Portrait of a Mother

Catholics believe that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is also our mother, and mother of the Church. She is the model of a perfect, holy, mother for all Christian women; and for the Church, who is also seen as a mother of all the faithful. Scripture tells us very little about the motherhood of Mary. We just know, by faith, that Mary was holy, loving, and full of grace; the perfect woman and mother. What would a mother like Mary, living today, look like? I share with you my version of a portrait of a mother, in the likeness of Mary.

I see this woman as a mother who believes that God has called her to love everyone as herself, and to love them with the same love in which God loves us. Nevertheless, God has given her a special and particular responsibility to love her children. She could never abandon, forsake, or renounce her love for them; no matter what they do. She could never stop praying and hoping for their salvation, should they fall, no matter how old they are. She could never stop believing in their innate goodness and beauty. She would hold them accountable to the Commandments and the faith she has passed onto them, in accordance with their ability to reason, their understanding, and their abilities; and confront them when they fail, until they become independent adults. She is always ready to extend mercy whenever they are ready to receive it. Mercy enables them to be merciful. She does not demand reparation for their transgressions, but is hopeful they will freely choose to do what they can, from their heart. She tries not to expect more from them than what they are able to do, or give. Her mercy does not include denying their faults or sins by lying for them or covering up for them to higher authorities; such as her husband, their teachers, the authority of the Church, or the Law. What happens to her children also happens to her. She is an advocate for her children, not an accuser, judge, or prosecutor. She pleads mercy for them and helps them to make restitution, as far as she is able. She encourages them to be accountable to victims of their abuse; and when they refuse or are unable to make reparation, she holds herself accountable to make reparation for them, as far as she is able.

First, and foremost, she seeks healing for them from all their impairments; physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and moral. She solicits this same priority of healing for them from others as well. She desires for her children to love everyone and for everyone to love her children. She is ready to defend and protect all her children from anyone who wishes them harm or evil; who do not respect their dignity or love them as they love their own self. Her greatest desire and hope for her children is that they will love their siblings as they love themselves; that they will never forsake each other; that they love God; that they fulfill their destiny and develop their gifts and talents for the greater good of others; and that they are good citizens. Her greatest pain and suffering is when her children do not love their siblings; when they abuse and hurt each other; when they fail to forgive, to have compassion; to support, to encourage, and to pray for each other. Motherhood does not end when her children become adults. She just has less control, and looks for new ways to teach, correct, instruct, and assist her adult children. She models for her She wochildren, what it means to love God, others, and themselves. She allows her adult children to freely make their own choices, even when they are not good choices or the choices she would make. She has faith in them, and never stops trusting in God. She never rejects or abandons them, or becomes estranged from them if they choose to follow a different religion, or reject her morality. If she knew any of her adult children were guilty of a criminal offense, such as murder, rape, or extreme abuse and violence, she would seek counsel from a higher authority; then, she would confront them and encourage them to turn themselves in to the proper authorities, for their sake and for the sake of others. She would make every attempt to help them to repent and to be accountable, and would continue to love them and pray for them.