#AMMA SYNCLETICA MEDIEVAL SERIES#

It was said of Amma Sarah that for thirteen years in the desert she struggled with lustful thoughts. If she sought the acceptance of God, she would find purity of heart. If she tried to find acceptance in the eyes of everyone, she would spend all of her time placating people. Though little is written of Amma Sarah, the reverence shown for preserving the few words attributed to her betray the respect held for the women of the desert and their place in the Desert movement. “Hold on a second! Women have held significant leadership in our churches before, what can we do to restore that place today?” These women ought to be our inspiration to stand up and say today, There are countless others, such as Dame Gertrude More, Amma Synkletika, or contemporaries like Agnes Sandford and Ruth Carter Stapleton.Īny critique of the approach of the church towards women does a disservice to itself if it does not recognize the likes of these women who influenced Christianity and church life so deeply.

#AMMA SYNCLETICA MEDIEVAL SERIES#

Julian of Norwich and her series of encounters with Christ or Hildegard Von Bingen and the prophetic visions she was sought for provide ample evidence of strong Christian leadership. Teresa of Avila and her books on the interior life and her autobiography commissioned by her superior were the outgrowth of years spent mentoring men and women in the deeper things of God. We should consider Madame Guyon whose influence was felt in her insightful writings on prayer and in her incredible influence over men such as Francis Fenelon and Michael Molinos. This is generally true, if your Christian history is only about 50-100 years old.Ĭhristianity need look no further than its own history, at different ages in the church, to find strong and Godly women respected for their leadership. But what is mainly emphasized has been the marginalization of women throughout Christian history. This is a good thing and needed in our current cultural climate. Presently in Christianity, there is a movement to legitimize women and their leadership qualities. What has been handed down is that she was a hermit, she spent 60 years in solitude in the desert, she was a contemporary of Abba Paphnutius (this puts her life somewhere in the 4th century, though this has been contested), and she lived near a river. Nothing is known about her history, where or when she was born, when she died, or what brought her to the desert. The few quotes that have been preserved show a woman that is humble, insightful, and quick-witted. Amma Sarah is one of the many elusive mothers and fathers of which little is written, but what is recorded is tantalizing.

Amma syncletica medieval