Women’s History Month in March is a time to celebrate the contributions of women from all backgrounds. Still, for those of us who walk in faith, it’s also a time to remember and celebrate the powerful witness of Catholic women saints. These holy women — our sisters in Christ — have been visible vessels of God’s grace, living out their calling with courage and conviction. Their lives, marked by humility, strength and unwavering faith, continue to inspire and challenge us today.
Pioneers of faith and service
Catholic female saints have profoundly shaped history, bringing Christ’s light into the darkest corners of the world. Consider St. Teresa of Calcutta, who poured out her life in love for the poor and dying. She saw Jesus in every face, from the streets of Calcutta to the halls of power, always reminding us that we are called to serve the least among us with a mother’s tender heart.
In her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in 1979, she ended with: “And so, my prayer for you is that truth will bring prayer in our homes, and the fruit of prayer will be that we believe that in the poor, it is Christ. And if we really believe, we will begin to love. And if we love, naturally, we will try to do something. First in our own home, our next-door neighbor, in the country we live, in the whole world.” When we live out our vocation fully as wife and mother, we have the opportunity to change the world in small ways with great love.
Then there’s St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, a wife, mother, widow and foundress who laid the foundation for Catholic education in America. She knew suffering intimately, having become a convert and a widow at a very early age, but found her strength in Christ.
Her belief that a solid Catholic education was the surest means to cultivating the Catholic faith in America led to the founding of hundreds of Catholic schools. Like a loving mother, she nurtured the faith of children, shaping generations to come. So many lives have been changed because she said yes to God’s call!
Champions of justice and reform
It is important to me as a mother to remind my children that saints are not merely quiet figures in history. They are bold witnesses to truth.
St. Joan of Arc, clad in armor but armed with faith, stood firm in obedience to God’s voice, challenging the expectations of her time. With great courage, she led the French army to victory in the Hundred Years War.
Her bravery speaks to every woman who believes she is too young, too weak or too insignificant to make a difference. In her obedience, we see a reflection of Mary’s own fiat — her willingness to say yes to God’s plan, no matter the cost.
Likewise, St. Katharine Drexel, the second American-born saint, was born in Philadelphia. She, who could have lived a life of wealth and comfort, chose instead to pour her inheritance into schools, missions and opportunities for those society had cast aside at the time, particularly Native Americans and African Americans.
St. Katherine reminds us that true wealth is found in giving, in lifting others up, and in using our gifts for the glory of God.
Mystics and theologians
The Catholic Church is rich with the wisdom of women who sought God’s heart and shared their insights with the world.
One doctor of the church, St. Teresa of Ávila, with her passionate love for Christ, teaches us the beauty of deep prayer, much like Our Lady, who pondered all things in her heart.
St. Therese of Lisieux transformed our thinking with her philosophy of The Little Way, showing us that our little acts of love have great merit, making a relationship with God more approachable.
St. Hildegard of Bingen, another mystic and deep woman of prayer, shows us that a fierce faith and intellect are not at odds but rather complement each other in the pursuit of truth.
Their wisdom, like that of a nurturing mother, continues to guide us toward a deeper understanding of God’s love.
Role models for today’s women
The saints do not belong to the past; they walk with us now, urging us forward. Their stories remind us that holiness is not for a select few but for each of us.
They were mothers and daughters, teachers and warriors, servants and scholars. They loved fiercely, prayed deeply and lived boldly. Above all, they imitated the Blessed Mother, whose life was a perfect model of surrender, courage, and love.
What examples they give us to press on with faith and fervor!
During Women’s History Month, look to these remarkable women not just as figures in history but as sisters in Christ who call us to greater holiness. May their witness remind us that, in every moment, we are called to be saints, too, embracing our role as spiritual mothers, intercessors and bearers of Christ’s light to the world.