Catholic Commission for Social Justice
“Humanity is like a bird with its two wings—the one is male, the other female. Unless both wings are strong and impelled by some common force, the bird cannot fly heavenwards.” (Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913)
On Wednesday, March 8, the world will observe International Women’s Day. Women and men are part of the Body of Christ – made in His image and likeness (Gen 1:27), each with innate dignity; made to complement each other and to use their gifts/skills to build His Kingdom here on earth.
Prayer must be an integral part of our daily lives as Catholics. “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God, or the requesting of good things from God” (Catechism, 2559). Prayer brings us closer to God and helps us as we strive to do His Will. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reminded us in Charity in Truth that “without God man neither knows which way to go, nor even understands who he is…. ‘Apart from me you can do nothing’” (Jn 15:5). But Jesus promised us: “…Know that I am with you always, yes, to the end of time” (Mt 28:20). I hold fast to this promise as I pray.
During the Year of Faith, we are called more than ever to be defenders of our faith – of the “truth” about man and woman, each made in the image and likeness of God, each with a moral order imprinted in our minds – a moral order that guides us as we seek to promote the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person and to build the common good. We are called to SEE–JUDGE–ACT from a Catholic perspective – recognising that in a world in which moral relativism threatens to overwhelm us, we have to find ways to make our voices heard in the marketplace.