CHARLOTTE — After attending two retreats last summer on Blessed Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body, Batrice Adcock said she felt inspired to reach out to women in the Diocese of Charlotte.

Corresponding with a EWTN series "The Catholic View for Women," Adcock began writing blog posts on embracing women's dignity.

"My goal with the blog is to build women up – to help them understand their dignity, to see that the Church is fighting to uphold their dignity, and to encourage them on the spiritual path that will lead toward their own deepened conversion," said Adcock, MSN, RN, who is employed by Catholic Social Services as the natural family planning program director for the diocese.

Adcock lives in Boone with her husband of eight years, Adam, and their 3-year-old daughter Adria Marie (Pictured with Adcock). Last year Adcock miscarried two babies, which triggered a deep conversion for her.

"From the start, I understood the suffering was significant," she said. Through prayer and meditation, Adcock said she felt as if Jesus was guiding her in her suffering, and she understood He had a plan.

Adcock felt healing and inspiration for her blog following her summer retreats.

"Each blog reflection will be posted on a Marian feast day – recognizing the fact that Our Lady is our model," Adcock said. "I want to apply what we can learn from Mary to our lives and tie that together with the episodes (on EWTN)."

The next post will pair the Feast of the Annunciation on March 26 with the third episode in the ETWN series about "Radical Feminism vs. New Feminism."

"New feminism emphasizes the fact that women are good and beautiful. We possess many special gifts and can contribute greatly to our culture," Adcock said. "It's about embracing dignity as the Church upholds it, rather than destroying it as our culture does."

"Starting this women's blog earlier this year couldn't come at a better time," Adcock said. "Fallout from the HHS contraception mandate, which would require religious employers to provide free contraception in their health insurance plans over their conscientious objections, is causing confusion about the Catholic Church's stance toward women."

"Spiritually speaking, I think the mandate is an attack on women," she said. "Women need to be educated on Church teaching about sexuality. It is important to understand that the Church's teaching is not a big 'no.' The Church is saying 'yes' to the dignity of women, by supporting women's psychological, spiritual and physical well-being in upholding natural family planning."

"Women deserve more than what our culture is shoving at them. We need to be advocates for ourselves and raise the bar. If we ask Mary to increase her virtues in us, we will share her task in transforming the culture."

Just a couple of posts into the blog, many have already said they've found inspiration and support through Adcock's words and ideas.

"It has been such an encouragement for me, a gentle push in the direction which God has been leading me for a long time – to a deeper union with Him in prayer and a call to love and serve," said Amy Tarr, parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir. "From her choice of inspiring saint quotes to sharing personal experiences in her own life, Batrice is a light showing the true beauty in being a woman and the dignity of my vocation as wife and mother."

Tracy Yates, who attends St. Bernadette Church in Linville, said Adcock's posts about Mary have inspired her.

"As a mother, I do need Mary's guidance, and through her I have been guided to teach my daughter about the love God has for us," Yates said. "My husband and I encourage her to have trust in her faith in Jesus Christ. We are praying with our daughter every day and night."

A post about the Purification of Mary invoked Yates' memories of Adcock's personal tribulations and divine interventions.

"I envy her strong heart to share her extraordinary experience," Yates said. "And so I strongly felt I needed to find my own Catholic identity and vocation. I am just beginning that journey. I am giving myself to God and praying for God's love and forgiveness."

Another St. Bernadette parishioner, Mikey O'Neal, said she is blessed to know Adcock, and her blog is enriching her spirituality.

"Her blog posts on 'The Catholic View for Women' have been so thought provoking and spiritually uplifting in a time where I was searching for more in my prayer life. Not only have her words empowered me, she also brought me to my Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary, Our Blessed Mother. By the Holy Spirit working through Batrice, I am on this blessed journey to Jesus through Mary," O'Neal said.

Corresponding with the blog, Adcock has scheduled a day of reflection on the dignity of women for Oct. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. Speakers will focus on spirituality, purity, and natural family planning.

EWTN is continuing to film the series, and more episodes are scheduled to air this fall.

Adcock said she hopes to continue the blog to correspond with the new episodes, possibly in a more interactive forum.

— Kimberly Bender, online reporter

See more online

Follow the blog and get caught up on old posts at www.cssnc.org/nfp. Click on "The Catholic View for Women."

Watch EWTN's series "The Catholic View for Women" that corresponds with Adcock's blog at www.thecatholicviewforwomen.com.