Eucharistic Motherhood: June 2022

Monday, June 13, 2022

Santa Maria Antica

Ron took me on the best date ever--he zipped me into Rome on his motorcycle and took me to the newly-renovated-and-re-opened Santa Maria Antica. It is in the Roman Forum. It is arguably the oldest church in Rome (but I will be asking my Christian Archaeology professor at the Angelicum about that). The frescoes lining the walls are detailed and emotionally powerful images of Mary. If this church dates to the 4th century (think Constantine--legalization of Christianity), then that says quite loudly that the early Church was a Marian Church. There was no such thing as Christianity without Mary for the first millennia or more of Christianity. Standing in that holy site (that none of us have ever seen since it has been under renovation for so long--decades?) says it louder than any book on apologetics ever could.

Mary Mother of God, pray for us!

Ron is honestly the coolest husband in THE WORLD.

About Me

Born in Texas, raised in NYC, I earned my Ph.D. in philosophy and married a gorgeous theology student who rides a motorcycle and looks like James Dean. We now have six kids, are based in Irving near the University of Dallas where my husband teaches theology and where I sometimes teach philosophy. We currently live in the Castelli Romani, just outside of Rome, Italy. In addition to teaching some semesters and raising our 6 wonderful children, I am studying theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Passionate about the vocation of motherhood, I founded a Catholic mother's ministry, Mighty Is Her Call. Our retreats and blog can be explored here: https://mightyishercall.com.

My book, Motherhood: An Extraordinary Vocation was released August 2021.

What's Special about Motherhood?

Motherhood is patterned on the life of Christ, particularly the Eucharist, in a way that no other vocation is. Some mothers shed blood for their children in childbirth--just as Christ shed his blood for us, a gift we celebrate in the Eucharist. Some mothers nourish children with their own bodies--just as Christ nourishes us with his body in the Eucharist. Mothers give themselves up in countless ways for their children--just as Christ gave himself up for us: "This is my body, given up for you." Every aspect of our day, from feeding our children, to cleaning up their messes, to disciplining them, to listening attentively to them, to hugging them, to laughing with them, to cherishing them, reflects the ways Christ gives himself to us. Motherhood is a role fashioned in the image of Christ, more so than perhaps any other vocation. It is singularly close to and reflective of the Heart of Christ.

Monday, June 20, 2022

Happy Corpus Christi!

Monday, June 13, 2022

Santa Maria Antica

A Mother: The Suffering Servant