Mother's Day

The month of May is normally spring time on this side of the globe. In our Catholic tradition it is also the month of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Devotion to Mary is ancient to say the least and I’ve always felt that St. John indeed carried out the request of Jesus spoken from the cross, “Son, behold your Mother.”

Although it is not a church holiday Mother’s Day in this country is typically a national holiday – a day to honor our Mother’s and the gift of life that only a woman can give. Last Sunday, we recognized a mother among us who has reached the age of 100! She was gathered with her family some who came out from Chicago to mark the grand achievement. That makes the second woman here in the parish that has reached 100 years old, both of whom still attend Mass. It is amazing. Do you think it’s the water here? Combined these two women have 200 years of life experience. The stories they can indeed tell us. But, reality has taught us that not all mother's are remembered with affection.

Not all children are raised with mother's and not all with father's in their life. Some parents have caused hurt that may take years to repair. Children, through no fault of their own, sometimes suffer great injustice. For those who have, mother's day may be especially tough but God sustains our life in his love. In the end we can never rely on any human being alone for all that we need spiritually and emotionally. The beauty of our Catholic faith provides a God who is both mother and father to us all.

For women who live the single life and for those consecrated to religious life, the gift of motherhood is more than just biological. It is about compassion, nurture, tenderness, creativity, hospitality. While I don’t want to sell my gender short by any means, for I as Pastor know the importance of us men likewise practicing such “feminine” virtues.

The Mother of Jesus is the ultimate example of Christian faithfulness and embodies in our rich Christian faith, the same virtues that we as both men and women must flesh out in our lives.

St. Louis de Montfort is known for his singular devotion to the Blessed Mother. His words below, taken from his book True Devotion, speak for themselves:

Mary loves [her children] tenderly, and more tenderly than all other mothers put together. Throw, if you can, all the natural love which all the mothers of the world have for their children into the heart of one mother for only one child. Surely that mother will love that child immensely. Nevertheless, it is true that Mary loves her children still more tenderly than that mother would love that child of hers.

May God be with our mothers, those among us and those with God.