Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

This icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding Jesus dates to the 12th century. (Wikipedia/public domain)

Mother and Child


By
Catholic Review Filed Under: Charity in Truth, Commentary, Feature, Respect Life

Throughout the Christmas season and beyond, we are drawn to the many beautiful portraits of the Blessed Virgin Mary smiling as she tenderly holds the baby Jesus in her arms. I think of the venerable Russian icon, “Our Lady of Tenderness” which beautifully portrays the intimacy of the Blessed Mother with the child of her womb. This is echoed by countless other images in various times and places.

These and other images remind us that our Savior took flesh in Mary’s womb and was born in a poor stable in Bethlehem. Miraculously conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus nonetheless grew and developed in his mother’s womb the way all babies grow and develop; he underwent all the stages of gestation until the moment of birth. In spite of the misunderstanding and hardship that surrounded the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph loved their child beyond all telling.

As I look upon the many images of mother and child, I cannot help but think of the many mothers facing difficult pregnancies. Many are young. Many are poor and rejected. Many have been abused. They face pressure from family members and others to get an abortion – to solve “the problem” of an unwanted pregnancy.

Far too many of these mothers give in to such pressure. They think they have no other choice. The culture of death pits mother and child against each other. What should be a relationship of tenderness turns to one of violence. Not surprisingly, many mothers who choose abortion experience lifelong remorse. Taking the life of an innocent child does not solve a problem; it multiplies it.

With the eyes of faith, we gaze at the unborn child and see an image of the child Jesus taking shape in his mother’s womb. Each day we say, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”

With the eyes of reason, we gaze at the unborn child and see what science sees: from its earliest stages, the developing child exhibits all the indicators of our common humanity – a heartbeat, brainwaves, distinctive DNA, a face, toes and fingers. Faith affirms what reason at its best teaches us, namely, that the Creator has endowed with inviolable dignity these innocent children who share
our humanity.

I must pay tribute to pro-life pregnancy centers here in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. They are places of care and compassion. Employing ultrasound machines, many of them supplied by the Knights of Columbus, they enable expectant mothers to see the child of their womb. Gazing upon their children, most of these mothers elect to bring their babies to term. The ultrasound image cuts through the deceptive rhetoric often employed to promote abortion. These programs have saved countless
innocent lives.

Yet, bringing a baby to term is only the beginning. When Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph were surrounded by love, beginning with the shepherds and even a visit from the three kings. So too, we need to surround expectant mothers with love and care. Surely, that includes providing them with life’s necessities. It also means accompanying them, helping them, not merely in the short term but for the long haul.

I am grateful that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sponsors a program called “Walking with Moms in Need” that provides a pathway for volunteers and parishes to reach out to these mothers, to befriend them, and to help them through difficult days, especially times of doubt and misunderstanding. This is an important part of what it means to
be pro-life.

I am grateful to the parishioners here in the Archdiocese who are already at work in these beautiful initiatives and many others. While we pray, hope and work for the day when the unborn will be protected by law, let us in the meantime continue to bear witness to the Gospel of Life by cherishing both child and mother.

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