{"id":54365,"date":"2022-01-19T17:15:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T22:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldcatholicnews.com\/former-cna-editor-recalls-the-privilege-of-working-with-alice-von-hildebrand\/"},"modified":"2022-01-19T17:15:00","modified_gmt":"2022-01-19T22:15:00","slug":"former-cna-editor-recalls-the-privilege-of-working-with-alice-von-hildebrand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldcatholicnews.com\/former-cna-editor-recalls-the-privilege-of-working-with-alice-von-hildebrand\/","title":{"rendered":"Former CNA editor recalls the ‘privilege’ of working with Alice von Hildebrand"},"content":{"rendered":"
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She often remarked, quoting her late husband Dietrich, that what is called \u201cculture\u201d today is actually a type of \u201canti-culture.\u201d In her essay \u201cA touch of metaphysical humor\u201d von Hildebrand pinpointed the root of so many of society\u2019s ills by saying, \u201cWe have lost sense for mystery, for sacredness and this might explain why our society is not only sick but in many ways \u2018comatose.\u2019 A society that has lost the sense of the sacred is a society which has chosen death.\u201d<\/p>\n

The last time I wrote to Alice von Hildebrand was over five years ago when I had just decided not to return from my maternity leave at CNA in order to stay home full time with my two daughters. As I drafted the email, I remember feeling a pang of shame. Looking back I can see that it was the breath of the Evil One in my ear telling me that my choice to stay home with my children, instead of continuing my career, was an inferior one that I\u2019d quickly come to regret. I should have known that if there was anyone who understood my decision, it was Lily.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I\u2019ll miss our contact,\u201d was her frank response, \u201cbut a mother should be home with her children. No one can replace her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perhaps some mothers who work outside the home will bristle at such a remark, but I don\u2019t share these words to shame anyone for her choices or circumstances. I share these words to encourage those of us who may not feel any real<\/em> importance in the endless marathon of being a stay-at-home mother. I bring to mind her words when I feel the most run-down and discouraged by motherhood, tempted to believe that I should be doing something \u201cbetter\u201d or \u201cmore useful\u201d with my time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alice often championed women as the \u201cprivleged\u201d sex in her writings. While Aristotle painted women as the passive, and therefore inferior, sex von Hildebrand explained that (with all due respect) the Greek philosopher failed to look beyond physical strength and appreciate the true honor that is written into a woman\u2019s very body.<\/p>\n

In her essay, \u201cPraise of receptivity\u201d von Hildebrand reminded the reader that God didn\u2019t create one sex superior to another, but rather He made them complementary, \u201cenriching one another.\u201d However, she notes that while Adam was made \u201cfrom the slime of the earth\u201d Eve was brought forth from Adam, \u201ca fact which gives the female body a special dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will anyone remember the words I\u2019ve pounded out on a keyboard years after I die? Most likely not. But will my children, who I\u2019ve offered my body up for four times over, give thanks for their lives and offer up a little prayer for me? I certainly hope so.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When I told my now 5-year-old that I was writing an article about a friend of mine who had recently died, she sincerely asked, \u201cSo, is she a saint now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so,\u201d I told her. \u201cShe spent her life teaching others the truth about God.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alice von Hildebrand, pray for us.<\/p>\n

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Hillary Mast is a graduate from Franciscan University at Steubenville and formerly served as opinion editor at Catholic News Agency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n