Meeting Notes [Sep 26th 2026]

Date: 26th September 2026

Location: St. Mary’s Church, Pope’s Quay, Cork

Opening Context

We began our meeting with a time of Adoration before reflecting together on the reading. The day also marked the memorial of Saints Cosmas and Damian, martyrs, and the Saturday commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Reflection Reading

Book: LEAD: The Four Marks of Fatherly Greatness

Author: Devin Schadt

Pillar 2: Embrace Your Essence (Embracing Woman)

Reading 71: Are You Convinced of Her Beauty?

Pages: 187–188

The Conversion of Mary Magdalene — Pedro Campaña, after Federico Zuccaro (c. 1562). Oil on wood. The National Gallery, London (NG1241). Image credit: The National Gallery, London. View original artwork. No modifications made. Licence information: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

The painting depicts Mary Magdalene kneeling before Christ in repentance, reminding us that true beauty is found not merely in outward appearance, but in the dignity of the soul and its transformation through God's grace.

In this reading, Devin Schadt reflects on a woman's desire to be cherished for her beauty, drawing upon Ephesians 5:25–27, where Saint Paul calls husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the Church. The author explains that beauty is not merely physical but primarily internal, with the body intended to express the beauty of the soul.

Schadt also highlights how unrealistic standards of physical perfection can leave women feeling insecure and unable to recognise their true beauty. He challenges husbands to look beyond appearances and recognise the God-given beauty of their wives, even as their bodies change with age. Before helping his wife recognise her beauty, a husband must first be convinced of it himself.

Call to Action

Be intentional in recognising and sincerely complimenting your wife's beauty, looking beyond physical changes to appreciate the dignity and God-given beauty that remain throughout her life.

Reflection Associated with the Reading

The reading directs us to the Examen Embrace Your Wife on page 446, inviting further reflection on how we cherish our wives.

Shared Thoughts from the Group

• Commercialisation of beauty: We discussed how companies capitalise on stereotypes of women, promoting unrealistic standards of physical appearance.

• Beauty beyond appearances: True beauty goes far beyond what meets the eye and cannot be reduced to physical attractiveness.

• Human dignity: Our perception of beauty changes when we recognise each person as a child of God, possessing an inherent dignity that transcends appearance.

• Beauty as a manifestation of God: We reflected on how the understanding of beauty has become increasingly confused. Traditionally, beauty was understood as a manifestation of God, its ultimate source. Without reference to God, our understanding of beauty risks becoming superficial.

Personal Reflections & Final Thought

Today, much of our surroundings seem designed to appeal to our senses, including the way men and women are portrayed. Although the exploitation of women's beauty is particularly evident, the image of men has also become increasingly commercialised. Beauty is often treated as a product, measured by physical attractiveness and closely associated with youth.

There is a natural time in life when physical appearance reaches its peak. Yet we seem to live in a culture that encourages us to remain forever young, sometimes at the expense of maturity. Caring for our bodies can be an expression of gratitude and respect for God's gifts, but it can also become an end in itself. As we pass through the different stages of life, with proper formation and cooperation with God's grace through the Church, we should gradually develop a deeper understanding of the human condition, grow in wisdom and learn to love God more fully.

A phrase attributed to the Brazilian philosopher Olavo de Carvalho (1947–2022), although its original source remains unverified, captures something of this distinction:

“Beauty that fades with time was never true beauty; it was merely youth.”

This brings me back to our wives. Each has a fascinating story that began long before we met. They have built a life with us, shared our experiences and become mothers to our children. Their strengths and weaknesses, hopes and fears, thoughts and love, and above all, their dignity as children of God, make them unique to us. These are not qualities that disappear with age. Rather, as we mature in love and understanding, we should become increasingly capable of recognising the beauty that has always been there.