Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "A path accessible to all, that of ordinary holiness", said Pope Francis in the message addressed to the participants of the International Interuniversity Conference on Women Doctors of the Church and Patronesses of Europe which ended yesterday, March 8, 2022, at the Pontifical Urbaniana University. Thérèse of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Thérèse of Lisieux and Hildegard of Bingen, proclaimed Doctors of the Church, as well as Thérèse Benedicta of the Cross and Brigitte of Sweden who, with Catherine of Siena, were declared Patronesses of Europe in 1999, were the protagonists of the conference, whose objective was to make these women of the Church better known. "Although they belong to different times and places and have accomplished different missions, they all have in common the testimony of a holy life. Like Thérèse of Lisieux, they were able to fully realize their vocation, their 'little way', their life project", remarked the Pope. Promoted by the Catholic University of Ávila, in collaboration with the Pontifical Urbaniana University and the Institute for Advanced Studies on Women of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, this initiative was born to support certain literacy projects and training in Lebanon. "A conference - said Professor Fermina Álvarez of the Organizing Secretariat - which wants to allow ecclesial co-responsibility to emerge. The different participating organizations want to be united and in solidarity with the needs of the Church, especially in the Middle East. For this reason, registration fees and other donations will be used to support literacy and youth training projects in Lebanon".
"They are women proclaimed saints who have so much to say with their lives and their testimonies - said Professor Álvarez. Women of great charisma who participated in the life of the Church and fought against clericalism, from whom we can learn the spirit of prophecy, the spirit of contemplation and prayer and the spirit of communion and love for the Church. The organizers hope that the conference can suggest the creation of research chairs dedicated to women doctors of the Church". Until March 12, it will still be possible to send additional donations through the link www.congresomujeresdoctoras.com, it will still be possible to send further offers. (Agenzia Fides, 9/3/2022)
