Good Shepherd Sunday, Pope Francis, and Our Mothers

This weekend, we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Easter – traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. 
As a shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures for nourishment, guides them to fresh water, and protects them from harm, so too does our Holy Father, with our bishops and priests, seek to protect and guide the People of God, carrying on the mission Christ handed down from St. Peter. 

Today we especially pray for Pope Francis who, as the successor of St. Peter, teaches, sanctifies, and leads the flock entrusted to him with mercy and truth. Through the Holy Father’s ministry, which flows through our bishops and priests, we are reminded to never forget to ask forgiveness of God because God never stops offering his merciful forgiveness.

This Sunday we also remember our mothers, the women who, by God’s grace, have given each of us life.  We also hold in prayer and gratitude the women who chose to foster, adopt, and care for many of us. On this Mother’s Day, as we await the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, we lift our intercessions for mothers to our Most Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who chose to say yes.