There was a couple who was extremely generous. They had eleven children, and the dinner table often had others seated along with them. The house at any given time was a home to others in need. They were both amazing, but as the saying goes, “the heart of a home is the mother.”
Although she proclaimed motherhood beautifully, others often “encouraged” her that enough was enough, that she should look into options that would ensure no more pregnancies. But she knew that, by God's design, wife and mother meant a greater generosity than the world understands. That calling became very real when at the age of 43 she was told by her doctors that if she became pregnant again, not only would her baby face birth defects, but she herself would be at risk during the pregnancy.
She struggled to remain open and faithful to God’s will, but continued to trust in God. He doubly blessed her with another pregnancy… twins. The doctors’ concern grew. The chance of her losing one of the babies was great. If the other survived, one could only hope for the best. She herself was at risk. The doctors advised her to consider the “alternatives.”
Very anxious and disturbed, she turned to the Carmelite Sisters in Buffalo, NY. She asked them to pray for her babies. She never mentioned herself. These wonderful nuns assured her that all would be fine, and asked her if they could consecrate the babies to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which basically means to particularly entrust them to His care. She, of course, agreed.
By God’s grace she went the distance, carrying the babies to full term, giving birth to twin boys. All was well. God is faithful and can never be outdone in generosity.
One of those twins is me.
God’s Divine Providence is amazing. He has a purpose, an intention for each of us, even before we come forth from our mother’s womb. Twenty-six years after the Carmelites’ prayer, my twin brother and I were both ordained priests… on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Not a day goes by when I don’t thank God for my parents, who taught me the value and meaning of life, who gave great witness of invincible love.
Mom, with your tremendous talents, as Marlon Brando put it, “You could have been a contender! You could have been somebody!” But instead of being served you chose to serve. You gave us the complete gift of your self, the gift of life, the gift of love. By your fearless trust in God and selfless sacrifice you imitated Christ. You formed us to similarly embrace our vocations to imitate Christ, to reveal Him through a life of self-sacrifice and giving, a life of love.
For us you are the Contender. You are Someone. And nothing says that any better than “Mom.”
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
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