The news of Montse Alvarado going from EWTN to the Vatican to run the dicastery for communications is an exciting opportunity — for the Holy Spirit! — on a lot of fronts. One of them, of course, is the prominent role for a laywoman. There’s controversy about that, for sure. I rather like it as an encouragement to young women — and anyone, really — to be confident that God has plans for you, knowing that the Creator has been known to get creative with His will for us.
Here’s a conversation I just had about the Montse news; a launching pad for talking about women in the Church more generally, and historically.
Bronwen McShea, whom I talk with, is the author of a book about women in the Church and another one on the niece of Cardinal Richelieu: La Duchesse: The Life of Marie de Vignerot—Cardinal Richelieu’s Forgotten Heiress Who Shaped the Fate of France.
The conversation is of broad interest. Toward the end of the chat, however, we may have an impromptu pep talk for young women. Please share this accordingly.