Every woman is a mother. It’s not a choice she makes; it’s a condition of her feminine identity. As it happens, I don’t have children, but after decades of teaching, of working in the rescue of abandoned or abused pets, and of sundry other life adventures, such as those short-term friendships that suddenly form with young persons and then fade as they mature, I can say with certainty: Every woman is a mother—whether she likes it or not. Feminists can make of that what they will.

Some motherhood is less obvious, less recognized, but that doesn’t change its nature—unless one misunderstands the nature of motherhood. Yes, it’s nice to receive a “reward” of some kind—like grandchildren, maybe, or just a bit of recognition or gratitude now and then, but as soon as any sort of personal gratification is expected, the stage is set for disappointment, feelings of deprivation, or even self-pity and bitterness.

A woman has no choice about being a mother. She is one—period. What she does have a choice about is how she responds to the role she was born to fulfill. I’m now too old to rescue, and I’ve retired from teaching, though I still occasionally have those short-term “friendships.” But I’ve chosen now to join the ranks of spiritual mothers—of priests. I’ve adopted Fr. Ray, a very special priest who (I wouldn’t be surprised) may become bishop one day. I’d like to be around to see that happen, but it’s very doubtful, given my age.  I don’t want to violate Fr. Ray’s privacy, not even by praise; I will say only this: How often do you meet a priest these days whose love really is the Church and not some socio-political agenda for which he tries to use her, how often do you meet one for whom pastoring is as natural a reflex as breathing, how often do you meet one who doubles the confession line—who cares more about his parishioners than about his popularity among them?

Priests need prayers from all of us. But they especially need those prayers for which mothers have been given a grace. We don’t need to be taught what we already know, but we have recourse to a Lady who can answer any how-to question on the subject. For more information, visit the Sodality of Spiritual Maternity at www.SpiritualMaternity.org