The Valiant Woman

Many of us have heard of the Proverbs 31 woman. There are many books based on this Bible passage.  I have read a couple. Recently I started reading one that was written by Monseigneur Landriot.

From New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia a small biography of the Monseigneur:

French bishop, b. at Couches-les-Mines near Autun, 1816, d. at Reims, 1874. Ordained in 1839 from the seminary of Autun, he became, after a few years spent at the cathedral, successively superior of the seminary, 1842; vicar-general 1850; Bishop of La Rochelle, 1856, and Archbishop of Reims, 1867. During his ten years stay at La Rochelle he restored the cathedral, organized the Propagation of the Faith and the Peter's-pence collections, and won a reputation as a pulpit orator. A true bishop, he made it a rule to announce personally the Word of God either in his cathedral or in some city of his diocese. At Reims, besides preaching many Advent and Lenten stations, he raised a large subscription for the pontifical army, established several educational institutions, founded an asylum for the aged, and intrusted St. Walfroy to the Priests of the Mission. As a member of the Vatican Council, he deemed inopportune the definition of papal infallibility, but, once decreed, he adhered to its promulgation and even wrote to his diocesans urging them to accept it unconditionally. Lacroix* ("Mgr. Landriot pendant l'occupation allemande", Reims, 1898) shows Landriot's influence in allaying the measure of rigor resorted to by the victorious Germans during their occupation of Reims in 1870. In the question of the ancient classics Landriot refused to subscribe to the extreme views of Gaume and "L'Univers". An eloquent preacher, he was also an ascetic writer of note. Beside his pastoral works collected in the "(Euvres de Mgr. Landriot" (7 vols., Paris, 1864-74), we have from his pen, all published in Paris: "Recherches historiques sur les écoles littéraires du Christianisme" (1851); "Examen critique des lettres de l'Abbé Gaume sur le paganisme dans l'éducation" (1852); "La femme forte" (1862); "La femme pieuse" (1863); "La prière chrétienne" (1863); "Le Christ et la tradition" (1865); "Les béatitudes évangéliques" (1865); "Le Symbolisme" (1866); "L'Eucharistie" (1866); "La Sainte Communion" (1872); "L'Autorité et la liberté" (1872); "L'esprit chrétien dans l'enseignement" (1873); "Instructions sur l'oraison dominicale" (1873); "L'Esprit Saint" (1879), etc.

The book,  The Valiant Woman (La Femme Forte), says it was "specifically designed for married women but is replete with useful lessons for the unmarried also."  "This book is an extended version of domestic oriented discourses, each of which he delivered for sixteen consecutive months in the mid 1800's to the married ladies of  the Society of Charity."

Today when there is so much disdain for domestic work, many will say that book is old fashioned, out dated, things are different today.  I have a career and I am making a difference in the world but I disagree. I believe we need a book like this more than ever today. So many women leave their homes and are very career minded, leaving their sons and daughters to figure out life by themself, especially daughters are such a concern. It seems there are many young girls that are so lost today. They know they want to be feminine and attractive but they don't know how. No one has taught them how to be a godly young woman. No one has taught them how to dress modestly, what it means to manage a home, be ready for and care for children and a husband and most importantly how to have a right relationship with God. They seem so lost.

Don't get me wrong I am not against women working, if there is a need. I, myself work every now and again, averaging about a day a week as a fill-in nurse at our local hospital but there is a great need today for women to return home and come back to their sacred calling.


So, what I thought I would do as I read this book and as it goes through Proverbs 31, I would share a little of what I glean from the book. I thought I would do this chapter by chapter and I hope I can keep on top of it. I figure this way I might actually finish the book, too, because I love books and sometimes I start one before I finish another. Maybe as you hear some of what the book has to say, you too may want to study and learn from this great biblical woman. I, also, need and hope to learn how to be this woman myself.

 I am using the Douay Rheims Bible version because that is what is used in the book and that is what I usually use, which brings me to  my first interesting point. I have seen her called in other versions; a virtuous woman, an excellent woman a noble woman but when I saw valiant my first thought was a brave woman and that really appealed to me because one thing we need today is strength, so I really liked the Douay Rheims word, "valiant."

Proverbs 31:10 Who shall find a valiant woman? Far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.  11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. 12 She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.13 She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands. 14 She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from afar. 15 And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.  16 She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. 17 She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm. 18 She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night. 19 She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. 20 She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.  21 She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments. 22  She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering. 23 Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land. 24  She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. 25 Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.


Chapter One:  10 Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.  11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. 12  She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

What impressed me right away was the Monseigneur talks about the importance of scripture and how our hearts should be good ground for the Word, then moves on to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both men and women and how we must develop mutual trust.

Talking about the strengths of the valiant woman he says, "She who can draw from stores of never-failing courage the necessary energy to make head against all the difficulties of her position, its daily worries, hourly anxieties and ever recurring contraditions and disappointments. She who can bear up bravely under the many inevitable shocks of life; under family jars, interior depression, and all those slights and wounds which like the legions of insects in autumn are perpetually assailing the heart of a woman; she who presides with unvarying prudence over the labors of her househaold and all the details of housekeeping; who rules her servants wisely, and preserves due order in the arrangement of that multitude of petty affairs which follow on one another through every hours of the day as quickly as the clouds of heaven flit across the sky. Who shall find a valiant woman, who shows herself superior to disaster to calumny, to the malice of men, and tothe many blows of fate; and who, when the violice of the waves is spent, still remains firmly rooted in the sea, a beacon and a light to poor shipwrecked mariners?."

