Talking nunsense with Sr. Mary John Mananzan
I once described her as a ”rock star” who is recognized wherever she goes. For who does not know Sr. Mary John Mananzan of the Order of St. Benedict? She who speaks her mind and marches in the streets in her distinctive habit adorned with her ubiquitous feminist purple scarf? She, the peripatetic traveler who often travels to both familiar and strange lands where she is in demand as a speaker, spiritual adviser, and even as Shibashiteacher? She who aced her theological studies in the greatest universities in Germany and Rome with intelligence and passion?
I have also described her as a “force of nature.” I have known this feisty woman in school where she was a young novice when I was a student, in the streets where she marched and spoke as a feminist-activist when I was a reporter covering the protest movement. As president of St. Scholastica’s College, Sr. Mary John made sure its students were at least aware of the political realities outside its walls, at best involved in the issues and movements against the Marcos dictatorship. When the outspoken activist was elected Prioress of the Benedictine Community, she seemed like an unlikely pick, but she must have done something right because she was re-elected to lead the congregation for a second term.
Her self-description, however, is “babaylan,” priestess, warrior, teacher, healer. Today, we hear her familiar voice calling for change, decrying the situation where we are losing our moral compass.
In 2012, Sr. Mary John asked me to edit her autobiography she called NunSense. It was where I got to know her better as a nun, a teacher, a scholar and theologian, an activist and feminist. There was no stopping her after that. Three years later, we were working on another book, NunStop, this time on her many travels around the world. Last year, she sent me the manuscript of a third volume, Nun-Talk, a compendium of her writings, with the request, no longer to edit it, but to write the foreword for the book which will be launched on Saturday, April 14, at the St. Scholastica’s College campus.
Thus elevated from editor/slave to commentator, I wrote the following:
“This is the third book of Sr. Mary John Mananzan’s NUN series that I have had the opportunity to work on. In NunSense (2012), her delightful autobiography, I got acquainted with her dynamic personality and irrepressible spirit. In NunStop (2015), I journeyed with her to the most esoteric places, in a travelogue both physical and spiritual, by a seasoned traveler with an unexpected sense of wonder.
“In Nun-Talk, Sr. Mary John writes as a scholar and theologian, fearless feminist, zealous political activist, earnest environmentalist, and compassionate teacher and superior. Nun-Talk is a compendium of everything she is passionate about. It is The Essential Mary John Mananzan, OSB.
“Reading her personal essays, official speeches, spiritual musings, advice to her congregation, and theological dissertations, the reader meets a very human and courageous person with strong views and an open heart. She tackles everything that is human; nothing is alien to her. As an activist, feminist, and theologian, Sr. Mary John is a force of nature.
“The activist in her is ever present, campaigning for economic justice, ecological preservation, gender equality, and working for a culture of peace that will improve the lives of Filipinos at home and abroad.
“Sr. Mary John tackles all aspects of life in feminist terms, from creation to politics and governance, to history, to ecology, theology and spirituality. Writing about feminist theology of liberation from the perspective of a Third World woman, she is fearless in questioning the hierarchy and patriarchy that has characterized the Church and society, and the role of religion in the social conditioning of women to be subservient to men. She illuminates scripture, church teaching and Benedictine spirituality with a feminist reading that makes them ever new and fresh — and logical, with many AHA! moments for the new initiate.
“She writes as she speaks, with simplicity and directness that is as refreshing as it is thought-provoking. And she challenges her audiences on multiple levels of discernment — mind, heart, gut and spirit.
“Intellectually inquisitive and spiritually adventurous, she shares the joy of discovery of people, places, philosophies, religions, cultures. She shares her encounters with oriental spirituality in Zen meditation, Shibashi and Syddha Yoga that have enriched her prayer life and made her ‘dance with the playful consciousness of God.’
“This is an uncommon book by an uncommon nun who describes herself as a Babaylan, the pre-colonial woman spiritual leader who was warrior, priestess, teacher, and visionary. True enough, in this collection, Sr. Mary John demonstrates the wisdom, courage, compassion and vision of a Babaylan for our times.”
