Ave Explores Series | Mary | Week 3

Mary Is the True Embodiment of Femininity

by Claire Swinarski

When a person thinks of Mary as the embodiment of femininity, they may think of her peacefully holding a smiling baby or of her eyes cast downward in a gloomy stare. But Mary embodies what it truly means to be woman: she is a fierce, formidable, and feminine saint, both daughter and mother.

St. John Paul II defined womanhood in four main pillars:

• the self-offering totality of love,
• capable strength,
• tireless devotion, and
• a penetrating intuition.

Mary encompasses all four of these traits. Women of today can learn from her how also to be fierce, formidable, and feminine in the truest senses of the words.

Mary’s self-offering totality of love is obvious: she completely offers herself as a gift to all of mankind by carrying the Son of God. Being pregnant is not easy. I’ve never given birth in a barn, but I’m guessing isn’t exactly a walk in the park either. Mary gave not only her body but also, in those days, her reputation. She was told that a sword would pierce her heart and yet she still said yes to raising this child. Mary gave up everything in order to save the world. Talk about a self-offering.

Mary also demonstrates a strength to bear the “greatest sorrows.” Think of our world today—the number of women who are carrying heavy burdens such as sexual violence, workplace discrimination, infertility, or separation from family. Mary has known an immense sorrow: She sat at the foot of the cross while her child hung there. She did so with strength and stamina, bearing witness to evil in the world and looking it in the face.

A tireless devotion is required to raise any child but to raise the Son of God meant believing him when few did. Let’s not forget that Mary wasn’t just a good mother, she was also a woman of faith, meaning that this revelation not only changed her life but rocked its very foundations. When people doubted or mocked, Mary stood firm. She didn’t give into public pressure or question her beliefs. Instead, the Mother of God clung to her Son and refused to let naysayers tear her away from what she knew to be true.

Lastly, Mary holds a penetrating intuition. This is exemplified at the wedding at Cana, when she knew that Jesus was the solution to the problem. She knew the time had come and she trusted her son to claim his place as Worker of Miracles. Mary understood relationships. She knew how it would be perceived when she told the wedding servers to do whatever Jesus asked of them but she saw a problem and wasn’t afraid to step in.

Mary is our perfect example of the feminine genius not because of what she wore, how she looked, or how great of a cook she was. Mary is a shining example of taking her gifts, utilizing them within her call, and walking down her path. She stayed true to God’s Word and trusted constantly, no matter what those around her were saying. She wasn’t influenced by hashtags, politicians, or popular opinion. Instead, Mary focused on what she knew to be true and let her faith guide her in her words and actions. That is the genius of the feminine and that is womanhood at its finest.

Download this article as a PDF here.

Claire Swinarski is a writer who founded and hosts The Catholic Feminist podcast, and is the author of Girl, Arise!.

Based on Your Reading

Mary, Mother to Our Families by J.D. Flynn	Joseph, Her Most Chaste Spouse by Patrick Neve	A Tender Strength by Timothy P. O’Malley	Mary in the Golden Age of Hollywood Cinema by Maria Morera Johnson