2010/12/03

Our Mother

Tita Conching is my mother’s younger sister with whom I have one of my fondest childhood memories.

I was then a skinny, dark and sickly kid when I had a long vacation stay with her family. She has 5 children of her own and with her husband not really having a permanent job, I am quite sure, in hindsight, that they may very well be experiencing tight finances that time. Yet, there was always food at the table during meal time and modest snacks in between. Everyday was fun time for me and my cousins as we play around the small neighborhood and in their “silong”(a vacant space under an elevated house). At night, the fun fest and laughter continued until we all fell asleep together in their wooden-floor living area, cramped in “banig” (hand-woven mat) and protected from mosquitoes by “kulambo” (mosquito nets).

But more than those playful activities during my vacation, my Tita Conching made the most profound impression in my young mind. She was overly protective of me ( I said I was a sickly kid, right?) but she never prevented me to enjoy play-time. She would watch over our play, wipe my back when I am sweaty and reprimand my older cousins if our actions are apparently becoming beyond playful. She would prepare my bath and put Johnson’s baby powder on my face after-bath (I did say I was dark then, didn’t I?). She would comb my hair and smile at me with pride. Yes, she always smile, I mean, I have never caught a glimpse of her not smiling whenever I saw her looking at me. She always talk to me in a low soft and sweet voice as she imparted her simple words of wisdom about how to become a good child. My Tita Conching loved me so much then that, I sure felt she could very well be my second mother, if there is one such.

If in case you have some doubts about her motherly love for me, she named their 6th child after my namesake – Rowen.
That’s how she loved me and I was so blessed to have spent time with such a loving woman.

This coming December 8, another loving woman’s birth will be celebrated by Catholics.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary – our Lord’s mother.
Our mother in Jesus Christ.

There are times that I must admit my disappointment against some people who do not only misunderstand our mother Mary’s role in our salvation but are even resorting to mariaphobic criticisms and needless accusations against our Catholic belief. Her immaculate conception has always been "...by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race." (taken from New Advent - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm).

For us Catholics, Mary’s role can be best explained by her simplest words and actions at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) when she told the wedding servers to “do whatever he tells you”. Her directions has always been towards obedience to Jesus with which she has always lived and guided her life as well. She simply invites each and everyone of us to join her in obeying the Lord.

Personally speaking, I can never fully fathom how blessed we are that other than our biological mothers (or in some lucky cases like mine, a special second mother like Tita Conching) God has given us the abundant grace of Mary’s motherhood. I am not a Marian devotee (yet) but I have my utmost respect for her life of faith and obedience. I sincerely believe that if I can only emulate even just a tiny fraction of her holy life, I am pretty sure that she will be all smiles for me too. After all, she is my spiritual mother who wishes nothing less than my salvation.

So for those who believe in her, feel free to go to her for intercession, guidance and direction.
And for those who continue to shy away from her, please search your inner self and cast away all your doubts about her role in our faith.
She is your mother too and she cares a big deal about your life in the now and more so, in the hereafter.

Happy Feastday to our Mother Mary.

God bless us.