A Litany of Mothers, for Mothers
Catholic mothers live differently.
Catholic women live differently. I know many of you aren’t biological mothers, but your impact on the lives around you is often a motherly one.
This litany is for you all, biological mothers, mothers by adoption, and women who are spiritual mothers to us all. You are all precious and beautiful, irreplaceable in the lives of those whom you love.
Love like Mary.
We love with our entire being, through joys and tribulations. Mary is our companion and example.
Work like Zelie.
We work–often creatively, always selflessly–to provide for those we love. (Work doesn’t have to be out of the home, nor does it have to be a side hustle! Caring for the home IS work. Caring for loved ones IS work.) Saint Zelie, the lacemaker and mother to Saint Therese, leads the way.
Pray like Monica.
We pray, ceaselessly. Through tears, in thanksgiving, on our knees, with tears streaming down our cheeks. Saint Monica shows us to never give up on praying for our children.
Teach like Elizabeth.
We teach. Whenever we answer the three-year old’s “but Whyyyy?!”, when we sing the ABCs, when we whisper during Mass to look at Jesus, when we sit in the passenger seat (gripping rosary beads) to give driving lessons. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton knows what it is to teach.
Choose like Gianna.
We choose LIFE. We pass on the respect and care for life, instilling into our children how precious and sacred all life is. Some of even literally give our lives so our children may live. Saint Gianna set a beautiful precedent and prays with us for LIFE.
Laugh like Chiara.
We laugh. When babies smile, when toddlers sing, when 7 yr olds tell knock-knock jokes, when 9 yr olds forget to comb their hair, when teenagers finally understand inside jokes. Servant of God Chiara Corbella Petrillo shows us how to even laugh when life is hard. Her smile is contagious. Her laugh must have been beautiful.
Be Holy. Raise Saints.
You may have noticed that not every holy woman in the litany has children who are also saints. Saint Gianna’s daughter is still alive today, in 2023! We hope that our children will one day be saints. That’s up to them! It’s up to us to live a holy life and be an example of living a faithful life with Christ at the center.
One thing I’ve learned in my 18+ years as a mother is that I’m responsible for my personal holiness, and for setting an example for my children. My children have just as much free will as I do; how they decide to live after my husband and I have done our best to establish a foundation of truth and faith is up to them.
But as the holy women above loved, worked, prayed, taught, and lived with joy, so will I. Be holy. Raise saints.
Find a new collection of shirts for mothers in my shop!
Thank God and thank you! I just came across the Litany of Mothers, for Mothers. I feel seen. In all the years I’ve lived my vocation as a mother, I’ve suffered imposter syndrome, never confident, always worried I was going to ruin my children’s faith before it was even fully formed. While I know of each of these saints, your reflections on their lives helped me to relate to them. The affirmation brought me to tears of joy! I’ve been a daughter, friend, wife, mother (now grand) and teacher for over half a century. Thank you for your Yes. Thank God for using you to give others hope and encouragement on our own path as we strive for holiness. May Christ’s peace be with you! Thanks again!
Mary-
Thank you for you kind words, which touched my heart this morning. <3 May God bless you with joys through all your mothering (and grand-mothering!) ahead.