Five Patron Saints for Moms by Peggy Bowes l Catholic l Saints l Faith

The Blessed Mother: Virtue

Mary offers us the perfect example of a virtuous mother, but sometimes she can seem almost too perfect! Her will was always perfectly aligned with God’s will, and she received special graces as she was chosen to be the woman who nurtured God’s own Son. Yet she faced many hardships and difficulties. She lived in poverty and had to travel to a strange land (Egypt), far away from family and friends, when she was a very young mother. She also had to endure watching her beloved Son suffer so greatly. Mary does understand the struggles we face as mothers, and her intercession is especially powerful since she is so close to Jesus. There are many feast days devoted to Mary throughout the year, but she is especially honored as the Mother of God on January 1st.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: Withstanding Hardships

St. Elizabeth is the first saint to be born in the United States. She was raised in the Episcopal church, married a wealthy businessman and had five children. Sadly, her husband’s business went bankrupt, and he died of tuberculosis. Now a widow and single mother, Elizabeth became a Catholic and started a school in order to support her family. She continued to endure hardships, including the death of two daughters and difficulties in her mission to lead a religious order, yet she’s remembered as being cheerful and hopeful. Like her husband, she contracted tuberculosis and died at age 46. Her feast day is celebrated on January 4th.