Happy Mother’s Day!  Mother’s Day is celebrated in 96 countries in different ways and on different months throughout the year.  Here and in Canada it is always the second Sunday in May.  Most cultures realize the importance of motherhood, so today we honor all mothers – biological mothers, adoptive, foster, step and spiritual mothers.

All of these women have a special place in our prayers and in our hearts. We also pray for women who wish to share in the vocation of motherhood but for whatever reason cannot do so.  In a particular way, we remember our deceased mothers.

Usually, today is celebrated with family outings to brunch or dinner, family get-togethers accompanied by hugs, kisses and candy. But as the coronavirus pandemic restricts where we can go, and makes social distancing a new norm, many of these rituals will have to be postponed till later this year or next year.  The one thing we can still do is to be on our best behavior, and try not to make mom yell!  In my house growing up, that didn’t last too long, but we tried!

This one-day of the year reminds us not only to say thanks to and for our mothers but also to examine a little more intently what they have done for us. Motherhood is a vocation, a calling from God, to nurture, form and love their children. Until recently, given some of the values and the fast pace of our world today, it is challenging to be a mother. Many mothers have to work outside the home in order to provide for their children. We admire those who do and thank them for living out that vocation of motherhood in a very busy life.  Perhaps one good side effect of the quarantine is that we have all slowed down and family life is appreciated once again.  It is wonderful to see entire families riding their bikes or walking together.  Fathers and mothers teaching their children how to ride a bike, catch a ball, or shoot baskets and eating meals together every day and hopefully enjoying each others’ sense of humor and unique personality.

And the joy of knowing, when our earthly mother leaves us, we still have our Heavenly Mother.  In St. John’s Gospel Our Lord spoke to His mother and said, “Behold your Son” and turned to the disciple whom He loved and said, “Behold your mother”. So as one of Our Lord’s last acts as He was dying, He gave us His Mother to be our Blessed Mother. Each of us has a perfect mother, an immaculately conceived mother.  For one should be at ease with one’s mother. With Mom, everything somehow becomes easier; the drained, dejected heart, troubled by storms in life, finds new hope and strength and continues with life with fresh courage.

Our Blessed Mother is a compassionate and understanding model for all mothers in their joys and challenges.  We thank God for all of those women who have accepted the vocation of motherhood and who have given themselves so generously to live out their vocation. Motherhood is not, in any respect, an easy vocation, but we believe that with Our Lady’s example and God’s help, it is possible and wonderfully rewarding.  Enjoy your day knowing that even if we can’t physically be with our family, we are united by our prayers and the bonds of love.