This month of May is traditionally dedicated to Mary. The Catholic Church and the faithful have taken up this practice of honoring the Blessed Mother by Christianizing ancient celebrations.
In both Greek and Roman times, May was celebrated as the month beginning new life. Of course, we see that ourselves with the greening out of trees and bushes and the planting on farms. May is filled with the beginning of life that delights the eye, cleanses the atmosphere and will feed us for at least another growing season.
Our faith sees these realities built into creation and nature. It draws from them the thoughts and convictions of the loving and creating hand that, in an orderly way, is the constant source of all new life. That is God Himself.
The transition from winter to spring is one from a period of cold which can put an end to life and not allow for renewal, to a time when life is possible again. Earth’s transition is a constant reminder, to the eye of faith, of the fall of the human race in original sin when spiritual death ruled over us until Jesus’s resurrection when we are given new life.
This time of year is particularly characterized by motherhood as a part of the renewal of life. The birds that migrated have returned. And their first order of business is building nests, laying eggs, and beginning their own renewal of their species. Likewise, at this time of year fish spawn, and fawns and other animal young begin to appear.
Since the moment when Jesus, from the cross, entrusted Mary to St. John, and St. John to Mary, the Church has received God’s plan that Mary’s earthly motherhood of Jesus is extended to all of us in a real and spiritual way. As the Mother of the Church, Mary’s gift of self, resulting in her giving birth to Jesus in the stable, has been extended to each of us.
She is a true mother who is joined to us and who watches over and intercedes for us, her children, with Christ her son. She is part of God’s plan in the passing from death to new life.
Our reverence for life reaches its peak when we respect human life. It is fundamental to our Catholic faith that human life bears the image and likeness of God. Human nature was shared in by the Son of God who participated in motherhood by His own birth among us. For that reason, human motherhood is also a sacred reality in creation.
In our earthly mothers we recognize the gift of self that begins at conception and lasts a lifetime. For nine months a woman has a singular and complete intimacy with the life she is carrying. Both physically and spiritually the mother nurtures the life within her. As a consequence, on the day of birth and going forward there is a particular bond between mother and child as part of God’s plan.
With the celebration of Mother’s Day this week, we honor our mothers and every mother. We thank them not only for beginning the gift of life but also for their role in the formation of their children. A mother’s love, instruction, correction and encouragement are vital components of a healthy society with flourishing children integrated into their families and the wider connections of life. And how often it is that the mother’s faith is the engine that propels faith and sets the tone in the transmission of the knowledge and love of God to the next generation.
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers. And a special prayer of thanks this month to Mary, the mother given to us by Jesus.
