16
There is scarcely a more wonderful
fact. Let us go through the hours of
the day often repeating this truth and
great consolation will be given to us.
We are not eternal, for we have not
always been, but we are everlasting, for
we shall always be. This is a powerful
natural title to honor and reverence.
It is the reason why, from the very
dawn of history, the mother with her
babe pressed close to her heart has
awakened the noblest sentiments of
awe and reverence, and a symbol of
the divine qualities that God has
planted in the heart of a mother. The
character planted in a soul by the
mother, endures.
When Mary replied to the angel,
“Behold, the handmaid of the Lord;
be it done unto me according to Thy
word,” she became the instrument of
the Blessed Trinity in the working out
of the merciful plan of the redemption
of the human race. She became the
Mother of God, of Jesus Christ, the God-
Man. This was her special privilege, a
favor granted to her from all eternity.
It was her very own and no other
creature would possess this. Still, every
mother is, in a very true sense of the
word, a handmaid of the Lord. Even
before its birth, her child is fashioned
in the mold of her character, touched
by the spirit of her goodness. The soul
made in the image of its Creator must
be taught to know Him, to love Him, and
to serve Him. On her lips, must first
form those syllables of prayer which,
repeated, become the childish prattle
so pleasing to the heavenly Father. The
first lessons a child is taught endure.
Education is a much-used word. Our
country spends billions of dollars
yearly so our people may enjoy an
education. It is right that the mind
should be developed. In doing this,
there must be the constant motive of
pleasing God always and in everything.
Only then can we attain our final
goal. Education without God is no
education at all! The mind was made
for eternal truth; therefore, it cannot
be filled or satisfied with half-truths
no matter how profound they may
seem to be. It must have a set of laws
to follow. There can be no training
without soul training! Unfortunately,
what is called education today is only
a sham.
To the mother, belongs the duty of first
directing the thoughts of her child to
its Eternal Father in Heaven. She must
study its pulses and tendencies so as
to train it to act according to the law
of God. When her child reaches the
age of reason, she must be close at hand
to aid him with her advice and shield
him from dangers to the precious
possession of God’s grace. All this presupposes
a great love of virtue in her
own heart. Hers is a sublime vocation
and she must educate herself to do it.
As a priest is prepared for his calling by
long years of prayer and study, a nun
is brought to the sacred nuptials of
her vows after much self-sacrifice
and training, so she who is to bring
little ones to the embrace of Christ
in Heaven must prepare carefully and
generously for her work in life. She is
to be the great educator, training the
minds and hearts of her children for
the enjoyment of everlasting life.
Our Blessed Mother is the model held
up to every Catholic woman from childhood.
None can ever hope to equal
the perfection of this ideal, but the
inspiration that comes from learning
about Mary must flow into each single
soul and make it beautiful and fruitful