Happy Mothers Day Weekend. And special prayers and blessings to those mothers celebrating the joy of the day.
Mothers Day is a very special day for each of us as we remember the gift of our moms and how each of them has been an important part of our life from the very moment of our conception in the womb to our birth into this world and then each and every action that has helped to form us into the people we are today.
St. John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation “MULIERIS DIGNITATEM: On the Dignity and Vocation of Women” shares with us two beautiful passages about motherhood and the joy and sorrow that this gift of life will occur in the life of the woman.

“Motherhood involves a special communion with the mystery of life, as it develops in the woman’s womb. The mother is filled with wonder at this mystery of life, and “understands” with unique intuition what is happening inside her. In the light of the “beginning”, the mother accepts and loves as a person the child she is carrying in her womb. This unique contact with the new human being developing within her gives rise to an attitude towards human beings – not only towards her own child, but every human being – which profoundly marks the woman’s personality.” (#18)

We know that each child is different. Each child is a unique and special gift from God with her and his own personality. As one of nine children I can personally attest to this reality and seeing how my own mother acts and reacts to each of my brothers and sisters in a different and singular way to the times of joy and sorrow in life reminding me of the inner knowledge that she carries of our own growth within her womb.
I know in many conversations with expectant mothers the express a knowledge of their child’s personality even before birth by how they move and rest in their womb. It is this great mystery that in the mind of our Church shows forth the splendor of God’s creative goodness.
But, St. John Paul II also understands, as we all do the heartache that accompanies the gift of motherhood. I truly wish that I had never caused a moment of pain in my own mother’s life, but I know that this is not true. What we can all say: we are thankful of the care and blessing our mothers gave to us in the difficult and joyful moments of life. I know that the below quote is a little long, but there is much wisdom shared in these words.

“As we contemplate this Mother, whose heart “a sword has pierced” (cf. Lk 2: 35), our thoughts go to all the suffering women in the world, suffering either physically or morally. In this suffering a woman’s sensitivity plays a role, even though she often succeeds in resisting suffering better than a man. It is difficult to enumerate these sufferings; it is difficult to call them all by name. We may recall her maternal care for her children, especially when they fall sick or fall into bad ways; the death of those most dear to her; the loneliness of mothers forgotten by their grown up children; the loneliness of widows; the sufferings of women who struggle alone to make a living; and women who have been wronged or exploited. Then there are the sufferings of consciences as a result of sin, which has wounded the woman’s human or maternal dignity: the wounds of consciences which do not heal easily. With these sufferings too we must place ourselves at the foot of the Cross.
But the words of the Gospel about the woman who suffers when the time comes for her to give birth to her child, immediately afterwards express joy: it is “the joy that a child is born into the world”. This joy too is referred to the Paschal Mystery, to the joy which is communicated to the Apostles on the day of Christ’s Resurrection: “So you have sorrow now” (these words were said the day before the Passion); “but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (Jn 16: 22-23).” (#19)

Let us give thanks for our mothers recognizing the gift of motherhood that is given and shared in all of the perfections and imperfections of life. My hope is we, as sons and daughters take time today to say a prayer of blessing over our mothers, both living and dead, giving thanks to God for the gift of life they have shared with us.
God Bless
Fr. Mark