Pro-Life Mother's Day

Rev. Fr. Paul Lelen Haokip *

Children participating in the Mothers' Day celebration in the MBC church in 2011 :: Pix - TSE

Introduction:

Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers, grandmothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March or May. It complements Father's Day, a similar celebration honoring fathers. This is a vital day to honor all her hard work in raising the children. Today, as we dedicate a day to Mothers, let us reflect "How much harm and pain I and you have caused to Mothers around the globe".

To put it a bit hard, 'even if one does not know who the father is, one knows the mother as we are born from the mother'. Once I took a barren couple to Mother Teresa's Home, Mantripukhri as they wanted to adopt a child. Seeing the children in different beds sans their parents, the lady started crying profusely saying 'O God, I don't have a child. Why do people leave their children like this?' The husband and wife went out to buy some eatables and sweet for the children. Mother's Day celebration may be a day of pain for people who have missed the privilege of motherhood. See the paradox of life – while some terminate life, others pang for it. Reality of life.

Who celebrated Mother's Day first:

The Greeks were the first to celebrate mothers as marked by spring devotions to the Greek goddess Rhea and the Roman goddess Cybele. Christians celebrated a similar festival revering Mary, the mother of Christ. In more recent times, the modern Mother's Day began around 150 years ago when an Appalachian homemaker named Anna Jarvis organized a day called "Mother's Work Day," in order to advocate mothers working against poor health conditions within her community. When Jarvis passed away, her daughter Anna began campaigning to US presidents Roosevelt and William Howard Taft along with other businessmen to create a specific day honoring mothers, and finally, in 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing the day. The first Mother's Day was held on May 9, 1914.

Dates around the world:

As the American holiday was adopted by other countries and cultures, the date was changed to fit already existing celebrations honoring motherhood, such as Mothering Sunday in the United Kingdom or, in Greece, the Orthodox celebration of the presentation of Jesus Christ to the temple (2 February). Mothering Sunday is often referred to as "Mother's Day" even though it is an unrelated celebration. In some countries the date was changed to a date that was significant to the majority religion, such as Virgin Mary day (1st January – the motherhood of Mary) in Catholic countries. Other countries selected a date with historical significance. For example, Bolivia's Mother's Day is the date of a battle in which women participated.

Mother's Day in India:

In Hindu tradition, Mother's Day is called "Mata Tirtha Aunshi" or "Mother Pilgrimage fortnight", and is celebrated in countries with a Hindu population, especially in Nepal. The holiday is observed on the new moon day in the month of Baisakh, i.e., April/May. This celebration is based on Hindu religion and it pre-dates the creation of the Western-inspired holiday by at least a few centuries. The modern Mother's Day has been assimilated into Indian culture, and it is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May.

In India, mothers are considered as god to their children. Indians do not celebrate the occasion as a religious one, but do their best to thank their mothers for care and love. Traditionally, mothers are given great importance in Indian culture. The day is celebrated mostly in urban centers, by performing special acts to honour them and their contribution to the family. It is called matr dinam (from Sanskrit). As per Hindu tradition, mothers are paid homage to on Saraswati pooja day during Devi Navratri, with "Maatri Pooja" (worship of mother).

During my graduation in Philosophy at Orissa, I found a very appealing and praiseworthy culture while working for the lepers. When a girl experiences her first menstrual cycle, the parents, friends, relations and neighbours celebrate with a good meal, gifts and merriment. They extol the possibility of motherhood. They are in a way thanking the Almighty God for the gift of fertility.

Wonderful! The Hindu practice of bowing and touching the feet of the mother and father before setting out for journey is a wonderful expression of respect and dependence on the mother/father. Unfortunately, the Christians don't have this practice.

Religion and Motherhood:

In the Roman Catholic Church, the holiday is strongly associated with revering the Virgin Mary. In many Catholic homes, families have a special shrine devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In many Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a special prayer service is held in honour of the Theotokos (God-bearer/mother of God) Virgin Mary. John 19:26ff reads, When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son," then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Mothers and Daughters - A day of Reflection:

We are familiar with the saying, "Like father, like son". We also can say "Like mother, like daughter". Mothers in general want to have a good, submissive, hardworking, modest, pious daughter-in-laws. Are they also training their daughters to be like that when they leave their parental home for marriage? Sadly, mothers are too busy and have no time to teach the household traits like knitting, weaving, handicraft, cooking, cleanliness, etc. Their 21st century daughters copy-cat the western and Korean life styles and habits.

Humans don't live on borrowing alone. We live by originality. Yes, mere imitation is animality and creativity is humanity. The age old trend of arranged marriage or at least the parental consultation from both parties is giving way to elopement, live-in relationship, or even abduction. It's high time to reflect and maintain the good cultures of old.

Children and Mothers:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honour your father and mother"- this is the first commandment with a promise: "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth" (Ephesians 6:1-3). When the Hindu Manipuri lady gets up early in the morning to worship in the portico (sumaang) with her choicest flower petals, incense, she is actually praying for the wellbeing of her husband and children. Oh! What a consoling religious practice. Keep it up mothers. We are sorry for the hurts we have inflicted upon you by our disobedience unknowingly and deliberately.

Mothers are pained beyond words when they see their beloved children engaged in gang culture ultimately leading to Secret Societies (the Illuminati). In our local words, they call it "satanic worship". Young people need restrain and guidance from this influencing evil. Mothers stand here as sufferers and also as possible teachers and illuminators to lead the young for a better future.

Children have chance to see the world only when the mother takes care of them from conception onwards. Today, the rate of abortion is higher than ever. Small and innocent children left/thrown away are mounting high. You can hit upon time to visit these unwanted or unclaimed children at Mother Teresa's Home, Mantripukhri and Child Welfare Societies around us.

Conclusion:

Just as God has given each woman the grace of motherhood, He also accords an equal power to be 'murderers' in moments when they decide to terminate the zygote/embryo – the powerless but human person in the image and likeness of God. Motherhood is celebrated by mothers and should be protected by sons and husbands. If the men boost of masculinity, let us vouch to safeguard the rights and freedom of our Mothers. May mother earth produce mother helpful mothers. May religions and mothers be formators, inventors, counselors and above all pro-life.