When we think of Mary, Mother of God, perhaps we picture a dainty maiden with one perfect son and a saintly husband, and we can’t help but find her unrelatable. Where is the exhaustion? The self-doubt? The joy of finally getting pregnant after years of trying? What about the chaos of having three kids in three years? Or the husband who takes too long in the bathroom and would rather play X-Box than help with tuck-in?
As we approach Mother’s Day, I’d like to suggest that Mary can deeply empathize with all mothers, and that she offers prayers, example, and solidarity to moms in all stages of their parenting journey.
Expectant Mothers
Discovering a pregnancy often leads to joy, panic, or a bizarre mix of both – and perhaps Mary was no different.
When her cousin expresses awe and joy that Mary was pregnant with the Savior, Mary responded with praise. Likewise, mothers today who are pregnant and overjoyed can unite their prayers to Mary’s Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Luke 1:46-47). A pregnancy is a beautiful time to turn our joy into prayers of praise and gratitude.
That said, we can also imagine that Mary would have experienced fear about her pregnancy. Her situation was not ideal – she was young, a virgin not yet living with her husband, and surely not “ready” for this life change. Still, she surrendered to God’s will: “Let it be done unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). These words are a perfect prayer for mothers with mixed feelings about their pregnancies. Even if we don’t yet mean this prayer fully, we can ask for Mary’s help in embracing God’s will.
Some expectant mothers, regardless of how they felt about becoming pregnant, now bear the devastating cross of knowing that their child will not survive to term, or not long after birth. Though not an identical situation, we know that Mary underwent a similar pain. Days after Jesus was born, the prophet Simeon foretold the strife her son would face and that a sword would pierce her own soul (Luke 2:35). Mary bore and raised this child, aware of the pain to come. We can be sure that her prayers are with all mothers who face this heartbreaking situation.
Single Mothers
While St. Joseph did take Mary into his home, the Blessed Mother is still a wonderful intercessor for single mothers. In her time, becoming pregnant before marriage could lead to ostracism or even death. Although Scripture doesn’t record these consequences, it is possible that Mary faced judgment and ridicule because of her situation.
While these factors could make her feel isolated, we know that Mary trusted God the Father to never leave her. After the shepherds visited the infant Jesus and shared the message of the angels, Mary “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). She pondered God’s promise that her child would be the Savior, and that His peace rests upon those He favors. Single mothers today can imitate Mary’s meditation on God’s faithfulness and Jesus’ saving mission. These truths offer hope to all mothers who feel alone.
New and Young Mothers
The early stages of starting a family are often marked by tiredness, anxiety, joy, and confusion. Mary and Joseph identified with these emotions, too. When Jesus was 12 years old, His parents accidentally lost Him for three days. When they finally found Him – miles behind them in Jerusalem – Mary said, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety” (Luke 2:48). Then, when Jesus explained Himself, “[His parents] did not understand what He said to them” (Luke 2:50). Moms navigating life with young children can remember this scene and pray to our Heavenly Mother, who really does understand.
Advanced Maternal Age
The Church has long taught that Jesus was Mary’s only biological child, yet Mary is the perfect helper for older mothers. The Gospel of Luke tells how Mary hastened immediately to her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant at a very advanced age. Setting aside her own life-changing news, Mary devoted herself to serving Elizabeth until St. John the Baptist was born.
Mary’s concern for a mother bearing a child in her older years extends to all of us today. We can turn to her, whether we are rejoicing, doubtful, or both, and ask her to support us as she did Elizabeth.
Many Children
On the Cross, Jesus gives His mother to the apostle John, and in so doing, gives her to all of us. So, Mary is mother to billions of souls. We can turn to her to strengthen us when our family feels too large to juggle.
Furthermore, while she only literally raised one child, that child was the Savior of every soul to ever live. Mary must have felt the weight of that responsibility every day. Perhaps she watched Jesus grow up and saw that His behavior, life, and mission were out of her hands. How did she respond? By following Him – all the way to the Cross.
All
Whether your experience of motherhood is joyful, exhausting, messy, or all the above, Mary understands. She is a mother who trusted despite her fear, prayed in her uncertainty, served wholeheartedly, and stood at the foot of the Cross with a broken heart. On this Mother's Day, she is praying for you. Bring her your motherhood, exactly as it is.
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