IMHO, as a man who was a midwife for three decades and who always found an extra touch of warmth in Catholic hospitals, deep respect for motherhood (and fatherhood) is at the very heart of what makes Catholicism so special.
The above image of The Virgin Mary is from Leonardo’s painting of the annunciation which is now found in Uffizi, Italy. She is beautiful.
Female beauty is an irreplaceable element of the overall power of motherhood in the human realm.
Mother Mary Angelica Of The Annunciation, who was born 100 years ago today in Canton, Ohio, rose from poverty to build a massive television empire to protect and extend the reach of her faith.
She maintained long standing Western values which the modern world destroys. For instance :
“The woman is a gentle, loving bond who encourages, consoles, builds, reconciles, and makes all things new and vibrant. The woman is strength in time of suffering, courageous in failure, intuitive in time of danger. A woman is ingenuous when all fails, resourceful in times of want, and a true helpmate for man.”
“We have become so accustomed to trees, mountains, sky, air, water, flowers, animals, vegetables and people that we no longer see them for what they are – God’s work.”
“When we begin to build walls of prejudice, hatred, pride, and self-indulgence around ourselves, we are more surely imprisoned than any prisoner behind concrete walls and iron bars.”
“Any form of over-indulgence creates within the body warning signs of destruction.”
Faith is important.
It must survive.
Geoff Fox, 20th April, 2023, Down Under
Ways Of Being Christian 