Rosemary Goldie
Encyclopedia
Rosemary Goldie AO was an Australian Roman Catholic theologian.
Goldie was the first woman to serve in an executive role in the Roman Curia
; she was undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity
from 1967 until 1976. She also served as an auditor during the Second Vatican Council
.
and raised by her maternal grandmother. She attended high school at Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta
, and later studied arts at the University of Sydney
. She gained a scholarship from the French Government which allowed her to study at the Sorbonne
where she heard Jacques Maritain
.
In 1951 she worked at the first First World Congress of the Lay Apostolate, and then studied Catholic Theology
at the academy of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
. In 1964 she was one of the first female auditors of the Second Vatican Council
.
Pope Paul VI
made her undersecretary in the newly created Pontifical Council for the Laity
in 1967. When the council became a permanent part of the Roman Curia
in December 1976, Goldie took a professor
ship for pastoral theology at the Pontifical Lateran University
continuing there as tutor when she retired
from that post. In 1990, Goldie was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
for "service to religion and to international relations."
Goldie served under four popes: Paul VI, who described her as "our co-worker"; John XXIII
, who described her as "la piccinina" (the little one); the short-lived John Paul I
; and John Paul II
who visited her in her Vatican office and who received a copy of her autobiography. She knew Benedict XVI
during her days in Rome and he visited her in her nursing home in 2008 on the occasion of World Youth Day 2008
.
She edited, and written an aftwerword, to the biography of her mother, writer Dulcie Deamer
, The Queen of Bohemia (1998, ISBN 0702227269) and an autobiography, From a Roman Window (1998, ISBN 1863716971), about the time of her work for the Vatican. She also provided the English translation of Il Cantico dell'uomo by Franco Biffi about Pietro Cardinal Pavan as Prophet of Our Times – The Social Thought of Cardinal Pietro Pavan (1992, ISBN 1565480104).
Rosemary Goldie died at the Little Sisters of the Poor
, Randwick, New South Wales
, on 27 February 2010, aged 94. Her mother had died there thirty years previously.
Goldie was the first woman to serve in an executive role in the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
; she was undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity
Pontifical Council for the Laity
The Pontifical Council for the Laity has the responsibility of assisting the Pope in his dealings with the laity in lay ecclesial movements or individually, and their contributions to the Church. The Cardinal President of the Council is Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko. The Secretary is Bishop Josef...
from 1967 until 1976. She also served as an auditor during the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
.
Career
Rosemary Goldie was born in Manly, New South WalesManly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
and raised by her maternal grandmother. She attended high school at Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta
Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta
Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta , is a private, Roman Catholic, day school for girls, located in Parramatta, a western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is adjacent to St...
, and later studied arts at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. She gained a scholarship from the French Government which allowed her to study at the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
where she heard Jacques Maritain
Jacques Maritain
Jacques Maritain was a French Catholic philosopher. Raised as a Protestant, he converted to Catholicism in 1906. An author of more than 60 books, he helped to revive St. Thomas Aquinas for modern times and is a prominent drafter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights...
.
In 1951 she worked at the first First World Congress of the Lay Apostolate, and then studied Catholic Theology
Roman Catholic theology
Roman Catholic theology comprises the "Roman Catholic teachings" of the Catholic Church which bases its conclusions on Scripture and Sacred Tradition, as interpreted by the Magisterium. The Church teaches that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, keeping of the Ten commandments and...
at the academy of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
. In 1964 she was one of the first female auditors of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
.
Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
made her undersecretary in the newly created Pontifical Council for the Laity
Pontifical Council for the Laity
The Pontifical Council for the Laity has the responsibility of assisting the Pope in his dealings with the laity in lay ecclesial movements or individually, and their contributions to the Church. The Cardinal President of the Council is Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko. The Secretary is Bishop Josef...
in 1967. When the council became a permanent part of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
in December 1976, Goldie took a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
ship for pastoral theology at the Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
continuing there as tutor when she retired
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
from that post. In 1990, Goldie was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for "service to religion and to international relations."
Goldie served under four popes: Paul VI, who described her as "our co-worker"; John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
, who described her as "la piccinina" (the little one); the short-lived John Paul I
Pope John Paul I
John Paul I , born Albino Luciani, , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and as Sovereign of Vatican City from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal history, resulting in the most recent Year of Three Popes...
; and John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
who visited her in her Vatican office and who received a copy of her autobiography. She knew Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
during her days in Rome and he visited her in her nursing home in 2008 on the occasion of World Youth Day 2008
World Youth Day 2008
The 23rd World Youth Day 2008 was a Catholic youth festival that started on 15 July and continued until 20 July 2008 in Sydney, Australia. It was the first World Youth Day held in Australia and the first World Youth Day in Oceania. This meeting was decided by Pope Benedict XVI, during the Cologne...
.
She edited, and written an aftwerword, to the biography of her mother, writer Dulcie Deamer
Dulcie Deamer
Mary Elizabeth Kathleen Dulcie Deamer was an Australian novelist, poet, journalist and actor. She was a founder and a committee member of the Fellowship of Australian Writers.-Life:...
, The Queen of Bohemia (1998, ISBN 0702227269) and an autobiography, From a Roman Window (1998, ISBN 1863716971), about the time of her work for the Vatican. She also provided the English translation of Il Cantico dell'uomo by Franco Biffi about Pietro Cardinal Pavan as Prophet of Our Times – The Social Thought of Cardinal Pietro Pavan (1992, ISBN 1565480104).
Rosemary Goldie died at the Little Sisters of the Poor
Little Sisters of the Poor
The Little Sisters of the Poor is a Roman Catholic religious order for women. It was founded in the 19th century by Saint Jeanne Jugan near Rennes, France. Jugan felt the need to care for the many impoverished elderly who lined the streets of French towns and cities.This led her to welcome an...
, Randwick, New South Wales
Randwick, New South Wales
Randwick is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick...
, on 27 February 2010, aged 94. Her mother had died there thirty years previously.
External links
- "Pioneer Australian Catholic Woman, Rosemary Goldie dies at 94", Christian Today (3 March 2010)