Sr Carino & Mary Harrington: Mary, Feminism & the Dignity of Women

Nov 27, 2025

Sr. Carino Hodder OP, a Dominican Sister and author, discusses the theological dimensions of Mary, emphasizing her role in revealing human dignity. Mary Harrington, a journalist known for her work on feminism, shares her insights on motherhood and the complexities of personhood. They explore how the rosary reflects the dignity of women, the challenges posed by modern gender ideology, and the beauty of relational identity. This thought-provoking conversation bridges theology and personal experience, encouraging a deeper understanding of femininity and motherhood.

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INSIGHT

Rosary Reveals Human Dignity

Sr Carino Hodder OP argues the rosary teaches the biblical beginning: humans are made for relationship and response.
Mary, as model, helps us rediscover personhood rooted in dignity, not utility.

INSIGHT

Biblical Beginning Frames Personhood

Sr Carino links Genesis' 'male and female' to persons made in God's image with rational freedom.
Sexual difference manifests relationally: knowing and desiring the good of another.

INSIGHT

Self-Invention Versus Received Freedom

Modern gender ideology encourages self-invention and severs people from the givenness of nature.
Sr Carino says true freedom is received in the biblical beginning, not fabricated by continual self-fashioning.

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What does it mean to be a woman and what does it mean to be a human person?

In an age which seems unable to answer fundamental questions about the nature and identity of the human person, what can Mary teach us about how we can present this fundamental truth of human dignity anew to the modern world?

In her lecture, Sr Carino Hodder OP explores what Mary teaches us about the dignity of all human beings, through the thought of St Pope St John Paul II.

In her response, renowned British journalist Mary Harrington explores Mary through the joyful mysteries of the rosary, a series of stories that highlight the dignity and mystery of motherhood.

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---- Chapters(0:00) Intro(1:52) Sr Carino's opening remarks(5:27) Mary's Magnificat (7:37) How God reveals Himself in relationships (9:51) Genesis: Created Male & Female(11:46) Human Dignity (14:26) Modern Gender Ideology(16:31) What is the human person for?(19:22) Mary's words to Bernadette(22:41) Discovering your identity(25:50) God's vision of Motherhood(29:49) Modern confusion about gender(32:47) Motherhood, vulnerability & power(36:54) Forming the conscience(43:52) Renovating sanctuaries of human dignity(49:28) Mary Harrington's opening remarks(52:32) What does it mean to be a mum?(54:52) What is in the Mother-shaped blindspot?(57:40) The Annunciation (59:16) The Visitation(1:00:41) The Birth of Jesus (1:02:17) The Presentation in the Temple(1:03:48) The Finding of Jesus in the Temple(1:05:29) Motherhood & dignity

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Sr Carino Hodder OP is a Dominican Sister of St Joseph based in the New Forest, Portsmouth Diocese, where she assists her community with their apostolate of adult faith formation and catechetical training, Light of Truth. She also writes regularly for publications including The Lamp Magazine and Plough Quarterly, and is the author of 'The Dignity of Women in the Modern World' published by the Catholic Truth Society.

The book: https://www.ctsbooks.org/product/the-dignity-of-women-in-the-modern-world/

Sr Carino on Substack: https://substack.com/@srcarino

The Dominican Sisters of St Joseph: https://www.dominicansisters.net/

Mary Harrington is a contributing editor at UnHerd and author of Feminism Against Progress. Mary on Substack: https://substack.com/@reactionaryfeminist

With thanks to the Rosary Shrine for allowing CTS to film their annual lecture. Discover their ministry here: https://rosaryshrine.co.uk/