Madam, – The ongoing discussion on the role of women in the church acknowledges the link between the Last Supper and the Christian priesthood.
We can be sure that Christ’s women disciples were active in the preparation of that meal – cleaning the upper room, tending the fire, drawing the wine, laying the table, cooking and serving the food. Is there any evidence in the Gospels that, after all the work, none of these women took part in the meal? If they did, did Christ’s injunction “Do this in memory of Me” not apply to them as much as to the men, whose only obligation that evening had been to turn up and sit down at table?
Even if the women were not actually seated, but were standing around the room, it is unthinkable that they were not allowed to share in the consecrated bread and wine. In obeying the instruction to eat and drink, did they not also receive the instruction to “do this in memory of Me”? - Yours, etc,