Mothers Day 2009
+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
10 May 2009
Women were treated abominably most of the time in the ancient pagan world. But even these societies recognized the bond between mother and child as something sacred.
This is still largely the case today, despite decades of family breakdown, sexual license, and legalised abortion making many people much less certain about what is sacred, or whether anything is sacred at all.
Our mothers give us life and look after us when we are noisy and demanding infants. This is no small thing. All of us are profoundly indebted to our mothers for this, even if - tragically - the relationship with them has not been happy.
Shaping character is a special responsibility of having children. Mothers have a crucial role in passing on good values and good habits (or virtues). Parental example is still the best way of teaching children how to accept responsibility and persevere in difficult times.
The demands of work and family do not seem to be diminishing, and the loving mother who still finds time to read to a young child or to discuss a worry with a teenager is doing the most important work there is.
Children are sharp observers, and watching their mother making time for them and refusing to follow the crowd gives them a great model to follow when their turn comes to withstand peer pressure and be their own person.
Being a mother is a learning process too, and learning how to step back and allow children to take a physical or social risk is a challenge for every mum. Children (like adults) need to learn from their mistakes, and mothers have to master the knack of letting go while letting them know you're always there. This too is a part of unconditional love.
Children also learn how to be good friends and gracious to all by watching how their mother relates to others. If men and women weren't too strong on being respectful, polite, slow to anger and quick to forgive before they had children, they have to master them pretty quickly once they become parents. Sometimes it is not only the kids who grow up in family life.
Fun is a crucial part of the package too. It really is a delight watching a mother have fun with her children. The loving mother who admits her faults and says sorry if she has treated her child unjustly teaches children that they too must learn to forgive.
Much of this could also apply to dads, although with children as in many other areas, men and women are very different. That is why the best situation is for every child to be raised by their mum and dad, preferably in a loving marriage.
Mothers' Day is about honouring mum and the precious gift of life and love she has given us.
