On this Mother’s Day Sunday we share these beautiful images, and a lovely message from author Carrie Gress, for all mothers. May God bless you and your children and families. And may Mary, the model of Christian motherhood, be a wellspring of maternal inspiration for you – and for all of us – today and always. God bless you. Happy Mother’s Day.
Peace be with you!
Disciple of Jesus | Son of the Church
Here is a beautiful Mother’s Day message by my friend and author, Carrie Gress.
Mothers’ Arms
Men’s and women’s arms align differently. A man’s arms, when stretched out in a ninety-degree angle from the body, palms up, lay out straight, but a woman’s arms are slightly curved. The curve allows women to cradle a baby well. This important difference became clear to me when my husband developed tendonitis in his elbows with the arrival of each new child because of the many hours he spent holding them. Of course, the female body accommodates the carrying of children in the womb. At its core, motherhood involves years of actually carrying children.
Ancient symbols for women reflect this aspect of carrying—symbols such as a ship, an oven, and vessels. This is why ships are named after women and referred to as “she.” The symbolism is rich in the Church, also called “she,” the bride of Christ. The part of a church that holds the people is called the nave (from the Latin word for ship).
Every woman is called to spiritual motherhood, and an essential piece of mothering is holding others—not only physically, as a mother holds an infant, but also in a spiritual sense. Women have a deep and beautiful capacity to take others into our hearts, to pray, love, and care for them, and to help them to become better than they were before—even those we have never met. It is this idea of holding that helps us to decipher what the ideal woman was doing when she “pondered these things in her heart.”
Carrie Gress is a homeschooling mother of four. She has a doctorate in philosophy and is the author of several books, including The Anti-Mary Exposed. First published at Magnificat, May 2020. Used with the author's permission; https://www.carriegress.com.
She pondered these things in her heart.”
Gospel of Luke 2:51
Mary, Model of Christian Motherhood, pray for us.
Be not afraid! And may the peace of Christ be with you and your loved ones today and always. Holy Family pray for us. Amen.
