Through the Heart of a Mother

Mrs Monica Seeber (1928-2009)

"A vocation comes from the heart of God, 

but goes through the heart of a mother," wrote Pope St Pius X. 

Today, the third Anniversary of the death of Mrs Monica Seeber,

the Mother of our Father Anthony Mary, F.SS.R.,

Father sung a Mass of Requiem in Our Lady's Chapel, Stronsay.

To few people could the words of the Holy Pope 

be more truly applied

than this wonderful lady.

 The Collect for the Deceased Mother of a Priest

Deus...

O God, who hast commanded us to honour

our Father and our Mother;

in Thy mercy have pity on the soul of my mother,

and forgive her her trespasses;

and make me to see her again in the joy of everlasting brightness.

 Through Christ our Lord.

 Amen. 

Crossing with Father this morning 

from Papa Stronsay to Stronsay

on his way to remember his dear mother

at the Altar of God

 one could not help be reminded

 of this image of the

 Mother of all priests with her son, 

St John, the Model of all priests;

and of the words of Mrs Seeber's holy patron, St Monica
to her priest son St Augustine,

"One thing only do I ask of you,

 that you remember me at the Altar of Our Lord

 wherever you may be."

 

The Servant of God Archbishop Fulton Sheen wrote:

"As God consulted with Mary

to ask if she would give Him a human nature,

so He often consults with the mother of a priest

to ask her consent to the continuation of His priesthood."

What a beautiful tribute this morning of a priest son

to his beloved mother

who most surely gave that consent with all her heart.