How does the Catholic Church celebrate Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day, as celebrated in the United States, is a secular holiday – this is not to say that the Church does not have a deep love and devotion to our mothers of the Catholic faithful and all mothers.  Motherhood is the recognition of life.  In the creative aspect of the human person, man and woman come together to image God by bringing forth life.  This is something we celebrate without ceasing.

In the Church, we celebrate the Solemnities of Mary, Mother of God, the Assumption, the Immaculate conception; we show our love and devotion through private liturgies such as the rosary, dedications to Our Lady, and many devotions.  Our recognition of the Virgin Mother of God as the Mediatrix of all graces and the Co-Redemptrix is in a more fitting way, our celebration of all motherhood.

Celebration of Mother’s Day is important in our culture as it is in our faith.  In the Catholic Church, we recognize the importance of putting our faith into our action.  I encourage you to take the opportunity today to do something charitable for your mother, something charitable for mothers in the community, to recognize and thank God for the gift of life, and to speak with the Virgin Mother.

To all the moms in the parish and outside the parish – through the intercession of the Virgin Mother, I pray that you have a blessed Mother’s Day.

To Jesus through Mary,

Fr. Jim Hinkle