This Sunday, we celebrate Mother’s Day. A day to thank and honour our maternal mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, spiritual mothers, and women who have played a motherly role in our lives. The Catholic faith holds a profound reverence for motherhood as both a biological vocation and a spiritual calling.
There are many figures in the Catholic Church who are great role models in motherhood. In Mary, we see the perfect model. Someone who was humble, faithful, and deeply devoted. Her “Yes” to God’s request of being the mother of the Son of God changed the course of salvation history.
There are four Matriarchs in the Catholic faith, who are considered to be foundational figures in the linage of the Jewish people. These four women are Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah.
- Sarah – the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. Sarah is a well-known figure in the Bible for her role in the fulfillment of the covenant between God and Abraham – that he would become the father of a great nation. Despite her old age, she gave birth to Isaac.
- Rebekah – the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. Rebekah struggled with a period of infertility but soon after was able to conceive twins.
- Rachel – The wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel too, struggled with infertility before falling pregnant. She died after giving birth to her second son, and is honoured for act of sacrifice for the sake of her children.
- Leah – The wife of Jacob and the mother of the rest of Jacob’s sons. She significantly shaped the nation is she bore six of the 12 tribes of Israel. Her role has had a lasting impact on the history of God’s people.
This Mother’s Day, we reflect on the fact that motherhood is a deeply sacred vocation. We think of all the biological, adoptive, spiritual and other motherly figures who have impacted and continue to impact our lives. We pray for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to fill your hearts with love, peace, strength, and joy.
