FEMALE TEACHERS IN HISTORY

By Apostle Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.D.Apostle in OfficeApostolic Fellowship International Ministries

© 2010 Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino. All rights reserved.

Why understand female teachers in history?

Women in ministry is not a new happening, but a continuing revelation of God’s work all throughout salvation history

It is essential for Christian women to recognize their spiritual heritage and history (Hebrews 12:1); women have a “cloud of witnesses” who have gone on before them in faith and power and set forth the course to where women in ministry are today

Women have been called into positions of leadership and authority by God, even if they were not recognized for their specific accomplishments by name

In the area of teaching, it is important to see women as competent, equipped, and called of God

Charitina of Amisus, Teacher

d. 304

Orphaned in childhood and raised as if she was the daughter of Claudius, a Christian

Pretty, sensible, kind, and knowledgeable in her faith

Through her teachings and ways of life, she converted many to the Christian faith

Died as a martyr under the reign of the Emperor Diocletian

Revered as a saint in most traditional denominations; virtually unknown and ignored in identity by the majority of Christians, both traditional, and modern

Theodota, the mother of Cosmas and Damian, Teacher

Unknown

Widowed when her pagan husband died, leaving her with two young children

Devoted herself to instructing her sons in the faith, educating them in holiness, and reading them Christian books

Her children, Cosmas and Damian, grew up to be prominent and powerful in faith

Revered as a saint in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches; with so much emphasis placed upon her sons, her role in their life is overshadowed and ignored

Very few acknowledge or know of this woman today

Theodora, Teacher

d. 548

Empress of the Byzantine Empire; wife of Justinian I

Started out her early life known as a notorious prostitute and actress

After repentance, came to a place of virtue in her life

Known for her wise counsel and education to her husband as he served as emperor

Saved the throne through her political intelligence and wisdom during the Nika Riots of 532

Revered as a saint in many traditional Christian traditions

Virtually unknown by Christians today

Eustolia of Constantinople, Teacher

d. 610

A native of Rome

Went to Constantinople to join a women’s monastery, where her strict living and discipline was noted by the sisters

She was sought after as a great teacher by both monastics and lay people alike

Revered as a saint in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches; with little known about her life, she is unacknowledged and unknown by the majority of Christians and Christian women today

Wiborada, Teacher

d. 926

Born into nobility; desired to become a hermit after her brother entered the Benedictines and she served as his bookkeeper

Even though she sought solitude, her monastic cell was visited constantly by those who sought out her teaching and wisdom

Known for holiness and spiritual gifts, including prophecy

Martyred when invading Magyars of Hungary invaded her Switzerland cell, murdering her

Though regarded as a saint in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and high Protestant denominations, unknown and unacknowledged in modern times

Helen of Serbia, Teacher

d. 1306

Pious woman interested in passing the instruction of the faith to her two sons; their education in the faith was of the first importance to her

After the death of her husband, she devoted herself to good deeds, work with the poor, and monastic education

Received monastic tonsure before her death

Regarded as a saint in the Orthodox Church; virtually unheard of in modern times.

Catherine of Siena, Teacher

1347-1380

Began having various spiritual experiences from the age of six

Considered one of the most brilliant theological minds of her day, despite having no education at all

Worked to heal the Great Schism between the eastern and western churches

Her letters and treatise, known as a “dialogue,” are considered among the most brilliant writings in the Catholic Church

Known as a saint and doctor of the church; reasonably well-known due to this facet

Marie of the Incarnation, Teacher

1599-1672

Married at 17; widowed with a young son at 19

Joined the Ursulines at Tours in 1629

Sent to Canada in 1639, laid the cornerstone of the first Ursuline convent in Quebec in 1641; she rebuilt it when it was destroyed by fire in 1650

Teacher and educator to the Algonquin and Iroquois Indians for the rest of her life

Compiled dictionaries in Algonquin and Iroquois

Beautified by the Roman Catholic Church; not fully canonized; virtually unknown today

Antoinette Bourignon de la Porte, Teacher

1616-1680

A woman who mixed both Catholic and Protestant ideas with her own revelatory ideas about spiritual matters

Rejected by both churches, but followed by many and inspired a large number of followers in her day

Advocate of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in understanding and interpretation for the believer; advocated and encouraged the believer’s relationship with God

Wrote many letters and books in her day which were well respected and circulated throughout Europe

Refused to establish her own church or denomination as she feared her work would become the foundation of a tradition, rather than relying on the Word of God

Unacknowledged and unknown for her historical role in Christian history and women’s history

Agnes Tsao-Kouy, Teacher

d. 1622

A Chinese widow

Persecuted for working as a missionary and teacher

Martyred by being placed in a cage at Sy-Lin-Hein

Beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 1900

Of relevance to Chinese Catholics, but still only partially canonized toward sainthood; virtually unknown today

