Women On The Frontlines: A Call To Compassionনমুনা

Catherine Booth: The Mother of the Salvation Army

A true heroine of faith and compassion, Catherine Booth, paved the way for the liberation of women, children, the downtrodden, the lost, and the dying.

Catherine’s compelling writings were well-known throughout England, and she was known simply as “the woman preacher.” In the early days of her public ministry, she spoke these strong words about her role: “I dare say many of you have been looking on me as a very devoted woman, but I have been disobeying God. I am convinced that women have the right and duty to speak up; yes, even to preach! I have struggled with this for a long time, but I’ll struggle with it no longer.”

Catherine went on to teach Bible studies, visit in the homes of the poor, and reach out to women who were greatly abused and oppressed. She became a heroine and mentor to thousands of women.

During the first few months of 1861, while the Civil War was raging in America, Catherine began accepting invitations to preach in public. When her husband William became sick during the summer of 1860, Catherine had to take over all his duties, for it took him several months to recover. As a result, her remarkable abilities became known to many and her fame as “the woman preacher” grew far and wide.

Later in life, Catherine became the primary promoter of the Salvation Army, while William continued to work among the poor in the East End. She organized Food-for-the-Million shops, where the poor could afford inexpensively priced hot soup and three-course dinners. On special occasions such as Christmas, she would sometimes cook more than three hundred dinners that were distributed to the poor. By 1882, there were almost 17,000 people worshiping under the auspices of the Salvation Army.

Catherine Booth was the mother of the Salvation Army—a true “mother in Israel.” She knew that compassion acts.

Father God, thank You for the wonderful example of Catherine Booth. Help us to be like her, people who fall at your feet and open our souls before you. I ask You to light the fires of passion in my heart, that I would be aflame with Your love and go forth in compassion to those who need to know how much You love them. Let me become a true agent of change in the world, as I act in mercy to others.