Alice
Says
The Privilege of Being A Woman by Alice
von Hildebrand
1. Alice says:
Behind every great man is an even greater woman.
When writing
about Gandhi, Louis Fisher shares “Gandhi feared neither man nor government,
neither prison, nor poverty nor death.
But he did fear his wife.” As
women, when we live out our calling, men notice. Not only do they notice, but it brings about
change. Alice writes, “The influence
that she can exercise over her male partner is great indeed when it manifests
itself…by example and gentle persuasion.” So what exactly is our calling, this
calling that is so great, it even inspires men?
To love. To love, with our
uniquely feminine hearts.
2.
Alice says:
Contemporary feminists are “women’s great enemy.”
It seems modern culture has
exchange all that is truly feminine and exceptionally beautiful for what is
masculine. Do I have to say this? No,
Kierkegaard will for me: “No base seducer could think out a more dangerous
doctrine for woman, for once he has made her believe this she is entirely in
his power, at the mercy of his will, she can be nothing for him except a prey
to his whims.” Cardinal Josef Ratzinger
calls feminism one of the greatest threats of the Church. Ouch.
How do we return to who we really are as women? Scripture and Mama Mary. Alice writes, “But it is in the New Testament
that the full glory of the female mission and vocation shines in the person of
the Holy Virgin of Nazareth.”
3.
Alice says:
To serve is not to be degraded.
Today, power and fame are esteemed. Alice writes, “In our society to be a
“self-made man” calls for awe. A Bill
Gates, an Oprah Winfrey, or even a Bill Clinton inspire people with a totally
illegitimate feeling of admiration. But
success does not guarantee authentic greatness.” We only have to look at our Holy Father, servus servorum Dei (the servant of the
servants of God) Pope Francis to see a living example of true greatness. So why is it that modern feminism has such a
kink in the neck with serving one another? After all, Christ Himself says, “I
have not come to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). Alice writes, “How can anyone meditating on
these words come to the conclusion that to serve, which is a form of love, is
degrading?”
4.
Alice says:
Being a woman rocks.
The role of a woman is of special
dignity in relation to God and to everyone else. For who else but woman can bear a child? Alice writes, “One thing is certain: when the
time has come, nothing which is man-made will subsist. One day, all human
accomplishments will be reduced to a pile of ashes. But every single child to
whom a woman has given birth will live forever, for he has been given an
immortal soul made to God's image and likeness.”
My sisters, there is no greater
dignity than to be God’s very crown of Creation. So let us not run away from what we are and
who we are, as society will try to persuade us.
But let us run to the Living Word, to Christ Himself, through the
perfect Woman, Mary. It is there that
we will learn how to love in our uniquely feminine way.
May
you see yourself as God sees you,
Sierra
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