Saints: Life & Times

Lesson 3: Consecrated Lives

Consecrated Widows

Let a widow who is selected be not less than sixty years old, having been married but once, with a reputation for her good works in bringing up children, in practicing hospitality, in washing the saints’ feet, in helping those in trouble, in carefully pursuing every good work. (1 Tim. 5:9-10)

Icon of Mary Magdalene as the Myrrh-Bearer, Artist Unknown. From Magdalene.org. Photo is in the public domain.

Consecrated Widows appear in Scripture, although there is no evidence of a particular ritual or vow. The earliest I have found is Judith. After her husband, Manasseh, died, Judith remained at home, setting up a tent for herself on the rooftop. She wore sackcloth as an undergarment and over that wore the customary attire for widows. She fasted every day except for feasts and Sabbaths, and was regarded as a God-fearing woman. When the Assyrian army under the leadership of Holofernes threatened her town, Bethulia, and all of Judea, the elders of Bethulia agreed to surrender if God did not help them within 5 days. Judith reproved them for putting God to the test and set out with her maid to defeat the army. Taken captive, she was brought to Holofernes, and promised to show him how to take her town without the loss of any troops. Beguiled by her words and her beauty, Holofernes invited her to stay with him. He gave a banquet and drank very much wine. With the guests gone and Holofernes unconscious, Judith drew his sword, prayed, and then cut off his head.

She and the maid returned to Bethulia with the head. The citizens took heart from her victory and, aided by their fellow countrymen, routed the demoralized Assyrians. When the victory celebration was over, Judith returned to her tent and her sackcloth, her fasting and prayer. Many men proposed, but she refused them all, remaining celibate from the day her husband died to her own death at the age of 105. All of her story is contained in the Book of Judith, accepted by the Catholic Church as divinely inspired and appearing in the Catholic Bible.

After Judith, there were many noteworthy women, but the one generally regarded as consecrated to God was Anna the prophetess, described in the New Testament (John 2: 36-38) as married for 7 years, then living as a widow until 84. She fasted and prayed in the temple, night and day, and recognized the Son of God in the tiny infant brought there for circumcision. She thanked God and told others who, like her, were waiting for the redemption of Israel. Like Judith before her, she did not remarry. Remarriage for women was not forbidden in ancient times; in fact, for many it was an economic necessity, as best described in the Book of Ruth. However, those who remained celibate after their husband’s passing were regarded with respect, and there are many Bible passages enjoining the Israelites to provide for them and not to defraud or otherwise harm them.

First and foremost among all widows devoted to God is Mary, the Exalted Widow. After the death of Joseph, she was completely dependent upon

her Son, a lesson and model for all who seek spiritual poverty. Other women also followed Jesus and provided for Him and His disciples out of their own resources. The evangelists single out Mary, the wife of Cleopas, (John 19:25), credibly identified as the mother of James the Less and Joseph (a disciple of Jesus) (Mark 15:40 and Matt: 27:56). She may also have been the sister of Mary mentioned in John 19:25. Salome, the wife of Zebedee and mother of James the Greater and John, was also present at the crucifixion (Mark 15:40) and came afterwards to the tomb with the other women. (Mark 16:1) “These used to accompany Him and minister to Him when he was in Galilee–besides many other women who had come with Him to Jerusalem.” (Mark 15:41) With them was Mary of Magdalla, the penitent exorcized of seven devils. Her wholehearted devotion to Christ was itself her consecration. She sought Him even after His death, and became the first to find the risen Lord. Was she in the upper room when the Spirit descended upon the apostles? There are several stories in Christian tradition which have her going to Spain or France to help preach the Gospel or into the desert to live as a hermit, but all stories agree that she did not marry.

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