My Grandma went by the name "Sophie" her entire life. So, when I learned that her full name was Sophia, I was taken back. “Grandma, why did you choose to go by Sophie all your life when you have the loveliest name, Sophia?” I asked her. Quickly she barked back, “I never liked it! I was only called Sophia when I was in trouble.”

Sophia is an expression of the feminine aspects of God, and ever since I learned the biblical figure Sophia, or Wisdom, was more than a metaphor, I wanted to name a future daughter this name. I know we often think of wisdom as simply a book in the Bible or a Gift of the Holy Spirit we call upon for an exam, but she is so much more.

Chapter 7 of the Book of Wisdom gives us twenty-one attributes to help ponder her divine splendor:

Intelligent

Holy

Unique

Manifold

Subtle

Agile

Clear

Unstained

Certain

Not baneful

Loving the good

Keen

Unhampered

Beneficent

Kindly

Firm

Secure

Tranquil

All-powerful

All-seeing,

And pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure, and very subtle (Wisdom 7:22-23).

Women and men alike count on wisdom to influence their thoughts, words, values, beliefs, and actions to embody some, if not all, these attributes. When I pray the Examen at the end of the day, I do so attempting to be “the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness” (Wisdom 7:23) like Sophia.

I invite you to take some time to reflect on Wisdom 7:25. Ponder the gorgeous appearance of Sophia, “For she is a breath of the might of God and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore, nothing defiled can enter into her.”

I pray my life might radiate the glory of the Almighty, allowing nothing to defile me. I know my grandmother’s life did, and for that, I have little hesitancy to ask for her intercession from Heaven.

Granny Sophia, pray for me. Spirit of Wisdom, sweet Sophia, intoxicate my entire being. Amen.

[bctt tweet="Radiate the glory of the Almighty. // @socaltriciat" username="blessedisshe__"]

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