Here are a few more quotes from the chapter:

"Saint Gregory Nazianzen tell us, 'There is nothing better than a good woman; nothing worse than a bad one'."

"A good woman is the most precious of the treasures of her house; she is its life and light, shedding brilliant rays around her, multiplied by countless reflections; she is its soul, pervading everything, and leaving everywhere traces of her gentle influence."

"In this life of perfect union, the husband infuses into his wife's mind a share of his intelligence, good sense, prudence and resolution; while, on her side, the wife beautifies and adorns her husband's life. Like a lovely tree, she bears for him the refreshing fruits of a loving heart. She dries his tears; she compensates him for all his toils and labors; she pours into his veins the oils of peace and happiness. "

"Happy is the man who possesses such a companion."

Okay so when I first started typing some of these words even though I had read them earlier they really began to stand out to me and I realized that many will think, "well, what about me or I have intelligence too" but don't those words just show a beautiful Christian love. He also goes onto say that he is not meaning that the opposite of characters are not in the opposite of sexes but that he is pointing out the dominant characters of each.

Looking to the  next page I saw this verse,"What a noble quality providence hereby accords to women! To render good always, evil never."

Awesome. What a beautiful and sacred calling we have.

Feast of St. Monica

I didn't realize that today on the traditional Roman Catholic calendar it is the feast day of St. Monica.  There isn't a traditional latin mass near me. I need to get better about watching the calendar. I have an app on my IPOD that shows both calendars, the Norvus Ordo and the Traditional.

St. Monica was a Christian given in  marriage to a pagan, Patricius and the lived in North Africa. He had a violent temper. St. Monica's mother in law lived with them, also and would cause problems for Monica. Patricius criticized his wife because of her Christian faith but as time went on he was converted and baptized before his death because of what he saw in Monica.

Monica had  three children, two boys and a girl. Augustine, the most famous, was 17 when his father died. He began to follow a heresy that brought much distress to Monica. One night, though,  Monica had a vision that assured her Augustine would return to the faith. She stayed very close to her son, praying and fasting for him.

At 29, Augustine decided to go to Rome to teach rhetoric. Monica was determined to go along. One night he tricked his mother by telling her  he was going to the dock to speak to a friend. Instead, he set sail for Rome. Extremely hurt  after his trick she still followed him. She followed him to Rome but found out only that he had gone on to Milan.

In Milan, Augustine was influenced by the bishop, St. Ambrose.  He gave much instruction to Augustine. Monica would follow the bishop's advice, also.

She continued her prayers for Augustine and  Easter, 387, St. Ambrose baptized Augustine. There were others of his friends baptized at the same time. After that they would get together and they would study scripture and have many discussions about our beautiful faith.

 Monica knew her life was near the end. She told Augustine, “Son, nothing in this world now affords me delight. I do not know what there is now left for me to do or why I am still here, all my hopes in this world being now fulfilled.” Her prayers were answered.  She became ill shortly after and suffered much for nine days before her death.


I just love her. I love the fact that she never gave up on her son. She never stopped praying for him. She was just not willing to accept his being lost. She is such an example not to give up.

Vote for Cardinal Dolan

Father Z:    CATHOLIC BLOGGERS! ACTION ITEM! POLL ALERT! Time Magazine on Card. Dolan




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Pope Pius XII - Saved hundreds of thousands

Pope Piux XII                                    

I just watched this today. I  have heard people in discussing the Catholic church's role during the time of the holocaust put down the Catholic church, especially they put down Pope Pius XII.  I used to believe some of the lies, also. Little by little I am learning the truth.

This video definitely debunks the theory that the Catholic church did nothing. It isn't just a video of talks but it shows concrete evidence with documents and statements.  Worth watching.  I would love it if a wonderful Catholic would make a movie about his life. There is a documentary I have yet to watch called, A Hand of Peace.

Instructions from Rome regarding Liturgical Abuses

I love going to Mass on Sunday. I am a revert now for about four years. I was away for a long time. I had very little catechesis when I was younger. I don't blame any one person or the Church for that. I played a part in it, also. I was not a good student in school. I was more interested in socializing. So after returning I went through the Baltimore Catechism with my son, several times. We still go through it from time to time and I post things on the refrigerator frequently to help him, myself and my husband all to remember what Mass is, what the teachings of the Catholic church are and what we need to do to be faithful to Holy Mother Church. Little by little I am learning just what is the Catholic church, it's history and what truths are there but unfortunately I am learning that I am not the only one who doesn't know the teachings of the Church, what Mass is and what the teachings are. I do believe in my book reviews you will find the three books we used for catechism. I loved them.

Recently, I stumbled across this document which was helpful to me, so I thought I would post it. I am surprised at what things are actually liturgical abuses. It was comprised:  from the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Rome, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, 25 March 2004  Francis Card. ArinzePrefect    Domenico Sorrentino Archbishop Secretary.


 I thought I would include the link here :  http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html


I am not one to interpret everything or understand everything, as I am learning. Just thought it would be good to read or skim through or just keep for reference.