This week at Holy Spirit, we value gentleness.  Gentleness is the virtue of doing good causing the least possible harm to others, therefore promoting the well-being of others.  We can make everything we do a little act of love for God through the virtue of gentleness.   If we love God, we love one another!  This week, we pray our students be encouraged to put this into action by becoming aware of where help is needed, helping others and appreciating the help of others, and most of all being respectful of everyone. 

This Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day.  The history of Mother's Day is centuries old and goes back to the times of ancient Greeks, who held festivities to honour Rhea, ‘the mother of the gods,’ by offering honey-cakes, flowers and drinks.  The early Christians in the UK also celebrated the Mother's festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent to honour Mary, the mother of Christ.  Later on it was expanded to include all mothers, and was named Mothering Sunday.  Mother’s Day has evolved and developed over the years in different countries to the celebration it is today.  On this day, we show our appreciation for the achievements and efforts of our mothers and or mother figures.  I hope all our mums have a wonderful day surrounded by loved ones.

All loving God, we give you thanks and praise for all mothers.

We pray for young mothers, who give life and tend to the needs of their children; May they be blessed with patience and tenderness to care for their families and themselves with great joy.

We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us;

May they continue to guide us in strong and gentle ways.

We remember mothers who are separated from their children because of war, poverty, or conflict;

May they feel the loving embrace of our God.

We pray for women who are not mothers but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion.

We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love.

Amen.

God bless.

Caroline Fuller