The following was adapted from at 30+ page thesis, The Vision of Woman and Mercy according to John Paul II. If you are interested in reading the entire document, please contact theswap.grace@gmail.com.

At the dawn of the 20th century, a vision was revealed to Pope Leo XIII in which God (at Satan’s prompting) gave the demon a choice of one century in which to do his worst work against the Catholic Church. According to the legend, the devil chose that very century, which is why Pope Leo XIII immediately penned the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. When looking over the last hundred years, it’s clear that Satan has attacked the Church through his unending assaults against human dignity, demoralizing and depersonalizing the human person as never before. The killings, sufferings and loosening of morals has only lead mankind into further misunderstanding and disregard for the dignity of every person.

God... gave the demon a choice of one century in which to do his worst work against the Catholic Church.

Like any good parent, God did not leave mankind defenseless. It was during this same century that he revealed his message of Divine Mercy through St. Faustina; he also ensured that a young John Paul II was elected to the papacy to lead the Catholic Church into the new millennium. Based on the timing of these two gifts, we can derive that God intended them to be a beacon of light for those of us who are struggling because of 20th century downfalls.

God’s Greatest Attribute

I had a professor in college who was famous for the line, “God’s greatest attribute is his mercy.” If you could somehow work that quote into an answer on the final, he promised never to fail you. I’m fairly certain that because of this little quirk, thousands of souls will never forget that truth. For me, it was actually one of the reasons I chose God’s mercy as the topic for my senior thesis. While doing initial research, I was immediately drawn to the writings of my favorite pope, John Paul II. As I searched through his section in the school library, I not only came across all his writings on Divine Mercy, but also everything he had penned about Woman. I found myself wondering if there was a connection between Mercy and Woman, especially since most women I know have a natural inclination to be merciful. Hence the paper evolved and became an exploration John Paul II’s vision of women and mercy.

I have to say, good old JPII did not disappoint.

God’s greatest attribute is his mercy.

Mercy

In his encyclical Dives in Misericordia, John Paul II points out that modernity often rejects the necessity and value of mercy. Obsessed with justice, society seems to think showing mercy is the same as showing weakness. JPII claims the opposite - that the ability to show mercy requires strength as it displays Divine love to a world in desperate need of this reminder. The late pontiff claims that “mercy” is love’s second name, as it can be seen throughout Old Testament when God uses mercy to show love to the Israelites time and time again. Likewise in the New Testament, Christ came to minister to those individuals who did not understand their dignity (tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners). In other words, he spent the majority of his time with the people who needed mercy the most. Then, by his Paschal Mystery, Christ transformed the very nature of mercy. It is no longer topical, only treating the symptoms of suffering (saving, healing, etc.). Instead mercy is able to destroy the very root of the problem: sin and death. Thanks to Christ’s mercy, sin and death have no permanent hold over humanity.

The 5th Beatitude

Mercy is necessary for another reason. In his Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” He himself is living proof of this. By dying for our sins even though he himself was innocent (an act of mercy directed towards us), God the Father showed mercy to his own Son by bringing him back to life. John Paul II actually speaks of Jesus as being the first human to ever fully experience the mercy of God by his own Resurrection.

Thus, this proves that mercy is necessary for our salvation in more ways than one. If we desire to receive mercy, we ourselves must be merciful. This is why Woman’s role in this world is so important in order for mankind to understand the value and necessity of mercy.

Woman

In the garden of Eden, “it is not good for man to be alone…” because he has no one to love. As his “helpmate,” Woman is not a servant, but both a current and an outlet. She provides a place for Man to direct his love, just as his Creator also loves. So too, Woman, returns love to Man, helping him to understand the full meaning of this virtue. This is most obvious to us through the physical difference and complementarity of the genders, but it also exists within the heart and mind of Man and Woman.

Just as the bodies of Man and Woman are different, so are their souls (to the extent that their body and soul are united). It is to this interior disposition of Woman that JPII cries out for help for “...she has the unique capacity to see the person as an individual, to understand his needs and aspirations with special insight and she is able to face up to problems with deep involvement.”

Why exactly is she able to do this?

The simple answer... because of the way in she was designed as 'woman.'

Woman has a natural ability to see the worth of a person before she even knows the individual. Although it is not exclusive to this type of situation, this truth is easiest for us to see in the example of a pregnant mother. Even before this little person can do anything besides exist, Woman nourishes and protects the individual within her womb, believing in his or her worth and dignity. This same recognition she has for an unborn child applies to all persons. Woman does not have to know someone personally in order to see their worth or feel a deep emotional connection to them. It is an innate ability within her, built into her very essence.

Woman has a natural ability to see the worth of a person before she even knows the individual.

JPII says that it is because of this ability that she is able to love so well outside her “natural vocations” (daughter, sister, wife, mother). She takes this capability out into the world and shines light into the darkness. Outside the family, the professional work environment has become a place that operates mostly according to reason and profit. According to John Paul, women in the workforce contributes to the growth of a culture which unites reason and emotion because Woman naturally serves with her heart. Her presence and witness in the workforce not only demands more ethical behavior, but also serves as a reminder to Man to see the dignity of every person he deals with.

Brokenness vs. God’s Original Intent

John Paul acknowledges that we are the posterity of a history which has conditioned Man to be an obstacle to Woman. Thus, this much needed feminine nature is often rejected or unknown -- even by Woman herself. Because of the maltreatment her gender has lived through over the centuries, Woman’s dignity often goes unacknowledged, her prerogatives are misrepresented, and her role reduced to mere servitude. This has not only prevented Woman from being the fullest version of herself but has harmed all of humanity.

Certainly this is not God’s original intention for Woman. As Catholics, all we have to do break free from these lies and be an image of authentic Woman is to look at the Virgin Mary. Through her fiat and humility in accepting her role in God’s plan for the world, she leads us to the true discovery of God’s mercy because she literally bore Him! Her acceptance of this vocation allowed God’s mercy to extend to all persons, past, present and future.

As women, saying “yes” to own vocations continues to bring mercy into the world. Mankind is meant to experience a foretaste of heaven while here on earth, but he cannot do so without accepting love and mercy. This is why we, as women, must continue to sow the seeds of a loving and merciful civilization, whether we do this in the home, in the workforce, or in the convent.

As women, saying “yes” to own vocations continues to bring mercy into the world

In our loving assistance of others, we are accepting God’s mercy for ourselves. This is important because despite our esteemed role in God’s merciful plan, each one of us is still a sinner. Just as the woman who washed Jesus’ feet was forgiven because she loved much, our love for others lived out through our daily interactions will assist in our own salvation (Luke 7:36-50).

Why Feminism is a Necessity

There is no denying the misunderstanding of the Feminine Mystique that has occurred over the centuries. Even some Feminists lack an understanding of the true gift of femininity. This is why a new wave of feminism is so crucial. JPII called for a movement of feminists who acknowledge the differences between the sexes as essential complementarities. He wrote, “...acknowledging these differences frees women from being evaluated according to a male standard and allows them to contribute to society in their own unique way.”

As women, we cannot bring a fuller understanding of love and mercy into this world if we are not being our authentic selves. And as JPII has so brilliantly illustrated through his many writings, this world is in desperate need of Woman’s insight and natural abilities if it is to grow in its understanding of the worth and human dignity of every individual.

Like childbirth, assisting mankind in his need for mercy is both a joy and a pain. However, one thing is true: it is absolutely necessary for creating New Life, and that is our collective act of mercy.

Keep Reading: How Advocating for Women Promotes Peace in the World.