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Book Review
‘Women in Church History’ chronicles lives of inspiring ladies
Reviewed by Andrew Junker, The Catholic Sun
November 15, 2007
The lives of the saints can inspire and fortify Catholics as they strive for holiness. But, if looked at through fresh eyes, they can also deeply unsettle and challenge.
For example, imagine you lived during the time of St. Francis. Would you have seen him as a holy, Christ-filled man, or — as many of his contemporaries did — a deranged, homeless person?
That sort of question presents itself time and again in Joanne Turpin’s book “Women in Church History.”
Take her chapter on St. Teresa of Avila. She felt called to a more austere life after nearly two decades of living in a comfortable convent of the time, where nuns whose fathers could provide dowries lived in private rooms, “feast[ed] on delicacies sent in, [wore] jewelry and [made] extended outside visits to family and friends.”
She was 41 years old, prone to fits and rumored to have strange visions. It’s not surprising that ecclesial authorities weren’t too keen on allowing her to found a new order.
But, again, the question arises: Would I have recognized her holiness, or would I have viewed her with suspicion and ridicule?
That question is real and immediate throughout “Women in Church History” in large part due to Turpin’s writing style. Each chapter — there are 21 of them, one for each Christian century — is filled with vivid description and written in the historical present tense.
Turpin describes the voyage first century Prisca makes to Ephesus with her husband and St. Paul to spread the Gospel:
“Near the southwest coast of Asia Minor mountains appear through a blue haze, and soon the missionaries are sailing into the inner harbor of Ephesus. Boasting one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the temple of Artemis (goddess of fertility), the city spreads itself out in the foreground of a natural amphitheater.”
Details like this go a long way toward capturing the reader’s interest and giving life to events that occurred nearly two millennia ago. It’s where Turpin shines, because — even though the book is footnoted and well researched — she is a storyteller, first and foremost.
From the early centuries to the modern day, the book shows a fascinating timeline of the different roles women were called to play in the Church.
Third century martyr Apollonia of Alexandria cared for and instructed the female catechumens of her city; 10th century Adelaide, Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, promoted the arts in Germany, supported monasteries and brokered peace across Europe; 13th century St. Clare of Assisi embraced the poverty of the littlest ones.
Throughout the book each woman is shown as if for the first time. The often-dangerous circumstances in which they operated are thrown into relief, making their courage and fidelity to the faith all the more inspiring.
In her introduction, Turpin tries to explain the common thread running through this 21-century history.
“First, each [woman] understood the true meaning of love. This was clearly the motivating force for all: love for the Lord spilling out to encompass humanity,” she writes. “Teresa of Avila perhaps expressed it best: ‘O my Jesus, how much a soul can do when ablaze with Thy love!’”
Truly, these women prove that point.
“Taking Jesus’ words to heart has turned ordinary Christians into extraordinary Christians — women as well as men,” Turpin concludes her introduction. “There’s a lesson in that for all of us.”
Andrew Junker is a staff writer for The Catholic Sun. Comments are welcome. Send e-mail to letters@catholicsun.org.
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