St. Catherine of Siena’s Profound Love as a Spiritual Mother, by Constance T. Hull

By Constance T. Hull, Catholic Exchange, April 29, 2021

Constance T. Hull is a wife, mother, homeschooler, and a graduate with an M.A. in Theology with an emphasis in philosophy. ..

Natural motherhood and the love of mothers is an experience that is often easily understood since it is the primary way women experience motherhood. There is, however, another form of motherhood bestowed on women at the supernatural level, which is spiritual motherhood. The Church is still deepening her understanding of this vocation given to women in varying degrees through a sharing in the spiritual motherhood of Our Blessed Mother who is the model of maternal love to the Church (Lumen Gentium 65).

It is a love that is expansive, profound, intense, and deep. It moves a woman beyond the confines of her biological family out towards the souls entrusted to her by God. The spiritual mother seeks the salvation of souls and the sanctification of her spiritual children at considerable cost to herself by virtue of her deep love for them in Christ through Our Immaculate Mother. St. Catherine of Siena was one of these spiritual mothers whose love knew no bounds. …