Surrendering My Expectations for Life and Motherhood

I am coming to realize that being surrendered doesn’t have to mean accepting every possible tragedy in advance. Being surrendered doesn’t have to mean having a nonchalant attitude towards the things you love and care about. I don’t need to stake my identity in my ability to surrender “correctly.” Surrender can simply mean loosening my grip on expectation. Surrender can mean practicing gratitude in the moment.

Spirituality, Letters, Vocation, ReceiveHannah GrahamOctober 16, 2019Authentic Femininity, Womanhood, Catholic motherhood, accepting pregnancy, Feminism & Femininity, surrender, Expectations Comments

What a Birth Defect Has Taught Me About Womanhood

It seems that no matter how much we try, loving ourselves and the physical bodies God gave us can be a never ending cycle of good days and bad days. Everywhere we look, we see other women to whom we compare ourselves, always finding something wrong with what we have and something beautiful with what they have. I should know. I was born with one breast.

Letters, Identity, ReceiveCorynne StaresinicFebruary 6, 2019Womanhood, Birth Defect, Feminism & Femininity, On Womanhood Comments

Created in the Image and Likeness

The intricate design of the female reproductive system whether healthy or unhealthy evoked a sense of sheer awe and splendor. Ladies, we are fearfully and wonderfully made created in the beautiful image and likeness of God.

Letters, Identity, ProtectCorynne StaresinicNovember 28, 2018Napro, Feminism & FemininityComment

My Worth is in God, Not My Relationship Status

It took more than three brutal years of striving and posturing to realize that I already had a love story. In fact, I was a part of the greatest love story of all time.

Letters, Relationship, CreateCorynne StaresinicNovember 7, 2018Boyfriend, Jesus, Sarah Erickson, Womanhood, Feminism & Femininity, Single Life, For Single Catholic Women Comments

The Church Needs Your Boldness

“I loved my faith then, and I love it now. I love Truth. But I struggled to reconcile my boldness with the quiet, docile picture of Mary that every song at church seemed to paint. I thought that’s all the Church envisioned for women.”

Letters, Identity, ProtectCorynne StaresinicAugust 15, 2018Catholic Feminism, Feminism, Catholic women, Empowerment, Bold women, St. John Paul the Great, Womanhood, Feminism & Femininity, On Womanhood Comments

On Not Feeling Feminine and Embracing Womanhood

Dear Sisters, for most of my life I didn’t feel very feminine. I wouldn’t consider myself pretty; I’m not graceful or delicate; I’ve never been very interested in makeup or clothes.