I
I no longer live for myself

Being the spiritual mother of a priest has taught me that I no longer live for myself, but for him.

My priest is my responsibility in my prayers for his ministry to bring others to Christ.  But what a beautiful grace God has given me and I humbly ask Him to be always at my priest’s side as I will always be with him in prayer.

— A Spiritual Mother

The first year of being a MMS Mom

I had been casually looking for a group to join to uplift my spiritual life when the opportunity to become a spiritual mother for a priest was presented.  My son is a priest of the Arlington Diocese and I was already offering my prayers and sacrifices for the benefit of his priesthood.

MMS has given this thought and my prayers a much firmer focus.  And I am now a MMS mom for my son and another priest!  This combination has been perfect for me!  The monthly prayer meetings have encouraged this mission and I am ever inspired and encouraged by my prayer sisters.

Begining my first Year of the Priest has helped me to realize more and more the beauty and lofty vocation of the priest.  Our spiritual director has helped me to realize how much priests have need of our prayers.  What a grace to be a spiritual warrier for two of our priests!

Our first annual retreat was held in a beautiful setting, we had wonderful food and inspiring talks by our Spiritual Director.  It was a delight and I look forward to next year’s retreat, the silence and the spiritual presence of other spiritual moms.

I am ever grateful to play a role in MMS and it has filled my quest to do more in my spiritual life.

— A Spiritual Mother

Struggles, Commitment, and Hiddeness

To be honest, when I arrived at our first annual retreat, I was thankful and relieved that I had found the tenacity to make it through the first year.  There had been some periods of uneasiness and self-doubt.  Could I really keep the commitment to do the regimen of daily prayer?  What if I did not do it perfectly?  What if I could not maintain my focus and concentration?  Was I even worthy to be called a priest’s “spiritual mother?”   From time to time I really wrestled with these questions, but the answers were consistent: “You may be unworthy, but just do the best you can.  You are needed.”  I did understand the truth of those words and wanted to support our priests.  I was ready for the retreat.

“God Love You” was the theme of the first talk, apropos for me, still in the process of discovering the truth after several decades of life.  However, in my discernment struggle, I did feel that it was because of God’s love for me that I was called in the first place.  That realization alone helped me grow spiritually because it is so liberation!  Of course, it is easier to focus, to meditate, and to pray when I know I am loved unconditionally, but I still have to internalize that totally, all of the time.

I appreciate all of the Father’s encouragement and direction, but particularly the reminders to love and to forgive, as Jesus did, to unite our sufferings to His, and to understand discouragement as a tool of evil. (Referenced in first paragraph)

Although my works and prayers as a spiritual mother are hidden, I very much have adopted that identity now.  Of course, I pray daily for all priests, as well as for my own spiritual son, but I notice that I have developed a motherly affection for him, and them as well.  Unspoken and subtle, it is present just the same.  Though certainly imperfect, I hope it is   truly a reflection of the affection of Our Blessed Mother and is not without effect.  Only God knows whether change as been affected, but I have complete confidence that my prayers, sufferings, and sacrifices, imperfect as they may be, are worthy of at least some merit, and I do not worry about the total value.  As any mother would, I just try to do the best I can.  I try very hard to leave everything else to Our Lady.

Have I been changed?  Without a doubt!  Internally, I have been drawn much closer to Our Blessed Mother over the past year, in large part due to my spiritual motherhood and meditations from True Devotion to Mary.  Though I have far to go, I think a good start has been made.  Externally, I have adjusted well to wearing a skirt every morning to Mass. I just do it.  I think it is appropriate, and I find myself wishing that other women would do the same, at least when they go to Church.  I do feel more feminine in a skirt, and I think it has to some extent reshaped my identity.

— A Spiritual Mother

The Beauty of This Group is Prayer

The beauty of this group is the prayer that is being lifted up for just one priest by one woman.  A woman in a motherly role takes it upon herself to pray for one priest for the rest of her life.  She prays for him in this life and into the next life.  She grows deeper into prayer, offers up her sufferings and asks God for special blessing and protection on “her” priest.

I am so blessed to be a part of MMS during my life.  At the end of my life, God will show me how I helped one of His priests, but also He will show me I grew in grace because of it.  Thank you for this chance to make a difference through prayer and sacrifice.

— A Spiritual Mother

The Rewards of Being a Spiritual Mother

My experience as a spiritual mother of a priest has been very rewarding.  My prayer life has increased, along with my realization of the power of a priest.  The greatest power is bring Our Lord to life, and a close second is that a priest can absolve my from my sins.  I find these great meditation subjects.  I thank the Blessed Mother for leading me to this vocation.

The monthly meetings feed my spiritual growth, and out members have developed a special camaraderie that is unique to prayer groups.  I enjoy the meeting very much.

The MMS retreat was everything I expected it to be.  There was warmness within the group and a feeling of peace.  Our Spiritual Director’s presence and homilies made for a perfect day.

— A Spiritual Mother

Freedom and Fulfillment

I was never in doubt nor did I have any reservations about accepting my call to the vocation of spiritual motherhood.  It was the final rung on the ladder of discernment of my vocation to give my life completely to God, living as a single, celibate woman.

The sound of the words “spiritual mother,” spoke, rather, sang to my heart like music.  As all women long to nurture and be a mother, I could not help but be drawn to those beautiful words.  The invitation to follow in the footsteps of our Blessed Mother, and to be another Mary for her beloved priest-sons, the other Christs, is an awe-inspiring honor and privilege.

I soon found as I offered my daily trials, suffering, joys…Well, in essence, my whole life for my adopted priest-son, my sorrow shared in union with our Lady became an indescribable joy in knowing I was cooperating with God for the salvation of souls.  Even the small and minor sufferings could have merit; nothing would be lost.

