It is the fifth Sunday in the season of Easter and is also Mother's Day. Today is one of the most beautiful days of
the year. Let us consider for a moment
the thoughts of two great men about the role their mothers played in their
lives. George Washington once said, "My mother was the most beautiful
woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in
life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from
her." Abraham Lincoln spoke similar words when he said, "All that I
am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." Unfortunately, many
people in our society would not agree with these great men who had great
mothers. Today, many think that their lives have no meaning unless they are
employed in the workplace; thus, only in this way they regard themselves useful
for society. They consider the role of a
stay home mom to be a waste of time. However,
although the circumstances of some women oblige them to work, today many more
married women are finding that staying home and raising their children is the
right way to go. Motherhood is a very
high calling. What relationship can ever
replace the love of a mother and a grandmother?
It is essential for women to realize that the love, guidance and influence
they provide to their children are distinct and invaluable. So, there is no
doubt that motherhood is a very high calling.
But, to whom can mothers look as the real model of motherhood? Today's modern culture offers many role
models through television, movies and women's magazines. However, often these role models are either
all together wrong or they offer a very limited and unrealistic view of true
motherhood. All mothers who wish to be
true to their high calling need only look to the woman who became the greatest
mother of all. Born into humble
surroundings, she was called by God to be the mother of the Son of God. She affirmed her obedience to the call of God
and lived out her vocation throughout her entire life. Mary, the mother of Jesus, our Blessed
Mother, is the true model of motherhood. "It can thus be said that women,
by looking to Mary, find in her the secret of living their femininity with
dignity and of achieving their own true advancement. In the light of Mary, the Church sees in the
face of women the reflection of a beauty which mirrors the loftiest sentiments
of which the human heart is capable: the self-offering totality of love; the
strength that is capable of bearing the greatest sorrows; limitless fidelity
and tireless devotion to work; the ability to combine penetrating intuition
with words of support and encouragement" (Blessed John Paul II,
Redemptoris Mater). One aspect of Mary's life that has particular meaning and
inspiration for many mothers today is the profound suffering that she endured
during the passion of Our Lord. Stabat
Mater. Mary stood at the foot of the
cross. Divorce, separation, single moms,
widows, mothers forced to work out of necessity, grandmothers raising
grandchildren, prodigal children and prodigal grandchildren, are realities that
cause deep, daily suffering for many women.
Added to all of these sufferings, is the pain endured by many married
women who would like to be mothers. All mothers and grandmothers need to find
in Mary, our Blessed Mother, the faith, hope, love and fortitude to stand firm
at the foot of the cross. All suffering
has power when we unite our suffering to the cross of Jesus. Take your suffering, united to the suffering
of Jesus, and offer that suffering for your children and grandchildren. My
prayer is that the Holy Spirit will renew the hearts of all mothers so that
they can live out their calling to motherhood with a deeper and more generous
love within the daily circumstances of their lives. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will fill
all women with the gift of love and that they may fully understand their true
dignity as daughters of the awesome God of love. My prayer is that men will
respect women and not use them as an object. I am very grateful for the young people of Our
Lady of Grace, St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church and Our Lady of
sorrows, my communities, who struggle every day to heroically live their lives
according to God's plan within a society that is completely out of control • AE
Anonymus artist, Madonna col Bambinno and San Giovannino (17th
century),
oil on canvas with Bolognese frame, Casa d'Aste Sammarinese.
Blessing for Mother’s Day
Loving God, as a mother gives life and nourishment to her
children,
so you give life and care for your Church.
Bless these women, as we celebrate this day in their honor.
May they be strengthened as Christian mothers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor and appreciate
them
with a spirit of profound respect.
May the example of Mary, mother of Jesus, inspire them to live
their
vocation as Christian mothers and call their children to faith.
Guide and protect them in challenging times and help them to
continue
to trust in you all the days of their life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
…
Anónimo, Noli Me Tangere, óleo sobre tela, Galería Balclis (Barcelona)
Hay en la vida momentos de verdadera sinceridad en que, de pronto,
surgen de nuestro interior con lucidez y claridad desacostumbradas, las
preguntas más decisivas: En definitiva, ¿yo en qué creo? ¿qué es lo que espero?
