In a follow-up to the best-selling The Father of the Church, Mike Aquilina and Christopher Bailey have penned an inspiring companion volume on heroic women of the early Church and their impact on history and the Faith. Mothers of the Church: The Witness of Early Christian Women demonstrates the radical nature of Christianityÿs understanding of women and their roles, especially in a pagan society that viewed then as little more than property. The variety of women here is striking: consecrated virgins, heroic martyrs, and poor widows, but also worldly businesswomen, rich ladies from the upper crust of society, and an indomitable adventurer on a world tour. Each section, and an indomitable adventurer on a world tour. Each section features a concise biography accompanied by writing from the early Church about the woman in question. The authorsÿ authoritative yet accessible writing style deftly explores the important impact of these women in their own time while providing inspiration for readers today. Book jacket.