It’s International Women’s Day so let’s celebrate one of the most bitching, righteous ladies who walks the walk as the Hot Catholic of Lent: Day 8!

Sister Helen Prejean!

Sister Prejean is an avid opponent of the death penalty and is best-known for her 1993 biographical book Dead Man Walking, based on her experiences working with inmates on death row. It was made into a movie in 1995 starring Susan Sarandon as Prejean and Sean Penn as Matthew Poncelet, a composite character of real-life convicts Robert Lee Willie and Elmo Patrick Sonnier. I saw the movie my junior year in high school around the same time I read Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” and both had a profound effect on me. Thoreau stated, “Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.” And Sister Helen was the epitome of that!

At my sister Katie’s college graduation from Holy Cross in 1999, Sister Prejean received an honorary degree and I was within feet from her at one point. I was so star-struck that I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. And this is coming from someone who has met Dina Lohan in person! I’m used to celebs!

So thank you, Sister Helen Prejean, for your commitment to social justice! You are the perfect candidate for Hot Catholic of Lent: Day 8! which conveniently is International Women’s Day!