¿en quién apoyo mi existencia? Ser cristiano es, antes que nada, creerle a
Cristo. Tener la suerte de habernos encontrado con él. Por encima de toda
creencia, fórmula, rito, ideologización o interpretación, lo verdaderamente
decisivo en la experiencia cristiana es el encuentro con el Señor. Ir
descubriendo por experiencia personal, sin que nadie nos lo tenga que decir
desde fuera, toda la fuerza, la luz, la alegría, la vida que podemos ir
recibiendo de él. Poder decir desde la propia experiencia que Jesús es
"camino, verdad y vida". En primer lugar, descubrirlo como camino.
Escuchar en él la invitación a andar, a cambiar, avanzar siempre, no
establecernos nunca, renovarnos constantemente, sacudirnos de perezas y
seguridades, crecer como hombres, ahondar en la vida, construir siempre, hacer
historia más evangélica. Apoyarnos en Cristo para andar día a día el camino
doloroso y al mismo tiempo gozoso que va desde la incredulidad a la fe. En
segundo lugar, encontrar en Cristo la verdad. Descubrir desde él a Dios en la
raíz y en el término del amor que los hombres damos y acogemos. Darnos cuenta,
por fin, que el hombre sólo es hombre en el amor. Descubrir que la única verdad
es el amor. Y descubrirlo acercándonos al hombre concreto que sufre y es
olvidado. En tercer lugar, encontrar en Cristo la vida. En realidad, los
hombres creemos a aquel que nos da vida. Ser cristiano no es admirar a un líder
ni formular una confesión sobre Cristo. Es encontrarse con un Cristo vivo y
capaz de hacernos vivir. A Jesús siempre lo empequeñecemos y desfiguramos al
vivirlo. Sólo lo reconocemos al amar, al rezar, al compartir, al ofrecer
amistad, al perdonar, al crear fraternidad. A Jesús no lo poseemos -Noli me tangere!- A Jesús lo
encontramos cuando nos dejamos cambiar por él, cuando nos atrevemos a amar como
él, cuando crecemos como hombres y hacemos crecer la humanidad. Jesús es
«camino, verdad y vida». Es otro modo de caminar por la vida. Otro modo de ver
y sentir la existencia. Otra dimensión más honda. Otra lucidez y otra
generosidad. Otro horizonte y otra comprensión. Otra luz. Otra energía. Otro
modo de ser. Otra libertad. Otra esperanza. Otro vivir y otro morir • AE
...
Dios de Amor,
escucha nuestra
oración.
Dios de todos los
santos,
de Sara, de Ruth y
Rebeca;
Dios de santa Isabel,
madre de Juan,
de Santa María, Madre
de Jesús,
escucha nuestra
petición
y bendice a las
madres de nuestra familias.
Bendícelas con la
fortaleza de tu Espíritu,
ellas que le han
enseñado a nuestros niños
a caminar.
Bendícelas con la
melodía de tu amor,
ellas que nos enseñaron cómo hablar,
cantar y conversar contigo.
Bendícelas con un
lugar en la mesa de la eternidad,
ellas que alimentaron y criaron la vida
que se formaba en
ellas,
mientras aún
indefensa se abrazaba a su amor.
Bendícelas hoy,
ahora, en esta vida,
con cosas buenas y
con salud.
Bendícelas con
alegría, con amor,
con la sonrisa y el
orgullo de sus hijos,
y rodéalas de sus buenos amigos.
Que ellas, que
llevaron la vida en sus vientres,
sean cargadas un día
en tus divinos brazos:
y allí, por toda la
eternidad,
se regocijen con sus familias y amigos.
Que esta bendición y
todos las gracias, te pedimos,
desciendan sobre las
madres de nuestras familias:
en el nombre del Padre, + del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo.
Amén.
...
En la foto aparecen mi abuela, Maria de Jesús Aceves Ramírez,
y mi mamá, Margarita Fernández Aceves; la foto debe ser de 1948.
