MADRID, Spain.
On June 9, a book on Maria Josefa Segovia Morón, written by Marisa Rodriguez and published by the Narcea Editions, was presented at the auditorium of Colegio Mayor Padre Poveda. The title of the book is “Voy a decir sí” (I am going to say yes).
Mónica González, director of Narcea Editions and organizer of the event, presented the book along with four other people. The other speakers were: Maria Asunción Ortiz; Consuelo Flecha; Marisa Rodriguez; and Maite Uribe, President of the Teresian Association.
"So far there are several biographies published about Josefa Segovia, some of them also edited by Narcea, but unlike the previous ones, in this work the author has tried to write a book for the general public. It is deep, easy to read and written in a simple language," said Monica González, who also noted that the book presents "the intellectual side of Josefa Segovia, thus highlighting her work as an educator: superintendent, teacher, and with university students... It also presents her personal side as a woman of broad relationships, active and traveler (America, Rome, Jerusalem)."
"This is the biography of a woman who has aroused great interest in the twentieth century: the first School Supervisor of Primary Education in the province of Jaén, a pioneer in the defense of women's rights, educator, studious, enterprising, with various projects in Spain and in distant countries; a writer and communicator," concluded the director of Narcea Editions.
Historian Maria Asunción Ortiz praised the content of the work, the quality of the edition, as well as its author, Marisa Rodriguez, of whom she said, "with regard to Josefa Segovia, she is knowledgeable, an admirer and propagator of her figure, her life, her activity, her work, and spirituality."
Content of the book
Maria Asunción Ortiz commented in depth on the 11 chapters of the book, on its presentation and introduction: "The story reaches the reader organized between two footholds. I see it as an arc with great light, with two starting segments that are equivalent to those two resounding yeses that we find the beginning and at the end of the story." The key to this arc, the central keystone, the crux, is actually the deepest meaning, her definite and permanent attitude behind her “YES” that supports and balances the entire arc. And between these two segments, there are countless yeses to complete the beauty and harmony of this vital arc presented in the book."
As she recommended the reading of the book, she said, "the reader will probably experience what the author writes in the first line of the first chapter: ‘I met her out of the blue, even though I had been told that she was there’ (in reference to the protagonist of the book, Josefa Segovia). Then she briefly developed the content of the chapters, presenting them in a suggestive structure:
2 = setting and approach
1 = transition from her "young life"
3 =key issues in the body of the story
1 = transition to a "mature life"
3 = continuation of the story and ending
1 = conclusion. In this final chapter ("from today’s perspective") the author offers her own conclusions and invites the reader to reach his/her own
"There's a rhythm and a cadence structure in the plot, which grabs the reader and brings closer the one who transmits (the protagonist of the story) and the recipient (the reader)," said Maria Asunción Ortiz.
A woman pioneer
Consuelo Flecha, a well-known national and international expert on women's history, praised the book and congratulated the author. Then she presented some features of the biography of Josefa Segovia and her vital context from the perspective of a woman. "Each title arouses curiosity about what is to come ..." she said. She noted that the journey of Josefa Segovia puts her in a place that belongs to pioneering women in history ... An educated woman, with intellectual curiosity and with a personal and explicit faith; who like others, have moved countercurrent in society many times.
She went over an exhibition dedicated to 100 women of the twentieth century who, according to the title of the exhibit, "They opened a road to equality in the twenty-first century." One of those hundred women was Josefa Segovia Morón, "an enterprising and courageous woman from Jaén, with qualities that appeal, with an arduous journey, and an enviable interiority. She was one of the twenty women selected from 1900 to 1936, together with writers such as Emilia Pardo Bazán, medical doctors like Elisa Soriano, painters like Mary Blanchad, working women like Teresa Claramunt, educators like Maria de Maeztu, sociologists like Maria de Echarri, journalists like Carmen de Burgos, freethinkers like Belén Sárraga, etc.
