Women Worth Knowing

Teresa of Avila (1515-1582): Today we will discuss one of the most famous women in Spanish history! Her name is Teresa of Avila, a nun and mystic who, like Catherine of Siena, not only loved the Lord devotedly, but also loved her neighbor through practical service. After years of spiritual struggle, Teresa was transformed by an understanding of what Jesus had done for her. Inspired by her newly found faith, she sparked a reform movement in the Carmelite Order and wrote several books that are considered classics of Spanish literature. Teresa is definitely a woman worth knowing!

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380): Born in the midst of what was known as the “Calamitous Century,” Catherine of Siena played an unsung but significant role not only as a mystic pursuing spiritual renewal, but also as an early voice calling for the reform of the corrupt medieval Church. In fact, she has been called the “Martin Luther of her day!” Join us for the story of one of the most noteworthy women of the Middle Ages!

Joan of Arc (1412-1431) & Julian of Norwich (1342-1416): Perhaps some of the more well-known women of the Middle Ages were those we now classify as “mystics,” those who pursued deeper spiritual union with Jesus primarily through prayer and meditation. Some mystics--like Joan of Arc--may seem eccentric and bizarre, but many others--like Julian of Norwich--simply sought closer communion with the Lord, and played an important role in spiritually reviving a corrupt and dying medieval church! When we understand the context in which these women lived, it helps us appreciate the fact that the mystics are definitely worth knowing!

Even More Medieval Women: That’s right folks, we aren’t done with the Middle Ages yet! While Christian women of this era may not be well-known today, in their time they exerted powerful influence for the Kingdom of God in diverse ways. There’s Hilda, the Abbess of the famous Abbey at Whitby; Leoba, who teamed up with the great missionary Boniface to establish monasteries all over Central Europe for education and the spread of the Gospel; Hroswitha, the first woman poet and playwright in German history; and Hildegard von Bingen, a widely influential abbess, musical composer and preacher. You will definitely be glad you got to know these fascinating women!

More Medieval Women: We continue our look at medieval women with a few more gals who had a greater influence on the course of Church History than anyone realizes! We will talk about Marcella and Paula, who helped Jerome translate the Latin Vulgate; the Roman Empress Pulcheria, who was a great defender of the faith in perilous times; and the Barbarian queens Clotilda, Bertha and Ethelberga, without whom Europe might not have had such a strong Christian heritage. Although they may not receive a lot of recognition, these are without a doubt women worth knowing!

Martyrs & Medieval Women: In today’s episode we start off with more amazing female martyrs that we simply could not overlook! Then we transition into the Medieval Period, where we get to know a couple remarkable godly mothers--Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, and Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. While mothers may sometimes find themselves operating behind-the-scenes, their impact is profound and far-reaching--and Helena and Monica are beautiful examples of that!

Early Church Martyrs: Today we begin a multi-part series on women of the Early Church period and Middle Ages! During the first centuries of church history, Christians were often persecuted mercilessly at the hands of various Roman Emperors and officials, courageously laying their lives down for their faith in Jesus. Today we will look at several women whose radiant witness in the face of death made an enormous impact for the Kingdom of God. The church father Tertullian declared, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church,” and that certainly holds true for these inspiring women!

Edith Schaeffer (1914-2013): Debbie Alnutt is back again with Jasmine to share about another woman that they think you should know about, Edith Schaeffer! Edith was the wife of Christian theologian and philosopher, Francis Schaeffer. Together, they co-founded L’Abri Ministries at their home in Switzerland--a ministry that profoundly impacted European and American youth in the 1950s-1960s. While the Lord used Francis to awaken a generation to the dangers of modern secularism, He used Edith to show broken young people the beauty of Christian living within the setting of family and home life. She authored twenty books including The Tapestry & L’Abri, both based on their life together. We love Edith Schaeffer and we know that you will too!

The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer

What is a Family? by Edith Schaeffer

A Way of Seeing by Edith Schaeffer

The Art of Life by Edith Schaeffer

10 Things Parents Must Teach Their Children (And Learn from Themselves) by Edith Schaeffer

Affliction: A Compassionate Christian Look at Understanding the Reality of Pain & Suffering in Our Lives by Edith Schaeffer

Caroline Gates (1866-1947): Today we have a “mother-daughter” podcast, as very special guest Debbie Alnutt returns! She joins Jasmine to share a story about the work of the Holy Spirit in the midst of profound trials and suffering as experienced by Caroline Gates, a missionary to China who miraculously survived the Chinese Boxer Rebellion of 1900 along with fellow missionaries Archibald and Flora Glover. Debbie also tags on a “bonus” story from the life of another missionary to China, Mildred Cable. These are remarkable stories of God’s very tangible presence and comfort in time of need!

More Women in Medicine: There are just so many notable Christian women in medicine, we didn’t want to leave anyone out! So join us today for some more remarkable stories!