Where are the female saints?.. and Why We Need to Celebrate More

I notice that on our official church calendar (that says what saints are being commemorated/focused on each day) that not even 1/8 of the saints are women. So, I'm always trying to do more work, look up stuff online, and find more female saints to put in our week and study. I've shared this challenge with other families, and many feel the same need.

On the other hand, many people do not. I have, in fact, been chastised for seeking out such things.   I have been called "too bodily focused" or being "narrow minded about gender" or that "we are all one body in Christ, so it shouldn't matter".  There are people out there that believe that there is no such thing as a variance in spiritual experience/practice/ that such things are genderless.  I disagree. Strongly.

The things that men and women face in their lives are often different either by biological function, or societal roles and limitations. The struggles a man and a woman may face in their lifetime is not always the same.  Even simply the way that a masculine and feminine person approach the world is different! Surely this has an impact on one's own participation in the religious and spiritual life. 

I also want my children to see women being examples of awesomeness, too. I do not want their little subconscious minds to even have the possibility of thinking that "male" is the default for spiritual living. Females make up nearly 50% of the world's population. That's a whole lot of the population who are not regularly given saintly role models that appeal more directly to their lives. Likewise, it meals that a lot of men are really missing out on all the many female saints who could be enriching their lives and understanding. It is essential that we teach and share with everyone about the holy women who have come before us.

I have found some books of female saints, but the focus was mostly about holy orders, obedience, submission, and meekness. These things aregreat, mind you, but they do not encompass all of the possibilities of the work that women do for and with God.  What about other forms of holy work, huh? What about St Elizabeth the Wonderworker who slayed dragons? Hermione, Philonella, and Zenaida who were healers; female unmercenaries? What about the gals who stood up to wrongful gov'ts and enemies? and so much more! They need to get included, too. I want my children exposed to that.  I want everyone exposed to that.  

Now don't misunderstand me: I'm not trying to "make women into men", nor am I trying to attribute masculine characteristics and priorities to feminine peoples.   What I am hoping for is that holy women are seen, represented, and appreciated. 

There are many paths to holiness, and many kinds of God's work that we are called to do that simply do not depend on culture or genitalia.  Often, the saints' callings have required them to shed cultural norms to get the job done.


Here is a quick start to add some more female saints to your week:  

On the Antiochian website there is a list of women saints, almost one for ever day.

The book Saints and Sisterhood: The Lives of Forty-Eight Holy Women.

Christina's True Heroes (part of a series of Christine books)

The You Tube show Coffee with Sister Vassa often showcases female saints in it's weekly discussion of what's going on in the Church calendar. 


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