Submissive wife?

[rosarywarrior]

I know a woman whose husband is protestant and is continually pointing to places in the bible about how wives are to be submissive to their husbands in all things. Can someone direct me to these verses and give me the catholic understanding of them? Thank you for your help!

 

[puzzleannie]

the Catholic understanding is to keep reading until you get to the part about husbands loving their wives and serving their wives. after you read that, you say, honey while you’re up please bring me a drink.

 

[Philthy]

I believe it is 1st Corinthians.
Be careful to read it all - there is more than meets the eye there in understanding love between husband and wife. This is simply my opinion, but the husband is called to love his as Christ loved the Church - that is sacrificial love. A woman is called to love in a submissive way - that is to submit herself to the love of her husband. There is no inequality of dignity in either case - both are made in the image and likeness of God and are equally able to reflect that image and likeness.

 

[buffalo]

“WIVES, BE SUBJECT TO YOUR HUSBANDS”:
THE AUTHORITY OF THE HUSBAND ACCORDING TO THE MAGISTERIUM

The words, “Wives, be subject to your husbands,” jar many modern ears. Even though this exhortation comes from an inspired text in Sacred Scripture (Ephesians 5:22), many people–including practicing Catholics–are troubled by what appears to be a relic of Marriage customs “rightly” abandoned by contemporary culture. Those who resist any notion of hierarchy or patriarchy in the social order vigorously reject St. Paul’s concept of Marriage as an attack on the dignity of women. Even those Christians not hostile to Paul’s teaching may believe that given the state of modern society, there is little to be gained by investigating–let alone applying–Paul’s prescriptions concerning the relationship of the spouses. However, one Catholic scholar, Stephen Clark, suggests that the controversy or unease over the family order described in Ephesians 5:21-33 is a relatively recent phenomenon. Regarding the question of a “head of the family” he writes, “Few areas in early Christian teaching are as uniform and fewer still were held with the same consistency as long as this one, since the first Christian voices advocating a different approach were raised only in about the nineteenth century.” Clark continues, “There are few instances where it is clearer that a change in the approach of Christians is an abandonment of Christian tradition, and not only of tradition, but of every source of authoritative teaching that can lay claim on a Christian.”

more…

 

[st_julie]

The self giving of the husband is different. He is to be prepared to die for his wife. “As Christ loved the Church”. The wifes’ submission corresponds to this because she has this awesome power over his life. Those types of self sacrificing marriages are rare to see. The role of each partner is to help the other to sainthood.
stjulie

 

[Verita]

I think my marriage lives up to those verses. My husband is the most incredible man in the whole world. He is always giving to me and loving me and looking out for my welfare. I know that in a heartbeat he would sacrifice his life for me. With a husband like that, I have to problem whatsoever sumitting to his authority. I know that he would never make a decision that would harm me in any way.

 

[mikeledes]

Christian leadership must always be interpreted within the context of service and the common good of the family or the community. As Jesus said the the apostles, the greatest among them must be the slave of all. The husband is the chief servant in the family who is in charge of looking after the common good of his family. Being a dictator is not the same thing as being a leader. The husband must take as an example Jesus Himself, who washed the feet of His disciples and died for all of us. Christian leadership is about selfless love, humility, and service, not a power trip. It is within this broader context that we must interpret those passages asking wives to submit to their husbands. It is about submitting to their leadership of service.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[CatholicChick]

the Catholic understanding is to keep reading until you get to the part about husbands loving their wives and serving their wives. after you read that, you say, honey while you’re up please bring me a drink.

I will second that one!

 

[jpusateri]

Sub = under, close to
Missi = mission

A recent homily expounded it as co-worker on the mission of “tending the garden (of Eden)” i.e. doing God’s work on earth.

 

[Tom]

I think my marriage lives up to those verses. My husband is the most incredible man in the whole world. He is always giving to me and loving me and looking out for my welfare. I know that in a heartbeat he would sacrifice his life for me. With a husband like that, I have to problem whatsoever sumitting to his authority. I know that he would never make a decision that would harm me in any way.

Thanks sweetheart, I love you too. (must be my wife writing…)