It is a mother whose gentle care was ever round you, whose arms were open wide that you might nestle on her bosom and tell a mother’s heart your joys and childish sorrows. Well now do you recall the thousand little ways that love for you was shown, the welcome smile, the kindly word, the soft kiss implanted on your cheek.

COMMENT: Fr Willie clearly loved his own mother and he recognised the importance of this motherly love in his own life. Blessed Eurosia Fabris Barban, who reached great holiness through her vocation as a mother, died on this day in 1932. 

Mamma Rosa, as she was called, was born in Italy 1866. She was from a humble and poor family, and had only 2 years of formal schooling. When she was 20 years old, one of her neighbours died, leaving behind 2 small children under 2 years old. Mamma Rosa took them in and raised her as her own. Soon after this she got married and had 9 children of her own. Her home became a gathering place for the children of her town. In addition to raising 11 children, she became a Franciscan tertiary and was renowned for her care of the poor and sick of the region and through it all managed to maintain a deep prayer life.

Fr Willie once described the role of the mother in the home as that of an angel of unity and happiness. Let us pray today in a special way to Blessed Eurosia and Fr Willie for mothers, that they may be faithful to their calling to create loving homes in the midst of a world that increasingly devalues the importance of their role.