I just thought that since this Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day, it is good to remember our mothers, both living and deceased, in a special way through our prayers and gestures of gratitude and appreciation for all the things they have done for us.

I know Mother’s Day can also bring a mix of emotions for some women. There are those anticipating the birth of their first child, step-mothers wondering what their place is, and those who have lost their mother and are faced with grieving on Mother’s Day. There are mothers who encounter feelings of hurt because their children have turned away from God, and those overwhelmed with pain from the loss of a child.

We can make them feel better and happy, especially on this Mother’s Day, by praying for them, giving our gesture of a hug and saying, “I love you, Mom. Thank you for being my mother”. Or you can buy a flower or treat her to lunch or dinner. If I lived close to my mother, that is what I would do. But because I am living far away, I can only pray that God may continue to bless her with good health. I will also try to call her to let her know that I am thinking of her on this Mother’s Day.

It is so timely that this Sunday, we commemorate the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima where she appeared to the three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria in Fatima, Portugal on May 13th, 1917. The three children, recounting how beautiful their encounter was, shared it with others, including the messages of Our Lady that centered on prayer and sacrifice. They were asked to pray the rosary for the conversion of sinners and for world peace. They were also asked to do the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and make communion of reparation on the first Saturdays. And the Church acted on it through the leadership of the Pope. We can say this is the way of Our Blessed Mother showing her maternal love and care for us.

As a way of gratitude and appreciation for her maternal love and care for us, we will do our crowning of her image before the 8:30 A.M. mass. We give her honor for being such a great mother to us where our biological mothers can draw inspiration in exercising their role as a mother in their own family.

We ask that the Blessed Mother may continue to intercede for us, especially to all our mothers in all their needs. And we ask Jesus, her son, to bless us always now and forever. Amen.

St. Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!