December 8, 2023: "Mary: Our Model of Discernment" with Madison Chasten

Catholic Women Preach

Preaching for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Madison Chastain offers a reflection on modeling our discernment after Mary: "Our Blessed, Embodied Mother makes the biggest choice of her life from a place of utmost peace: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word.” This peace is a direct result of how Mary models decision-making: She starts with the body, she roots into her context, and all else flows from there. This is our example for discernment." Madison Chastain is a writer and nonprofit communications specialist living and working on the South Side of Chicago. Her work explores the intersection of disability, faith, creativity, and culture. She has a BA in Creative Writing and Theology/Religious Studies from St. Mary’s College of California and an MA from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School were her research focused on the relationship between medical ethics, disability theology, and crip theory. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/12082023 to learn more about Madison, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.