Being a spiritual mother of a priest, I have grown spiritually.  I have a deeper understanding of the priesthood and appreciation of this gift we have been given in our priests.

In imitating Mary, I have realized my place in God’s family as a woman; that living my femininity in imitation of Mary gave me a newfound freedom to be fully the woman that God intended.  It has been one of the most profound areas that I experienced in my first year of spiritual motherhood.  The bond between other spiritual mothers has been a blessing.

Any woman presented with the opportunity to become a spiritual mother of a priest should prayerfully consider it with the openness and obedience that our Blessed Mother did, and to say her YES with the trust that God will do great things through you for the salvation of souls!  All praise and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ!

— A Spiritual Mother

Spiritual Motherhood and the Consecration to the Virgin Mary

Being a spiritual mother of a priest is directly rooted in my total consecration to our Blessed Mother, and is one of the fruits of that consecration.  I have had a devotion to Our Lady of years, and have been involved in the Legion of Mary, first as an auxiliary and then as an active member for the past seven years.

However, it was after I completed an in-dept study of de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary, and shortly after that become a part of MMS, that Our Lady really seemed to draw me much closer to her and to her Son.

Although I had a times attempted praying the Liturgy of the Hours in the past, knowing that my praying it both unites me to my priest son and gains graces for him, has motivated me to pray morning and evening prayer regularly for the last three years.

I have also been drawn more to daily Mass, and although my duties sometimes prevent me from going everyday, I average five to six Masses per week.  All of this has given me a deeper appreciation and gratitude, first of all for our great High Priest, Our Lord, but also for all those who in the priesthood who are truly “other Christs.”

Having a son in the Marines serving in Afghanistan, I have developed a much greater understanding and sympathy for Our Sorrowful Mother, who sacrificed her Son, so that our sons and we might live.  When faced with a love of such magnitude, how can we help but give all that we can to our Blessed Mother in return?  What greater gift can we give to her than to spiritually adopt on of those who are currently in the world as “alter Christi,” her special sons, to give all that we are so that his work might continue in the world through them?

— A Spiritual Mother

 

Standing in the Gap, Defending Our Priests

First of all, I believe it is the responsibility of every Roman Catholic to pray for our priests.  After all, they have given up everything to guide, teach, and bring us Jesus.  What’s not to love and respect?  Adopting a priest to pray for, making sacrifices, for and interceding for them in this life and into the life to come is a pleasure and blessing.

Praying for my adopted priest helps me to focus on Jesus rather than myself.  This charism has brought me into a deeper life of prayer, and into a deeper relationship with the Virgin Mary.  I ask for her graces each day and ask that she watch over my adopted priest and all priests.  I pray hat she protect them from all distractions and temptations, and especially protect them from the evil one who only desires to destroy them.

I love my priest, and love this simple yet beautiful opportunity to do something special for them.  We must take care of our priests and help them carry the heavy cross that has been laid upon them.  I constantly recall Father Corapi’s words, “No priest, no Jesus.”

Our Church and our priests are under attack and we must stand in the gap.  The MMS teaches me to focus on the duty to pray and intercede for priests.  I pray to Mary that all MMS members allow her grace to work in them as they pray and make sacrifices for their adopted priests.

I thank all priests for their untiring dedication and love.

— A Spiritual Mother

A Life Changing Experience

Being in the MMS has been a life changing experience.  Not only have I had the privilege to being part of such a wonderful group, but it has taught me the discipline myself in my prayer life, something with which I have struggled with previously.  It has also made me more aware of the struggle that our priests face.  I do not think most of the laity appreciate the sacrifice our priests make for our sanctification.

Our Lady has helped me put things in proper order so I can put my spiritual life and my relationship with God first.  It has drawn my closer to Our Lord and Our Lady in a way I know I would have never accomplished before.

Lastly, the focus of spirituality caring for one of our priests is an honor I can only hope to be worthy of one day.

— A Spiritual Mother

A Deeper Understanding of the Sorrows of Mary

Before joining MMS, I had frequently prayed the Stations of the Cross, but never the “Way of the Cross for Priests.”  Praying this version of the “Stations” has made me much more aware of the number of priests who are being persecuted throughout the world today.

Whenever I had thought of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, I always seemed to concentrate on Mary meeting her Son on the way to Calvary, or her standing beneath the cross.  It was not until I selected my Sorrow, Mary placing the body of Jesus in the tomb, that I really became much more aware of the incredible feelings of loss she must have felt.  I have drawn closer to Our Blessed Mother this past year, which in turn has made me become more patient in my dealings with others.

My first retreat has given me some valuable insights into improving my prayer life.

— A Spiritual Mother

Tremendous Impact in My Life!

Becoming the spiritual mother of a priest through MMS has impacted my life and the way I feel for priests tremendously.  Being a part of the MMS motherhood/sisterhood and being connected to these outstanding ladies has been enriching and rewarding—a great blessing.

I find it most difficult to put by heartfelt feelings into words, but I will try.

I can say that my heart is full of a kind of love, gratitude, respect, and admiration for priests that I never felt before.  Now my heart feels for them—for them all—so much more than my words can express.  Today I can say that I have a better understanding of what a priest really is, and how much we need them.

I once heard that, “Some things you see with your eyes, other you see with your heart.”  Today, I just love them all.

If I were to mention one thing that I like or admire in priests, it would definitely be their hands.  Oh, the holy hands of the priest!

I am so happy to be a spiritual mother for a priest.  I hope and pray that Our Lady gives me the graces I need to be the spiritual mother she wants me to be.

— A Spiritual Mother