Susanna Wesley, Teacher

1669-1742

The mother of Charles and John Wesley; known as the “Mother of Methodism” due to her influence on her sons

Though she had 19 children in all, only 8 remained alive until the time of her death

Susanna lived through numerous hardships, including spousal abandonment, seeing her house burn to the ground twice; financial hardship; and numerous oppositions

Educated all of her children at home in the contemporary curriculums and developed them spiritually; in starting a home church, neighbors and others began to attend, with over 200 people attending her afternoon services in place of traditional church events; wrote extended commentaries for her children’s education on issues such as the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed, and the Ten Commandments

Regarded as the “mother” of the Wesley brothers; virtually unknown, ignored, and unstudied by the majority of denominations and Christians, both traditional and modern

Marie Magdalen Postel, Teacher

1756-1815

Founder of the Sisterhood of Christian Schools of Mercy

Opened a school for girls at age 18 in Barlfleur, France

Operated school until it was shut down by the French Revolution

Revered by her order, but unknown in general by people today

Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, Teacher

1774-1821

Wife and mother of four; involved in charity work until the death of her husband

Started an academy for girls after her husband’s death (as was customary for women of social standing to do during her time); ran into anti-Catholic sentiment as she had converted to Roman Catholicism

With the help of the Sulpicians, established Saint Joseph’s Academy and Free School, a school dedicated to the education of girls

After establishing a religious order, also established the first free Catholic school in the United States

Venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church; very well-known among female saints in modern history

Emilie de Rodat, Teacher

1787-1852

Became a nun at Maison St. Cyr when 18

Grew dissatisfied with her situation in the monastery and sought to teach poor children

Began this work in her room at St. Cyr

This was the beginning of the Congregation of the Holy Family of Villefranche

Work extended to the underprivileged, disabled, orphans, and the aged

Was discovered to be a mystic after death

Relevant to members of her order, but unknown by the majority of people today

Henriette Feller, Teacher

1800-1868

A Christian missionary who moved from Switzerland to France to serve the Lord in ministry; she wound up working in the French province of Quebec, Canada; started a church sometime after 1835

The church was later destroyed by fire and she was threatened by an angry mob; she continued on

In 1854, she opened the Institut Feller at Longueuil for the education of girls; in 1840, they expanded to educate boys as well; school formally incorporated as the Evangelical Society of Grande-Linge in 1855; now hailed as the oldest French Protestant church in Canada

Helped found the Societe Missionaire Franco-Canadiene (the French Canadian Missionary Society)

School closed in1967; now a museum and historical site; foundation for several French-speaking Baptist ministers prior to World War II; reunion of students held in 2011 near school grounds

Largely unknown today for her massive contribution to the evangelism of Canada

Annuciata Cocchetti, Teacher

1800-1882

Orphaned at age seven, and raised by her grandmother, a pious woman

At seventeen, opened up a school for the poor in her grandmother’s home

Spent many years working in parish missions

Started work in a Catholic school at age 31; later founded a religious congregation devoted to educating girls known as the Sisters of St. Dorothy of Cemmo

Held retreats for young girls

Known for advising those under her, “Become saints by doing good to the girls entrusted to you.”

Beatified by the Roman Catholic Church; unknown today

Caterina Cittadini, Teacher

1801-1857

Orphan abandoned by her father after the death of her mother; developed a deep spiritual life in the orphanage

Earned a teaching diploma while in the orphanage

Began a Catholic girls’ school in Somasca, Italy; labored to educate orphans and girls from other areas

After her death, her educational institute was transformed into a religious congregation , formally now known as the Ursuline Sisters of Somasca

Received beatification within the Catholic Church, but not full sainthood; acknowledged by the order now founded in her honor, but virtually unknown today

Anne Jahouvey, Teacher

d. 1851

Missionary who found herself unable to commit to a convent because she desired to educate the poor

Had a vision in 1800 of black children and heard the call to adapt her life’s work to meet their needs

In 1807 she and eight other women received their veil and began the work, the Congregation of St. Joseph of Cluny

In 1828, she went to French Guyana to educate six hundred slaves preparing to be liberated

Beautified by the Roman Catholic Church; known among the Congregation of St. Joseph of Cluny; unknown as a general rule by most today

Hannah Whithall Smith, Teacher

1832-1911

Raised a Quaker, Hannah experienced a powerful and profound conversion to the wholeness of faith and became involved with the Plymouth Brethren, Wesleyan revivals, and Holiness Movement

Only three of her seven children lived to infancy; due to scandal, she and her husband never fully reconciled with one another; lived a difficult life, seeking answers and truth

Trained and equipped to become a speaker as part of travelling revivals events; frequently taught on the subjects of the higher calling and holiness

An influential author, whose writings on holiness, the meaning of life, and the higher calling still remain popular today, especially her most popular book, The Christian’s Secret Of A Happy Life

