Audio episode•
We explore the quiet genius and hidden strength of two remarkable women: Hollywood star and inventor Hedy Lamarr, and Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur, a spiritual powerhouse whose interior life inspired a dramatic conversion. Host Maria Morera Johnson unpacks how these women, though worlds apart, each lived out a beautiful second act marked by perseverance, faith, and unseen impact. Their stories remind us that God often does His most powerful work behind the scenes.
One of the perks of women’s ministry is the obvious: fellowship with women! This past weekend I had the pleasure of leading a parish retreat on Saints and Second Acts at the conclusion of a book study on My Badass Book of Saints as a seque into a book club about A Beautiful Second Act. What an honor for me to be able to share in this way!
Picture this: a room full of Catholic women, cups of coffee in hand, laughing together as connections were made or remade. What better way to bridge these two books than a retreat—a sacred pause to celebrate bold faith and step into our own renewed purpose in whatever new act is coming?
The day kicked off with a 45-minute talk about befriending the saints, and seeking them in our daily lives. It was a light talk punctuated by stories of my favorite saints, especially Sister Blandina Segale, who was inspiration for the Badass book, and the astonishing and frightening St. Olga of Kyiv, whose appallingly violent first act was followed by a profound conversion to the Christianity is told in A Beautiful Second Act.
Next came the heart of the retreat—a small group activity to reflect on our faith journey. We settled into our groups by table, armed with markers and paper. First, each woman jotted down a “badass” moment from her past—maybe standing up for her faith or powering through a tough season—and a current challenge that might be the start of something new. Then, we shared and created group “maps”—timelines, pictures, or lists weaving our stories together.
The morning wrapped up with a second talk that examined our feminine genius and how, as women, we are deeply connected to the Blessed Mother. Notes from scripture and the Catechism emphasized the changing seasons in our lives and the opportunity for renewal and second chances. Ecclesiastes 3:1—”There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”—underscores that God ordains different phases, each with its own purpose.
In a cozy church hall, surrounded by saint statues and sisterhood, we bridged two books and countless stories. We talked about our bold roots and beautiful next steps—perfect for badass Catholic women like us. Ready for your second act?
I just finished reading Tears of Gold: Portraits of Yazidi, Rohingya, and Nigerian Women by Hannah Rose Thomas (Plough Publishing House, 2024). I read it in one sitting, stopping only to wipe my tears and compose myself before turning the page to a new portrait and a new story of loss and courage.
Thomas, a portrait artist, captures the myriad expressions of women who suffered unspeakable violence. These portraits are not just paintings but written records of the violence perpetrated against these women. Tears of Gold gives a voice and a face to these tearful stories.
In the aftermath of the inhumanity experienced at the hands of ISIS, and violence in Myanmar and Nigeria with the Boko Haram, the women featured in these pages have their humanity restored and celebrated. Their suffering is not exploited, but rather, shared and documented in the visages of women who have survived.
The book opens with a lovely treatise on the dignity of the human person. In the first chapter titled, The Art of Attention, Thomas draws from philosophers and saints, poets and popes, to make the case we must observe and see the other to recognize ourselves and our shared humanity. It is breath taking.
Years ago, when I was teaching at a technical college in Atlanta, we experienced several waves of immigration from Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. In fact, many of the students we served were refugees from war-torn and oppressive regimes. My personal history as the granddaughter of Basque Spaniards fleeing the Civil War in Spain, and then my parents and I leaving Cuba as exiles seeking religious and personal freedom, I had a profound sense of empathy for my students, particularly because they were predominantly women. In retrospect, this book speaks to the suffering of some of my students. Perhaps that is why it hits so hard.
We connected on the common experience of finding ourselves in a new culture, reconciling the opportunities ahead of us while still nursing the emotional and physical wounds of violence perpetrated against us. Part of my curriculum included keeping a journal, and I soon found that my students were eager to share their stories. Somehow, it took their power back. I’ve never forgotten them or their stories.
Hannah Rose Thomas understands the healing properties of art, whether on the canvas or the page. This poignant collection captures the beauty of tears of gold, as each woman tells her story, often accompanied by a self-portrait. I am moved by how they see themselves, and what Thomas captures in their portraits.
Highly recommended.
