When a woman is questioned about the hardships of her motherhood, rarely does she mention first, the laboring for her child at birth. More often than not, she recalls those moments of trial or difficulty in her child's life, whether it is an illness, failure or disappointment. We have great saints to look to, for practical examples of how to persevere with faith in the challenge of parenting, especially motherhood.
One of the newer saints in our church, St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962), knew all too well as a wife, mother & pediatrician the consequences of her choosing to keep her unborn baby alive. She was diagnosed with a miofibroma in her uterus during her second month of pregnancy. Her courageous decision to save her pregnancy, even at the risk of her own life, allowed her child to be born. This selfless, sacrificial act of love took her life seven days later.
We can look to St. Monica (322-387), the patron of motherhood, for another example of great faith. She was a woman who watched her own abusive husband and negligent son live very worldly lives. She prayed, fasted and sacrificed for their conversions with such diligence and solid faith. Just before her husband's death, he had a conversion and was baptized. Her son, St. Augustine, is proclaimed as one of the most penitent sinners of all time. Both Monica and Augustine's feast days are celebrated this week: August 27 and 28.
Most importantly, as the truest example of motherhood, we can look to Mary, the Mother of God, whom Christ gave to us, through St. John, at the foot of the cross (John 19:26-27). Mary, in her purest love, brings to mothers an example of strength as she held her son's lifeless body. She is the perfect example of motherhood.
The common thread between all three lives is their sacrificial love for their child and the fruit that it bore. Three distinctly different sacrifices: Gianna offered her own life and gave the gift of life to her child; Monica offered prayers and sacrificed her own desires for the conversion of her son; Mary bore the pain and suffering of watching her only son die and in turn offers us the example of perfect love. These women had one mutual objective and that was to seek the will of God in their life and live it. The fruit of accomplishing the will of God is to further the kingdom of heaven and in turn, it benefited their children. In a difficult world, where we struggle to provide children the best life possible, may mothers not only look to these saintly women as great examples, but become saints themselves!
