Domestic Churches
St. John Paul II told us, “The family should be your place of encounter with God.”
As mothers, we need to accept that truth. Some might think that we encounter God exclusively at Mass or during prayer. But we also meet Him daily in the smiles and tears of our children. He is with us in our laundry rooms, at our dinner table, during our disagreements and also in the quiet of our home. We should consider ourselves blessed to be part of a family in which we encounter Our Lord daily. We should try to become more attentive to His presence.
Our homes are our “domestic churches.” Christian mothers should set a prayerful tone for the family. Our work inside our home — raising little saints to Heaven — is far more important than what we do outside its doors. If we pause to consider that we actually assist our Lord in creating human life, we can become more cognizant of our magnificent role as a mother. In addition to our dedication and unconditional love, our children deserve our presence.
Yes, mothering is tough work. Our culture aims many mixed messages at women, and they can cause confusion. Our challenge is to disregard the crazy expectations of a culture that is in contradiction with our faith and endeavour to follow God’s will. By God’s grace, as faithful Christian mothers we accomplish far more than we can imagine.
Mothers edify others in doing for their children what they do for them each day, very naturally. A precious and essential example is set, sometimes without our ever knowing it.
Hopefully, our example can have an impact on society and help bring back the dignity and high esteem that the vocation of motherhood truly deserves.
Being at peace with the vocation of motherhood shows on our faces and throughout our actions. It is shown by our joy, and joy is contagious and makes for a happy family and even a happy society.
As we mother our families, our hearts should sing out for joy! We are blessed indeed, weary knees and all.
Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle
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