CPH1 “Ven. Mary Ward” pt 1 – A Church of Passion and Hope: Conversations with Sr. Gill Goulding C.J.

Episode 1 of our series begins with a discussion on the life of the Ven. Mary Ward, (23 January 1585 – 30 January 1645),  an English Catholic Religious Sister and whose activities led to the founding of the Congregation of Jesus (the order which Sr. Gill Goulding belongs) and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, better known as the Sisters of Loreto, which have both established schools around the world.

From “A Church of Passion and Hope – Mary Ward”

A recusant heritage and a disciplined faith formation nurtured a deep encounter with Christ for Mary Ward. This intimacy was the foundation for her progressive discernment and grounded her ecclesial disposition, which was particularly characterized by: courage, faithfulness, generosity and confident freedom in the Lord. It is a passionate love of God that drives her endeavors and is manifest in the manner of her obedience which embraces suffering for the fruitfulness of her mission in the service of the Church.

Mary Ward
Ven. Mary Ward

Sr. Gill Goulding, member of the Congregatio Jesu [IBVM/Loretto] is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Spirituality at Regis College in the University of Toronto.  Alongside her work as a theologian, she undertakes a ministry of spiritual direction and retreat work.  She is the author of several books and numerous articles that deal with the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, the Theology of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI and Ignatian spirituality. In 2012, she was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a theological expert to the Synod on the New Evangelization.

Church of Passion and Hope To obtain a copy of the book on which this series is based visit here

“Gill Goulding, C.J. invites readers to move beyond a debilitating polarization in the Church and to adopt an ecclesiology of communion. She presents the ecclesial disposition of St Ignatius of Loyola, rooted in love for Christ, alive to the inseparable union between Christ and the Church, and aware that to love Christ is to love the Church – the real, concrete, hierarchical, “institutional” Church, the people of God, the spouse of Christ infused by His Spirit. Goulding’s love for the Church is evident in all she writes and suffuses the exposition with warmth. One cannot read this book without feeling the call to communion in the Church. A Church of Passion and Hope also serves to highlight an underemphasized part of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises – the Rules for Thinking (sentir) with the Church – a valuable contribution to Ignatian writing and practice.” ―Fr Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V., Saint Clement Eucharistic Shrine, USA

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