Remembering Our Mothers
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May 14, 2024May is a sacred month dedicated to Our Mother Mary, as well as a time to honor our earthly mothers on Mother’s Day, the second Sunday of the month. It is a profound moment to express our gratitude for our earthly mothers and the blessings of Our Blessed Mother, who tirelessly intercedes for us under the title of Our Mother Perpetual Help.
In the past, many parishes offered flowers for church-goers to give to their mothers on Mother’s Day as a tribute to their love and sacrifices. To honor our Blessed Mother in the Vietnamese culture, this beautiful tradition of offering colorful flowers in a liturgical dance still occurs in many parishes. Handed down from the native people, this tradition not only expresses our gratitude but also fosters a sense of community and shared devotion among Vietnamese Catholics.
During my priestly ministry, I have had the privilege of visiting various national Marian shrines, each with its unique spiritual significance. The National Shrine of Our Mother Perpetual Help in the Philippines particularly stands out. Every Wednesday, the Redemptorists offer six services and are available for those seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation, creating a space for deep spiritual reflection and renewal. An area separated from the church serves as the shrine, where the pilgrims come to pray, light candles, and touch the icon while praying in a peaceful and prayerful environment. It is a truly awe-inspiring experience.
I learned that the pilgrims not only pray for their daily needs but also seek Our Blessed Mother's guidance on how to live a holy life in their daily Christian lives. This beautiful national shrine is not only well known to the Filipinos due to the history of the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, but it was visited by St. Pope John Paul II as a Cardinal in 1973, and later as Pope in 1981. The Pope encouraged the Filipinos to continue devotion to our Blessed Mother and to remain vigilant about social justice issues in their country. This guidance from Our Blessed Mother and the Pope provides a source of strength and direction for all of us in our spiritual journeys.
My most recent visit was to the National Marian Shrine in La Ma, Ben Tre, Vietnam. This shrine is known for a miraculous image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. During the Vietnam War, the small church where the icon was housed was destroyed. The icon was lost, but found by a non-Catholic in a mud field three months later.
Even though the frame was still in good condition, the color and the image of the Blessed Mother had faded, and the photo paper was stuck to the glass. Five months later, after a parishioner placed the icon on his family’s altar a miracle happened: the image of the Blessed Mother reappeared, beautifully restored. After careful examination, the local bishop, Thuc Dinh Ngo, declared it a miracle, and encouraged people of faith to venerate the image.
Visiting these two well known Marian shrines, I am very certain that our Blessed Mother truly is a Mother of Perpetual Help who has been with her children for many centuries.
This week, I offer a special prayer for our earthly mothers who are alive or have passed away. May our Blessed Mother ask God to bless them with longevity and good health, and peace and joy, especially for those mothers who have gone before us to enjoy happiness in paradise.