Mother's Day

May 6, 2022
Author: Hannah DeVivo

photo of a woman holding a baby - autom

This Sunday is Mother’s Day!

When did this tradition begin?

The role of a mother has long been revered and respected. For centuries, various cultures have celebrated mothers in their own ways. The clearest line that can be drawn from an older tradition to our current celebration of Mother’s Day is actually “Mothering Sunday,” an Anglican festival dating back to the Middle Ages. On Mothering Sunday, observed on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, children who had left home to work would get the day off to visit with their mothers and family. As the children walked along the country roads, they would pick flowers and berries as gifts to present to their mothers. Mothering Sunday was also a time to celebrate and eat special food, since the Lenten fast was lifted on that day.

The Virgin Mary-everyone’s mother

Before Jesus died, He gave us the intimate gift of His own mother. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother,

“Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”


–John 19:26-27

In this passage, Jesus shows us that as children of God and members of His Body, Mary is our mother as well. If you grew up without a mother, with a mother who wounded you, or one with whom you don’t have a great relationship, you have the benefit of having a mother in Mary as well. Not only does this connect us even more deeply to Jesus, but with the whole Trinity.

Mary’s relationship with the Trinity

Mary had a unique relationship with each person of the Blessed Trinity. She had the privilege of carrying the child of God the Father in her “Fiat” to His plan for salvation. She conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit overshadowing her. Mary had the great joy and intimacy of being the mother of Jesus. She had the unique opportunity of raising the Man who would save humanity, and the gift of living in His presence. Mary is able to bring us closer to the Trinity by virtue of her close relationship with them. By accepting Mary as our mother and seeking to strengthen our relationship with her, we can grow to love God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit more fully as the unique Persons they are.

photo of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus - autom

Mary, our mother

Mary is someone to whom we can go for love and support. She has the love and care of a mother for each one of us. We are her precious children whom she loved so much that she bore willingly the sacrifice of her only son. Mary endured pain and sorrow so that each of us could be saved. She longs to protect and help us. When we come to her as children hurt and in need, she places our petitions in her tender heart and brings them to her Son on our behalf. In speaking of Mary’s love for us, my father said, “When children are hurt, they run to their mother. When children are in danger, their mother runs to them.”

Gift Ideas for Mom

Here are some gift ideas for the mother in your life:

  1. Devotional Jewelry- Jewelry is a very common gift for Mother’s Day. We have many beautiful pieces with Mary, Jesus, and the Saints!
  2. Mother’s Prayer Book- Mothers who are very busy need encouragement throughout their day as much as everyone else. A small book of prayers is an excellent gift for the mother in your life who wants a convenient pick-me-up.
  3. A Notebook- A mother’s life is busy, and sometimes it’s hard for her to take a moment and enjoy what’s going on around her. A notebook can help Mom capture some of life’s fun little moments.
  4. An Image of Mary- Mary, as a mother and a woman, is a beautiful example for mothers everywhere. A lovely image of Mary can be a wonderful gift that the mom in your life can look at for inspiration, help, and love.
  5. A Novena for your Mother- There are so many novenas out there to choose from! Giving Mom the gift of your prayers is so precious; we have no idea this side of heaven how much they help! Prayer is so powerful. It not only gives grace to the one you are praying for, but helps you as well.
  6. A Mug- A beautiful mug for your mother’s coffee or tea can be a sweet daily reminder of your love for her!
  7. Chores- This seemingly simple gift can really help and mean so much. A great gift for kids of all ages to give mom is to clean their rooms or other parts of the home. If you’re on your own, how about cleaning up after dinner when you visit Mom?
  8. ASK- Remember, we are all different and have our own needs and wants. If you are unsure of what to do for the mom in your life, ask her!

A Special prayer for Moms

I would like to close our time together with a prayer to Our Lady for all Mothers this Mother’s Day:

“Dear Mother Mary, on this day when we honor all mothers, we turn to you. We thank the Lord whom you serve for the great gift of motherhood. Never has it been known that anyone who sought your intercession was left unaided. Dear Mother, thank you for your “Yes” to the angel’s announcement which brought heaven to earth and changed human history. You accepted God’s invitation and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

Dear Mother, please intercede for all our mothers. Ask your Divine Son to give them the grace of surrendered love so that they may join with you in giving their own “Fiat.” May they find daily strength to answer the call to sacrificial love—the very heart of their vocation as mothers. May their love and witness be a source of great inspiration for all of us called to follow your Son.

On this Mother’s Day, Mother of the Word Incarnate, pray for us who have recourse to you. In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

I hope you all have a beautiful and joy-filled Mother’s Day! Peace be with you.

photo of a woman holding a little girl and pointing at something in the distance - autom

Before You Go

Do you call upon Mary as your mother?

Do you have any fun plans for this Mother’s Day?

Have you learned anything new in this article?

I would LOVE to hear from you. Send me an email to Catholic-Living@Autom.com
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