Catholic Outlook December 2015

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FAMILY & LIFE
Discovering the Feminine Genius
By Annabelle Bhandoo, Family & Life Office
Guest speaker Anna Krohn at The Feminine Genius Talk. Photos: Annabelle Bhandoo.
The Family and Life Office, along with
a small team of women organised a
Women’s event on 24 October 2015.
Approximately 60 women gathered to hear
about ‘The Feminine Genius’, a term which
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith
Stein) wrote abundantly about, as did St.
John Paul II.
The guest speaker was Anna Krohn
who is an educator, speaker and writer in
the areas of ethics, Catholic theology and
spirituality. She is currently the Academic
Skills Advisor at the John Paul II Institute
for Marriage and Family in Melbourne and
Convenor of the Anima Women’s Network.
Anna’s talk on the feminine genius
began by focussing on St. Teresa Benedicta.
St. Teresa Benedicta wrote extensively
about the dignity of women from a unique
philosophical perspective known as
phenomenology. She saw that a special unity
exists in women between their physical and
spiritual nature, combined with their natural
desire to give and receive love. She taught
that a woman’s soul is inwardly affected by
that which happens to the body and her
soul shapes her outer being and that women
have a very important role in society. She
recognised the importance of forming the
whole person - mind, body and soul, and
learnt from reflecting on the events that were
taking place in her life.
St. Teresa Benedicta’s work was
developed by St John Paul II in his letter to
Women (1995) and in Mulieris Dignitatem
(1998). Anna summarised the four central
features that St. John Paul II saw as the
women’s ‘genius’.
1. A woman is called to be true to the
deep mystery of her created reality. She
must first rediscover the wonder of her own
“creation” including God’s call to her. The
full depth of her talents and dignity, the
integrated and redeemed development of
her spiritual, bodily, sexual and intellectual
powers should be recognised and strongly
defended by all.
2. Women have an enormous
capacity to see a person as a “who” not a
“what.” When women use their talent for
emotional sensitivity in gossip-mongering,
manipulation of others and, most tragically
of all, when they are made to believe they
cannot care for the unborn, the needy or
themselves, they are being tempted away
from this “genius”.
3. Thirdly, women seem also to be drawn
to the creation and protection of special
and receptive “spaces”. They seem to know
in what places they and others can flourish.
They have a maternal instinct.
4. The fourth and essential aspect of
feminine genius is women’s unique and
vital complementary contributions and
relationships with men. God “intended”
humanity to be a collaboration and
communion of “the two” male and female.
Men and women, though they complement
each other, are different.
Morning tea was served, then in small
groups the women discussed how their own
feminine genius can contribute to society.
Anna launched Anima in the Diocese
of Parramatta. Anima is a women’s network
aimed at encouraging each woman to be the
best she can be while recognising her own
dignity as a woman. It is for women of all
ages, vocations and organisations within the
Church. For more information tel (02) 8838
3440.
From the positive feedback on the
Feminine Genius event, it shows that
there is a real need for women to have the
opportunity to come together socially and to
be formed spiritually.
Next event: Karen Doyle will speak about
‘The Genius Project’ on Saturday 12 March.
Visit the Family and Life Office website: www.
parrafamlife.org.au for upcoming details.
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