Statements from Holy See
Eucharistic Adoration for the Sanctification of Priests and Spiritual Maternity
Dec 8, 2007 by
Congregation for the Clergy
Same doc. not PDF
Letter for the Sanctification of Clergy -Card. Hummes Dec 8, 2007 Explanatory Note on Praying for Priests -Cong. Clergy, Dec 8, 2007 Cardinal Hummes explains spiritual motherhood Jan 2008 Pray to the Lord of the Harvest
-Benedict XVI, Sept, 2006
All the above docs. at the Cong. Clergy site
Collaboration of men and women in the Church and in the world -CDF Cardinal Ratzinger, 2004 Women
Benedict XVI Benedict XVI backs spiritual moms for priests
Vatican seeks spiritual moms for priests -Zenit Spiritual Motherhood for Priests -Fr. Kirby
Women who influenced the Hierarchy St. Catherine and St. Therese speak to priests -Cardinal Moreira
Spiritual Mothers for priests
See also: Mothers of the Cross
(Spiritual mothers of our community)
"The vocation to be a spiritual mother for priests is largely unknown, scarcely understood and, consequently, rarely lived, not withstanding its fundamental and vitally important. It is a vocation that is frequently hidden, invisible to the naked eye, but meant to transmit spiritual life."
-Congregation for Clergy
Spiritual Motherhood is a grace of the Holy Spirit, a vocation for women to unite with Mary and thus participate in her maternity for priests, offering their lives for their sanctification.
Like Mary, women have the gift to be mothers beyond natural blood relations.
St. Theresa Benedicta: "Everywhere the need exists for maternal sympathy and help, and thus we are able to recapitulate in the one word motherliness that which we have developed as the characteristic value of woman. Only, the motherliness must be that which does not remain within the narrow circle of blood relations or of personal friends; but in accordance with the model of the Mother of Mercy, it must have its root in universal divine love for all who are there, belabored and burdened". St.T.B, 1928.
All priests need a spiritual mother.
Cardinal Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, wrote:
"We cannot do without a spiritual motherhood for our priestly life...
It has always silently accompanied the chosen ranks of priests in the course of the Church's history. It is the concrete entrustment of our ministry to a specific face, to a consecrated soul who has been called by Christ and therefore chooses to offer herself, with the necessary suffering and the inevitable struggles of life, to intercede for our priestly existence, thereby dwelling in Christ's sweet presence". -Full text: Message of the Congregation for the Clergy
Spiritual motherhood was established by Christ at Calvary when he joined the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John as mother and son. Cf Jn. 19-26-27. Spiritual mothers for priests continue this Marian vocation as called forth by the Congregation for the Clergy (See Eucharistic Adoration for the Sanctification of Priests and Spiritual Maternity)
Who can be a spiritual mother for priests
Spiritual mothers may be married, religious, widowed, single, young or old.
How to be a spiritual mother for priests
Spiritual mothers are called to be of one heart with the Blessed Virgin Mary so that they can extend her motherhood to the priests. It is therefore a vocation that must be lived in the heart of Mary, imitating her virtues, specially purity, humility and sacrifice.
They are organized in different ways. Some are associated at the diocesan level (as in Tulsa OK >>>), some belong to a community or group of spiritual mothers>>>, others not.
Spiritual mothers offer their daily chores, with its sacrifices and joys, for their families and for the priests. They offer themselves in reparation, intercession and thanksgiving for the restoration of priests.
They pray that priests may radiate Christ in everything; they pray for those priests who seldom pray; for those who have fallen into sin and vices; for the deliverance of priests who are oppressed, depressed, in despair; for those who have lost their love for the Lord; for the perseverance of all. She also prays for those who have been hurt, alienated or scandalized by priests; for the sheep who do not have a good shepherd.
They adore for those who do not adore. She pleads with Mary that priests may "worship in spirit and truth" (Jn 4:24) and therefore be pure priest-victims united to Christ.
They do reparation to console the wounded heart of Jesus who grieves over the coldness, offenses and betrayals of his priests and waits for them to return to His merciful embrace.
They seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for those who have forgotten her.
The above reminds us of the prayer the angel taught the children of Fatima in preparation to Mary's visit: "My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love you! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You">>.
Mothers of the Cross -The women of our community are called Mothers of the Cross. They are spiritual mothers for priests who, united with Mary, offer themselves to God at the cross as victims with Christ the Victim.
Hidden Force, the power and wisdom of God -Lourdes Pinto
The power of the daily hidden life when offered with Mary.
Spiritual Motherhood -Fr. Jordi Rivero. S.M. T.Celmer
Holy Mothers lineage -Jacqueline
Exemplar Spiritual Mothers for priests
(See also saints)
Ven. Conchita Cabrera de Armida:
Jesus told her: "..I want souls who are dedicated with fervor, with determination and without looking for rest, to plead day and night for My priests"
St. Faustina
Jesus entrusted priests and religious to St. Faustina and her companions. He said: "You will pray particularly for them; their power will come from your diminishment. You will join prayers, fasts, mortifications, labors and all sufferings to My prayer, fasting, mortifications, labors and sufferings and then they will have power before My Father." -Diary #531.
St Catherine of Sienna and St Therese -Card. Moreria Neves
St Therese's love oblation for priests
St Gemma
-Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty
Spiritual Maidenhood -Therese Celmer Spiritual mothers of priests make their oblation at Tulsa This can be done in other dioceses with the bishop's approval Understanding Spiritual Motherhood Mary Kaufman, Vocation and Prayer Magazine, Jan/Mar 2010
More info: Mrs. Lourdes Pinto lourdespinto@lovecrucified.com