Woman Apologists?

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hbri39

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Earlier I was reading a comment section & someone stated that women should be silent in the church, including them being apologists & they referred to 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Would you say this verse doesn’t support women doing apologetics?

What do you guys think about this???
 
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not to mention, I let them know it was an interest of mine. Someone proceeded to say I needed to pray more and another said I needed to ignore this :confused:
 
I think we need to be careful not to take this passage farther than it was intended. I once knew a man who believed and lived as if this passage meant men should and could never learn anything from women. He had a mother. I’m not sure how he reconciled this. I was always curious about how his wife dealt with it but never asked because it wasn’t my business.

I would say the Church probably thinks it’s okay for women to think and teach (outside of Mass/homilies), since some of the Doctors of the Church are women.
 
I suggest praying if God is calling you to be a Lector/reader at Mass. Women are permitted to do undertake this ministry as well as men. Women cannot preach which is the office/role/duty/function of the Bishop, Priest etc. - men within the Mass that is. Outside the Mass a woman can be an apologist, give lectures/speeches etc.
 
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I actually feel like I’m called to do apologetics, I’ve become more passionate about learning and defending the faith but like 2 people told me women aren’t meant for that so I was not sure if I should continue!
 
As others have said, it is for homilies during Mass. Always keep a tight reading of scripture and don’t expand it further than practiced.
 
May God bless you and illuminate your intellect so you may defend the faith well
 
thank you! God Bless you as well 🙂 first time posting on the forum!!! yall are so nice
 
MrsAngelala said:
I would say the Church probably thinks it’s okay for women to think and teach (outside of Mass/homilies), since some of the Doctors of the Church are women.
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Exactly, that they are doctors is a clear indication that women have authority to teach the faith, while St. Paul’s admonition is for the liturgy and holy orders. We need women apologists; I know I’ve come across women who simply would not listen to anything said about the abortion debate if it was said by a man.
 
definitely! thanks for the clarification, I don’t see why more women won’t attempt to take this position.
 
Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame upon his head. But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head,
I Cor 11:4-5
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Context is important. St Paul has already spoken about men and women praying and prophesying in Church in chapter 11. When he talks about women in chapter 14, he is adding to what he has already said. It is not some universal command, but about a limited teaching function.
 
Just a few current women apologists:

Cameron Fradd
Crystalina Evert
Emily Wilson

Go tell them to stop spreading the Gospel and see what happens. Honestly, anyone who thinks this doesn’t understand Jesus. The verse is about preaching in church.

I’m sure Mother Theresa and Therese of Lisieux want to say a thing or two about how women can’t be apologists…
 
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I don’t think they are considered apologists, but rather youth ministers/speakers instead
 
hbri39 said:
Earlier I was reading a comment section & someone stated that women should be silent in the church, including them being apologists & they referred to 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Would you say this verse doesn’t support women doing apologetics?

What do you guys think about this???
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If you read all of Chapter 14, as a whole, it puts this in a better context. The entire Chapter is talking about preaching & talking at Mass.

St Paul limits even the men to 2 or 3 speaking at max. You will notice, that in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, at a Solemn High Mass, there are three who speak during the Mass.
  • sub-deacon chants the Epistle
  • deacon chants the Gospel
  • priest (or guest homilist) preaches the sermon/homily
During a Low Mass and Sung Mass with only a priest, the priest chants the Epistle & the Gospel & preaches the sermon himself (unless he has a guest homilist).

Point is, no more than 3 can preach.

In verse 34, St Paul is empathizing that the 2-3 who preach during mass may not be a woman. But he never says women can’t teach the faith outside of Mass.

Yes, the translations typically say “church” instead of “mass,” but the content is the Mass, not the Church building or community.

Women in the very early Church, even when the Apostles were still alive were very engaged in the community. Aquila & his wife Priscilla were BOTH leaders of the Christian community in the City of Rome while both St Peter & St. Paul were both still alive.

I pray this helps.

God bless
 
I’m thinking those 2 women were probably not Catholic, but perhaps one of the strict fundamental denominations.
 
HMC has named 4 women as Doctors of the Church:
  1. St. Teresa of Ávila
  2. St. Catherine of Siena
  3. St. Thérèse of Lisieux
  4. St. Hildegard of Bingen
That pretty much puts an end to any claim that a woman could not be an apologist.
 
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