Names convey either precision or ambiguity. Let me explain!
Pope Benedict XVI called for us to use "intellectual charity" in our discussions as followers of Christ. To my sisters in Christ who gather Catholic women together to read, pray and study, that is a holy and noble thing to do. I want to offer some Catholic insight and suggestion on the power of the name of a group. Or in the words of St Paul, "let me show you a more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31).
Rush Limbaugh used to say: "words mean things." Rush also said "to counter the left's lies, conservatives have to use words that accurately reflect the truth, not the words that mean the opposite."
The word "womans circle" is a vague term at best, and occultic at worst. As Fr Ripperger says, "precision in words is everything in prayer and theology." Our identity as Catholic men and women should reflect the words based on Scripture and Tradition, not politics and culture.
Why did I call the Men's group at the parsh I attend, M.M.A.? Most men initially associate this with the fighting sport of 'Mixed Martial Arts.' However, I modified those acronyms and called the group "Mother Mens Army." In confirmation 'EVERYBODY' (male and female) became a soldier of Christ (cf. 2 Tim 2:3).
Catholic tradition honors numerous women saints who exemplified warrior-like courage in defending the faith, often through military leadership, martyrdom, or unyielding resistance against persecution. These "warriors" fought not just with swords but with an unwavering Catholic conviction, inspiring generations. Here are some prominent examples:
St. Joan of Arc (1412–1431)
St. Catherine of Siena (1347–1380)
St. Perpetua (c. 181–203)
St. Felicity (d. 203)
St. Anna Wang (1886–1900)
St. Rani Maria (1954–1995)
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) (1891–1942)
The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) features several women who took up arms—literally or figuratively—against oppressors, demonstrating strategic cunning, prophetic authority, and raw bravery to protect their people. While male warriors dominate the narratives, these figures stand out for subverting expectations in a world filled with evil patriarchs.
Deborah (Judges 4–5)
Jael (Judges 4–5)
The Woman of Thebez (Judges 9:50–55)
Judith (Book of Judith)
Esther (Book of Esther)
These biblical heroines highlight how God often empowers the unexpected women using their intellect, hospitality, and household items as weapons to achieve liberation. Their stories underscore themes of faith-fueled courage amid crisis.
Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition refers to men and women as part of Our Lord's army or Our Ladies army.
Book: True Devotion to Mary: p.8 'Lastly, Mary must become as terrible as an army in battle array to the devil and his followers, especially in these latter times. For Satan, knowing that he has little time - even less now than ever - to destroy souls, intensifies his efforts and his onslaughts every day. He will not hesitate to stir up savage persecutions and set treacherous snares for Mary's faithful servants and children whom he finds more difficult to overcome than others.'
Book: True Devotion to Mary; Paragraph 210: 'She Defends and Protects them: The fourth good office our Lady performs for her children and faithful servants is to defend and protect them against their enemies...To ensure their safety from the hawk and vulture, she becomes their escort, surrounding them as an army in battle array. Could anyone surrounded by a well-ordered army of say a hundred thousand men fear his enemies? No, and still less would a faithful servant of Mary, protected on all sides by her imperial forces, fear his enemy. This powerful Queen of heaven would sooner dispatch millions of angels to help one of her servants than have it said that a single faithful and trusting servant of hers had fallen victim to the malice, number and power of his enemies.'
Song of Solomon 6:10 depicts the Shulamite as "terrible as an army set in (battle) array." Pope Pius XII, Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI apply this image to the Virgin Mary as well because her sinless glory, her presence and her name is terrifying to the demonic forces.
“Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?” - Song of Solomon 6:9 (Douay Rheims).
Pope Pius XII extolled her under these titles: Mary is beautiful in herself as the moon, radiates her brilliance as the sun; but against "the enemy" she is formidable; terrible as an army arrayed for war. As we rejoice and exalt her today, God knows how we would like to forget the difficulties of the times in which we live....There is the "enemy" even at the very doors of the Church, threatening souls. And behold, another aspect of Mary: her power in combat...Mary, sinless, has crushed the head of the corrupting serpent. When Mary approaches, the demon flees - just as darkness dissipates when the sun rises. Where Mary is present, Satan is absent; where the sun shines, there is no darkness.
The following is an excerpt from a Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel: "How strange it seems to think of Mary as a warrior. The gentle maid of Nazareth, the Virginal Mother, the Mother of the Prince of Peace, is still called -and properly called- "More terrible than army in battle array."
In northern Italy about 200 years ago, Saint John Bosco promoted devotion to Mary, Help of Christians (another title drawn from the Litany of Loreto). His own prayer to her expresses the power and authority of the Mother of God under this title:
Mary, most powerful Virgin,
You are the mighty and glorious Protector of the Church. You are the marvelous Help of Christians. You are awe-inspiring as an army in battle array. You have destroyed heresy in the world. In the midst of our anguish, our struggle and our distress defend us from the power of the enemy, and at the hour of our death receive our soul into heaven. Amen.
In certain parts of the Catholic Mass, particularly in the Sanctus ("Lord God of hosts"), the term "host" is a reference to angels as part of God's divine army. The phrase "Lord God of Sabaoth" in the Sacred Liturgy invokes God as the commander of heavenly hosts—angels and celestial beings who serve Him, as seen in scriptures like Psalm 89:8 or Isaiah 6:3.
If I were a woman (which I am not), I would call my group: Mother Mary's Army - Women's Fellowship.
As you have seen, the word 'army' is a term based on Scripture and Tradition. And the word "fellowship" is used about 17 times in the New Testament. It comes from the greek word "koinonia."
Virgin Most Powerful, Queen of the heavenly army, pray for us,
Jesse Romero <><