Mother’s Day

During this Easter Season we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection and the new life we share in Him.  The month of May is traditionally a time to especially honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Everyday is a day to give thanks to God for the women who, like our Blessed Mother Mary, said “yes” to God’s will so that each of us received the gift of life.  We thank our mothers and grandmothers, aunts and godmothers, sisters and friends who have nurtured us and taught us to know, love and serve God. 

Whether called by God to be biological and/or spiritual mothers, the role of women is irreplaceable in all aspects of family and social life involving human relationships and caring for others.   Women must be significantly and actively present in the family in the leadership role of teachers.  Children learn to love inasmuch as they are unconditionally loved, they learn respect for others inasmuch as they are respected, they learn to know the face of God inasmuch as they see it in a father and a mother fully attentive to them.  Likewise women must be significantly and actively present in the world of work and in the organization of society, and should have access to leadership positions which allow them to inspire the policies of nations and to promote innovative solutions to economic and social problems.

In the United States of America, Australia, Canada, many European and other countries throughout the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.  The United Kingdom, Ireland, Nigeria and others celebrate Mothering Sunday on Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent.  In the Holy Land and other Middle Eastern countries the first day of Spring, March 21, is celebrated as Mother’s Day.  International celebrations honoring motherhood are held on other dates important to those cultures.

Thanks be to God for all our dear Mothers!