Spiritual Motherhood
Spiritual Motherhood
The Lord Christ loved His mother. He honored her even while He was on the cross. He did not forget her, but cared for her, and entrusted her to His disciple John, saying to him, “Behold your mother,” and saying to her, “Behold your son” (John 19:26–27). This expression gives us an idea of spiritual motherhood.
The Virgin Lady was a spiritual mother not only to John the Apostle, but to all the apostles, and indeed to all humanity.
This spiritual motherhood has many examples throughout history and in the Holy Bible, among which we mention:
Saint Macrina
She was a spiritual mother to her two brothers, Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa. They acknowledged her spiritual merit, and their grandmother, the elder Macrina, was another spiritual mother in the family before her granddaughter.
Saint Deborah
She was a spiritual mother in Israel. People went up to her to seek judgment in their matters, and she judged between them (Judges 4).
Saint Melania
She was a spiritual mother to Saint Mar-Eugres, and she was the one who led him to repentance and to monasticism.
Mother Sarah
She was a spiritual mother to many of the monastic fathers. The Paradise recounts how some of the Fathers of Scetis used to go to her, reveal their thoughts to her, and seek her spiritual guidance.
Spiritual and Physical Mothers:
The Prophet Moses received the faith at the hands of his mother Jochebed, who was both a spiritual and physical mother.
Likewise, Saint Timothy received the faith from his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois.
This leads us to the subject of godmothers.
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