Liturgical Anthropology of a Soulful Sister: Thea Bowman, FSPA

Abstract

This article considers the potential contribution to theology and disability studies of the life work of Sister Thea Bowman, an African American Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, a Faulkner scholar, an educator par excellence, and a woman of spirit, song, and dance. I propose that Bowman offers a liturgical key to accepting difference and overcoming divisions. I explore two works in particular, her introduction to the first African American Catholic Hymnal and her address to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to see the change that liturgy can make in Catholic faith communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Thea Bowman
• liturgical anthropology
• African American culture and history
• Catholic tradition
• relational embodiment
• disability

Notes

1. Bowman was often heard singing “This Little Light of Mine,” not only a play on Jesus’ encouragement to the disciples “to let your light shine before others” (Mt 5:16), the song became also one of the anthems of the Civil Rights Movement.

2. Surviving our history, physically, emotionally, morally, and spiritually, faithfully and joyfully, our people developed a culture that was African and American, that was formed and enriched by all our various experiences. … Do you remember the folks who could say, ‘Nobody knows the trouble I have seen, but glory Hallelujah.’ Do you remember the people who could say, ‘God can make a way out of no way and out of nothing.’ Do you remember the ones who said, ‘There is nobody in this neighborhood who is hungry unless we all are hungry.’ ‘We are a people and we are a family and we are walking together toward that new Jerusalem.’ (Bowman, 1988, p. 308)

3. Suffering from a recurrence of an aggressive cancer to which she succumbed in less than a year of this address, Bowman spoke to the bishops from a wheelchair. I observe that it is by no coincidence that in the Catholic tradition those who hold the highest offices in the Church “teach” from their seats, that is, from their cathedral thrones (ex cathedra).