To Mary and All Mothers

I originally posted this on May 8, 2005, on my personal blog An Aid to Memory:

Don’t get me started on churches that faithfully celebrate secular holidays (like mother’s day) while rejecting Christian holidays as “unbiblical.” Nonetheless, I still enjoy secular holidays, and mother’s day is one of them. I think mothers are probably the most overworked and under-appreciated of all people, rarely getting any lauds and honors for their work. In fact, it is not exactly popular anymore to claim motherhood proudly. I have a great biological mother (and grandmother), and wish them the happiest mother’s day possible.

However, we Christians also have another mother: The virgin Mary, mother of our God and Savior Jesus Christ and mother of the Church. The Catechism describes Mary thusly (963):

Since the Virgin Mary’s role in the mystery of Christ and the Spirit has been treated, it is fitting now to consider her place in the mystery of the Church. “The Virgin Mary . . . is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer…She is ‘clearly the mother of the members of Christ’ . . . since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of its head.” “Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church.”

Then the catechism goes on to explain Mary’s role as mother of grace because of her total cooperation in Jesus’ work. The catechism then explains that this role as “mother of grace” is deeply connected to the work of her Son, lest non-Catholics get the wrong idea.

Thus Mary is our mother in many ways, and the prime example and icon of motherhood. I find this a great comfort since many people have lost their earthly mothers, and sadly I know someday I will lose mine, but we have a mother that will never leave us for any reason. With Mary as mother, who could be ashamed about being a momma’s boy? Happy Mother’s Day everyone. Happy Mother’s day especially to my two moms.

This entry was posted on May 13, 2007 at 1:59 pm and is filed under Holidays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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