Page 205 - Always Virginia

Always Virginia 193

not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver. Suppose your dear
mother has passed to her eternal reward. You can still remember
her today in your prayers, and ask God to have mercy on her soul.
So far we have been talking about our earthly mothers, but it
is impossible to speak of mothers and Mother’s Day without our
thoughts going to Mary, the Mother of God, and the Mother of
Mothers. [He had a lifelong special devotion to the Blessed Mother.]
Just as our earthly mothers take care of our physical needs, so
does Mary the Mother of us all, Our Heavenly Mother, take care
of our spiritual needs.
Going back to the words of the poet. Who could have told us
a more beautiful story than the Divine Romance of the Redemp-
tion in which Mary played so prominent a part! And it is Mary
who implants the sweet kiss of grace on our sinful brows as she
welcomes us again into the charmed circle of repentant sinners.
Yes, Mary in spite of her unique honor as Mother of God, is
always in close contact with us. She is just as solicitous for us today,
as she was on the occasion of the wedding at Cana, when through
her unfailing intercession, her Son worked His first miracle,
changing the water into wine, merely to save a bride and groom
from embarrassment at their wedding feast. For all that is noble
in womanhood, Mary is responsible. She has ever been the pattern
of all who wish to live purely, the ideal of Christian motherhood.
On this day commemorating the sublime privilege of mother-
hood, let the whole Catholic world cry out: “Oh, Mary, Mother of
God, conceived without sin, pray for our mothers who have recourse
to thee.” God bless you all, and keep you all. In the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
—The Reverend John B. Day

* * * *

This sermon was written by Father John B. Day, age 27, for
Mother’s Day, May 14, 1939. Father Day (born July 17, 1912—died
May 9, 1967) had been ordained a Roman Catholic priest on April