Last week we celebrated a very special day for all mothers. \u00a0At one of the Masses at my parish we invited all the men to come forward to recite a beautiful poem together. \u00a0Afterwards the men presented a copy of this poem about the beauty of motherhood to their mothers or wives. \u00a0During the month of May we not only give thanks to God for our mothers and other significant women in our lives, but also traditionally dedicate the whole month to our heavenly mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. On Sunday morning after praying the rosary, over one hundred children left flowers at the statue of the Blessed Mother outside the parish church.<\/p>\n
The Virgin Mary was chosen among women to be the Mother of God. \u00a0She is a model of the beauty and sacrifice which is motherhood. \u00a0As mothers nurture their children and selflessly give of themselves for them, Mary accepted with great joy the message of Gabriel and nurtured the child who is God made man in her womb. \u00a0 She gave her life without reserve for the sake of her Son, even though it meant that a sword would pierce her heart. <\/p>\n
Throughout the centuries, the maternal presence of the Virgin Mary has inspired and consoled Christians in time of trial and tribulation. \u00a0Her constant prayer and protection has led millions who recognize her as blessed to know Christ her Son. <\/p>\n
When in 1531 the Virgin Mary appeared to the indigenous Saint Juan Diego in Mexico, she said to him, \u201cAm I not here, I, who am your mother? \u00a0Are you not under my shadow and protection? \u00a0Am I not the source of your joy? \u00a0Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? \u00a0Do you need something more? \u00a0Let nothing else worry you or disturb you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recognizing the Virgin Mary\u2019s constant maternal protection, the One Life, One Rose Program of the Knights of Columbus turns to Our Lady of Guadalupe asking for her prayers and intercession so the sanctity of all human life may be respected and upheld. \u00a0Four silver roses travel each year from Canada to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City visiting parishes and providing an opportunity of prayer with the Mother of God for the respect of human life. \u00a0One Silver Rose will arrive to our diocese on May 26th and travel throughout parishes in the diocese as it makes its way from South Carolina to Florida. \u00a0All are invited to attend the transfer of the Silver Rose at Saint Joseph Parish in Augusta at 5:30pm on Sunday May 26th. \u00a0A Rosary will be prayed followed by a bilingual Mass with Bishop Hartmayer presiding. \u00a0As Our Lady of Guadalupe confirmed her true presence to the bishop of Mexico by making roses of Castille bloom in winter, the Silver Rose will remind us throughout the diocese of Mary\u2019s ever-present maternal love and protection.<\/p>\n
Last week we celebrated a very special day for all mothers. \u00a0At one of the Masses at my parish we invited all the men to come forward to recite a beautiful poem together. \u00a0Afterwards the men presented a copy of this poem about the beauty of motherhood to their mothers or wives. \u00a0During the month […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2533,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n