Sisters in Arms by Jo Ann Mcnamara

Sisters in Arms by Jo Ann Mcnamara

Spanning 2000 years of Christian religious women's quest for spiritual and vocational fulfillment, "Sisters in Arms" is an history of Catholic nuns in the Western world. Unfolding century by century, this drama encompasses every period from the dawn of Christianity to the present. History has until recently minimized the role of nuns over the centuries. In this volume, their lives, their work and their importance to the Church are acknowledged. Jo Ann Kay McNamara introduces us to women scholars, mystics, artists, political activists, healers and teachers - individuals whose religious vocation enabled them to pursue goals beyond traditional gender roles. They range from Thecla, the legendary companion of Paul, who baptized herself in preparation for facing the lions in the Roman arena, to Hildegard of Bingen, whose visions unlocked her extraordinary talents for music, medicine and moral teaching in the 12th century. They also include Sister Mary Theresa Kane, who stood before the pope - and an American television audience - in 1979 and urged him to consider the ordination of women. By entering the convent, McNamara shows, nuns gained a community that allowed them to evolve spiritually, intellectually and emotionally; but the convent was never a perfect refuge. Women's struggles continued against the male church hierarchy, the broader lay community and the larger cultural and historical forces of change. The history of nuns is an important part of the larger story of western women whose gender provoked resistance to their claims to autonomy and power. As we enter the third milennium, this work pays tribute to the sisters who have laboured with prayer and service for 2000 years, who have struggled to achieve greater recognition and authority, and who have forged opportunities for all women while holding true to the teachings of the Gospel.

JoAnn McNamara is Professor of History Emerita at Hunter College, City University of New York.

John E. Halborg is a parochial vicar at St. Thomas More Church in New York City.

Gordon Whatley is Professor of English at Queen's College, City University of New York.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780674809840
ISBN 10	067480984X
Title	Sisters in Arms
Author	Jo Ann Mcnamara
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Harvard University Press
Year published	1996-09-15
Number of pages	766
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable