Honoring the Daily Heroism of Our Mothers

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 5/5/05)

In just a few days we will set aside time to honor what Pope John Paul II called the "daily heroism" of our mothers, be it with a hug, flowers, a special Sunday brunch, or a simple "thank you." Whatever we do, it will flow from the deep well of often unspoken gratitude most of us cannot help but have for our mothers. Here are a few suggestions from your bishop for making this Mother’s Day special.

First of all, simply let your mother know how much you appreciate her. This might be in words spoken or in a poem, letter, note or card. Can any of us, after all, ever tire of hearing kind and encouraging words?

Secondly, you might try doing something special but secret for your mother. Perhaps along with the "visible" gift or card, you can give her a gift which she may not notice until later in the day, next week…or even never. This could be an opportunity to tend to that detail which usually falls to your mother’s shoulders. If she never notices, then you will find out what it is so often like to stand in her shoes. After all, our mothers do countless unseen things for us each day. It is always humbling to do something and never be acknowledged for it; our Blessed Mother Mary, who "kept all these things reflecting on them in her heart," models this quiet love for us so beautifully.

Finally, pray for your mother in a more intentional way than you are accustomed. Perhaps this will be before the Blessed Sacrament or with the praying of the Rosary. Our mothers are the very heart of our family, and shoulder incredible responsibilities together with the joys. In a concrete way, our mothers have – like Mary, the Church’s Mother – opened wide the doors of their hearts and of their lives to say "yes" to us, to our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Like Mary, they are our "first evangelizers" and have made the love of Christ visible and present. By bringing our mothers before the Lord in prayer, we will be reminded of their – and indeed, our own – dependence on the very source of all love.

May the following words from Shakespeare’s Coriolanus never apply to us: "Thou hast never in thy life, show’d thy dear mother any courtesy"! Instead, may this Sunday’s acknowledgement of and gratitude for the "daily heroism" of our mothers spill over into next week and the rest of the year. By expressing our gratitude in word, deed and prayer, we just might see the sparks of spiritual renewal in our homes.

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