Even though she is known as an author, largely unknown and ignored for her contributions to Chrstianity; unknown by Christian women today

Candida Maria of Jesus, Teacher

1845-1912

Spanish religious sister, teacher, and educator

Founder, the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus in Salamanica, Spain

A canonized saint of the Roman Catholic Church; known for her order; largely unknown by people today

Frances Xavier Cabrini, Teacher

1850-1917

Though desiring to become a nun at eighteen, poor health impeded this plan, and she cared for her parents until her death, then worked on a farm with her siblings

Appointed as a teacher in a girls’ school by a local priest; held this position for six years

Requested by the bishop to begin the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, caring for poor children in schools and hospitals; came in 1889 to the United States to work among Italian immigrants

Founder of schools, orphanages, and hospitals all across the United States

Regarded as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church; known among teaching orders; virtually unknown among people today

Elizabeth V. Baker, Teacher

1864-1955

Early life included many difficulties, including a divorce at age 20 due to an abusive marriage; several years later, while married to her second husband (a medical doctor), she experienced a severe throat condition; her acceptance of faith healing caused the end of her second marriage

Worked in cooperation with her sisters Mary E. Work, Nellie A. Fell, Susan A. Duncan, and Hattie M. Duncan in the establishment of the Elim Faith Home, Elim Publishing House, Elim Tabernacle, and the Rochester Bible Training School

Publishers of Trust, a periodical devoted to teaching the doctrines of salvation, faith healing, the Holy Spirit, premillennialism, and foreign missions

Bible school established "for the training of those who felt His call to some special work, but lacked the educational fitness."

Sensitive to the criticisms about women ministers, these women never accepted ordination, yet continued in their work throughout their lives

Un-acclaimed and unstudied in modern Christianity; virtually unknown in modern times

Ascension of the Heart of Jesus Nicol Goni, Teacher

1868-1940

Inspired to become a teaching nun from the example of the Dominicans who taught her in school

Became a teaching sister at age 17

Worked in a mission to Peru, educating the Peruvian natives living in the forests

Founded a school for girls and nursed the sick

At the request of the head of the Dominican order, she worked with the Peruvian bishop to establish a new order, the Dominican Sisters of the Rosary

Beatified by the Roman Catholic Church and known by those who follow the order she helped to establish; unknown by many today

Joyce Meyer, Teacher

1943-

Internationally known Bible teacher and author, best-known for her television show, Enjoying Everyday Life

Overcoming an early history of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, as well as an abusive first marriage and life as a single parent, Joyce had a powerful experience with the Lord in the 1970s

Spending many years working on her own issues toward the advance of healing, her teachings and writings are known to facilitate important emotional healing, hope, and encouragement for Christian women all over the world

Has worked in Christian ministry for more than 30 years

Made Time Magazine’s list of “50 Most Influential Evangelicals in America Today”

Controversial figure in Christianity; due to various issues, her message is often distorted or misunderstood, as many fail to recognize her important contribution to women in ministry and Christian women today

Join us!

To learn more about women in history, Christian women and their identity in Christ, women in ministry throughout history, and more, join Apostle Dr. Lee Ann Marino (Apostolic Fellowship International Ministries, Apostolic University) for Compass Training™ or History Makers™ Seminars and women in ministry preparation

Counts toward degree credit through Apostolic University

To learn more, visit www.powerfortoday.org, www.apostolicuniversity.com, www.womenofpowerinternational.net, http://powerfortoday.webs.com, http://apostolicuniversity.webs.com, or contact us: apostolicuniversity@powerfortoday.org.

References “Antoinette Bourignon.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourignon

“Blessed Agnes Stao-Kouy.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1184

“Blessed Anne Jahouvey.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1418

“Blessed Annunciata Cocchetti.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5745

“Blessed Ascension of the Heart of Jesus Nicol Goni.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=6011

“Blessed Caterina Cittadini .” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5655

“Blessed Marie of the Incarnation.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=517

“Elizabeth Ann Seton.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Ann_Seton

“Feller College.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feller_College

“Hannah Whitall Smith.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Whitall_Smith

McGee, Gary. “Three Notable Women In Pentecostal Ministry.” http://ag.org/wim/0707/0707_Three_Notable_Women.cfm

“St. Candida Maria of Jesus.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=6998

“St. Charitina of Amisus.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/16766

“St. Catherine of Siena.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=9

“St. Emily de Rodat.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=181

“St. Eustolia of Constantinople.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/16872

“St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=278

“St. Helen of Serbia.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/16801

“St. Marie Magdalen Postel.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4494

“St. Theodota the Mother of the Unmercianaries Cosmas and Damian.” http://www.antiochian.org/node/16880

“St. Wiborada.” http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2102

“Susanna Wesley.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_Wesley