Holy women are an incarnation of the feminine ideal; they are also a model for all Christians.

Mulieris Dignitatem, No. 27

Do differences unite us or divide us? When we encounter situations and ideas that are new or unfamiliar, do we respond with openness and curiosity, or are we guarded, uncomfortable and dismissive? These are important questions to ask ourselves, questions Sister Thea Bowman challenged the people she encountered to answer.

A few weeks before her death, Sister Thea Bowman wrote some of her final words in an article titled “Let Us Resolve to Make This Week a Holy One”: “We unite ourselves with Christ’s redemptive work when we reconcile, when we make peace, when we share the good news that God is in our lives, when we reflect to our brothers and sisters God’s healing, God’s forgiveness, God’s unconditional love.” Published in a Jackson, Mississippi, newspaper, these words encompass the mission to which Sister Thea dedicated her life to — a mission rooted in the Gospel, one that sought to celebrate diversity and heal wounds inflicted by racism.

This is the latest installment of the series, “The Genius of My Sister.” Read other articles in the series to learn more about Catholic women throughout history and how they can inspire us today.