We all have our own heroes, people we admire and respect and those who have made an impact on our lives. Our mother is the most significant of them all. Here's a tribute to my mother (may she rest in peace) and to all mothers, by a grateful son.

The heart of a mother is naturally  loving, compassionate and caring towards her children. It starts as soon as she becomes aware of the new life in her womb. Few inches above it is a mother’s heart that extends a thread of love towards the growing child. This thread does not break even after the baby is born; even the child is far away.

On Mother’s Day, we honor mothers to give thanks for their care and love. We express our gratitude to the one who embraces our pain and brushes away our tears; the one who teaches us truth, confidence and courage and the one who loves us even the whole world denounces, criticizes or condemns us. While we honor mothers, we should also think of grandmothers who mothered our mothers as our mothers mothered us; as well as, our mother-in-law who mothered our spouse. We should also remember those widowers who have taken care of their children after the death of their wives. Let us also remember and honor with gratitude those who have mothered their parents in their old age.

When we think of mothers, we think of a woman who was uniquely created. For God, the Father, she is His daughter. For God, the Son, she is His mother and for the angels, she is their queen. For you and me, she is our mother and our model of virtues. As we remember great men and women in history because of their accomplishments and their character or virtues, we remember the Blessed Virgin Mary’s virtues and accomplishments. Let’s consider some of them:  

Mary’s faith was perfect. Faith is a gift that enables us to believe without doubt. When the sublime truth was conveyed to her by the angel, she was prompt in accepting and believing on it: “Be it done unto me according to Thy word.”

Mary’s hope was as great as her faith. It surpasses that of every creature. Hope is a gift by which we firmly trust that God will give us what we need and all the means necessary to obtain them. Even when her hope was put to the most difficult tests, she rose freely and calmly accepted God’s will. 

Charity is a gift by which we love God above all things, and our neighbor as ourselves. Mary loves God more than all the saints combined. Her charity was also enkindled by examples set by her Son. She meditated upon the words spoken by Jesus so as to conform to Him in all things. Mary gave the greatest proof of her charity on Calvary. Greatness of sacrifice indicates strength of love. Likewise, whoever really loves God cannot help but love her neighbor. But whoever puts herself as the center of her life cannot love. 

We often hear the phrase, “Render to God what is due to God and render to Caesar what is due to Caesar.” The virtue of justice is to be fair to everyone. Mary gave God the honor due to Him. She was just with St. Joseph. She fulfilled every duty to her Divine Son, Jesus. She remained with Him in Nazareth, followed Him as mother and disciple in His public life; assisted Him at His death on Calvary, arranged His body in the sepulcher and accompanied Him to the mount of Ascension.

Mary’s virtue of fortitude is admirable. She endured all difficulties, pain and adversity with courage and humility. She is called, Queen of Martyrs for her martyrdom was the lengthiest, most intense and most loving. She experienced every sorrow and resigned to God’s will completely. Her magnanimity was the greatest when beneath the cross she witnessed her own Son’s agony and death..

Life is never easy, but easy is what our body wants. When life seems unbearable, let’s think of the Blessed Mother's sacrifices. Remember that there were two types of arms that held our Lord Jesus. One is the tender loving arms of the Blessed Mother; the other  is the rough arms of the cross. The first one is for the love of Him, the second is for His great love for us.

By Tim Pedrosa

 


It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essentially invisible to the eye. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

Tim