Several years ago I attended the most beautiful event at the United Nations hosted by The Holy See (Catholics). The speaker shared the following words that are worth sharing:
“True respect for women means respecting and reverencing her in all aspects of humanity … including her feminine genious and femininity in caring for the dignity of everyone in nurturing life and love and in developing others’ gifts.
When women are given the opportunity to thrive and reach their potential, the whole of society benefits.
Womanhood needs to be protected in regards to motherhood, marriage, and family life.
The unique dignity and value of motherhood is insufficiently defended.
Women’s essential contributions to the development of society through their dedication to their marriage and to raising the next generation are inadequately acknowledged.
A woman is someone who is born with space for another.
Women’s equality and full empowerment should never force her to adapt to maleness in society but in having society adapt to her femininity and dignity.”
All of these words by our Catholic friends ring true in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” Here, we learn about the power of mothers, life, and motherhood:
- Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
- The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife.
- We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
- The family is ordained of God.
- Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.
Although every woman’s journey toward motherhood may look different, we need not look far to see the influence and value that mothers have in the world.