If we are to carry out our call and bring Christ into the world, we must say yes, much like our Blessed Mother said her yes to the angel Gabriel. We must turn away from the spirit of the world, and all that it tries to convince us, and turn toward the spirit of Christ. As St. Madeline Sophie Barat says, “A woman cannot remain neutral in the world”. The time for women to take a stand for Christ is now.

My soul magnifies the Lord

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;

Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid;

For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;

Because he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name;

And his mercy is from generation to generation

on those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm,

He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of his mercy

Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.