Al-Rahi: The Maronite Woman is the Guardian of Identity and the Maker of Virtues

The patriarchal headquarters in Bkerke witnessed a pastoral and cultural meeting organized by the Office of the Pastoral Care of Women in the Maronite Patriarchal Diocese – Bkerke, through which it called for participation in the announcement of a working paper titled: «Maronite Virtues: A Journey to Holiness», under the patronage and presence of the Maronite Patriarch.

The meeting was held on the stage of the patriarchal headquarters, in the presence of spiritual, cultural, and social figures, along with priests, nuns, pastoral and educational activists, and those interested in ecclesiastical and pastoral affairs, within the framework of a journey aimed at re-reading the Maronite spiritual heritage in a contemporary language that addresses today's human being.

It began with a welcome speech by media figure Oughit Salameh, in which she welcomed the attendees and introduced Al-Rahi, pausing at the importance of this initiative at a time when the Church needs to revive spiritual and human values. She also emphasized that the beatification of Patriarch Elias Al-Hawayek constitutes a sign of hope and light for the Church and Lebanon.

The meeting addressed a speech by the office coordinator, Dr. Mirna Mazouk, in which she presented the content of the working paper «Maronite Virtues: A Journey to Holiness», affirming that the goal of this initiative is to move from theoretical thought to living the virtues in daily life, within an ecclesiastical and spiritual journey rooted in the Maronite heritage and open to the challenges of the era.

Mazouk stressed that the document stems from the concept of synodality, i.e., listening, participation, and joint work, so that women are actual partners in the ecclesiastical mission, not a marginal or secondary element, affirming that the Maronite woman has played throughout history a fundamental role in transmitting faith and values and protecting the family and identity.

She explained that the work on the document was based on a set of basic axes, most notably: upbringing, communication, the role of young women, and linking the Maronite heritage with contemporary life, pointing out that the virtues that the Maronites lived throughout their history, such as evangelical poverty, obedience, chastity, asceticism, and attachment to the land, are not only past values but a human and spiritual need for today's human being.

She added that the document does not aim to create formal committees, but to create a living course of action within dioceses, parishes, and families, which restores the human being's relationship with the essence of faith and translates Christian values into a culture of life, witness, and mission.

The meeting addressed the basic virtues that constitute the essence of Christian life, namely: poverty, chastity, obedience, asceticism, and attachment to the land, based on a vision affirming that these virtues are not merely theoretical ideas or formal practices, but a path of internal liberation that leads the human being to true freedom and witness to the Gospel.

The participants affirmed that evangelical poverty does not mean deprivation or misery, but liberation from the slavery of money and appearances, while chastity expresses the human being's internal unity and moral openness, and obedience restores the importance of listening, partnership, and the spirit of community. As for asceticism, it is a call to moderation and internal balance, not to isolation or rejection of joy.

The meeting also paused at the meaning of attachment to the land, as a connection to identity, memory, history, roots, and lived faith, not merely a geographical or emotional connection, but a living relationship with the land that carried faith, heritage, and holiness across generations.

During the meeting, a video testimony was shown by Sister Dominique Al-Halabi, in which she spoke spontaneously about the beginning of the journey of the Pastoral Care of Women, and how she met Al-Rahi, who asked her to take on this mission, in addition to the early stages of working with a group of women who accompanied this initiative since its launch.

In his speech, Al-Rahi congratulated the Maronite Church, Lebanon, and the Maronite monastic orders on the beatification of Patriarch Elias Al-Hawayek, considering him "the founder of Greater Lebanon, the founder of the monastic order, and the man who shines like an inspiring sun of virtues and responsibility."

He also praised the work done by the Office of the Pastoral Care of Women, commending the seriousness with which the document addressed the topic of Maronite identity and spiritual virtues, and said smiling: "After this wonderful work, what is the role of man from now on?"

He affirmed that the woman is the one who transmits identity and values in various life situations, whether she is a mother, wife, grandmother, sister, worker, or consecrated, pointing out that the woman "teaches man the virtues she lives."

He added that the document constitutes "a journey to reach the Maronite identity," because a person cannot live his identity unless he knows it first, praising the linking of the virtues of Saint Maron with contemporary daily life, and affirming that the Maronite virtues are not only for monks, but for the entire Maronite people.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Mirna Mazouk handed His Beatitude the working document, before an invitation was extended to the women working in the Pastoral Care of Women and young women, to receive the document and begin working through it within the dioceses and parishes.

The organizers of this work also called for interaction with the document through personal reading, group discussion, and participation in the journey of thought, dialogue, and renewal, affirming that the goal is not to issue an additional document, but to launch a spiritual and pastoral dynamic that reconnects the contemporary human being with the essence of the Maronite faith and its mission.

The participants emphasized the importance of reviving the authentic Maronite virtues and values and consolidating them in ecclesiastical, family, and social life, as a path to witness and holiness in a world facing increasing spiritual and moral crises, affirming that the Church today is called to offer a living witness in a rapidly changing world, through virtues that are translated into daily life and restore to the human being the meaning of hope, steadfastness, and belonging.