I often went to Catholic mass or Eucharist at the Episcopal church, nourished by the symbol and power of this profound feeding ritual. It never occurred to me how odd it was that women, who have presided over the domain of food and feeding for thousands of years, were historically and routinely barred from presiding over it in a spiritual context. And when the priest held out the host and said, "This is my body, given for you," not once did I recognize that it is women in the act of breastfeeding who most truly embody those words and who are also most excluded from ritually saying them.
Sue Monk Kidd reflects on her experiences attending Catholic mass and Eucharist at the Episcopal church, where she found meaning in the rituals of feeding and nourishment. Despite the powerful symbolism of these practices, she acknowledges a striking contradiction in the historical exclusion of women from presiding over religious ceremonies tied to feeding, a domain traditionally associated with their role in society.
Kidd draws a poignant connection between the act of breastfeeding and the sacred words of the Eucharist. She points out that while the priest ceremonially invokes the transformative power of the host as Christ's body given for others, it is predominantly women who embody this concept through their nurturing roles. Yet, these women remain absent from the spiritual authority within these rituals, highlighting a significant gap in recognition and participation.
Rate the Quote
User Reviews
Other quotes in book quote
All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
