Book excerpt: The history of women within the Catholic Church is a vibrant and exciting story. Women Shaping Church History explores the stories of women who made a difference in the history of the Church long ago and the stories of women whose faith is shaping the Church today. The names of these women of faith read like a beautiful litany of faithfulness and devotion to Jesus and to the Church that honors his name: Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha, Salome, Joanna, Susanna, Phoebe, Priscilla, Perpetua, Therese of Lisieux, Catherine of Sienna, Bernadette of Lourdes, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and more.