Here I share with you an extraordinarily vivid dream I had last night:
I’m in an old-fashioned church, with enclosed pews on either side of a long central aisle. From the back of the church runs an elevated walkway, like a catwalk, leading to a raised pulpit half-way down the aisle. I do not see the altar.
I know this is a Catholic church and that the person who will celebrate Mass is a woman.
People approach me, worried and outraged, saying this woman, whoever she is, cannot be a consecrated priest because she is female. I try to reassure them, begging them to wait and hear her preach. The congregation is looking to me for leadership; they also blame me for what is happening.
Silence falls and our new priest enters. As she moves along the walkway we crane our necks. Then we see a tall woman with shimmering red hair, dressed not in priestly robes but in a long green silk gown. She is barefoot. She is not beautiful but her features have strength and intelligence.
The disapproval and hatred radiating from those around me is palpable, and I am afraid of them. But I stand waiting, knowing her words will change our lives forever.
She opens her mouth and begins to speak. And I cannot understand her. She speaks in English words and phrases, but they make no sense. None at all.
She turns, looks at me, and smiles.
I wish I could even remember now those words and phrases that I couldn’t understand in the dream, but I don’t.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow. Simply, wow.
The novel I am working on is actually, in part, about the womanpriest movement. The imagery of this dream just sends every creative juice I have flowing.
I think I am doubly compelled by the fact that I have a stained glass image of the same painting you used above and the fact that your dream woman is one of my tribe – a redhead.
Dream on and do tell us what else you see and hear!
Blessings,
Marisa
Very compelling dream about a very compelling issue. The thing that makes me cringe about this and other controversies is the contempt from our fellow “Christians”. I guess we are only human after all. Can’t wait to hear more about your dreams and how they play out in real life.
Wouldn’t it be a hoot if she said “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
If only we could undrstand what our dreams were trying to tell us.
@Marisa: I hadn’t realised this is what you book is about – how interesting. And I love the coincidence of the same painting. I looked for something to illustrate the dream and had some faint memory of Rosetti painting redheads, so googled the images.
@Pam: Yes, you’re right, we are human. And I think that in any church (or other institution) a large number of people are part of it because they benefit from the “rules of the club”, and feel fearful when those rules are bent or broken. Our humanity is also something I frequently cite when people who are not, or are anti, religious go on about “how can s/he behave like than as a Christian?” In other words how hypocritical. Well yes, probably, welcome to humanity!
@Barbara: It would indeed be a hoot! The Virgin Mary is a figure I want to study and get to know a bit more over the next few months.
@Yolanda: Indeed. I don’t always remember my dreams, and often they are clear rehashing of what I’ve seen on television or whatever, but occasionally ones crop up that seem important. I always record those in a dream book as soon as I wake up.
Isn’t that interesting! I love it when dreams seem to be important and, yet, make no real sense. One thing I would encourage you to do is sit in silent meditation sometime today and go over each detail of the dream. Ask yourself what they mean to you – why red hair? What do you think of when you see a redheaded woman? Why a green gown? Do you like the color green or not? Really sit and “feel” the dream. I doubt you will remember what the words were that she spoke but I’ll bet you won’t need to…I think they are unimportant. I believe it was the feelings involved in such a powerful dream that are the real truth here.
I think it’s interesting that you dreamed this the night before we get all the Mary readings in Luke in today’s lectionary…
@Heyjules: thank you for this suggestion, I really like this almost analytical approach (if meditation can be analytical). I’ve only just read your comment and time for bed in the UK, but I will try this tomorrow.
@Towanda: and I hadn’t pre-read the readings and am a bit hopeless about knowing what’s coming up and when, so had no idea of this context…
How interesting and affirming! I shake my head in bewilderment at those who say that God cannot/would not call women into service as priests or pastors. God is God, and will not be limited by any being.
I hope the red-headed woman will speak again and that you’ll be able to remember if it’s important.
Hi Tess – Having met a, actually two, women Catholic Priests/Bishop this past month, I find your post very interesting. It was a concept that I thought was a future issue for the Catholic church. I did not know that women were ALREADY addressing this issue in their own way and in our time. You may know about this movement but in case you don’t just go online to Roman Catholic Women priests.
Tess, your dream is incredibly powerful and evocative. It feels like one of those dreams that has both personal and collective meaning. I love that she looks right at you and that you are the one assuring others that everything will be okay, to just give the change a chance. Sounds like there is a potent invitation stirring inside of you!
@Barbara Anne – yes, I agree. I like what you say about God not being limited.
@SS – Yeeessss, but the Women Priests issue in the Catholic church is far out there on the edge, and these women are in no way anywhere near being recognised by the Vatican, which is ultimately the only authority in the RC church. In fact a priest is currently being excommunicated over this issue:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Bourgeois.
@Christine – I’m going to see how the stirring goes.