Six virtues of motherhood modelled by our Blessed Mother

Feasts or solemnities that prompt us to reflect on the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary also serve as reminders of the sacredness of motherhood. As Catholics, we know that Mary, our immaculate spiritual mother, looks upon us with love, compassion, and a protective kindness, just as she looked upon her beloved Son. Her virtuous life and her yes to God illustrate how we too must say yes to Him.

The six virtues below are certainly not an exhaustive list of the many virtues Mary exhibited in her life, but they give us concrete examples of how we can model our own lives after hers, especially in regard to motherhood.

So, as we celebrate the Assumption this week, let us reflect upon the life of Mary. Then let us look to the situations and circumstances in our lives and pray about how we can use her example to guide us through our own journey as we serve as mothers to our children, our grandchildren, or our godchildren.

1. Humility

A humble person understands that all gifts come from God and that everything we do should glorify Him. Though Mary’s entire life was an example of humility, we have a concrete example of it in her Canticle when she says, “He has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

Motherhood is a gift, and Mary rightly understood this, especially as she began to comprehend the enormity of her own pregnancy. Do we also understand the gift of motherhood? Do we understand the beauty of the developing baby and our responsibility to protect him? When we struggle in our role as a mother, let us pray for the ability to put God’s will before our own as we serve the needs of our children.

2. Eutrapelia

Eutrapelia is the virtue of cheerful pleasantness. It keeps us from becoming weighed down by worry or anxiety. As one author said, “It is related to playfulness and good-natured fun, it’s the simple joy that enlivens company and warms the heart.”

We may not really think of Mary as playful, but we can certainly see that she was cheerful. This is also exhibited in her Canticle when she tells her cousin Elizabeth that her “spirit rejoices in God.” One cannot rejoice without cheer. And we can imagine that there were certainly times when Jesus was a little boy, that He and Mary had playful and fun interactions. As we ponder this, let us strive to put more of these cheerful moments in our own lives, for these are the times that will build and strengthen our relationships with our children.

3. Generosity

In the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus performed His first miracle—changing water into wine at the wedding of Cana—at the behest of Mary. Though Jesus had told her that His time had not yet come, she told the server, “Do whatever He tells you.” She understood the embarrassment that the couple would feel as they ran out of wine at their wedding, and she did the only thing she knew she could do to assist. She invoked the help of her Son.

Mary’s example shows that generosity is better taught when it is lived out. How we treat others determines how our children will treat others. So let us take the time to do good works for others to show that we understand their value.

4. Obedient

In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that Joseph took Mary and Baby Jesus to Egypt in order to protect Jesus. Imagine a spur-of-the-moment move to a different country. That must have been unsettling, at the least, but Mary and Joseph trusted in God, so they obeyed Him.

Do we have enough trust in God to obey His laws? Or do we pick and choose which of His laws we want to follow and teach our children to do the same? Again, our actions speak loudly, and our kids notice when we are obedient to God’s commands or when we follow the ways of the world. If we want to teach them to obey God, we must first obey Him ourselves.

5. Fortitude

This virtue helps us endure suffering with strength, and we know of at least two occasions when Mary suffered. In the Gospel of Luke, we read about the first time she felt great anxiety, when 12-year-old Jesus stayed behind to teach in the temple. After having searched for three days, Mary must have been exhausted, both mentally and physically, but she endured the anguish and the worry knowing that God would carry her through.

Sometimes all we can do in our lives is endure and persevere. Situations get difficult. Families have problems. But knowing that God will always help us derive good from the difficult moments should buoy us, and it’s times like these that we can look to Mary for solace, knowing that she also felt pain.

6. Faith

Mary is the perfect example of steadfast faith in God. After the angel’s declaration that God had chosen her to carry His Son, though confused, she immediately said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” She trusted Him because of her faith.

It’s easy to have faith in God when things are going well, but do we also have faith in Him when things are difficult or when we’re confused? Do we foster this in our children? When we look at Mary’s life or the lives of the saints, we find concrete examples of how to act in certain situations. But even more so, we find that God is always there with us.

More than any other mother in history, our spiritual mother truly understood motherhood, with all its joys and sorrows. Throughout her life, she demonstrated the faith, the trust, and the joy we all long to have as we journey through life and toward our goal of heaven. As we contemplate Mary’s Assumption, let us keep in mind her heroic and virtuous life, and let us never forget that our loving mother is always there for us, waiting with open arms and willing to show us and our children the way home.