From the biography of Josefa Segovia presented in the book, Professor Consuelo Flecha stressed her student years at the Teachers College in Madrid –the first woman from Jaén who attended this Center. Only 20 women -also only 20 men- had access each academic year to pass the exam that gave entrance to this school. Professionally, she was also the first School Supervisor of Primary Education in Jaén, and she "played the role of "an empathetic counselor," said Professor Flecha.
She also noted that the journey of Josefa Segovia, which places her among the pioneers of her time, led her to be attuned to an initiative which would also be pioneer (the Teresian Association) a modern association that opened possibilities of performance with a faith that 'hooked' others. She was attentive and sought specific answers to emerging issues. "How well this is reflected in the film Poveda," said Consuelo Flecha.
She also highlighted "a greater Yes" in the life of Josefa Segovia that led her to seek the excellence of her work and have the availability required to assume the leadership of the Teresian Association, where she showed a clear leadership. In her time "the novelty of a prestigious international organization managed by a woman made people think," said Consuelo Flecha. "A book that excites those who knew Josefa Segovia and those who will know her through it. A special woman," she said.
The word YES
Marisa Rodriguez, author of the book, said that "the word YES is not just a word, but an attitude for life." She expressed gratitude for the presence of the President of the Teresian Association, who was part of the panel, and for the presence of the other speakers. She also thanked her university colleagues, relatives of Josefa Segovia, friends, and her own family who attended the ceremony. About her experience writing the book she said, "it is written with love and passion."
"The book and the expression ‘I am going to say yes’ have something to do with the person who writes ...," said Marisa Rodriguez. She added: "I would like to convey that Josefa Segovia is a contemporary person who deserves to be known by believers because she will help them live their faith and by those who do not have faith because she will infect them with a positive attitude to life and invite them to live the great values of humanity." “I was impressed by her modern and contemporary approaches. Something changes in one's life when we know Josefa Segovia deeply. Something has changed in mine," she said. She is a woman who "is not surprised by miracles. Particularly striking is the strength of her faith and the seriousness of her professional experience. Her life is a sustained Yes that breaks molds, that drives or encourages one to dream, to aspire to great things."
Marisa Rodriguez ended by saying: "I have come closer to the value of what a Yes is, as a construction, as a possibility. We are talking about a woman of today. "
Thanks and invitation
The last one to speak and to close the session was Maite Uribe who said: "A book is the result of much effort: collecting documentation, investigating, finding stories, checking them, connecting the dots, creating a thread that puts everything together, writing, finding meaning and finding the tight words, putting them together well, reading, rereading, correcting, editing... In this book, many people have collaborated to get everything done. To all of them, my heartfelt thanks.
In addition, the book that we enjoy today would not have been possible without the real person and the concrete and historical life of Josefa Segovia. She was, without a doubt, a gift for the world. And for that gift, I also want to thank God first --we know that from Him come all goods- and I thank her who had the courage and generosity of giving herself to God and the others and made of this self-giving the secret of her life."
There is no gift received that is not for others. So I invite you, first to accept this gift, to enter into dialogue with Josefa Segovia, to seek her support in some way. Each life is unique, and certainly each one of us has to make our own way. But we know well that there are companions who have the grace to be witnesses. Their life story, unique as that of each one of us, helps us and provides guidance, especially by the light they reflect and the credibility that accompanies them.
Therefore, I also invite you to listen to the invitations from Josefa Segovia. And given the choice, I like to point out three invitations that I consider particularly relevant today: she invites us to look at the world with horizons open to the universal, so that this look may create and strengthen ties of true common humanity among different cultures.
She invites us to seek and passionately love truth. More: to live in truth, not to be seduced or fooled by appearances, even if they are bright, nor by prejudice or selfish interests.
And finally she invites us to follow our vocation. Let us "say yes" to the voice we hear in our heart and in which we recognize what God wants for each of us."
At the end of the ceremony refreshments were served and Narcea sold copies of the book, the reading of which we recommend.
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