Kathye on Mary Ward

Mary Ward (Kathye Macias-Ramirez)

The English Renaissance saw an increase in women writers. Prior to the year 1500, there were no works “composed or translated” by women. However, by the end of 1640, there was over one hundred. These works consisted of “prose narratives, poetry, prayers, essays, confessions, diaries, letters, prefaces, and translations.” Though this contribution does not compare with the amount published by men, it still deserves recognition. Recognition because the “advancement of capitalism” took power away from women of the time. It left them in the home to take care of the family. This did not exclude them from the subjects of “religion”, “motherhood” and “social commentary.” Nevertheless, they continued to be “sheltered” from subjects of “worlds of commerce and government.” A humanist who believed in including women did so only to become a “better Christians.” Women remained subordinate to men despite the humanist movement that pressed on the idea of “the potential, freedom, and dignity of ‘Man’.”

Mary Ward was born 23 January 1585. She left behind many writings that depicted “her life and Institute”, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto sisters). The Institutes initiative was ‘the education of girls and other works congruent to the needs of the times’. Her life serves as a good example of women during this time period.

She was raised in a Catholic family in Yorkshire, North England. Yorkshire particularly resisted the anti-Catholic movement and was a “hotspot” for conflict between Catholics and Protestants. The Ward family, however, was willing to face the consequences that came with being Catholic. They maintained with their religious instructions, prayer, and study of languages. Despite being proposed to twice, Mary choice a religious life over marriage, but her parents did not agree. Her parents wanted to “strengthen” the power of Catholicism over Protestantism. After six years despite her parent's initial opinion, she traveled to St. Omer to work as an ‘outsister’. She later left and founded her own convent.

For the remainder of her life, Mary Ward would work to educate girls and empower Catholicism in general. She first located herself in England where she strengthened the faith of struggling Catholics under the rule of James the first. She shared with her family and ‘circle of friends’ that the aim for holiness, she found, does not requires one's withdraw from the world but interaction with it. Furthermore, she later returned to St. Omer and equipped women with an education and the same in England in order for women to understand their influence on society. Despite her dedication to Catholicism, she “pioneered a new form of religious life.” She devoted herself to live in the “way of life of the Jesuits”, connecting back to her idea of holiness, and interaction vs. withdraw. This allowed her to travel and spread the Gospel were “the need as greatest”, an activity normally associated with men. She saw the potential of women and “Man” in general and found “God in all things.”

With early support from “Bishops and members of the European Royalty” Mary sought approval from the Pope in 1621. She and four others traveled during the winter from “Liege to Rome”, 932 miles, to present her petition and letters that praised the work done in the schools and houses in the span of ten years. Many key Cardinals, however, had already come to contradicting conclusions. By 1628 the Pope and Cardinals withheld approval and in addition, closed all the houses. In addition, Mary Ward and those involved were not be recognized as sisters. In 1630 Mary was arrested and imprisoned. Again she traveled to Rome where she was “acquitted of heresy” after fighting for her innocence.  Despite giving life to the Catholic church in its time of need Mary Ward was not recognized as the founder of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary until 1909 by Pope Pius X. Overall, Mary Ward’s deep relationship with her faith brought her “freedom” and ‘fullness” as she took back power when many women did not know they had any.

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/literature/women%20writers/women.html

http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/literature/women%20writers/ward.html

http://www.loreto.org.au/about-us/our-history/mary-ward/

http://archives.loreto.org.au/Home/Our-Story/Our-History/Mary-Ward-(A-Painted-Life).aspx