Types of Mothers
Types of Mothers
In the previous issue we spoke about four types of virtuous, saintly mothers. Here we would like to continue our discussion about virtuous types of mothers.
5- Mothers Who Were Widowed in Their Youth:
Yet they preferred not to marry again, and devoted themselves to raising their children. Thus, the affection of motherhood prevailed in them over the affection of marriage…
At the same time, they bore full responsibility in raising the children, without help from a man. Each one of them was—to her children—a mother, a father, a friend, and an educator… everything…
6- Mothers… Godmothers:
It is almost assumed that every mother should be a godmother to her children, receiving her children as infants from the Church on the day of baptism, in order to raise them in the fear of God… But does every mother truly carry out the work of a godmother?
Or do many mothers care only for the physical needs of their children—food, drink, clothing, comfort, health, entertainment, financial spending, and education—while, regarding spiritual matters, there is no concern at all!! Relying entirely on the Church and Sunday Schools, as though this matter has nothing to do with her and belongs to others!
But how beautiful is that mother who is the first school of religion for her child—not only a Sunday School, but a school for all days. She teaches her children the Holy Bible, helps them memorize verses, chants with them, teaches them hymns, tells them the stories of the saints, and answers their questions.
Blessed also is she if she accustoms them to the church, teaches them the etiquette of attending it, teaches them the sign of the cross, accustoms them to prostration, to partaking of the Holy Mysteries, to confession, teaches them the melodies, and establishes them in every virtue…
7- Consecrated Mothers:
This type is among the most beautiful types: where the mother consecrates herself to the service of the Lord, and consecrates her daughter with her as well.
We mention as an example Saint Paula, the disciple of Saint Jerome, who after her widowhood went with this saint to Bethlehem, built a monastery there, and lived in it with her daughter Saint Eustochium. She became the abbess of the monastery, and her daughter succeeded her in its leadership… She also built another monastery for monks, whose head was Saint Jerome.
Saint Melania the Elder also built a monastery and was consecrated in it. She encouraged in this field her granddaughter Melania the Younger, who lived consecrated to the Lord and became a nun despite being married, and her husband followed her in the ascetic life.
8- Mothers… as a Model:
Their children see in them an example of every virtue; indeed, they see God in their lives. They are able to lead their children in virtue and repentance.
We do not forget Saint Monica, who was the cause of the repentance of her son Augustine, and who wept for him for many long years.
9- The Mother Who Does Not Love Herself More Than She Loves Her Son:
The mother who does not prevent her son from consecration under the pretext of her love for him and her desire that he remain beside her and abandon his consecration!
- The mother who does not interfere in her son’s happiness with his wife, even if this mother is distant from him, being careful not to cause discord in the new household.
- The mother who does not insist on living with her son in his marital home, if this matter is not acceptable to his wife, placing in her mind not to put her son in embarrassment.
- The mother who does not force her son to obey her if the result of this obedience is his psychological destruction.
- The mother who does not stand in the way of her son’s future through travel, nor claim that she needs him emotionally.
- The mother who does not crush her son with psychological pressures such as crying, collapse, and complaints of illness in order to achieve her purpose and morally compel him to submit to her request, no matter how abnormal it may be, and no matter how harmful it may be to him.Tags:
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