Mothers: One of God’s greatest gifts to us

I just returned from visiting my Mother’s grave, where I placed some flowers in her memory for Mother’s Day.  It is hard to believe that it has been four years since she passed away.  These occasions at the cemetery are sacred moments for me, a time to remember and a time to be grateful for those memories.  And, although the Lord has called her home, she has never really left me.  I feel her presence with me every single day.  I hope and pray that all our faithful whose Moms are with the Lord share that same experience, that same feeling.

Our Mothers are one of God’s greatest gifts to us.  They love us unconditionally and without hesitation, asking precious little in return.  We honor them with a special Sunday in May once a year but every day that we enjoy the breath of life should be a day to honor our Mothers who, with God’s grace, gave us life.  Where would we be without them?  It is hard to imagine!

On this Mother’s Day, let’s all celebrate their love by expressing our love and appreciation for them.  Whether they are still with us or have joined the saints in heaven, our Moms deserve our time, our attention, our affection and our gratitude.  They never really leave us, never. 

As long as we live, they live in our hearts.  As long as they live and into eternity, they love us with all their hearts.  Happy Mother’s Day!


In this Monitor file photo, Bishop O'Connell greets his mother, June, at the start of his episcopal ordination Mass on July 30, 2010, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton. In his 2019 message for Mother's Day, the Bishop wrote, "On this Mother’s Day, let’s all celebrate their love by expressing our love and appreciation for them. Whether they are still with us or have joined the saints in heaven, our Moms deserve our time, our attention, our affection and our gratitude."