M. Viviana Ballarin, belongs to the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena. She was a teacher of Art Education, Art History and Design at the Liceo Scientifico S. Albertus Magnus' in Bologna (1971-1982). In her Institute  she was a teacher of novices  for 12 years (1982-1994) and General Priory in the years 1994-2000 and for a second term from 2000 to 2005, during which she lead her institute with her Institute to the union with the Congregation "Sister" of France, sharing  the same founder. Indeed, on June 14,  2005, the CIVC-SVA granted  the decree of union: the name of the new congregation is the “Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena". She was overall priory  for three years (2005-2008). However, the life of M. Vivian is very closely linked to the religious life, as a full member of the UISG. In 2005 was appointed to the Coordinating Committee for the Constellation of Rome and in 2007 was elected as a member of the Steering Committee and as an effective member USMI. In 2000-2005 she was a member of the Presidency Council, offering consulting assistance in the training. Finally, on March 28, 2008 She was elected President.

Can you explain what are your responsibilities?

I am a nun and I belong to the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena. I finished one year ago my service  to the authority as a general priory of my congregation. In 2008 I was elected National President USMI (Union of Major Superiors of Italy) for five years. So I shall finish my term in 2013.

I live in Turin and I am serving  as priory in my community.

How do you think is shown in you the "feminine genius” in performing your job? In other words, what is the specific  contribution as a woman that you offer in performing your work?

I am deeply convinced that,  as a mature woman, I am myself and happy of myself. As I respond to  my vocation as a woman,  I express the feminine genius. I have nothing special to do, but I have everything to be.
God has placed the woman, by nature and vocation, in  the center of the mystery in the history of salvation:  Mary. "Here, you will conceive a son, and you  will give birth and call him Jesus" (cf. Mulieris Dignitatem, 3). Therefore, only the dwelling house of my true identity I have the "ability to see through the eyes and with my heart" in everything I do or I am asked  to do, because this is the feminine genius.

What is the role of consecrated women in the life of the Church? How to illustrate its preciousness?

She has the  role of  sister, wife and mother and to make visible the beauty of the face of the Church:

• Through the exercise of the Sisterhood  becomes a neighbor, she  lives and is standing next to all but with a special fondness towards those who are abandoned, despised, ignored by the other brothers and sisters. Please refer if you wish to my speech at the Synod of Bishops in October 2008.

•         Through the exercise of spousal loyalty bears witness  to a unique and absolute Love, and freedom of giving themselves to others without reservation, freely, while building a family.

• Through the practice of motherhood manifests the fertility and beauty of love that cares. In this way it becomes an icon of church as Jesus thought and  would.

An icon of the Gospel? Maria at the wedding at Cana.

Is this role  changing in today's Italian society? And if so how?

The society is constantly evolving and the pace of change in the global / digital era has indeed become very rapid to the point of disrupting  the communication  and understanding of values. The role of women today seems to assume different connotations from those of a few years ago.
While the women's growing empowerment increased in the sense that the woman becomes more and more similar to the man who is the original  protagonist  of our time, it tends to downgrade her own characteristics, her proprium. It is not easy to say how this is happening because we are still inside the storm .

But it seems to me important to accentuate  the commitment of women to be and remain present for their time as protagonists, and not to delegate to others to write the story that is theirs.

At the end of Mulieris Dignitatem John Paul II wrote: "pondering the mystery of the biblical " woman ", the Church prays that all women find themselves in this mystery and their "supreme vocation".
I ask (even though we know that generalizations have always limits) in your opinion, the Catholic women, in our country, are finding themselves in this mystery? What are the ways forward to support this finding?

 In my opinion, yes, even if they are still a bit 'too quiet. But I think it's just the genius of women to do more than talk. The women tell of themselves by acting.  The concreteness is part of their DNA, but it is necessary that our society, (church included) learn to be more attentive to women, to listen more and respect for diversity and leave them with their vital space.
The women on the other hand should believe more in themselves in their capabilities which are many.  The woman must learn to delegate and not hold back when she had been offered an opportunity, big or small.

 

As far as I can see, the speakers of the spiritual retreats which are organized in our country, are mainly  priests or monks or friars. More seldom  sisters or nuns.

Do you agree with the statement?

And if so, do you think that in the people of God there is a - perhaps unconscious - male preference for preaching, as if consecrated women were "less spiritually prepared”?

I would say yes.

But even in this area we are witnessing some changes. There is a growing number of women, secular and religious, well-prepared, women of the Spirit, life-loving women who are asked to speak  at conferences, lectures, retreats and spiritual retreats, etc....

It 's always a very rich and rewarding experience because the woman is able to communicate  an experience  or a gift of life also  through her words.
Today, people looks for evidence of life, and above all for hope.

 

Can you explain (briefly) what is meant by spiritual motherhood and what is the beauty and richness of this form of motherhood?

I think, feel and experience that spiritual motherhood is the most beautiful fruit of the spousal relationship: an event in which woman is called to live constantly from the moment of Encounter with the Person who changed direction to her life.

Spiritual motherhood is lightened by faithful and happy marriage.  It 's like a fire burning inside which causes other fires.

Motherhood  means  to take care of the brother or sister, to walk with them until the growing life in them leads them to exclaim: "Wasn’t our heart burning in our chest while he was reading the  scriptures?".

The spiritual motherhood has become an instrument for the life can flourish, grow and mature in the other, man or woman.

Its beauty? Life itself!

Note. The interview was published in the journal Il messaggero di S. Antonio/The Messenger of St. Antony during the month of November 2010 in the article on the theme Quel genio tutto femminile/That   genius entirely women.