WHO IS A CATHOLIC WOMAN?

By : Judith E. Bulama

The word catholic and woman are frequently used by many on daily bases. Do we realy understand the meaning of both words? For us to truly appreciate and comprehend who a catholic woman is, we need to understand the true meaning of the words “Catholic” and “Woman”

UNDERSTANDING THE WORD ‘CATHOLIC’ AND ‘WOMAN’

According to the Oxford dictionary ,The word Catholic means ‘including a wide variety of things; all embracing’.
In history, the word is derived from the Greek, it means ‘universal’.

We may then define the word Catholic as ‘all embracing and Universal, including a variety of things

Also Oxford Dictionary defines the word Woman as a noun. It means an adult female person, an adult biological female human born. The emphasis on biological female born is mine.

Who then is a Catholic?

A catholic is a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ Who believes that the Church as established by Jesus Christ is One, Holy, Catholic (UNIVERSAL), and Apostolic. He/She follows the command of Jesus Christ, who commanded us to continue the works that he began over 2000 years ago. He told us to go and make disciples of all nations (Evangelize), baptizing them, ( Sacramentalize), teaching them to observe all he taught us ( Cathechize), and observing the faith of the Catholic Church as found in the nicene creed.

Who is a Catholic Woman?

From all of the Above definitions and descriptions, one may define the Catholic Woman as “a biological adult female human born, who is a Christian and follower of Christ who commanded us to go preach the gospel, making disciples of all nations, baptizing them, (sacramentalize) teaching them to observe all that Christ did and taught ( Cathechize ). Observing the tenets and beliefs of the Catholic Church – Faith, Liturgy/Sacraments, life in Christ and Prayer as found in the Nicene creed.


The quoted remarks of ST. Pope John Paul II on the CWO of Nigeria succinctly encapsulates all the qualities of a Catholic Woman and the roles she is expected to play in her family, community and the Church-
“ I am also happy to greet you, the leaders of the Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria……My special encounter with you is justified by the unique place which you occupy in the family, in the Church and Society…..You are convinced Catholic Women, worthy wives and esteemed mothers……You are well organized disciplined and effective group at the various levels. Your officers also take part in the world Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations……..For all this I praise you…..You are particularly active in your various initiatives in favour of the family……In all of this you mirror the human tenderness and the divine love of Jesus Christ…… Your struggle of the Catholic religious education of your own children and other children merits strong support. Religion is central in education. The Church must be involved in the education of the young. To do this, she needs your help. …Respected leaders of the Catholic Women’s Organisation of Nigeria, through you, the Church is able to have a great impact on Society. Through the many and varied activities that express the fullness of true feminine humanity ( Familiaris Consortio 23 ) you are able to work for the transformation of the world-to permeate all creation with the spirit of Christ “ ( Papal Message to Nigeria, 1982. Page 27 ).

A catholic Woman is a convinced Catholic, beautiful, in Marian form, living and acting out the heart of Mary the Mother of Jesus Christ, to be all for Jesus, a tender and magnificent big-hearted expression of the love of God in the world, using her feminine power; Presence, Authenticity, Sensuality, Spirituality and Gratitude in the service of God.

A catholic Woman is a woman of Faith, who is happy to follow God’s call and help those in need without asking for anything in return. She understands the divine plan of God and her role to bless lives. She is confident that any sacrifice she makes is worth something in an eternal sense. She makes sacrifices for her family, community and the church, having leanrt from the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ Our Lord, and the Blessed Virgin Mary his Mother, and our Mother also.

A Catholic Woman is gentle, compassionate, kind, polite, non-confrontational, gracious, empathetic, thoughtful,and emotionaly and socialy inteligent. She is strong and dignified. She is full of confidence in God who owns the future.She is not afraid to carry out great things for God and for her family and Community.

A Catholic woman is wise with words, she is mindful of her conduct and, that of her household. Through God, she is the centre of her family and the light of her home. She is pious and strives to attain purity in all ramifications. She is domestic and wisely submissive to her husband.

When we read through the New Testament, all the epistles written down about women and the roles they are to play, emphasized on the home rather than the congregation. When the homes of families that make up a church congregation are well kept, it will invariably impact on the congregation. A catholic woman keeps her home.

A Catholic woman is a woman who behaves in the manner that befits Holy Women.; not giving to gossiping or drinking wine, but as good councelors, able to teach younger women to love their husbands and children, to be judicious and chaste, to take care of their households, to be kind and submissive to their husbands, lest their faith be attacked. ( Titus 2:3-5)

The Catholic Woman is not only a good manager of her household, but also a good leader. The modern views of the church empowers the Catholic woman as wife, mother and Leader.

A Catholic woman plans her life in accordance with God’s expectation of her, and not what the world expects of her. She focuses on her life as a Christian; this focus drives every other ambition and desires she has.

A catholic woman is a woman who lives her life with heaven as her goal. She understands her gifts and talents, using her gifts and talent to work for the Glory of God, with eternal life in heaven as her goal. She is a gospel-centered woman, always using every given opportunity to be a blessing to those around her.

A Catholic women is authentic, self confident, optimistic, productive, brave, stands up for justice and her Catholic faith , inspiring the world around her.

As Catholic women, each of us is a beautiful work in progress, as we continue to work out our salvation through our gospel centered lives, and services to God and humanity; carrying out the corporal works of mercy, visiting the homebound and hospitalized, helping the needy and the poor with programs that provide food and clothing, catechizing the young, caring for the church building and arranging for liturgies in our parishes, through the various services we render in the liturgical ministries as Lectors, Church Wardens, Altar Servers, Choristers and leaders.

As beautiful reflections of the love and beauty of God. Let us as Catholic Women continue to eskew ugly things like gossip, slandering, backbiting/backstabing, bad temparement, over-drama, immorality and all those vices that make the soul ugly.

Being a CATHOLIC WOMAN is indeed a Privilege. A lofty vantage point from which we see the world as Christ sees it.
Through Mary our Mother …We succeed!