Dear friends,

Here we are at another Mother's Day, with the Ordo again issued from the Vatican, forbidding anything like a homily for mothers, and only a blessing at the end of Mass as a sort of reluctant concession to women on what is seen beyond our shores as a strictly American, secular holiday.  Abortion is sinful.  Motherhood is unworthy of mention at a Sunday liturgy. What is wrong with this picture?

Let us not stop to pursue that subject further today, a joyous occasion...for all women.. and families.  The 2002 article has been brought up as a reminder of the Vatican's mind-set on the subject, but primarily to bask in the miracle of birth, and the love and generosity offered within the family circle for children to grow, safely and happily.  Next week, we'll return to the subject of women and the liturgy.

God bless all mothers, fathers, and families on this special day!

Amen.  Amen.

(This is the full text of the article published here in May 9, 2002.)

Ordo scorns Mother's Day

On this particular Mother's Day, the morning sunshine danced over spring's new growth as I drove along the country roads, with crystal clear lakes on either side.

Shortly before leaving the house, the pastor had called to say he was leaving on an emergency, but that a priest from the city would be coming for Mass, and had been told of the plans for the liturgy.

I smiled to myself, thinking of how happy the children would be to participate in a procession honoring Mary and their mothers before Mass. They were to carry pink carnations to Mary's statue, which they would give to the mothers at the Offertory. Throughout the liturgy, the children were prepared to read brief selections from Scripture and lead a prayer.

When I arrived at the mission church, I placed a copy of the notes regarding the liturgy in the sacristy, and proceeded to gather the children for the procession. All smiles they were. Then, came the storm clouds on their sunny day.

Father Law and Order arrived, looked over the notes, bounded out of the sacristy, waved the paper in my face and challenged my credentials by asking:

"Have you never read the Ordo?"

"Sorry, Father, I haven't," I replied.

"Well, in it Rome tells us that we are not allowed to deviate in any way for Mother's Day or Father's Day, since they are secular holidays. I am not going to allow any procession or anything else, and I am not going to give a homily for mothers."

"Certainly, you have every right to give the homily you have prepared,Father," I replied in my most gentle of voices, " but we cannot disappoint the children; they must be allowed at least to have their procession. (I felt like saying they hadn't read The Book, either, but felt that too undiplomatic for the occasion.)

Father Law and Order compromised about the procession, but held fast to his conviction that Trinity Sunday called for a homily on the Trinity, even though what he had to say would have been a challenge to fourth year theologians.

Eventually, days later, I found a copy of the Ordo and learned that it made allowance for a blessing for mothers at the conclusion of the liturgy, but Father Law and Order had omitted that concession, and made himself small in the process, appearing mean-spirited and unloving.

Passing strange is it to me that Rome, with her preoccupation with birth control and abortion, would not see Mother's Day and Father's Day as wondrous opportunities to honor women and men who have accepted the responsibility of parenthood.

Well it is for the Church to stand on principles, but it is neither well nor natural for her to withhold the nourishing support mothers expect in a Mother's Day liturgy.

Fortunately, thousands and thousands of priests around the nation will ignore the rules in the Ordo for this occasion, and will be sensitive to the pain of mothers who are weeping for their children this day, children who have lost trust in the Church, and for all the children who have been abused.

Many priests will also stop to see mothers as participants in their priesthood. In the breaking of the bread at mealtime, the Lord is certainly present, as he promised. True, the bread might have been hastily purchased at the bakery between Johnny's hockey game and Mary's try-out for the debate team, but it is no less holy for not having been kneaded and baked in quiet solitude.

The mother forgives transgressions, great and small. For a child to go to bed without a mother's hug to make all things right would probably result in the child's restless sleep, no matter how many animals populated the bed.

With a forgiving and peaceful heart, a mother spreads a benediction upon her family, gathering everyone in her embrace, those with good grades and not-so-good, the pretty and the plain, the saintly and the not-quite-there-yet.

More than that, she spreads a benediction upon our nation this Mother's Day, inviting us to come apart from factories that produce instruments of death to think of the preciousness of lives, brought into the world at great cost, and sustained for decades, day in and day out. Thus, women mirror the constancy of God, keeping love in their hearts burning for any wandering child, small or tall, young or old..

Mother's Day is not simply a sentimental 24 hours on the calendar; it is a sacred time to honor all women who care for the most vulnerable among us.

God bless you, for you are greatly loved. Happy, blessed Mother's Day!

--- originally published here on May 9, 2002 

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